DILLY, Henry N. 1849-1942

DILLY, COLE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/6/2016 at 19:03:26

Henry N. Dilly Grundy Pioneer, Died Monday

Henry N. Dilly, 92, a pioneer resident of Grundy County, died at his home in Grundy Center, Monday morning, following an illness of more than six weeks.

Mr. Dilly would have been 93 years of age August 14th. He had resided in Grundy County for 73 years, and was one of the very few residents who came to Grundy Center before the railroad had reached the town.

During his very active life, Mr. Dilly was a member of the County Board of Supervisors, held the office of deputy sheriff, and last year he received honorary recognition for more than 50 years of continuous membership in the Knights of Pythias. He was also one of the founders of the Grundy County Fair association.

Mr. Dilly was born in Orange County, New York, on August 14, 1849. With his father and mother, he came to this county in 1869. Most of the trip from New York was made in a covered wagon, and he well remembered the experience that the family had in fording a creek near the 15 Mile Grove. As the stream was swollen by recent rains, it seemed as though the family never would complete the trip to Grundy County.

Mr. Dilly began farming with his father on a farm in the western part of Palermo township in 1869, and it was during March of that year that the first meetings were held to see if something couldn't be done about getting a railroad to Grundy Center.

In 1877, he married Luella Cole, and soon after their marriage, they began their life together on a farm in Washington township, near Grundy Center. He continued to farm there until 1914 when he retired, and Mrs. Dilly and he moved to Grundy Center, where Mrs. Dilly died in 1925. With the passing on of Mr. Dilly Monday, there are very few men remaining in Grundy Center who came to this community as pioneers.

Mr. Dilly's favorite hobby was fishing and this is the first year that he missed getting a license for many years.

Funeral services were held at the Coffman funeral home Wednesday, at 2 p.m., with burial in the family lot in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Cora Smith, of Grundy Center, and Mrs. Genie Briden, of Crookston, Minnesota; one son, Shirley Dilly, of Aplington; another son, B. B. Dilly, died last February. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 July 1942, pg 1