Sara L.Buckmaster, Vice President with her committee has worked hard to firm up plans for the 1993 Dillard Reunion, scheduled for Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, 1993 at Henry's Playhouse of the Dillard House, Dillard, Georgia. The moving of this date a week away was to avoid conflicts with graduation ceremonies. The schedule, which is in final form earlier this year, is as follows:
Saturday, June 12, 1993
Sunday, June 13, 1993
DILLARD, GEORGIA
John T. Coleman, Marietta, Georgia. "Records of Rabun County, Georgia"
"Wide Open" Panel Discussion of Dillard History Problems. Lucile R. Johnson, Chairman, with other Dillard Researchers on panel (You talk! Bring your notes and bring it up!)
Name_______________________________________________________________ REGISTRATION
Address_______________________________________________Zip____________
Number in Party_______________________________________________________
I/We will attend the Saturday night 7:00 p.m. dinner Yes____No____
I/We will attend the Sunday 1:00 p.m. dinner Yes____No____
A second notice will be sent out before June 12. If you are coming, why not send in your reservations on the tear-out form above to Rachel Dillard Scott, Secretary-Treasurer? Please make motel and hotel reservations on your own. Details of hotel, motel and similar accommodations from the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce will be mailed with the second notice.
Any Dillard by blood or marriage is welcome, and not just the Rabun County Dillard descendants. We want to meet and know our Dillard kin whoever and wherever they may be in that we aspire to provide Dillard fellowship, and preserve Dillard history, on a national basis.
The broader Dillard family is saddened by the death of Louise Dillard Coldren, age 74, President of the Dillard Family Association for the current year, at her residence at the Dillard House, Dillard, Georgia on November 21, 1992 from rapidly moving cancer.
Louise refused to give up her well known zest for a very active life focused on others even during her final painful illness. As was characteristic of Louise, she unselfishly pushed herself in her usual gregarious, incessantly busy lifestyle, untainted with self-pity, always responding that she felt "great" up to the very end.
The idea of reviving the Dillard reunions after fifty years was an idea which came from Louise. She played a major role in the staging of the 1991 and 1992 reunions, and was planning for the 1993 Reunion. Her honors and accomplishments during her lifetime are too numerous to mention. Included among the lesser is her work in the final year of her life as a director of the Rabun County Historical Commission in the publication of its new book.
Her extroverted and genial personality were trademarks of her well known Dillard hospitality and character. Louise, the only daughter of her generation of the Dillard House clan, was born feeding and waiting on other people. Even with a time at teaching school and raising five children, she looked after and fed people by the tens of thousands, including those who did not have the money to pay. She would give you the shirt off her back, and frequently did. Her trust in all human beings was constant. Her optimism when things looked bad was contagious. All this cannot be replaced and will be missed by the many who knew her.
Her love and support of the larger Dillard family, its culture and heritage, during her journey on this earth is a legacy she has left behind for our enrichment for which we should indeed be thankful.
It was great! If anything was wrong, there was just too much going on and some missed out on part of some of the events which overlapped others. A highlight of the l992 Reunion was a personal visit with us by former President of the United States Jimmy Carter, to whom we express our appreciation for his cordiality in thinking about and joining us. He has a standing invitation to come back in that he shall hereforth be deemed an honorary cousin.
Lucile R. Johnson, who came from Little Rock, Arkansas at her expense to tell us about our Arkansas Dillard kin could not get to her notes at the appointed time because the Secret Service entourage around President Carter was blocking the way to her room. She had to wing it, but it turned out better that way. She had a tough act to follow.
The geographic tour of old Dillard landmarks was so interesting that it took longer than expected. This will be repeated in 1993. The tour of the Sallie Dillard Powell and William F. Dillard historic homes was beautifully carried out by the owners of those residences and drew a large crowd. Our appreciation is extended to the owners of these residences in going to a lot of trouble in getting ready for us and in making us feel welcome.
Malcolm Dillard had a good crowd, including some who were not so young, on the nature hike of Rabun County mountains north of Dillard toward Highlands. This was so good it, too, will be repeated in 1993 at Tallulah Falls picked by Malcolm, a professional forester.
The Sunday afternoon History Session was kept lively by the panel of so called "old-timers", including Jim Dillard, Hershel Grist, Sara S. Ivie and Louise Dillard Coldren, recalling their life experiences in Rabun County. This was followed by a panel discussion of experienced history researchers on how to find out about Dillards and solve Dillard history problems. The history session was well attended, and everybody seemed interested in staying to the end of the two hours allotted.
The Saturday night barbecue catered by John L. Dillard of the Dillard House was excellent, and was attended by approximately 150 people. All business was handled in about fifteen minutes flat
Our appreciation is extended to 1992 President Barnard Malcolm Dillard for a first class job all the way through, which will be hard to come up to in future years. Our appreciation is also extended to the Dillard House owners and staff for the use of Henry's Playhouse for the meetings and refreshments at no cost to the association.
The following is a verbatim copy of the Minutes of the l992 Business Meeting taken by Secretary Janelle P. Knight:
"The Dillard Family Association Reunion was held in Dillard, Georgia, at Henry's Playhouse on June 6 and 7, 1992.
On Saturday, June 6, members of many Dillard families began gathering at Dillard for what proved to be a very exciting and enjoyable occasion. Registration began at 1:00 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m. the group was taken on a tour of sites, cemeteries, and beautiful old houses of Dillard. One outstanding feature of the tour was seeing the picture of pioneer John Dillard, Sr., which had only recently been discovered.
At 3:30 p.m. one part of the group left for a hike into the wilderness and waterfalls area of Rabun County.
At 7:00 p.m. registration resumed at Henry's Playhouse as more Dillard descendants continued to arrive. Afterwards, a delicious barbecue dinner was served to about one hundred fifty people. After dinner, music by Reverend John Sharp, Chaplain of Rabun-Nacoochee School, was enjoyed as he sang solos and also led group singing.
The business session followed, presided over by the president, Malcolm Dillard.
A new name for the organization, THE NATIONAL DILLARD ASSOCIATION, was suggested. No adverse reaction to this suggestion was noted, but no action was taken.
The president, Malcolm Dillard, asked for recommendations for financial support for the Association. After some discussion a motion was made that we accept a recommendation by Bill Dillard
Motion was seconded and passed. A motion was made and seconded that collection begin immediately. Motion passed.
The following persons were elected officers for 1993-1993:
Louise Dillard Coldren President Dillard, GA Sara Buckmaster Vice President Breaux Bridge, LA Rachel Dillard Scott Secretary-Treasurer Anderson, SC
Meeting was adjourned.
The history session of The Dillard Family Association Reunion began at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon, June 7. First on the agenda was "As We Remember Life in Rabun County", informal recollections of some Dillard descendants. Malcolm Dillard read a most interesting letter written by his grandmother. Others who took part in this part of the program were Louise Coldren, Jim Dillard, Sara Ivie, and Hershel Grist, Sr.
Next was Mrs. Lucile R. Johnson, from Roland, Arkansas, a descendant of Thomas Dillard who was a son of John Dillard, Sr. Thomas settled in Arkansas in the early 1800's. Mrs. Johnson, a historian and genealogist, gave an interesting account of the Arkansas Dillards.
Last on the agenda was a panel discussion entitled "How to Dig for Dillards". Moderator was John M. Dillard. The panelists were Tom Hughes, Mrs. Dorothy Dillard Hughes, Anne G. Dickerson and Lucile R. Johnson.
Mrs. Hughes emphasized that the place to start is, first, oneself, then one's grandparents, etc.
John Dillard stressed the importance of examining old deeds in family research.
Adjournment of the second session of The Dillard Family Association was at 4:00 p.m.
The consensus of opinion by those attending was that the Reunion was a superior event, most enjoyable and well-planned, and one that, it is hoped, will be repeated for many years to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Janelle P. Knight, Secretary
Malcolm Dillard, President"
The principal speaker for our Third Annual History Session, which has been moved to Saturday, June 12, 1993 at 2:00 P.M. (to relieve the pressure of time on those who would be traveling on Sunday afternoon and to leave Sunday open for fellowship) will be John Thomas Coleman of Marietta, Georgia. J.T., born and raised in Rabun County, Georgia, is an insurance claims manager who has been doing historic research, especially in Rabun County, for the past fifteen years.
He is thoroughly familiar with Rabun County, its people, history and its sometimes difficult public records. He has indexed Ritchie's Sketches of Rabun County History, the disorganized Inferior Court and Ordinary Court Records between 1822 and 1850 and the hard to read Rabun County United States Censuses of 1830 through 1900. J.T. was one of the principals involved in the compilation of "Rabun County Georgia and its People, Volume l" published in 1992 by the Rabun County Historic Commission. His topic will be Rabun County Records and related matters. We are fortunate in having J.T. with us at our Third Annual History Session.
The trek of the Dillard family from eastern Virginia to the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina began about 1740, when Thomas Dillard, Sr. and his family moved from Essex County to Orange County, Virginia. Other relatives had preceded them to the area.
Thomas Dillard, Sr. was probably born in King and Queen County, Virginia, circa 1700/1705. He married Winifred (Nalle) North, daughter of Martin Nalle and Mary (Alden) Nalle in Essex County, Virginia before July, 1729. Thomas and his family were in Orange County from 1740 until 1748, when the area became part of a new county, Culpeper. During their time in Orange County, Thomas served as lay reader and clerk at St. Mark's Parish.
On 24 November, 1749, Thomas received a land grant in Culpeper County of 1,100 acres adjoining George Dillard. He kept this land
Shortly thereafter, in early 1752, Thomas, Sr. moved to the newly formed county of Halifax in southern Virginia. There Thomas, Sr., Thomas, Jr., Edward and James Dillard patented 4,800 acres of land and were active in the settlement and development of that area. In the next fifteen years, Thomas, Sr., received appointments to the positions of Justice of the Peace and Coroner. He was also active in the church, serving Antrim Parish as vestryman, warden, and lay reader. In the Militia he received commissions as Captain in 1752 and Major in 1755.
In 1767, Pittsylvania County was formed out of Halifax County, and the Dillards and their holdings were in this new county. Once again, Thomas, Sr. and Thomas, Jr. became active in the establishment of the new area. They were appointed as two of the first Justices of the Peace in 1767, and Thomas, Sr. was appointed Coroner in 1768. He was lay reader for the New Camden Parish.
Thomas Dillard, Sr. died in Pittsylvania County in June, 1774. He named two sons in his will, Thomas, Jr. and James. Thomas, Jr. was administrator.
Thomas, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps in service to his community, his church, and his country. While in Halifax County, he was appointed undersheriff in 1755, vestryman in 1756 and Captain of the Militia in 1762. By 1767, he had obtained the rank of Colonel. He was appointed Justice of the Peace (1764) and sheriff of Halifax County in 1766.
In Pittsylvania County, he again served as Justice of the Peace, Vestryman, warden and lay reader for Camden Parish and an officer in the Militia. He commanded expeditions to Gwynn's Island and to Boonesboro, Kentucky. Dillard Musterfield was located on his plantation.
In 1782, Thomas, Jr. decided to move westward to the new lands he had seen on his expeditions. He had married Martha Webb about 1759, and they had ten children, two of whom were already married by this time. Thomas and Martha moved, with their large family and many slaves, to Washington County, North Carolina, an area that would later be a part of the State of Tennessee. He purchased 400 acres of land, but did not have long to enjoy his new home as he died in 1784 or 1785.
The children of Thomas, Jr. and Martha Dillard, and their spouses, were:
James, Robert and Thomas Love were brothers from Augusta County, Virginia, and Dorcas Love was most likely their first cousin.
As the young people married and started families they moved over to Buncombe County, North Carolina with all the Loves and Thomas and John moving on to Haywood County. By 1809, Thomas, III, Dorcas and their children were living on a 174 acres tract of land on the Oconolufty River, adjoining the Indian lands. Thomas died there in 1827. Though he left no will, his known children (from other public documents) were Artemesia Petit Dillard, John Love Dillard, Esther, Thomas, IV, Samuel and David L. Dillard. There may have been others that have not been identified. In the 1830's, Dorcas and her sons moved to the area that would later be Jackson County. Artemesia had married Daniel Bryson and Esther had married William Wiggins. John Love Dillard, Thomas, IV and Samuel moved to Gilmer County, Georgia as had their Uncle John. All had very large families and have many descendants in North Georgia and Tennessee. One son of Thomas, IV, L.M. Dillard, was raised by his grandmother, Dorcas, married and settled in the Cashiers District of Jackson County about 1861. Several of the descendants and their relatives still reside in that area.
David L. Dillard was born in Cherokee, Haywood County, North Carolina on 21 June, 1815. He married Edith Harris, daughter of Benjamin and Frances Harris, on 16 April, 1838. In 1849 David Dillard, his wife and baby, and his mother Dorcas and grandson were the only Dillards in Jackson County, North Carolina, according to
These are the Dillards of the 19th Century in western North Carolina, and they have hundreds of descendants.
William Holland Thomas Dillard (1839-1908) and Martha Jane Henry Dillard (1850-1940) were my grandparents. He was the father of thirteen children.
All information in this article was found in the public records of the named counties, vestry books, and military records.
There are three towns named Dillard in the United States: one is in Missouri, and I have no idea which branch of the Dillard family is honored there. The second is in Rabun County, Georgia, and was named after the Revolutionary Soldier John Dillard (1755-1842) who moved there in the 1820's, while the third is in Douglas County, Oregon, and was named after a grandson of that same John Dillard.
I have not been to the Oregon Dillard, but a picture sent to me indicates that it is small, not unlike its namesake in Georgia. The Dillards in Georgia and Oregon may have prospered, but they apparently did not have the knack of picking a town site which would later grow into a major metropolis.
When some Dillards made the final migration westward to Oregon, they were, in a sense, only following a family tradition of many generations, one shared by most American pioneer families. George Dillard, the Founder, migrated from the British Isles to Virginia. His descendants soon moved from coastal to inland Virginia. The parents of John Dillard of Georgia moved from Culpeper County to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and later John himself moved on to Washington County, Tennessee, then Buncombe County, North Carolina, and finally Rabun County, Georgia.
The movement continued as the three elder sons of John Dillard of Georgia broke away from their father and the rest of the family. Thomas left the family nest quite early and went off to Arkansas. John Jr. went to Kentucky, then to Monroe County, Tennessee, and finally to another part of Georgia. William F., the author's ancestor, went with John Dillard Jr. to Kentucky and Monroe County, Tennessee, but after that parted company with him and went west to Greene County, Missouri.
Why all this movement? The answer is probably very simple: land. In a society where the occupation of most people was farming, land was all important. Young men starting a family wanted their own farm; land was essential for them -- for making a living and also for establishing their status in society. If land was not available, or if what land was available was unsatisfactory, migration was the necessary way to start adult life and to become more prosperous.
In 1837, William F. Dillard, third son of John Dillard of Rabun County, Georgia, left Monroe County, Tennessee, and moved to
William F. Dillard purchased 320 acres in Missouri. How much land, if any, the young couples just listed were able to get has not been traced. Their farms must have left something to be desired, either in quantity or quality, for it was not very many years before they moved on. In 1850, it was advertised that Oregon land was offered free in return for only four years of residence and cultivation, an offer the young couples eventually found tempting. None of them started west immediately, and so for all we know there may have been other reasons for the migration. It is intriguing that only the eldest four children of William F. Dillard went west, while the younger children stayed in Missouri with their parents. This reminds one of what happened a generation earlier, when the three elder sons of John Dillard broke away from the family, but the youngest children stayed with their parents and eventually moved to Rabun County with them. There may be stories here, but apparently there is no hint of them now.
The first Missourian Dillard to go west was the Rev. John McCord Dillard (b. 16 Aug. 1813, d. 12 June 1893), a "farmer, mechanic, and Presbyterian minister". It is reported that he came home one day from a series of evangelistic services and found that a cyclone had damaged his farm. This decided the family on leaving, and in 1850, in three wagons which he made, they crossed the plains, arriving in Oregon on 15 October, 1850, in not very good condition or spirits. Snow had come while they crossed the mountains, giving the cattle no proper grazing, and all the animals but one had died from eating rhododendron.
The family made do as best it could, with Jane Martin Dillard working as a seamstress in a local store. She was paid $10.00 a day for making men's buckskin trousers. John went off to the gold fields, and did well enough to return with $800 in gold dust, with which in 1856 he purchased 640 acres in the valley of the South Umpqua River, the site of the town of Dillard. There, he later organized a Presbyterian Church, and a private school, and became the first postmaster.
Stephen Dillard (b. March 1819, d. 31 March 1867) was the next to catch the westward itch. He set out in 1852, serving as captain
Before Stephen was to try again, Samuel Dillard, also a preacher, became the next brother actually to reach Oregon. He arrived there on 16 August 1853, and settled in Lane County, some sixty or more miles from brother John in Douglas County. Perhaps there was no more land at Dillard, but since the brothers did not go out to Oregon together, one suspects that their living so far apart was not accidental.
In 1856, another expedition to the west was organized, a monstrous wagon train of something approaching 60 wagons. Stephen Dillard became captain of one half of this train, with his brother-in-law Horace Snow captain of the other half. They left Missouri in April and moved slowly across the plains.
This time, however, the expedition turned south, away from the brothers already in Oregon, and headed for California. Stephen bought a farm in Petaluma. He later moved for a time to Lane County, Oregon, where Samuel had settled, but eventually returned to Petaluma. The Snow family stopped some miles west of Petaluma, in Lake County, California, where Horace Snow died soon after arrival. Sarah Love Dillard Snow remained there the rest of her life, some of the children staying in California, others going back to join their siblings who had stayed in Missouri.
Two children of this period, George Milton Dillard, son of Stephen, and Molly Snow, granddaughter of Horace Snow, in later years told stories about these transcontinental treks (although one wonders how accurate the tales are, considering that George was seven and Molly five at the time). They reported that movement was slow and arduous for the large Dillard-Snow wagon train. It was difficult to average even fifteen miles a day. Besides, Stephen Dillard maintained a strict discipline throughout the train, which included resting and not traveling on the Sabbath. George also remembered that his father "used a yoke of three oxen on each of the three wagons and he never worked one yoke two consecutive days."
Both children remembered the Indians, who hovered around the wagon train a great deal, but were generally not hostile. Molly remembered their begging for bacon, and also how they ate the pioneers' brown soap; "while they chewed on it the froth & soapsuds would form around the mouth & hang on their chin till they were a comic sight." George remembered a man who got an arrow through his thigh, and another time when an Indian was detected stealing a
Later stories had it that one evening when the children were called in, one of the young Snow girls had vanished and was never seen again, presumably captured by the Indians. However, neither of the eye-witness accounts mentions this, although one does recall the discovery of the body of an unknown girl.
Both children also remembered that there were beads to collect in the ant hills along the way. George thought they were beads lost by the Indians and hidden away by the ants, but Molly thought the ants either found or made the beads, and the Indians "would collect the beads of shades and bead moccasins in the most delicate shading that no educated artist could imitate."
Needless to say, our western pioneers went to work to populate the new territory. Mary Love Dillard and Horace Snow had fourteen children, most of whom stayed in California. There were eight children in the family of Stephen M. and Julia Renshaw Dillard, five for Samuel Dillard and Elizabeth Julian, and three for John McCord and Jane Martin Dillard. Most of these had children, and the number of present day descendants must be very large.
Who knows? Maybe one of these days, someone out there will arrange to have a western Dillard reunion at Dillard, Oregon!
Sources of information: Shirley Clayton, "Pioneer Stories", manuscript at Dillard, OR; George M. Dillard, "Wagon Train Pioneers", The Register, Eugene OR, 18 July 1931; Genealogical Records of Oregon Pioneer Families, Compiled by Genealogical Records Commission, Oregon Society D.A.R.; Mrs. Sam Miller, "Recollections", manuscript in Douglas County, OR, Museum; Molly Snow Norman, manuscript letter of recollections of the trip west, formerly in possession of Thelma Snow Van Winkle; Oregon Donation Land Claims; Fay Hampton Robertson, "The Dillards of Dillard Road," Lane County Historian, XVI, # 1, Spring 1971, pp. 12 ff.
It was once published that John Dillard of Rabun County served with General Andrew Pickens in his expeditions against the Cherokee Indians. This has been repeated in other accounts about John Dillard. A. J. Ritchie, in a sketch of General Andrew Pickens of South Carolina, tells us that Pickens was one of the heroes of Grant's victory over the Cherokee Indians in the French and Indian War when Pickens was just 22 years of age. He further verifies that in 1785 after the Revolutionary War Pickens forced the Cherokee Indians in a single treaty to give up all of their claims in South Carolina and northeast Georgia out of which Rabun County was created. The latter was not the result of fighting, but Pickens' skills as an Indian treaty negotiator. It is stated that one of Pickens' Cherokee Indian battles was fought and won in the Little Tennessee River Valley in what is now Rabun County.
The basis of the conclusion that John Dillard served against the Cherokees with Pickens is unknown in that no sources are known. At the time and place when the Indian expeditions occurred, Pickens was residing in South Carolina, and John Dillard was residing in far away Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The conclusion that John Dillard served under General Andrew Pickens in the American Revolution seems based on still another conclusion that John Dillard and James Dillard of Laurens District, South Carolina, served together in the American Revolution in companies of which the well known James Dillard was a captain. It is reasoned that since James Dillard served with Pickens during the Revolutionary War (which he did in fact), so did John Dillard. The latter could also be the basis for the conclusion that John Dillard served with Pickens against the Cherokees, in that Pickens' expeditions against the Cherokees grew out of, and were timed with, his service in the Revolution. These conclusions need further investigation with the test of proved facts and not myth.
Dillard researchers have in recent years thought that the captain with whom John Dillard served was his probable first cousin, Thomas Dillard, Jr. of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, where John Dillard's Revolutionary military service, according to his own pension application, took place. A complete account of the Revolutionary military record of Thomas Dillard, Jr. is set forth in the old and respected History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia by Maud Carter Clement at pages 163 and 164 and elsewhere. A careful tracking of John Dillard's military record in the Revolution as alleged by him in his pension application compared to Thomas Dillard Jr.'s documented military record as set forth in Maud Carter Clement and elsewhere leaves little doubt that it was Thomas Dillard, Jr. and not James Dillard with whom John Dillard served. These two records verify each other in almost every detail.
James Dillard of South Carolina, a son of George Dillard of Culpeper County, Virginia, and also a probable first cousin to John Dillard of Rabun County, had left Virginia and settled in South Carolina prior to the beginning of the Revolutionary War. As pointed out by Marjorie Lee Holland in her Sims P. and Melissa Hendricks Dillard: Their Ancestors and Descendants, James Dillard was in Laurens District South Carolina when he married Mary Ramage Dillard, later Revolutionary heroine, on December 4, 1774. His brothers, Major, Samuel and William (killed in the South Carolina Revolutionary battle of Eutaw Springs in which Andrew Pickens also fought) were also there about the time of the Revolution.
James Dillard's documented military service in the American Revolution, including the Battle of Kings Mountain, occurred in and from South Carolina. Pickens' Revolutionary War military activities extended in and from South Carolina in the general period from 1775 through 1782, with Pickens' last "fighting" expedition against the Cherokee Indians occurring in 1782. John Dillard was in Pittsylvania County, Virginia until about 1782, a resident of Washington County, N.C. (Tennessee) until about 1789 when he settled in Buncombe County, North Carolina where he remained until about 1823 before making his final home in Rabun County, Georgia.
Andrew Pickens, while frequently serving as a treaty negotiator on behalf of the United States with the Cherokees, Creeks and other Indian nations after the Revolution, was never engaged in military activities of any kind after 1782. He died at his home at Tomassee, South Carolina in 1817, (this is in present Oconee County, South Carolina adjoining Rabun County, Georgia) two years prior to the organization of Rabun County in 1819 and its later settlement by John and James Dillard in the 1820's.
General Andrew Pickens did engage in fighting the British at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse under General Greene in central North Carolina in 1781. John Dillard's pension application mentions his Revolutionary service under General Greene across into North Carolina probably in this same battle not far from John Dillard's home in Pittsylvania County where he was based in that Virginia county's militia. We do not have the slightest documentation, however, that John Dillard served there under General Pickens.
The times, places and circumstances, and written proof, do not substantiate that John Dillard ever served with General Andrew Pickens in fighting the Cherokee Indians or in fighting the British in the American Revolution. Perhaps it is time to get the record corrected.
Sources of information: Andrew J. Ritchie, Sketches of Rabun County History, pages 14,15,26,151 and 160; "The Dillard House
Four of the seven sons of John B. Dillard and Rachel McKinney Dillard left Rabun County at different times starting about 1885, and made their homes in Westminster, Oconee County, South Carolina, which is some thirty four miles southeast of Dillard, Georgia in the adjoining county in South Carolina. These included Albert Lafayette Dillard. A brother, Robert L. Dillard, is said to have died a violent death at age 28 in 1897 and is buried next to his parents in Head of the Tennessee Baptist Church cemetery at Dillard.
The names and a brief history of all of the seven sons and three daughters of John B. Dillard, Sr. and his wife, Rachel McKinney Dillard, is at pages 193 and 194 in Ritchie's Sketches of Rabun County History. The Town of Westminster had its first United States Post Office in 1874, and was incorporated on March 17, 1875.1
It is said by some that Albert L. Dillard is the one who inflicted the fatal wound on his youngest brother, Robert. This story, if true, in some of its details would make good grocery
1Oconee County Centennial, publisher unknown, May 2, 1968 and
1955 Westminster City Directory, Westminster Directory Service, Inc., with Oscar Tuck,
compiler in the possession of W. J. England of Westminster, South Carolina.
Albert L. Dillard according to his imposing gravestone in East View Cemetery in Westminster
was born on October 23, 1864 and died at only 43 years of age on April 20,
1907.2 Ritchie
records that he served as Sheriff of Rabun County, Georgia from 1891 through
1894.3 Albert
and his brother B. R. Dillard were appointed by the Ordinary of Rabun County on
January 6, 1896 to serve as administrators of the estate of their father,
John B.Dillard, Sr.4
It appears in subsequent proceedings in this estate that only Beavert R. Dillard
continued to serve and finally settled this estate as set forth in the Minutes of
the Ordinary for Rabun County, Georgia, 1887-1898. In the initial order of the
Ordinary dated January 6, 1896 the words "with Albert L. Dillard" seem to have
been added as an afterthought following the appointment of B. R. Dillard as sole
administrator of the estate of J. B. Dillard,
Sr.5 A Sale Bill in this estate states
that Albert L. Dillard purchased two tracts of land from the estate with undisclosed
acreage. No deed has been found to date conveying this property to Albert L. Dillard.
The petition dated July 27, 1897, the year of the date of death of Robert L.
Dillard, of George M. Dillard, another brother, to have the Ordinary of Rabun
County appoint a suitable guardian for his mother, Rachel M. Dillard, "an
imbecile from old age", (she was then 66 years of ago having been born in 1831)
recites that A. L. Dillard, B. R. Dillard and John B. Dillard were then residents
of Rabun County, Georgia and were "the nearest adult relatives of
2Information on the gravestone of Albert L. Dillard. Albert L. Dillard's first real estate purchase in Westminster was in
l902.9
His being shown in the 1900 United States Census for South Carolina as living
in the household of his brother, William McKinney Dillard, seems to indicate
that he was in Westminster by that date and that he was probably then unmarried.
The date of his marriage to Callie Hull Dillard, a Westminster resident, was
reported in the Keowee Courier on February 28,
1896.10
Albert L. Dillard was a town policeman in
Westminster.11
Death from unknown causes took Albert L. Dillard one year and two months following
his marriage to Callie Hull Dillard. The petition for the appointment of Callie as
guardian in the estate of Albert L. Dillard states that his only child, Alberta Calhoun
Dillard, was born two days prior to the date of his
death.12
The estate of Albert L. Dillard who had no will appears comparatively extensive.
It consisted of nine rental houses and one or two store buildings and listed the ownership
by the decedent of 100 acres near Dillard in Rabun County, Georgia. Guardianship
proceedings were commenced in the Probate Court for Oconee County for Alberta Calhoun
Dillard, a minor who under South Carolina law who inherited one half of her father's
intestate estate, and continued until
1928.13
Callie Hull Dillard married for the second time Albert P. Owens and operated a
restaurant near the Ford plant in Atlanta where she died at 94 years of age in the
l980's.14
Alberta Calhoun Dillard married a Thurman, from whom she was divorced and
later married Van Lee Scarborough. She never had any children and worked for over
forty years in Rich's Department Store in Atlanta where she died at 81 years of age
on June 29, 1988.15
Alberta Scarborough was buried in West View Cemetery, Walhalla,
South Carolina. The Albert L. Dillard line has completely died out.
If the story of the homicide is true, why did the remaining eight brothers and sisters in the John B. Dillard, Sr. family let Albert participate in the settlement of their father's estate, take over as sole fiduciary their mother's business in 1897, the year of the alleged felony, and settle their mother's estate just two years later? How was he later hired as the town policeman in Westminster? A look at the facts about Albert Lafayette Dillard leaves us with more problems than we had before, and the story may not appear as credible.
After family historians have scrounged for each hint of a documented fact about John Dillard of Rabun County, analyzed and re-analyzed the same, and debated among themselves about all possible alternatives, and sometimes outrageous, conclusions which could be drawn, one would believe there is nothing else left. Then something else seems to unexpectedly crop up.
John Thomas Coleman reports in his Volume 13 of Soul Searching, entitled "Soldiers of Rabun, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars, Removal" under "Pensions" that John Dillard of Rabun County in 1827 drew land in Lee County, Georgia (this seems to be Lots 83 and 84) in a state land lottery. This is under Coleman's report of Revolutionary Soldiers of Georgia who drew land in the Georgia Lotteries of 1820, 1827 and 1832 who were living in Rabun County. This needs further investigation by Dillard researchers.
14Statement of Harry Clifton Duke about his aunt.
Are you getting tired of the same old crowd doing all the writing? Like to be an editor?
You can do something about that, particularly some of you younger Dillards. Send the Dillard Annual an article written by you. The only requirement is that your materials be factual and proved, with sources cited or available.
Fresh horses with fresh approaches are needed.
During the 1770's there were two young men named John Dillard residing in
Pittsylvania County, Virginia, one being about five years older than the
other.1
Both men served for the American cause in the Revolutionary War, each on three
separate fronts.2
The older John Dillard was the son of James Dillard. James and John removed to,
and settled in, Henry County, Virginia about
1779-80.3 The younger John Dillard
removed in 1781-2 to Washington County, Tennessee, secondly by 1789 to Burke
(Buncombe) County, North Carolina, and ended up by 1824 in Rabun County,
Georgia,4
where he resided until his death in 1842. (This John will be referred to as Rabun
John hereinafter). The parentage of Rabun John has not been firmly established,
for when he was five years of age, he was bound out to
Thomas Dillard, Jr.5
The above mentioned James Dillard and Thomas Dillard, Jr. were
brothers.6
Their children would have grown up together as most cousins do, with Rabun John
and John of Henry Co. having known each other "as family". After John of Henry Co.
died in 1822,7
Rabun John must have kept contact with the Henry Co. family, for two
sons of the two Johns evidently communicated between the Arkansas Territory and
Henry County, Virginia during the 1830's. Rabun John was still living, but John
of Henry Co. was deceased.
Rabun John had a son, Thomas, who by 1829 resided in Independence County,
Arkansas Territory.8
John of Henry Co. had a son, George Stovall Dillard, who
in 1830 resided in Henry County,
Virginia.9
In 1834, two sons of George Stovall Dillard arrived in
Thomas and George S. must have had some plan in mind, for the George S. sons had
arrived while Thomas was presumably in good health. Unfortunately, in December,
Thomas became gravely ill and died 17 Jan. 1835, "after an illness of about twenty
one days" so stated in his nuncupative
will.11
This distressing news must not have reached George S. before his departure
from Virginia, for after he arrived in Arkansas, he stayed in Independence
County a couple of years, then the family moved up to Izard County,
Arkansas.12
The closeness of the two Dillard families in Independence Co. is ascertained by the
residence of the Methodist Minister who solemnized the wedding of one of George S.'s
daughters. The Rev. Burwell Lee, on the 1840 census, resided three households from
the Thomas Dillard family cluster. The marriage would have been considered "in
family" for the groom's brother was married to Thomas Dillard's son-in-law's cousin.
Also, the Justice of the Peace, Jabez S. Bowman performed the marriage ceremony for
two of the Allens who married children of George S. Dillard, as well as for Nancy
Dillard, daughter of Thomas.13
George S. Dillard had another relative of sorts in the Arkansas Territory in 1825.
George S. was step uncle of John Penn Dillard of Crawford County, Arkansas Territory.
It seems George S.'s sister, Elizabeth (Dillard) Christian Dillard's second husband
was John Dillard of Amherst County,
Virginia14
whose first wife had been Sally Penn,
daughter of John Penn.15
John and Sally (Penn) Dillard were the parents of John Penn
Dillard who came from Bedford County, Virginia to the Arkansas Territory in 1822,
settling in Crawford County.16
At the time George S. and family were moving to the
Arkansas Territory, 1834-5, John Penn Dillard was running a boarding house for officers
at Fort Gibson, Indian Nation (Oklahoma, now). During the 1820's while residing in
Crawford Co., John Penn Dillard served on the Arkansas Territorial Council (forerunner
of the senate), had been Clerk of the short lived Lovely County, as well as Magistrate
of Crawford County. He returned to Crawford County
1840-41.17
John Penn Dillard's brother,
George W., was in Crawford County in 1829, and resided there until some time in the
1830's.18
Neither Thomas or George Stovall Dillard purchased land in Independence County,
Arkansas Territory. Were they going to Texas with
Sam Houston?19
1. Hill, Judith Parks. History of Henry County, Va. With Biographical
Sketches and Genealogical Histories. Maryland:
Hill, Judith Parks. History of Henry County, Va. with Biographical Sketches
and Genealogical Histories. Maryland: Baltimore; Register Pub. Co.; 1976; P. 67.
"N. Carolina State Records Vol. 15, P. 123.
19 Oct. 1780. Col. John Dillard was a representative of Henry Co., Va. to a council with N. Carolina Officers."
Order Book 111, Henry Co., Va.
24 May 1782. Reference to Capt. John Dillard and Company of Militia with General Greene March 1781.
The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is seeking information on any participant who fought there 14 Mar. 1781. There was an estimated number of 4,400 Americans who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Thus far they have gathered approximately 75% of the names of the participants.
Since Rabun John Dillard was a Rev. War pensioner, his war record is readily
available. (S31649). First, he served at the Battle of Gynn's Island, 8 July 1776
under Capt. Dillard, Col. Lewis and General Stevens; secondly, served 26
NOTE: While Rabun John Dillard was in Kentucky with Capt. Thomas Dillard, Jr., John of Henry Co. was with Capt. John Donelson on an Indian expedition.
3. The father of John Dillard of Henry Co., Va. was James Dillard. The Will of Thomas Dillard, Sr., the father of James and Thomas, Jr., names only one of James' son, Thomas, but stipulates two slaves to be divided among the other children of James. (Pittsylvania County, Va. Deed Book V, P. 401, Will of Thomas Dillard, Sr. written 4 May 1774, Recorded 23 June 1774.)
There is a deed in Bedford Co., Va., Deed Book IV, P. 508, 14 Jan. 1773, where
James Dillard of Pittsylvania Co. conveyed 39 acres to Thomas Dillard of Pittsylvania
Co. This Thomas was James' brother, Thomas, Jr. The witnesses of the deed were
Thomas Dillard (James' son), William Betterton, and John Dillard. John of Henry Co.
would have been 22 or 23 years old at that time, whereas, Rabun John would have been
a minor, 17 years of age. The deed date was 14 Jan. 1773 and Rabun John's birthdate
was 12 Aug. 1755.
In Henry Co., Va., the first record of John Dillard of Henry Co. is found in Deed
Book 1 P. 340, 5 June 1778. It is a list of surveys made by John Dickerson including
a survey for John Dillard on Horsepasture Creek. He was well established in the county
by the next year, for found in Order Book II, Oct 1779, John Dillard took the oath of
Justice of the Peace. By the next year, 1780, James, too, resided in Henry Co., proven
by a deed in Pittsylvania Co. Deed Book VI, P. 16. 1 June 1780. James and Priscilla
Dillard of Henry Co. conveyed land. Recorded 20 June 1780. No land records for James
have been found in Henry Co., so in all probability he resided with John. When Gen.
Cornwallis was coming toward Henry Co., the old veteran James was called to arms again:
Natural History Magazine, LXXIV #1, Jan. 1940; P. 46. "General Order and Roster
of Henry Co., Va., 11 Mar. 1781." Capt. James Dillard's Company. (Col. Abraham Penn
ordering them to Hillsborough, N.C.)
Found in: Clement, M. C. History of Pittsylvania County, Va. is John
Redd's "Reminiscences" in which Redd says John Dillard was a grandson of Capt.
Thomas Dillard, Sr. of Pittsylvania Co., and furthermore, Capt. James Dillard of
4. Court Minutes Washington Co., Tenn. Feb 1783. John Dillard, Thomas Dillard, and William Gregory served on a jury.
Huggins, Edith M. Burke Co., N. Carolina Land Records 1779-1791. S. Carolina: Greenville; Southern Historical Press; 1985. P. 94.
1790 Census of Burke Co., N. Carolina. John Dillard. 1 M 16+, 3M 16-, 5 F. Buncombe Co. was carved from Burke Co. in 1791. Rabun John appears on the 1800, 1810, and 1820 census of Buncombe Co., N.C. On the 1830 and 1840 census, he was in Rabun Co., Ga.
Rabun John's sale of his Buncombe home place appears in Deed Book 19, P. 358, dated 1821. Another deed found in Deed Book 24, P. 399 dated 13 Oct. 1826 states "John Dillard of State of Georgia and Rabun County". In this deed he sold more property in Buncombe.
5. Halifax Co., Va. Plea Book III, P. 265.
6. Deed Book V, P. 409. Pittsylvania Co., Va.
7. Will Book III, P. 40. Henry Co., Va. 8. 1810 U. S. Census. Buncombe Co., N. Carolina. The information placing Thomas Dillard as a son of Rabun John comes from the
military records of Thomas' son, John V. Dillard: 9. 1830 Census Henry Co., Va. George Dillard 0213101/1021001
10. 1835 Tax Records of Independence Co., Ark. Terri.
From the Ark. History Commission, Little Rock, Ark. 11. Bill Book A, P. 15. Independence Co., Ark. Territory.
18 Jan. 1835. Nuncupative Will of Thomas Dillard.
12. 1838 was the last year George S. and sons appear on the
Independence Co. Tax records. They are in Izard Co., Ark. for the 1840 U. S. Census.
13. Marriage records of Independence Co., Ark. 14. D.A.R. National No. 698835. Papers of Mrs. Willie Hallene
Dillard Herbert of Okla., descendant of patriot John Dillard of Henry Co., Va.,
and his son, George Stovall Dillard. D.A.R. National No. 656757.
Papers of Mrs. Jane Jordon Dalton of Utah, descendant of patriot John Dillard
of Henry Co., Va., and his daughter, Elizabeth (Dillard) Christian Dillard.
15. Amherst Co., Va. Marriage Bonds. 16. Will Book XI, P. 392. Amherst Co., Va. 17. Carter, Clarence Edwin. The Territorial Papers of The
United States, The Territory of Arkansas. Vol. XIX. Washington, D.C.;
U. S. Government Printing Office; 1953. P. 822, 837.
Goodspeed. The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of
Northwestern Arkansas. Ill.: Chicago; The Goodspeed Pub. Co.; 1889. PP. 527, 691, 1291.
18. Deed Book S, P. 113. Amherst Co., Va. Deed Book T, P. 204. Amherst Co., Va. 19. NOTE: All the Virginia Deeds and Wills herein quoted are courtesy
of Dr. Howard V. Jones, a descendant of Rabun John Dillard. The Virginia census
records quoted are courtesy of Mrs. Dorothy Dillard Hughes. Some of the Pittsylvania Co.,
Va. records are courtesy of John M. Dillard of Greenville, S.C., a descendant of
Rabun John Dillard.
store tabloid. Some have searched for a fact, just any fact, to prove or disprove this story. None has been found. There was no known criminal prosecution. The story is different in minor detail with every telling. The story, said by some to be well known, was virtually unknown until recently in the John B. Dillard, Sr. line in which it allegedly happened. Do the facts about Albert Dillard, in and around, and after 1897, shed any objective light on the truth? Let us consider a few of them.
3Ritchie, 300. Albert Lafayette Dillard, a son of John B.
Dillard, Sr., is not to be confused with Albert Dillard, a son of James Dillard,
and another Albert Dillard who was in turn his son.
4Minutes of the Ordinary Court of Rabun County, 1887-1898, pages
350, 447.
5Minutes of the Ordinary Court for Rabun County, Georgia 1887-1898,
page 350.
Rachel M. Dillard".6
Albert L. Dillard was issued letters guardianship of his mother's property by
the Ordinary of Rabun County on October 4,
1897.7
He was also appointed as administrator of his mother's estate on her death on
June 17, 1899 in that he petitioned the Ordinary on April 2, 1900 for his discharge
as such and "letters of dismission" were granted by that
court.8
6Minutes Ordinary Court of Rabun County, 1887-1898, page 447.
7Minutes of the Ordinary Court for Rabun County, 1887-1898, page 450.
8Minutes of the Ordinary Court for Rabun County, 1898-1906, page 95.
9Deed Book Y, Page 256 recorded in the Clerk's Office for Oconee County on March 3, 1902.
10Keowee Courier dated February 28, 1906, No. 410.
11Information given by Harry Clifton Duke of Westminster, S. C., a son of a sister of Callie Hull Dillard.
12Oconee County Probate Court proceedings in the Estate of Albert L. Dillard, deceased in Apt. 112, File 1115.
13Apt. 120, File 1180 Probate Court for Oconee County, South Carolina.
NEW FACT ON JOHN DILLARD!
15The date of this death is from the Oconee County cemetery survey
on cards in the Oconee County Library at Walhalla, South Carolina, with the card marked
"A.I. 7-1-88, age 7B. Col. B" perhaps referring to the Keowee Courier.
JOB OPENING: PLEASE APPLY
JOHN AND JOHN DILLARD OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA
By Lucile R. Johnson
Independence County, Arkansas Territory. They were the front runners for the rest of
their family, for in 1835 George Stovall Dillard, his wife Martha (Hill) Dillard, and
other children also arrived.10
Baltimore; Register Pub. Co.; 1976. P. 67.
This reference gives John Dillard of Henry Co., Va. a birth date of 1751.
U. S. Archives Rev. War Pension Record #S31649, John Dillard of Rabun Co., Ga. pension
application shows his birth date, 12 Aug. 1755 Culpeper Co., Va.
2. Hill, Judith Parks. History of Henry County, Va. with
Biographical Sketches and Genealogical Histories. Maryland: Baltimore; Register Pub. Co.; 1976. P. 67.
"John Dillard was wounded at Battle of Princeton." (This would place him with Capt. Thomas Hutchins of the 6th Virginia Reg't. They were rushed north from Pittsylvania Co., Va. to aide Gen. George Washington. The Battle of Princeton was held 3 Jan. 1777. It is my understanding muster rolls for this operation do not exist.)
DAR Paper #656757.
Hill's, History of Henry Co., Va. gives John Dillard's record while residing in Pittsylvania County as a member of the Committee of Safety, among other things.
Hurt, Frances Hallum. Military Records of Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
Womack Press; 1976. P. 151.
Mar. 1778 to 18 Aug. 1778 in Kentucky under Capt. Thomas Dillard, Jr. and Gen George Rogers Clark; and third, served as Lt., 27 Jan. 1781 to Mar. 1781 in Capt. Isaac Clement's company under Col. Perkins and Gen. Nathaniel Greene, for the Battle of Guilford Courthouse held 14 Mar. 1781.
the Indian Wars was probably a son of Capt. Thomas, Sr. of Pittsylvania Co. John Redd's family and the John Dillard of Henry Co. family intermarried.
22 Oct. 1789. John Dillard entered land. 100 acres. South Fork of Flat Creek of French Broad River.
June Court 1761. John and Ann Dillard bound to Thomas Dillard, Jr. (In 1766-7, Pittsylvania Co., Va. was carved from Halifax Co.)
Will of Thomas Dillard. 4 May 1774, Rec. 23 June 1774.
Sons: Thomas and James
Grandson: Thomas, son of James
Exec: Thomas Dillard, son
Wits: Thomas Vaughan, John Dillard, Elizabeth Dillard
Secs: Robert Williams, James Callaway
Will of John Dillard. 12 June 1821. Rec. 12 Jan. 1823.
"My nine children having married and left me"
Sons: James, George S., John, Peter H.
Daus: Mary Ann Wade, Elizabeth Dillard, Ruth Spencer, Patty Shelton, Jane Atley
Execs: James Dillard, John Dillard, Peter H. Dillard
Wits: Archibald Hughes, James Forte, Jacob Clark
Thomas Dillard 20010/20010
Thomas Dillard appears on the 1829 Sheriff's Census of
Independence Co., Ark. Terri. He also appears on the 1830 U. S. Census in the same county.
Morgan, James L. Arkansas Volunteers of 1836-1837. Ark.: Newport; 1984; P. 69.
"Roster of Capt. Jesse Bean's Company of Mounted Rangers, U. S. Army 1832-1833".
John Dillard, Pvt; 24; born N. Carolina, Buncombe Co.; farmer; enlisted 25 Aug. 1832,
Batesville, by Lt. King; died 15 Aug. 1833, Fort Gibson, of cholera. (Fort Gibson
was in Indian Nation, now Okla.).
Batesville is the county seat of Independence Co., Ark.
"Batesville Guard" Vol. 110, No. 245. 12 Dec. 1986. P. 1.
"...Capt. Jesse Bean's Mounted Rangers was the famous campaign into the west...This was the expedition that was accompanied by the well known author, Washington Irving, and about which he wrote the book 'A Tour of The Prairies'."
Dillard, Hill Ruddell Tap (son of George S.)
William L. B. Ruddell Tap (son of George S.)
1836 Tax Records of Independence Co., Ark.
Dillard, George
Book A, P. 31. 8 Jan. 1835. Washington Allen md. Sarah Martha Rawlings by
Jabez S. Bowman, J. P. (Sarah was cousin of Benjamin Franklin Ball who
married Elizabeth Ann Dillard, daughter of Thomas. Ancestors of the compiler).
Book A, P. 47. 27 July 1837. Andrew Allen md. Matilda Dillard, by
Jabez Bowman, J. P. (Matilda was daughter of George S. Dillard).
Book A, P. 38. 1 Sept. 1836. Henry A. Engles md. Martha S. Dillard by Burwell Lee,
Licensed Elder of the Methodist Epis. Church. (Martha S. was daughter of George S. Dillard).
17 Sept. 1791, John Dillard md. Sally Penn, daughter of John Penn.
12 Feb. 1816, Elizabeth (Dillard) Christian md. John Dillard
Will of John Dillard. 12 June 1836, Pro. 16 Feb. 1846.
Wife: Elizabeth
Sons: James M. and Peter H., "children of my last marriage to Elizabeth"
Sons: John, Francis L., George
Excrs: Alexander Mundy, William Dillard
Wits: David E. Jones, Richard Stephens, Michael A. Davidson, Stephen Davidson
NOTE: John Penn Dillard died Dec. 1845, about the same time his father died.
Deed Book S, P. 113. Amherst Co., Va.
29 Dec. 1827. John and Elizabeth Dillard of the first part, John Penn of the last part. (John Penn is appointed trustee of properties divided among children of John Dillard).
Mackie Manuscript. Howard V. Jones has a copy of the manuscript. It contains a letter describing John Penn Dillard's inheritance from his "uncle" John Penn.
29 Dec. 1827. John Dillard and Elizabeth his wife. Gifts of property to children. John Penn of the second part.
25 Dec. 1829. George W. Dillard, of Crawford Co., Territory of Arkansas to
Francis L. Dillard of Madison, Ala. (Sells
his inherited land to his bro.)
E-mail John M. Dillard at:
dillard@netside.com.
Compiled and edited by John M. Dillard.