DILLS, William - Putnam

The name Dills deserves to rank with the leading families of Madison township, for ever since William Dills came here from the Buckeye state he has been a leader in agricultural affairs and has taken considerable interest in the progress of the county in general. He was born in Shelby county, Ohio, August 19, 1840, the son of John and Agnes (Moreland) Dills. In 1845 the family moved to Putnam county, Indiana. The family first went from Kentucky to Ohio, making their long journeys through rough countries in old-fashioned covered wagons. They located seven miles west of Greencastle on the state road, in the eastern part of Madison township. Soon after coming here the father died leaving a widow with four small children, William, of this review, being the youngest; Urasmus D., born September 12, 1824, died in early life; Martha Jane, born December 13, 1828, died May 5, 1833. Two other children were also sons, so the mother kept the farm, developed it as best she could until the children were large enough to work it, thus keeping the family together. They were David M., who became a tanner and currier, and he died in the city of Cincinnati; Caroline has remained with her brother William; Watson P. married and went to Iowa, now being a resident of Dallas county. The mother, after rearing her children in comfort and respectability, passed to her rest in 1854, when fifty years of age, William being fourteen years of age at that time. He was then compelled to care for himself, consequently he received only a meager schooling, but later in life he became well informed by general reading. He saved his wages and when twenty-one years old had a start and, in time, he added more land to the home place and gave every evidence of a successful future. When twenty-four years of age Mr. Dills married Serena Wood, daughter of Nelson and Millie Wood, of Madison township, she being twenty-one at the time of their marriage. Mr. Dills commenced farming on his own account with eighty acres of land. Continuing to prosper he added to the place until he had a farm of about three hundred acres. Selling out, he purchased a fine farm on the Little Walnut, partly bottom land, but in a few years he purchased back the old Dills farm, then bought the Nelson Wood farm of three hundred and sixty acres, which he added to and which he still owns. About twenty years ago he bought his present well improved farm of two hundred acres, having been formerly owned in part by the widow of John Tucker. Mr. Dills has rebuilt the dwelling and outbuildings and in many ways added substantial improvements, and in connection with this farm he continued to operate the former Wood farm, four miles distant. He is a good manager of crops and all the diversified phases of agriculture, and he is an extensive stock raiser and dealer, feeding large numbers of hogs, cattle and mules, and he has bred some good shorthorn and Hereford cattle, registered. He is not an exhibitor, but breeds up his own stock, which is greatly admired by all, who readily concede him to be an unusually good judge of cattle. He has paid as high as fifty-five dollars per acre for his land and paid thirty dollars for most of it. He has made extensive improvements on each farm he has owned, laying a great deal of tiling and in many ways bringing his farms up to the highest standard. He is a firm believer in tiling. He has a very substantial, attractive and well furnished home which is regarded by the many friends of the family as a place of hospitality. From this splendid dwelling an inspiring view may be had of the surrounding country. Mr. Dills' family consists of four children, named as follows ; Otho C., who is in partnership with his father; Walter S., who is farming near Muskogee, Oklahoma, is also a real estate and sand dealer; Charles E. also lives near Muskogee, Oklahoma ; Laura M. is a high school teacher in Bedford, Indiana, a special and accomplished teacher of German, having graduated from DePauw University, and her first teaching was German in the high school ; when not in the regular school work she spends her time at home. The mother of these children, a woman of many beautiful traits of character, was called to her rest on March 29, 1909. Mr. Dills confines himself very closely to his business, hence his abundant success ; although a good Democrat, he takes no part in public life and does not aspire to office ; however, he is ready to aid in placing the best men in the local offices so that the affairs of the county will be properly managed at all times. He is a plain, unassuming, honest and industrious farmer and stock man, one of Putnam's honored and substantial citizens.