BIO: Herman F. DILLON, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 287-289. _________________________________________________________________ HERMAN F. DILLON. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and whose portrait is shown on the preceding page, has for many years been one of the active and influential residents of Beaver Falls, Pa., and it is in terms of highest praise that his fellow-citizens speak of him. Having long been one of the leading business men of that thriving borough, he has done much to promote high business standards, and in every sense of the word has been an exemplary citizen, one of whom the people are justly proud. Mr. Dillon was born in Beaver, November 2, 1856, and is a son of Henry N. Dillon. Henry N. Dillon, the father of Herman F., was born in Big Beaver township, Beaver county, Pa., in 1824. He was a pupil in the district schools of Beaver county, and after farming for a time upon his father's estate, moved to Beaver and engaged in the teaming, hauling and general contracting business. In 1884, he removed to Beaver Falls, and went into the wholesale oil business, which he followed during the remainder of his active life. In early years he was a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party, he cast his vote with that organization, and gained quite a local fame by virtue of his personal association with Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Dillon was an active and aggressive worker in his party, but never sought office. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Supplee, a daughter of the late William Supplee, who was for many years a resident of Beaver county, having come from Chester, Pa., in 1839. The father of the subject hereof died in March, 1892, and his death was greatly mourned by all in the community. The Dillon men are all of large size, and are well-known for that physical trait. 288 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES Herman F. Dillon received his early mental training in the common schools of Beaver, and in Beaver Academy, and when fourteen years of age removed, with his parents, to Ohio township, his education being completed in that district. When but sixteen years old, he went to Pittsburg, where he was placed in full charge of a milk depot and route, owned by Jesse Smith, of Smith's Ferry, Pennsylvania. After two years he returned to Beaver county and went into the oil business at Island Run, where he became a general contractor. He remained there until January 1, 1882, and then accepted a position with the Beaver Falls Gas Company, for which he worked until 1885, when he was appointed superintendent of the entire plant. He continued with this company until 1897, when other business interests and political duties made it necessary for him to resign. Mr. Dillon was one of the promoters of the Beaver Falls Improvement Company, a society formed of public-spirited men, whose object was to attract manufacturing interests to that town. He is a promoter and director of the River View Street Railway Company and also a promoter and director of the People's Building & Loan Association, - a most substantial organization which had its inception in 1884, - and is also a member of the Tribune Publishing Company, printing a daily and weekly newspaper at Beaver Falls, and doing also a large business in job printing. Mr. Dillon is one of the stockholders in the Beaver Falls Water Company, which was started by several public-spirited men for the purpose of supplying the town with pure water at a much lower rate than had previously prevailed. Too much credit can not be accorded to this company, as the relief from the oppression of the old water company has been a great blessing to the people of Beaver Falls. Mr. Dillon is a Republican of the strongest type, and was elected to the council, the first term, in 1893, and served until 1897, when he resigned his seat to accept the office of register and recorder. The subject of this sketch cast his first vote for President Garfield, and has been active in politics ever since. For many years he was a member of the county committee, serving as its secretary and treasurer, and was also chairman of its executive committee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has always been a most faithful supporter. He is a member of several fraternal organizations, namely: Glasgow Lodge, No. 485, F. & A. M., of which he has been a member twenty-one years; Harmony Chapter, of Beaver Falls; Pittsburg Commandery, No. 1, of Pittsburg; Beaver Falls Lodge, No. 293, K. of P.; Rochester Lodge, No. 283, B. P. O. E.; Walnut Camp, of Beaver Falls, Woodmen of the World; Beaver Falls Tent, No. 53, K. O. T. M. Mr. Dillon married Jennie M. Kerr, a daughter of John Kerr, of Darlington. She was born at Darlington, in 1853, and pursued a course of study in Darlington Academy, afterwards teaching school until her marriage. The children which resulted from this union BEAVER COUNTY 289 are: Herman Ross, born in Beaver Falls, who is now a student; Blanche V., born in Ohioville; and Walter E., a student, born in Beaver Falls.