The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
DANIEL DILL.
Among the active, energetic and enterprising business men of Kin- ross is Daniel Dill-, the president of the Savings Bank here. He is num- bered among the old settlers of the county and was long classed among the prominent farmers, his home being yet on section 36, Liberty town- ship. He was born in Ohio, April 7, 1839. His father, John Dill, was also a native of that state and a farmer by occupation. The paternal grandfather, Peter Dill, was born in Pennsylvania, but at an early day in the development of the Buckeye state took up his abode there. John Dill remained in Ohio until 1S46, when he, too. emigrated westward
to become a factor in pioneeer settlement, establishing his home in Keo- kuk county east of the Black Hawk mill in Clear Creek township. There he transformed a tract of wild land into a richly improved farm. He lived in northern Iowa for about twelve years and died in Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-four. In her maidenhood the mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Shires, and her death occurred during the early boyhood of Daniel Dill.
Daniel was the second son and the sixth child in a family of thir- teen children. During his infancy his parents removed from Ohio to Illinois, settling in Sangamon county, and he was a lad of seven sum- mers when the family came to Keokuk county, where his youth was passed amid pioneer scenes. He pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse and lived upon the home farm until nineteen years of age, assisting in the work of clearing and cultivating the fields. He then started out for himself, working by the month as a farm hand. Saving his money he at length acquired a little capital. As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Susan F. Greenlee, a native of Kentucky. She lived in Ohio during her early girlhood and when about eight years of age was brought to Keokuk county, Iowa, by her parents, John and Nancy (Blue) Greenlee, pioneers of this locality.. She was reared in Clear Creek township and in 1S63 gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Dill. The young couple located in Richland township, beginning their domestic life upon a farm which Mr. Dill rented for about three years. He then removed to Clear Creek township, where he resided until 1875, when he came to Liberty township and bought the farm which is yet his home. There were no improvements upon the place when it came into his possession, all was raw land, and he turned the first furrows in the fields and harvested the first crops raised on the soil. He divided the
farm into fields of convenient size by building good fences, and he also erected a substantial residence and good barns. He is the owner of six hundred and eighty-eight acres of valuable land here, which he now rents, giving his attention to other business affairs, although he still main- tains his residence upon the farm. He is the president of the Kinross Savings Bank, which was organized in 1899, and to his present office he was chosen at that time.
The home of -Mr. and Mrs. Dill has been blessed with four children win 1 are yet living and they also have lost three, Emma E., Effie May, and George W. The two sons and two daughters who still survive are as follows: Allen, who married Halley Westfall and resides in Lafayette township; Albert, a twin brother of Allen, married Carrie Palmer, and is also living in Lafayette township; Ottie A., who is the wife of Amos Weaver, a pioneer farmer of Liberty township; and Lulu Belle, the wife hi' Perry Palmer, of Keota. Mr.- and Mrs. Dill are now at home alone, their living children all having married and gone to homes of their own. With the Democratic party Mr. Dill voted for many years, but is now a Republican, and he is known as one of the representative men of Keokuk county. He has been a hard worker, nut waiting for fortunate circumstances or influential friends to aid him, but advancing steadily through his own energy; guided by resistless will power, sound busi- ness judgment and unquestioned integrity, he has gained success and high standing in the business world.
Source: A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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