Charles F. DILLE, one of the leading archiculturists of Washington Township, residing on section 31, located in Ringgold County in March, 1876. He is a native of Ohio, born in Cuyahoga County, near Euclid, August 8, 1828, a son of Samuel W. and Mary D. (BARR) DILLE, natives of Pennsylvania, his father of Washington and his mother of Westmoreland County. His grandfather, Thomas BARR, was sent by the synod of the Presbyterian church as a missionary to the Western Reserve. When he was nine years old his parents moved to what is now Kankakee County, Illinois, where they passed the rest of their lives.His father was a stone-cutter and engraver, and at the same time carried on a farm, and consequently, in his youth, Charles F. was often required to assist in the work on the farm. He was educated in the district schools, attending in the winter, when his services were not required at home. When he was eighteen years of age his father died, and he was practically thrown on his own resources. He began to work by the month for farmers, which he continued until after his marriage, when he settled on a rented farm, and subsequently bought 280 acres, on which he lived until 1876, when he came to Iowa and bought 178 acres of wild prairie land in Ringgold County. He has improved this land and added to it untl he now owns 243 acres, besides giving his son eighty acres. Mr. DILLE is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, having only the best grades of stock on his farm. he is enterprising and public-spirited, and is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the township. He has served fifteen years as township comissioner, supervisor of highways, thirteen years as school trustee, and four years as township trustee, and is now a candidate for supervisor of Washington Township, Ringgold County.

He was married March 17, 1858 [Kankakee County, Illinois], to Virnella CATING, a native of Indiana. They have four children - Joseph C[harles], Samuel E[dward], Mary and John D. Mrs. DILLE is a member of the Christian church.

NOTE: It is noted in Portrait & Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois, page 544, ". . . Samuel and Mary (BARR) DILLE, were among the early pioneers of [Aroma] Township [arriving] in 1837."

Charles F. DILLE died at the age of 62 on January 20, 1891, Ringgold County, Iowa. Virnella (CATING) DILLE was born April 22, 1832, Indiana, and died February 11, 1913, Ringgold County, Iowa. Charles and Virnella were interred at Marshalltown Cemetery near Benton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Samuel "Edward" DILLE was born in 1862, and died in 1955. Edward's wife Mayzell (WEST) DILLE was born July 2, 1865, Greene County, Pennsylvania, and died January 2, 1926, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Edward and Mayzell were interred at Benton Cemetery, Benton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 247, 1887.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illinois, p. 544.

WPA Grave Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z