Son of James A. and Margaret (Coon) Dillavou, was born Aug.29, 1850, in Randolph county, Indiana. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Illinois, near Bloomington. After living there three years the family moved to Iowa in the fall of 1855 in a covered wagon, locating in Kendrick Township, Greene County. Mr. Dillavou was one of the pioneers of this section of Iowa and experiened many of the hardships and privations of pioneer days. He loved to relate some of his experiences and in orders to prerserve the record of his life he wrote a carefully prepared account so his children and others might have the facts. This was done shortly previous to the time he was confined to his bed.

On March 13, 1879, he was united in marriage to Charlotte A. Chase and on the 18th of March, they began housekeeping on the farm, now occupied by his son, Statten, 6 miles northwest of Scranton. To this union nine children were born and five sons and four daughters, all of whom were born and reared on the farm in Kendrick township. In the spring of 1907 he moved his family to a lttle farm which he purchased near Glidden. Later he moved to town, and
after eight years purchased the Vader property and lived there ever since.

Mr. Dillavou was a man of high and noble principles. He was industrious and thrifty, being engaged in useful occupation all his life. He was devoted to his family, he was a good neighbor, he loved his country and had high regard for the Bible, the church and his God. He was always blessed with good health until about a year ago. From that time on his strength gradually failed until he peacefully passed away on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 2, 1933, having reached the age of 83 years and 4 days. On his 83rd birthday anniversary, just four days before his passing the children and a few friends gathered around hs bedside and fittingly commemorated the event. Then two days later the annual Dillavou reunion was held and he was eager to hear a report from that. It seemed his strength rapidly ebbed away after he had lived up to the time of these two events. His wife and lifelong companion preceded him in death, as did also three of his children, his wife passing on July 9, 1929; Rossman J, who died in infancy; Fern E, who died January 25, 1909, and Joy W., who was killed in the world war July 19, 1918. He leaves to mourn his departure six children; Malhoun J., of Glidden, Statton G. of Scranton; Maude E. Whiting, of Lake City; Essie E. Allstott, also of Scranton; Wayne F. of Austin, Minn., and Geneva G. Davis, Glidden. also 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He also leaves one brother, John, National City, Calif.; one sister, Mary E. Baggs, Mora, Minn.; two half sisters, Mrs. Martin Jordan, Mrs. Ernest Rider, and one half brother, Amos Dillavou, all of Scranton, Iowa, besides a large circle of friends and distant relatives.

Some of the closing words in his own written account of his life which he prepared on last June, 8th are as followed; "It will not be long until my name will be in this list." ( He has just mention the names of the deceased in the family)"as I am suffing much pain in my 83rd year. You all have my thanks for your kindness and help which you have given me. May the Lord bless you is my sincere wish. I have never lost faith in the All wise Supreme Creator. My hope is an eternal reward. I know there is none other that can speak peace to a man's soul but the eternal God himself. So I fall asleep in him, I shall rise with him. This is my fervent prayer...You whom I leave may God bless you. Trusting and hoping that I have my part in the first Resurrection, for on "luck" the second death hath no power. This is my prayer, Good-bye."

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the M.E. church, the Rev. E.M. Buehler in charge, assisted by the Rev. Mrs. Alberry, of the Kendrick Friends church. A male quartet, consisting of W.I. McLaughlin, A.D. Smith, W.H. Genter and C. M. Roberts, sang two selection and W.H. Genter sang a solo, Mrs. Florence Sherfield presided at the organ. Interment at the Dillavou cemetery. Miss Nell Malen sang at the cemetery.

This from Glidden Graphic & the Scranton Journal, Sept. 14. 1933. Copied S.J.Walker.