An old age which commands honor, obedience, admiration and
affection is what is vouchsafed to one of the venerable residents and valued
citizens of Macoupin County, whose home is located in section 31, Gillespie
township. Mr. Dilliard was born January 3, 1823, in North Carolina, and is a
son of Mark Dilliard.
The Dilliard family is one of great age and
repute in the Old North State, and there Mark Dilliard was born March 20,
1776. He learned the. trade of cooper, married in his native State, and then
removed to middle Tennessee. He died on his farm there November 26, 1826,
aged 56 years. In 1830, his widow removed with her family to Logan County,
and a year later to Todd County, Kentucky, but subsequently returned to
Robinson County, Tennessee. In 1836 a change was again made to Logan County,
but in 1838 the decision was made to proceed north and secure one of the
fertile tracts awaiting owners in Illinois. In real pioneer fashion the
journey was made and a farm was selected in Brushy Mound township, Macoupin
County.
Our subject is the only survivor of his parents' family of
five children. They lived until 1844 on a rented tract of land, and then our
subject purchased 40 acres, which was the nucleus of a farm which finally
expanded into 500 acres. The most of this land Mr. Dilliard developed
himself, under the hard conditions of pioneer existence. He was a youth with
longings for an education, but meager opportunities were afforded him and,
although a man of scholarly attainments at present, he is entirely
self-educated. His youth and manhood were spent in strenuous toil, while the
remoteness of educational facilities prevented his taking advantage of the
few months in the year when farm work presses least. As young manhood
advanced he began to teach school and it is related of him, as showing his
persistence and perseverance, that during one winter, after his ordination,
he taught school every week day, taught singing school at night and ably
filled his pulpit on Sunday. He taught school for 30 years in Gillespie and
neighboring townships and became an educator, of reputation.
On the
fourth Sunday in October, 1840, Luke Billiard united with the Baptist Church
and three years later he was licensed to preach, and from the date of his
ordination until three years ago, since which time bodily infirmities have
afflicted him, he was a faithful worker in the Master's vineyard. He has
materially assisted in the organization of 20 churches and has lent his
influence at all times to movements of a moral or educational character. His
children have been reared surrounded with the best of literature, and he has
given collegiate advantages to them all, and in turn they reflect the
greatest credit upon their wise, careful and tender father.
On
December 31, 1845, Rev. Mr. Dilliard was married at St. Louis, Missouri, to
Nancy Adams, who was born at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, April 14, 1829, and
is a daughter of Giles M. and Elizabeth (Miller) Adams, natives of North and
South Carolina, respectively. During the childhood of Mrs. Dilliard's
parents, their respective families moved to Tennessee and there they
married. Mrs. Dilliard was two months old when her parents came to Illinois
and settled in what was then the wilderness of Madison County. In 1831 her
father removed to Gillespie township, Macoupin County, securing virgin land
from the government. Their last days were passed with a son in Montgomery
County. Mrs. Dilliard was the eldest daughter and second child in their
family of five.
Rev. Mr. Dilliard and wife have had eight children
born to them, namely: Mathew; Giles; Almeda, who died in infancy; James J.;
Lorenzo; William C, who died unmarried, August 5, 1883, aged 26 years;
Edmund; and Mary J. Mathew Dilliard, who died July 4, 1897, at the age of 51
years, was survived by his widow, formerly Lucy T. Boyce, and four sons,
namely: William W., who married Mary Morrison and has two children — Lois E.
and Jessie B.; Robert E., who married Jessie E. Morrison of Gillespie
township, Macoupin County, and has two children — Morrison H. and Muriel P.;
Charles T., of Gillespie, Macoupin County, who married Jennie Watson and has
one child — Gerald W.; and Lawson E., of Dorchester, Macoupin County, who
married Zoda E. Huestis and has one child — Carrie M. Giles Dilliard, who is
a resident of Carlinville, Macoupin County, married Martha J. McBride and
has three children — Mary A., Emma E. and Oscar W. James J. Dilliard, who
resides at Collinsville, Illinois, married Mary Look and has two children —
Mattie K. and David. Lorenzo Dilliard, who lives at home, was educated at
the Jacksonville School for the Blind, is a talented musician and has been a
teacher. Edmund Dilliard, who is a practicing physician and surgeon at
Denver, Colorado, married Katherine S. Doe and has five children — Edmund
L., Abigail, Elizabeth M., William K. and Catherine. The youngest member of
the family, Mary J. Dilliard, married William A. Mattox, of St. Louis,
Missouri, and has one son — William A.
On account of the infirmities
of age, Mr. Dilliard has not been engaged in any active work for some years,
and has retained but no acres of his former large extent of land. With his
estimable wife, he enjoyed the celebration of his golden wedding
anniversary, on December 31, 1895. For many years he has been a Master
Mason, connected with the Bunker Hill lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 498-500.
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