BIOGRAPHY: Wilson S. DELLETT, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 655-656.

  WILSON S. DELLETT, Milroy, Mifflin county, Pa., is the fourth son of Hugh and 
Christiana (Scott) Dellett, the former of whom came from near Belfast, County 
Antrim, Ireland.  The latter was a native of Mifflin county, being born in the 
Juniata valley.  They were married in 1824;  to them were born:  in 1825, 
Margaret A. (Mrs. Robert Gemmill);  in 1827, John I., married late in life to 
Ellie (Way) Mequire;  in 1829, James C., who married Jeanette Auld;  in 1831, 
Hugh M., who married Anna Straley;  in 1835, Wilson S., who married Sarah 
(Hoffnagle), widow of Henry Barger, who died in the United States service during 
the Rebellion;  in 1838, Mary C., who remained single;  and in 1843, William W., 
who married Sarah E. (McMonigal), widow of James Hassenplug, who also died in 
the service.  Of these seven children all are dead, as well as the parents, 
except the younger sons, Wilson A.;  and William M.  James died in Milroy in 
1860;  Margaret in Washington, Ia., in 1861;  Hugh M., in Londer county, Nev., 
in 1880;  John I., in Centre county, Pa., in 1894;  and Mary C., in Washington, 
D.C., in 1897.  The father of this family died in Milroy in 1873, in his eighty-
fourth year, and the mother also in Milroy in 1888, in her eightieth year.
  Wilson S. Dellett received his limited education in the old Laurel run school 
house, which has long since given place to modern improvements.  He remained at 
home with his father until of full age, first laboring and then hauling with his 
own team.  When Company C, of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, (Captain, 
afterwards General, J. P. Taylor), was organized, in August, 1861, Wilson S. 
Dellett answered "Present," and was made quartermaster's sergeant.  The regiment 
was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and became a part of the famous 
Pennsylvania Reserves.  While on a foraging expedition Mr. Dellett was captured 
with three or four of his comrades by Stuart's Cavalry, and taken to Libby 
prison, but was soon sent over to Belle Island.  Fortunately for him, he was 
paroled about three weeks later, and sent to Annapolis, Md.;  soon after which 
he was exchanged, and returned to the regiment.  He was mustered out of the 
service September 9, 1864.  Returning home he engaged in farming and lumbering 
near Milroy, and soon after began dealing in stock, in which he is still 
interested to some extent.  Mr. Dellett moved to his present comfortable home in 
1880.  He is a successful business man, prudent and intelligent.  He assumed the 
support of his parents in their old age, especially during the last eight years 
of his father's life, who was totally blind.  Mr. Dellett is a member of the 
Democratic party, and is heartily interested in all efforts to promote the 
welfare of the community.  Although not an office-seeker, he has occupied 
various important positions;  he was supervisor of roads for four successive 
terms.  It was owing to his untiring efforts that Woodlawn cemetery was opened 
in 1892.  Mr. Dellett is a member of Colonel Hulings Post, No. 176, G. A. R., 
Lewistown, Pa.;  is secretary of Lodge No. 213, I. O. O. F., and also of Castle 
No. 257, K. G. E., of Milroy.
  John I., eldest brother of W. S. Dellett, served during the war in Captain 
Cole's Independent Cavalry, and later in the Second Maryland Cavalry.  William 
W. Dellett, the youngest brother, served the last year of the war in the 
Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.  The father of W. S. Dellett was an Orangeman 
and a Free Mason, and the mother was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a relative of 
the late Gen. Winfield Scott.  They were naturally Presbyterians, and gave their 
family strict Protestant training.