Dillon Bio
Bios - Obits - Stories
DILLON
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HISTORY OF THE NAME "DILLON"
Sir Henry de Leon of Brittany followed the Normans to Ireland in 1185. His descendants have been with us ever since, their name Hibernicised to Dillon. King John of France and England gave them large tracts of land is Westmeath. You could say there was a common market in Irish land among the Normans and English. So thoroughly did they populate the area it became known as Dillon's Country.
Sir Theobald Dillon supported Queen Elizabeth, and James I conferred on him the title of Viscount Dillon of Costello Gaellen, shortly before he died in 1624 when he had the satisfaction of an assembly of upwards of 100 of his descendants in his house of Killenfaghny. A descendant, the 20th Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gellen of Sligo, now lives in Meath.
Among the several branches of the family were the Dillons who were Earls of Roscommon; Barons of the Holy Roman Empire; and of Clonbrock. This was a County Galway mansion where Dillons have lived since 1575. When it was auctioned reaently a truckload of Dillon archives, some dating back to 1560, were presented to the National Library.
Wentworth Dillon was 5th Earl of Roscommon. He died in 1684 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, London
Sir James Dillon, MP for Westmeath, fled the Cromwellians to France where in 1653 he raised the famous Regiment of Dillon. His son, Count Arthur Dillon, served 40 years in the French army, becoming a Field Marshal and Governor of Toulon. Arthur's son, Colonel James Dillon, commanded the Irish Brigade, which, in 1745, defeated the English at Fontenoy. He fell in this battle, but Louis XV, who had seen him in action, as recompense caused his brother, Arthur, then a simple cure', to be elevated to Archbishop of Narbonne, Bishop of Evreux and of Toulouse and President of Languedoc, the largest Province of France, from which he had enormous revenues.
Extravagance led to bankruptcy and he fled the Frehch Revolution to London where he died in 1806.
The Dillons have been prominent in France for generations and in Bordeaux they were leading citizens. Dr. Edward Dillon was Superior of the Irish College at Douai. Theobald Count Dillon, son of the 11th Viscount Dillon, born in 1745, becamd a Field Marshall of France and fought with Washington in the American war of independence. When fighting the Austrians in 1792, through a tragic misunderstanding he was massacred by his own troops. He lies with Napoleon in the Pantheon. A relative, Arthur, was guillotined during The Terror. The Regiment of Dillon, which they had commanded for over 100 years, following the Revolution became merely the 87th Regiment. The original Colours of the Regiment of Dillon in the service of France were presented by the present Viscount Dillon to the Military History Society of Ireland and in 1949 they were passed to the Minister of Education. Colonel Arthur's daughter, Fanny, married Count Bertrand and they were with Napoleon when he died on St. Helena. Fanny's step-sister was the famous Madame de La Tour du Pin, who wrote a vivid journal of her life up to the time of the revolution and, afterwards, in America.
Of five Dillon brothers from Dublin who emigrated to Bordeaux, several were priests and one, "le beau Dillon", was a favorite of Marie Antoinette. After the Revolution he tried to revive the Dillon Regiment, but failing, he returned to Ireland to recruit the Irish Brigade in the service of England. In those days ambivalence was an essential way of life for an army career.
De LEON TO DILLON - FROM FRANCE TO IRELAND AND BACK
Provided by Bill Dillon
The history of Ireland includes centuries of conquest, confiscation and subjugation. Many of our ancestors were part of that history, on both winning and losing sides.
There is a traditional Irish story that �All the Dillons descended from Henry de Leon.� He helped lead the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland, and in 1185 was awarded huge tracts of land - a common practice of conquerors. The de Leon name, from a place-name in Brittany, France, was later �Hibernicized� (made Irish) to Dillon. The family grew over many generations, and settled throughout Ireland. County Westmeath was once called �Dillon Country.�
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan army brutally put down an Irish rebellion, killing all the captured Catholic priests and soldiers. The best properties were, as usual, given to Cromwell�s soldiers and supporters. An attempt led by James II to reclaim the land and Catholic rights was defeated by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. After these losses some displaced Irish fled to France. That�s how the Dillon name (formerly de Leon) came back to France. Some Dillons were very successful there and held prominent positions. Some of their names are displayed on the Arc de Triomphe and in the Great Hall of d�Orsay Museum.
Cousin John Dillon from California found and told me about �Dancing to the Precipice,� a biography of Lucie Dillon de la Tour du Pin (1770-1853.) This fascinating account of Lucie�s life and times is based mostly on her detailed and insightful memoirs. She is called the �chronicler of her age.� Upon reading her story, I now claim her as a cousin!
Lucie Dillon and her family were among the aristocrats and landed nobility in France. Sometimes called �The Irish Dillons,� they associated with all the movers and shakers of the era, including King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon & Josephine, Talleyrand, Lafayette, the Duke of Wellington and Alexander Hamilton. Lucie�s great-uncle, Richard Arthur Dillon, was the Archbishop of Toulouse & Narbonne. Her father,
Arthur Dillon, commanded the Dillon Regiment, which was led by a Dillon for over 100 years. He became a general in the French army. Arthur�s friend, Lafayette, was the first French man to offer his military services to George Washington. Soon thereafter, on April 5, 1777, Arthur embarked for America with 1,400 men of his regiment, including four Dillon officers. Three more Dillon officers sailed with another regiment.
During the French revolution and �Terror� Lucie�s father Arthur Dillon, accused of being a �Royalist,� followed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the guillotine. Lucie and her husband, Frederick, whose father suffered the same fate, escaped to America, but later returned when things began to settle down. �Dancing to the Precipice� is 434 pages of Dillon and world history that I found hard to set aside for long. It was first published in England in 2009. The author is Caroline Moorehead.
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JAMES DILLON
Tradition has it that James Dillon was an employee of the Going family, perhaps a gardener or handyman. When Ellen became pregnant they admitted to the family that they had been secretly married. Since, as of this writing, I have not been able to locate the place of residence in Ireland, I can not confirm that there ever was a marriage.*
After the baby, Ellen, was born, James and Ellen came to North America arriving 1842/3 in Nova Scotia. The baby was left behind with the Going family with a promise that she would be brought over the following year by a sister or sisters of Ellen's. Apparently it was some 12 years, however, before she finally arrived. Finding it uncomfortable living with parents and family she did not know, she ran away to New York to live with whomever brought her. Supposedly she was given money by her father to make a purchase and she used it to buy a train ticket instead. No information is available as to who her relatives were with whom she was reared, but she did finally make contact with her parents again many years later.
James and Ellen moved to Linden, near Boston, and apparently from there to Northampton. From there they resided in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas. James died in Smith County and is believed to be buried in the Oak Hill (aka Ehrdman) Cemetery located near land he once owned. The cemetery is currently on private land, overgrown with plum thickets. No marker has ever been found, however, several residents of the area told me without hesitation or prompting that his remains were deposited in the aforementioned cemetery. Ellen went to Washington after James' death and died in Yakima.
The cemetery was later cleaned up thanks to some prompting from the local DAR. There is a photo of it elsewhere on this site. A couple of other Dillon descendants have since discovered that County Tiperary was the home in Ireland.
* See info. on Bridget for 1998 up-date.
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HENRY DILLON
Henry Dillon never married and is believed to have been killed in a fall from a train. Henry was apparently a very good musician as family members recall him playing the "fiddle". Henry was obviously a loner and not too much is known about him except that he often disappeared for months or years at a time without any word. The body of a man believed to be Henry was found near a railroad track wearing a coat, which had been given to him by a family member on one of his recent visits. It was assumed that he either was killed while trying to hop onto a freight car or was perhaps pushed from the train by person or persons unknown.
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BRIDGET DILLON
A daughter drowned when she fell in the well while drawing water. Sources say she was about 12 years old. This probably occurred while the family was living in Wisconsin. Although no record has been found mentioning her, one relative suggested her name might have been Bridget.
* In 1998 another source was discovered confirming this story. Bill Dillon of Yakima, WA also located a birth record of Bridget Dillon, dau. of Jacob (Latin for James) Dillon and Ellen Nora Going, 5 April, 1839, Balleynele Parrish, Tipperary South. This would lead to the conclusion that she was the first born and came to Nova Scotia with her parents, leaving Ellen, a baby, in Ireland with other family members.
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THOMAS DILLON
Thomas Dillon remained in Wisconsin most of his life except for a few years when the family went to Minnesota, but later returned. He served in the Civil War for most of its duration. His military record and pension application is published elsewhere.
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JOHN DILLON
John Dillon moved from Kansas in 1875 to Nevada for a few years before returning to Kansas where he resided until 1888 when he moved to Klickitat county, Washington where he devoted his attention and energies to ranching for eight years. In 1896 he went to Yakima county and purchased five acres of land two miles south of the Yakima depot. This he planted to apples and pears. He also built a home there. John Dillon was politically a Republican.
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CHARLES DILLON
Charles Dillon, like his brother John, was an orchardist in Yakima county, Washington. He and John went to Nevada in 1875 where they were employed in the mines until 1877. In 1879 he moved to Oregon, making his way to the Willamette valley, where he resided until 1884. In that year he took up his abode in Klickitat county, Washington. In 1885 he went to Yakima county and for six years was employed on the railroad. In 1891 he purchased five acres of land two miles south of the depot in Yakima and later added to it a tract of fifteen acres. Charles Dillon was a member of the Grange and voted with the Republican party but never sought any political office.
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ELIZABETH DILLON
Lizzie Dillon was married four times. Her first husband is unknown at this time, although she must have married him somewhere in Kansas, probably in or around Norton County about 1880. A daughter, Lulu, was born in 1881. She married Henry Goldstein and had 2 and probably 3 children. It is believed they lived in Florida in later years. Descendants can not recall the name of the first husband although one related to me that her mother mentioned that the first husband and Mr. Hoover, the second husband, were playing cards together when Leanna Hoover was born in Norton, Kansas, in 1896. Leanna was struck by an automobile in Topeka in what had to be one of the earliest car-pedestrian accidents in that city. A suit was brought by Leanna through her mother but no damages were awarded although Leanna was slightly crippled by the incident.
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FRANK DILLON
Very little is know about Frank Dillon except that he suffered from face cancer and took his own life because of it.
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JAMES DILLON - HOMESTEAD
March 29, 1872 James Dillon paid $14.00 to register his homestead.
He claimed he was the head of a family and a citizen of the United States (where and when was he naturalized?)
In August he filed this amendment.
State of Kansas
County of Smith
James Dillon of lawful age deposes and says that on the 29th day of March,AD 1872 he made homestead entry No 7027 at the US Land office at Concordia Kansas on the South 1/2 of the NE 1/4 and N 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Sect. 34 in township 2 two South of the range 12 west and that he is a bona fide settler on the SE 1/4 of said sect 34 and has a house about 16 by 16 feet square on the land and has some 30 acres of the land broken and now planted in crops and is now residing there with his wife and four children.
He further states that he made a mistake in the numbers of his land when he made his said entry supposing the numbers in his said entry embraced the land in the said SE 1/4 and that he has no improvements upon the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of 34 nor never intended to claim or enter it and that his house and a portion of his improvements are on the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Sect 34 which land he supposed he was entering. He further states that no other person but himself has any improvements on or clalims any part of the said SE 1/4 of Sect 34 in Town 2 S of Range 12 West and says that his said entry may be changed from the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 to the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of said Sect 34 Town 2 South of Range 12 West for which he will ever pray.
James Dillon
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of August AD 1872.
Thomas Plowman
Receiver
Gilmore Olson of lawful age deposes and says that he has heard the above affidavit of James Dillon read and is personally knowing to the facts as therein set forth and that they are substantially correct.
Attest: D. Dodge
Gilmore X Olson
his mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of August AD 1872
Thomas Plowman
Receiver
Jasper B. Walling of lawful age deposes and says that he has heard the written affidavit of James Dillon read and that the statements therein set forth are substantially correct.
Jasper B. Walling
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of August AD 1872.
Watis M. George, NP
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This document was filed at Kirwin, KS.
PROOF REQUIRED UNDER HOMESTEAD ACTS MAY 20,1862, AND JUNE 21,1866.
We, Frank Dillon and Martin Olson do solemnly swear that we have known James Dillon for 5 1/2 years last past; that he is head of family consisting of wife and four children a citizen of the United States; that he is an inhabitant of the SE 1/4 of section No. 34 in Township No. 2 of Range No. 12 and that no other person resided upon the said land entitled to the right of Homestead or Pre-emption.
That the said James Dillon entered upon and made settlement on said land on the 29th day of March, 1872, and has built a house thereon 14 feet by 26 feet one door and two windows said house is comfortable and inhabitable and has lived in the said house and made it his exclusive home from the 29th day of march, 1872, to the present time, and that he has, since said settlement, plowed and cultivated about 60 acres of said land, and has made the following improvements therein, to wit; built a stable large enough for 4 horses, build a corral and improved a spring afford him plenty of water that we cannot attend the land office by reason of distance.
State of Kansas (signed) Frank Dillon
Smith County (signed) Martin Olson
I, W.P. Meadows, Clerk of District Court in & for said county and state, do hereby certify that the above affidavit was taken and subscribed before me this 8th day of Dec., 1877.
I further certify that Frank Dillon and Martin Olson whose names are subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, are persons of respectability & credible and that the Judge of said District is absent from said county.
(signed) W.P. Meadows
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FINAL AFFIDAVIT REQUIRED OF HOMESTEAD CLAIMANTS.
ACT OF MAY 20, 1862
I James Dillon, having made a Homestead entry of the SE 1/4 section No. 34 in township No. 2, of range No. 12 as shown by duplicate receipt No. 7027 subject to entry at Concordia and Kirwin Kansas under the first section of the Homestead Act of Congress approved May 20, 1862 & March 21, 1864, do now apply to perfect my claim thereto by virtue of section No. 2291 Revised Statutes of the United States; and for that purpose do solemnly swear that I am at the head of a family and a citizen of the United States; that I have made actual settlement upon and have cultivated said land, having resided thereon since the 29th day of March, 1872, to the present time; that no part of said land has been alienated, but that I am the sole bona fide owner as an actual settler; and that I will bear true allegiance to the Government of the United States. That I cannot attend the land office by reason of distance.
State of Kansas (signed) James Dillon
Smith County
I, W.P. Meadows Clerk District Court in & for said county and state, do hereby certify that the above affidavit was taken and subscribed brore me this 8th day of December, 1877 and that the Judge of said court is absent from said county.
(signed) W.P. Meadows
Clerk of District Court
Final Certificate No. 1115
Homestead Application No. 7027
Land Office at Kirwin, KS
Approved March 14, 1878
Pat. June 24, 1878
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WILL OF JAMES DILLON
In the name of God Amen. I James Dillon in Cora Township Smith County Kansas being of sound mind and memory considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, that is to say, that after my lawful debts are paid, that I give, bequeath and dispose to my beloved wife Ellen Dillon all of the following described property both real and personal to wit; The South East Quarter of Section Number Twenty-seven (27) Township Number two (2) South of Range Number Twelve (12) West of the P.M. also The South East Quarter (1/4) of Section Number thirty-four (34) Township Number Two (2) South of Range Number Twelve (12) West of the 6th P.M.* Also the following described personal property. One bay mare 18 years old, one chestnut sorrel mare 16 years old, 1 gray mare 5 years old, 1 black horse 11 years old, one bay horse 5 yrs old, one bay colt 2 yrs old, one brown colt 1 yr old, one sorrel colt one year old, one red and white spotted cow, two red cows four years old, one red cow five years old, four red cows two years old, three yearlng heifers, one yearling bull, five spring calves, forty head of hogs, one wagon, one set double harness, all machiery and farm implements of every kind and discription. I further give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ellen Dillon, any and all other moneys, effects, chattles, and property both real and personal, that I own or may own at my death, that she may have and hold all said property, with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, for herself and her heirs and assigns forever.
I further now appoint Martin G. Olson as my executor of this my last will and testament, made and executed this 19th day of November, 1887. In consideration whereof of these facts, I have hereunto subscribed my name the day and year last written.
James Dillon (his mark)
wittness:
Dr. C.E. Nelson
D.G. Sutherland
* This property was purchased from Martin Olson Jan. 29, 1879
PROPERTY RESERVED BY THE WIDOW FOR THE USE OF HERSELF AND CHILDREN OF THE DECEASED
Family bible and school books
Wearing apereal, beds & bedding
Two stoves and appendages
** (next line hard to read but apparently is household
furniture...value unreadable)
Two cows 40.00
One hogs 10.00
One team of horses
One wagon & harness 35.00
Two plows and 1 harrow 1 corn plow
1 *** over ten ton of hay 10.00
one corn planter 10.00
one far**** **** 5.00
one 2 year old bay colt 60.00
one brown horse 11 years old Bill 60.00
one 3 year old bay horse Jim 70.00
PROBATE COURT OF SMITH COUNTY, KANSAS
PETITION FOR LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
And now comes John Dillon and represents that James Dillon, late of the said county of Jefferson*, on the 12th day of December, A.D. 1887, died, as your petitioner verily believes, having made no last will and testament; that said deceased had, at the time of his death, personal property in this State of the probable value of eight hundred Dollars, which may be lost, destroyed or diminished in value, if speedy care be not taken of the same; that said deceased left the following heirs, viz:
Ellen Dillon his wife aged 66 years
Ellen Brocket his daughter aged 46 years
Thomas Dillon his son aged 44 years
James Dillon his son aged 42 years
John " his son aged 40 years
Charles Dillon his " aged 36 years
Mary Oleson his daughter aged 32 years
Frank Dillon his so aged 28 years
Maggie Phifer his daughter aged 27 years
Elizabeth Dillon his " aged 25 years
Henry Dillon his son aged 23 years
To the end, therefore, that said property may be collected, preserved and disposed of according to law, your petitioner hereby asks and prays that Letters of Administration may be granted on the Estate of said deceased, and that John Elwood may be appointed such Administrator.
(signed) John Dillon
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 3rd day of Jany A.D. 1888. J.W. Henderson, Probate Judge.
*Jefferson was part of the printed form. Not sure why as other blanks were hand written Smith County.
John apparently took possession of the land and later disposed of it.
James received a patent on the land June 22, 1878.
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DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL INVALID PENSION (Thomas Dillon)
State of Minnesota County of Rice
On this 12th day of June, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty- ... personally appeared before me, a clerk of the District Court, a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, Thomas Dillon, aged 36 years, a resident of the City of Faribault, County of Rice, State of Minnesota, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Thomas Dillon who ENROLLED on the fouteenth day of August, 1861, in company C of the first regiment of Wis Cavalry commanded by Capt. Horace A. Chan, and was honorable DISCHARGED at Edgefield Tenn on the 19th day of July 1865; that his personal description is as follows: Age, 36 years; height, 5 feet 10 inches; complexion, florid; hair, black; eyes blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at camp near Nashville in the State of Tennessee on or about the 15th day of May 1863, he sustained a rupture in his privates by being thrown from his horse while making a charge on drill. That he is at present disabled by said injury and the parts are enlarged and is unable to stand on his feet for any length of time or lift any considerable weight. And cannot preform manual labor only of a light nature. that he was further disabled while in said service by contracting the piles after being in the hospital at Cape Girado in the State of Mosouri from weakness and being placed on duty too soon after was in said hospital with lung fever. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in the County of Waseca in the State of Minnesota, and his occupation has been that of a farmer. That he is now partially disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United Ssate; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States. That his Post Office Address is Faribault, County of Rice, State of Minnesota.
(signed) Thomas Dillon
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VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENT (Thomas Dillon)
State of Wisconsin Town of Oak Grove City of Beaver Dam
I Thomas Dillon born in Canada, aged nineteen years, and by occupation a farmer Do HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this fourteenth day of August 1862 to serve as a SOLDIER in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by and for volunteers. And I Thomas Dillon do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
Sworn and subscribed to, at City of Beaver Dam this 14th day of August 1862 before Thomas F. Gravitt, Sergt, 1st Wis. Cav.
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State of Wisconsin, County of Clark
In the matter of Thomas Dillion's claim for Invalid Pension of Co C 1st Regiment of Wis. Cav. Claim No 379962.
On this 12th day of January A.D. 1883 personally appeared before me a notary public in and for the aforesaid county, duly authorized to administer oaths, Thomas Dillon, your applicant, a resident of Abbotsford in the county of Clark and state of Wisconsin and whose post office address is Abbotsford Wisconsin, who is well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit and who being duly sworn says that he contracted disease of the lungs while on duty at Cape Girardeau Missouri on or about the 1st of October 1862 where your affiant lay sick in the Regimental Hospital, and at the time your affiant was convalescent, he contracted piles, which he has been unable to cure or get rid of. That while on duty at Edgefield, Tennessee, on or about June 1863, your affiant was ruptured on his left side, while on Cavalry drill. Sworn and subscribed before me this day by the above named affiant and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiant before he executed the same. I further certify that I am in no wise interested in said case.
(signed) R.B. Salter, Notary Public
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(OTHERS WHO SUBMITTED AFFIDAVITS FOR THOMAS DILLON)
13 July 1883, Mary McKenna of Mayville, Clark Co., Wis. That she has been acquainted with Thomas Dillon from 1867 to present. That from 1867 to 1872 she lived in the family and from 1872 unitl 1876, when he removed to Minnesota, she lived in his immediate neighborhood and has also lived near neighbor to him from time of his return from Minnesota in 1881 to present.
13 July 1883, Frank McKenna of Mayville, CLark Co., Wis. That he has known Thomas Dillon since 1872 and been intimately acquainted with him during the greater part of the time ever since and has lived in his immediate neighborhod all of said time except from 1876 to 1881 while he was living in Minnesota.
12 July 1883, Levi Woodbury of Colby, Clark Co., Wis. That he is acquainted with Thomas Dillon and knew him from 1872 until present time and lived within two or three miles of him from 1872 until 1876 and again from 1881 on his return from Minnesota until the present time.
17 July 1883, Timothy J. McCarthy of Faribault, Rice Co., Minn. That he knew Thomas Dillon in 1879 and 1880 and worked with him and knows of his injuries.
March 21, 1883, Leonard Griffith of Sherman, Clark Co., Wis. That he served in the same company with Thomas Dillon and that after leaving the army he did not see Thomas until about 1872. From that time until about 1876 he occasionally saw him and again from about 1880 until present and knows of his rupture and illness
(Date and name of affiant missing from document.) P.O. Address is Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis. Person says he (she?) knew Thomas Dillon since 1865. Knew him on his return from the Army, was at his father's house frequently, and knew that he had to quit work on account of the piles. Knew him as a neighbor of his father. Knew him off and on until the Spring of 1866* when he removed to the State of Minnesota, affiant followed soon after the same year and was an inmate of his house for about 3 years continualy.
* Probably should be 1876.
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Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions.
January 15, 1898
Sir: In forwarding to the pension agent the executed voucher for your next quarterly payment please favor me by returning this curcular to him with replies to the questions enumerated below. Very respectfully, H. Clay Evans, Commissioner of Pensions
First: Are you married? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer: Anny Dillon Anny Gribben
Second: When, where and by whom were you married?
Answer: March 17, 1866 Beaver Dan, Dodge Co., Wis.
*** rest of answer 2, all of question & and answer 3 not readable as page was folded when run through copying machine.
Fourth: Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer: No.
Fifth: Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer: T.F. Dillon May 1, 1867, J.W. Dillon March 1, 1869, Nellie Sep. 16, 1870 Katie Feb. 11, 1876, M.A. Dec. 11, 1872, Albert Sept. 8, 1880
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Washington, D.C. January 2, 1915
Date and place of birth?
Answer..Born in Cannada Feb. 22, 1848
Name of organizations in which you served?
Answer..1st Wis. Cav. Co. C
What was your post office at enlistment?
Answer..Oak Grove Dodge Co. Wis.
State your wife's full name and her maiden name.
Answer... Aney Dillon Aney Gribben
When, where, and by whom were your married?
Answer...Married in Beaver Dam March 17, 1866 at Catholic Church.
Is there any official or church record of you marriage?
Answer... don't know.
Were you previously married? Answer...No
Present wife previously married? Answer...No
Are you now living with you wife?
Answer...My wife and I have lived together ever since we were married.
State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead.
Answer...T. F. Dillon May 1st 1867
J.W. Dillon March 1st 1869 Dead
Nellie Dillon Sept. 16, 1870
Mary A. Dillon Dec. 11, 1872
Lauria Dillon April 28,1874
Kate Dillon Feb. 11, 1876
Charles Dillon Aug. 22, 1878 Dead
Albert Dillon Sept. 8, 1880
December 16, 1925. Thomas Dillon certified that he was 82 years old, a resident of Abbotsford; that he enrolled at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin August 13, 1861* and was honorably discharged at Edgefield, Tenn July 19,1865; That at enlistment he was 5 feet 10 inches; florrid complexion; blue eyes; black hair; a farmer; born Feb. 14th, 1842 at Nova Scotia, Canada; That he has rheumatism and failing physical condition in general; That since leaving the service he has resided at Abbotsford and is a farmer.
* Should be 1862
Thomas Dillon served as a private in Co. C, 1st Reg't, Wisconsin Cavalry. Promoted to Corporal March 1, 1864.
Promoted to Sergeant Nov. 1, 1864. He received $72 per month pension under the Act of May 1, 1920.
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