Judge John H. Diercks, probate judge of Cole County, and one of the representative citizens of the county, was born at Wedel, near Pinneburg, Schlesweig-Holstein, Germany, July 2, 1831, and is the son of John Detlef and Elsabe (Von Helms) Diercks. The father was a farmer by occupation, and belonged to a sturdy race of people noted for their great longevity. Judge John H. Diercks, in his early life, became an apprentice clerk in the grocery trade. In 1851 he came to America, spent two years at Mineral Point, in Wisconsin, and then went to St. Louis, where he completed his schooling in a business college at that place. He taught one term of school, and later went to Osage County, Mo., where he was engaged for thirty years in various employments, viz.: merchandising, farming and milling being the principal ones. While a resident there he was judge of the county court three years, and represented Osage County in the Thirtieth General Assembly. He was postmaster at Castle Rock for about twenty years, and all this time was closely identified with the Democratic party. He was married in Osage County to Miss Sarah Ellen Thornton, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Samuel Y. Thornton, who was born in Maryland. This happy union was terminated by the death of Mrs. Diercks in 1868. She left three daughters and one son: Samuel, who died shortly after his mother's death; Katie, deceased wife of E. W. Wood, of 0'Fallon, Mo., and who left one son and two daughters; Fannie Louisa, wife of Thomas M. Lockette, of Texas, and Laura, wife of James Wells, of Cole County. Mr. Diercks took for his second wife Adelia Thornton, sister of his first wife, and they became the parents of five children, two of whom are now living, Jessie and Florence. Judge Diercks moved to Jefferson City in 1885, and is the owner of considerable city property. He is a stockholder in the Merchants' Bank, is one of its original .subscribers, and is one of the Jefferson City Brick Company's stockholders. He started life in America with but three cents in his pocket, and is a fair example of what can be accomplished by integrity and upright dealing. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1887 Judge Diercks was appointed by Gov. Marmaduke probate judge, and in 1888 he was elected to the office.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).