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Andrew Jackson Dillon was
one of New London, Iowa’s early settlers, coming to this beautiful settlement
in 1842 along with his young bride, Letitia Riggs, the daughter of Stephen
Riggs, an early surveyor of Burlington, Iowa.
Andrew, commonly called A.J., was born in
Davidson Co. Tennessee, November 6, 1816.
Sad to say but his first twenty years of life remain
very much a mystery. In 1838
he located for a brief time, married Mary Weatherford on May 6, 1838, in
Macoupin Co. Illinois, became a father to George Washington Dillon in 1839 and
buried Mary in September.
Grief stricken he wandered into Des Moines County,
Burlington, Iowa - met, courted, and married Letitia Riggs on November 24, 1841.
Letitia was the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Riggs.
This young family migrated to the growing community of New London in
Henry county, where they raised their family of eight children, George, Amanda,
Julie, Frances, James, Martha, William and John.
A.J. was an avid sportsman, hunting and fishing often
with his good friend Blackhawk.
He was an honest, hardworking man and raised his
children to appreciate a good day’s work for a great amount of self
satisfaction. A.J. participated in
a variety of working situations. In New London politics he was at one time Justice of Peace,
notary, and lawyer.
He not only worked as a plasterer, but was an auctioneer, and even a
watch repair man.
His family attended school in New London.
The girls became school teachers and or dressmakers and the boys worked
diligently as farmers and ore carpenters.
Both he and Letitia were active church members
attending the Christian Church. They
owned the house where they lived . It
was purchased for the sum of $300, a good price for property on block 6,
Lot 9 in the city.
He joined the Infantry in Macomb, Illinois, 16th
Regiment of Company B and spent four years in the Civil War.
The last three years of his life he suffered apoplexy
and died Nov 26, 1897 at he home of his daughter, Martha Dillon in Burlington,
Iowa.
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