Peter DILLENBURG was born in Bertrich, Prussia, Germany, where Berlin is now, on November 5, 1829, and was reared there. He spoke Dutch, was well educated and could have taught school in Germany. He had two brothers. One was Jacob McTiercy. The name of the other brother is unknown. While a young man, Peter and his cousin, Casper BARES, came to the United States. It took them 72 days to come across. The cousin only stayed six to eight months, then he returned to Germany.

Sarah ROUDYBUSH was born in Iroquois County, Illinois on February 11, 1840, and came to Iowa with her parents while she was young. She had one sister, Lizzie, and two brothers, John and Elfe, and two half-brothers, Chris and Henry PLOTTNER. Lizzie married BIll HAREN. They had one son, Billy. Bill went blind, but he was able to make fly nets and hammocks. Then Lizzie married Oscar HULL. They traveled in a covered wagon with a team of white burros. The wagon upset and Lizzie was killed.

While Sarah was in her teens, she somehow met Peter DILLENBURG and they were married at Marshalltown on April 22, 1858, by Dr. SHERWOOD, D.D., witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. TROOK.

Peter DILLENBURG and Sarah ROUDYBUSH DILLENBURG started housekeeping in a log house, a quarter of a mile west of the Lincoln schoolhouse, now known as the SLAVIK place. They were the mother and father of twelve children, all born in the log house. Eight of the children grew to adulthood.

When their son, Peter Herb, was a young man, he went in a boxcar with Aaron FERTIG to McPherson, Kansas. In a short time, Herb took a homestead and the next year his parents went out. They lived in a sod house. Snakes and varments could crawl into the house, so they didn't like this way of living and only stayed a few years. They returned to Iowa and settled on a farm a quarter of a mile south of the Lincoln schoolhouse. It had a large two-story square house on it. Peter farmed the ground with oxen and would make trips to Lenox, hauling loads of lumber and other things for other people. It would take three to four days to make the trip.

Peter and Sarah's oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth Elsina, nicknamed Sina, married Will HOLLINGSWORTH, and was already living in McPherson, Kansas, before her parents went out.

Three of Peter and Sarah' sons, Joseph Elmer, John Nathaniel, and Peter Herb were married while living in the square house. Joseph married Mary CASTEEL on February 24, 1878. They were the parents of fifteen children. John married Julie E. RUBY on March 10, 1889. They settled on the place at which he had always lived, but the house burned shortly after their marriage. After their third child was born, Julie passed away on November 29, 1892. The children were left with their grandparents to raise. Later on in years, John had a house built on his land about a quarter of a mile south of his house for his parents, so his children could be close by. Later John married Mary Alice Mae ADAIR, and they had six children.

After Peter Herb came back to Iowa from Kansas, he worked at a brick yard at Marshalltown, which wasjust west of the Marshalltown Cemetery. He worked there until his marriage to Emma Frances REYNOLDS on February 9, 1890. Herb and Emma were married by Rev. HIMABAUGH. They drove a team and sled to Rev. HIMABAUGH'S home which was the Jim DENHART farm. The marriage ceremony was at twelve o'clock midnight. The Rev. HIMABAUGH was holding a meeting and they waited until he got home. After their marriage they settled on forty acres that was given to Emma by her parents, Green B. and Ellen Arminta REYNOLDS. This is where their seven children were born and where six of them grew to adulthood.

In 1901, Peter DILLENBURG stayed with his grandson, Peter Guy DILLENBURG, in Corydon for thirty days while Guy was having his eyes treated. Guy was only eight years old and too young to stay alone.

On February 6, 1905, Peter DILLENBURG passed away at his home. The funeral was at the house, officiated by Rev. HIMABAUGH, and burial was in the Marshalltown Cemetery.

In the spring of 1907, Joseph DILLENBURG and family went to Nebraska in a covered wagon.

In the spring of 1909, Louetta May DILLENBURG CLAWSON, with her husband John and family: Grandma Sarah; Stoughtler (nicknamed Stock), Elta, and John ENGLISH went to Nebraska. Louetta, John and family, Grandma Sarah,and Stoughtler went on the train, but Elta and John ENGLISH drove through in a covered wagon. On September 28, 1910, Jessie CLAWSON, daughter of Louetta and John, and Bill SNYDER were married. Herb and John went to Nebraska for the wedding.

In 1911, Joseph DILLENBURG and family and Jacob (Jake) DILLENBURG moved to Colorado.

On April 18, 1912, Grandma Sarah passed away at her home near Clearwater, Nebraska, of apoplexy. Her body was brought back to Diagonal. Rev. T. S. RHOADES preached at the funeral at Uncle John's house and burial was at the Marshalltown Cemetery beside her husband, Peter. After the funeral, Louetta May and John CLAWSON, Elta and Stoughtler went back to Nebraska. In February, 1913, they all moved out to Colorado.

Elta passed away in the summer of 1923 of pyorrhea of the teeth. He had been married but there were no children. In the fall of 1923, Stoughtler came back to Iowa. Jacob returned to Iowa in the spring of 1924. In a short time, they both went back to Colorado, but didn't stay long. They came right back to Iowa and settled in Knowlton.

In the fall of 1928, Louetta May and John CLAWSON and their eleven children came back to Iowa. Louetta May went to the Savannah Hospital for surgery for cancer, but with no success. They settled in the little square house across the road from Uncle John's house. Louetta May passed away on February 5, 1929. Her funeral was at the Methodist Church in Diagonal and burial was in the Diagonal Cemetery. After her death, John and the children went back to Colorado.

Stoughtler never was married. He passed away on June 6, 1950, at Knowlton, from the flu. Services were held at the Nazarene Church in Diagonal and burial was in the Marshalltown Cemetery.

Jacob passed away on December 28, 1952, of a heart attack, at the Fair Haven Rest Home north of Mount Ayr, Iowa. Services were held in the Nazarene Church in Diagonal and burial was at the Marshalltown Cemetery south of Diagonal. He had been married at one time, but there were no children.

Peter Herb and Emma's oldest daughter, Jessie Mae, was born December 21, 1890. On June 12, 1912, Jessie married Delmar GUNTER. They lived most of their married life in Benton. They were the parents of two children, Beatrice Electa and Ralph LeRoy. Delmar died on May 3, 1938. Jessie remained in Benton until her death on June 15, 1978. Delmar and Jessie are both buried in the Benton Cemetery. Their daughter Bea still lives just north of Benton on a farm with her son, Richard MOTSINGER.

Herb and Emma's first son, Larry Elbert, was born on January 16, 1892, but only lived twelve days. Peter Guy, their third child, was born on May 15, 1893. On January 26, 1916, Guy married Harriet May EVANS. They lived on the BUTT'S place for one year and on the SKARDA place one year.

In 1918, Peter Herb and Emma Frances moved into Benton and Herb ran a blacksmith shop as long as his health permitted. After they moved into Benton, Peter Guy and Harriet Mae moved onto the home place. This is where their two children, Eldon Guy and Norma Jean were born and reared. In the fall of 1969, due to failing health, Guy and Mae moved into Mount Ayr, Iowa. After their move to Mount Ayr, their son Eldon Guy and wife, Retha Lourene, moved onto the home place. They still own and live on the home place. Guy passed away on January __, 1971. Mae passed away in 1974. They were buried at the Benton Cemetery.

Herb and Emma's fourth child, Electa Leona, was born on November 20, 1894. On March 28, 1915, Electa married Milton JONES. They were the parents of two daughters, Doris and Bernice. They lived in Iowa until their children were grown and living in homes of their own. In 1956, they moved to Carson City, Nevada, to be close to their daughters and their families. Milton passed away on March 12, 1982. Electa passed away on August 18, 1985. Both are buried in Nevada.

The fifth child of Herb and Emma's was a son, Ralph Donald. He was born on March 25, 1896. On May 12, 1917, at the age of 21, he enlisted in the service and served in World War I. After he received his training, he went overseas and served until the end of the war. He returned to the United States and received his honorable discharge on August 6, 1919. On March 18, 1922, Ralph married Vera GAINES. They were the parents of two sons, Donald and Herbert, and one daughter, Lucille. During their married life they lived in various places in Iowa. At one time, while the children were little, they lived in Benton and Ralph ran a restaurant west of the post office. Vera baked all the pies for the restaurant. At the time of Ralph's death on November 6, 1952, they were living in Benton. Vera remained in Benton until she passed away on December 23, 1968. Ralph and Vera are both buried in the Benton Cemetery.

On May 7, 1900, Herb and Emma's daughter, Goldie Marie, was born. She married Raymond FERREE on January 1, 1918. They were the parents of one son, Everett, and two daughters, Louise and Vincel. They spent most of their married life in and around Mount Ayr, Iowa. Raymond passed away suddenly on March 18, 1974. Marie passed away on October 24, 1982. They both are buried in the Benton Cemetery.

Herb and Emma's youngest child, Wilma Lillian, was born on February 18, 1903. Wilma was fifteen and still living at home when her parents moved into Benton. After finishing school, she became a school teacher. She taught near Corydon, at West Point, and then she taught for several years at the Benton school. Wilma made her home, most of the time, with her parents in Benton until her marriage to Ray SCHLAPIA on July 4, 1936. They spent their married life in Benton. Ray passed away on May 28, 1950. After his death, Wilma spent a lot of time helping take care of her mother. Emma passed away on August 10, 1953. She was buried in the Benton Cemetery. After her mother's death Wilma moved in with her father to keep house for him. Herb passed away on July 12, 1957 of a heart attack. He was buried in the Benton Cemetery beside his wife, Emma. Wilma spent the rest of her life in her parents' home until she passed away on November 21, 1969, of cancer. After her death, the place was sold and Richard ROUTH bought it. At this present time, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry BOWEN live in this house.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. Pp. 147-50. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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