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Edith (Welker) Dillon
(1824-1893)

 

Edith's grave, Marengo, IA
Courtesy Leonard Sapone

Edith (Welker) Dillon was born on Oct. 9, 1824 in Union Township, Knox County, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gaumer) Welker Sr.

When she was 22 years of age, in 1846, she married 21-year-old Obadiah Dillon (1825- ? ), his first name also spelled "Obediah," and his late name alternatively "Dillin." The marriage took place in Knox County by the hand of the bride's brother, justice of the peace John Welker Jr. He was the son of Isaiah and Mary Jane (Hall) Dillin of Millwood, Knox County.

The couple produced at least five offspring -- Mary A. Dillon, Lucinda F. Dillon, Winfield (or "Stanfield") Dillon, Charles Roland Dillon and Lulu G. Dillon.

 

Obadiah Dillon
Courtesy "Svandee"

They owned several town lots in Millwood, Knox County and are enumerated in Millwood in the 1850 census. 

Sometime between 1852 and 1857, the Dillons migrated to Iowa and settled on a farm in Marengo, Iowa County. They are shown in Marengo in the 1860 census, with 17-year-old Columbus Dillon of Ohio living under their roof and helping with farming. 

In 1862, Obadiah was selected by District Court Clerk William G. Springer to serve as a judge in Springer's high profile contested election case in Iowa County. Two years later, in 1864, he was elected treasurer of the county. These events are mentioned in the 1881 book The History of Iowa County (Des Moines: Union Historical Company. Birdsall, Williams & Co.). He was a member of the Jerusalem Chapter of the Grand Chapter of the State of Iowa in Marengo.

 

Obadiah Dillon
Courtesy "Svandee"

The family remained in Marengo during the decade of the 1860s and are listed in the town in the 1870 census, continuing to labor as farmers. Obadiah also was a flour miller.

Edith passed away on Dec. 9, 1893 at the age of 69. Burial was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marengo, Iowa County, IA. [Find-a-Grave

Obadiah outlived his spouse by 18 years, and moved to Laredo, Grundy County, MO. He was considered a "cripple" and was exhausted in trying to endure life's daily challenges. 

He joined Edith in eternity at the age of 85 on March 25, 1911. W.S. Dillin of Brashear, MO signed the death certificate, and the remains were transported back to Iowa for interment in Marengo.

 

~ Daughter Mary E. Dillon ~

Daughter Mary E. Dillon (1847- ? ) was born in about 1847 in Millwood.

 

~ Daughter Lucinda F. Dillon ~

Daughter Lucinda F. Dillon (1849- ? ) was born in about 1848 in Millwood. 

 

~ Son Winfield Dillon ~

Son Winfield Dillon (1852- ? ) -- perhaps known as "Stanfield" -- was born in about 1852 in Ohio. 

At the age of 18, he engaged in driving teams of livestock in Iowa.

 

~ Son Charles Roland Dillon ~

Son Charles Roland Dillon (1857- ? ) was born on May 13, 1857 in Iowa. 

He married Belle Payne (1858-1923). 

The couple had one known daughter, Edith Drusilla Dillin. 

Charles died on Feb. 7, 1893 and rests in the IOOF Cemetery in Marengo, Iowa County. [Find-a-Grave

Edith lived for another three decades and passed in 1923.

 

~ Daughter Lulu Dillon ~

Daughter Lulu G. Dillon (1865- ? ) was born in about 1865 in Marengo, Iowa County.

Copyright © 2000, 2015-2017 Mark A. Miner

Many thanks to Ken Moffitt for sharing his family's history compilations. Obadiah Dillon image courtesy "Svandee."