DILLE, Leonard K. - Putnam

DILLE, Leonard K., PO Clinton Falls, Physician and Surgeon, Sec 28, born April 3, 1818 in Cleveland, Ohio son of Asa born 1752 NJ; died Ohio 1837; and Fanny Sayler Dille born in Hungary died in OHio 1846; settled in this county 1856; married May 3, 1847 in Cedarville, Ohio to Rebecca F, 3rd daughter of Gabriel and Sarah Davis, natives of Frederick Co VA; 3 children: Corinne, Alice and Ella. Dr. Dille is an enterprising man and a prominent physician. Politically, a Whig-Democrat. When living in Ohio, in the years 1847, 48 and 1849, he was interested in and among the first orinators of a Union Pacific RR, being associated with Asa Whitney and others of NY. During that time, took a prominent part in presenting petitions to Congress from Ohio for Government aid, which has since been so lavishly bestowed. Owing to the services renderd at that time, the Legislature of the state petitoned Gen. Taylor, the President to appoint Dr. Dille Sec. of the Territory of Oregon, then the most important official in it; but owing to the failure in receiving the required aid from the Government to make the Union Pacific RR a success, Dr. Dille declined to accept the nomination tendered him. He also rendered efficient service in furnishing some of the facts from which the first and most interesting books were compiled for the now noted Smithsonian Institution, entitled "The Antiquities of the Mississippi Valley." Dr. Dille surveyed and opened some 250 Indian mounds, for the purpose of furnishing material for the above work, discovering a great many articles made and used by the aborigines, consisting of pottery, coffins, axes and articles for use in hunting, all of the same being on exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution at the present time. From the relics found by the Dr. at that time, it was very evident the aborigines had some knowledge of mathematics and also some idea of art in the manufacture of cloths. He also found idols of double-headed snakes, and evidences of sacrificial burnt-offerings. Facts were established by these excavations which tend to show that the Mound-Builders had no connection with the present race of Indians.