Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-16
OBITUARY..
Death OF Roland Dlller


Roland Diller, one OF the oldest and
most prominent citizens of this county,
died at his residence, in the village Oi
New Holland. this morning at O'Clock,
aged about S5 years. Mr.. Diller was
descendant of one Of the very oldest fam
lies of the county, several Of whom were
land holders in aud about New Holland
from its earliest settlement !; and Mr.. Dill.
Ter himself spent his entire long and use.
full life in that community, dying within 4
few rods Of the spot upon which he wa!
born.
After receiving an education is good Is
could be attained at the country schools Of
three quarters of acentury ago, his father
who was 4 well-tO.dO stOrekceper in New
Holland, sent Roland to Philadelphia, where
he received instructions in the higher
branches from DR.. AbercrumOie, who at
that time was regarded as one Of the best
teachers in the state. Roland learned
rapidly, and returned to New Holland the
best educated boy in the village. He enter.
ed his fathers store IS q clerk, and
finally succeeded him in business.
uo was an invetcrate reader and
possessed wonderful retensive memory.
His studies were varied, and one of his
knowledge of the law, and although he
never made application for admission to
the bar, Nathaniel Ellmaker and other
eminent practitioners say hc knew moro
law than one half of the regular attorneys.
He devoted much of his time to scrivening
and scarcely q deed, mortgage or convey.
ance of any kind for the past half century
was given in his neighbOrhOOd that he did
M nit yp0 into Vwyrl
ing of. He was justice Of the peace
fore justices wcro elected, and when,
tive, he was elected ahd reelected 70
peatedly. lilo was consulted by every
body on matters of law, or personal dis
putes and difficulties amon:, ci,hb,rs.
and his decisions were seldom appealed
from. He was 4 man OF 1ino intellect,
clear headed and Of strons will. Had
he been ambitious he could have
had any Office within tho gift OF
the people of this county, and prob
bly, Of q much wider constituency, but
he peremptorily refused all political pro-
fcrment. Hon. Anthony E. Roberts states
that in the days Of the Anti Masonic and
old Wing parties, SD great was his pOpu-
larity that it was almost impossible to
prevent tho conventions from nominating
him. lie was the president 0; the first
Anti-Masonic county convention ever hold
in Lancaster, his associate officers being
George IIammersly, John +. Long, An
thony f. Roberts, and men Of that ilk,
while the late Thaddeus Stevens was the
principal orator OF the occasion.
1t was not, however, rs 4 politician. or =
merchant that Mr.. Diller was most widely
known or highly esteemed, but rather be
cause of his good citizenship. His heart
and his purse and his sound advice We're
over at the service of all comers and many
a young and middle-aged man OF to-day,
now in afiluent circumstances or on the
road to fortune takes pride in referring to
Roland Dillcr as tho man who gave him
his first start in life, and pointed out tho
road to fortune.
MIR. Diller was never married, though
he was long housekeeper, and for many
years his elder sister, Mrs. Wilson, had
charge of his household. She died Il few
years ago, since which, time l.cr daughter
has been in charge.
In the death OF Mr.. Diller New Holland
has los: it's oldest and most distinguished
citizen, and its ablest and safest adj
wiser.