The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-08
George R. Dilks, Prominent
Wholesale Lumber Dealer,
Suddenly Expires at Home
in Spring Grove.
ALWAYS ACTIVE IN
lNFfNIs OF CITY
mr.. Dilks. ~ Only Been Ill
for Two Weeks and Was
Supposed to Be Recover
ing His Health Again.

George r. Dilks, for several years
engaged in the wholesale lumber bus
mess in this city, with his Offices in
the Colonial building, died most unex-
pectedly on Friday afternoon at
O'Clock at his home in Spring Grove
Death was due to heart disease, induc-
ed by complete nervous breakdown,
experienced about two weeks ago. He
was fifty-six years old.
The funeral will be held on Monday
afternoon at the residence at O'Clock.
Burial will be in Earlham cemetery.
Friends may call at any time.
For more than six months Mr. Dilks
has been in failing health and in
March was confined to his home for a
short time. On Monday, June Is, he
was taken seriously ill., the attending
physician attributing his condition to
nervous prostration. He had consider
able difficulty in breathing and later,
for about five days, his heart action
was very irregular However, he res
ponded quickly TO treatment and for
the last two or three days his condi-
ton indicated he was much improved
in health. Yesterday afternoon his con-
dition became suddenly worse and he
died within short time.
a.sssssassss spa<rl l<4ksb sh4e,r ss#s
Word Of his death when received
yesterday afternoon, was a distinct
shock to his many friends in this city
Mr. Dilks perhaps was as well and ia
county. For many years he had been
closely allied in civic enterprises by
virtue of his activity in the CONNER
clay club and other organizations, and
he was the close personal friend of all
with whom he came in contact. For
several years he had been a director
in the Commercial Club and served on
many of it's most important commit
tees.
Mr.. Dilks was in comfortable cir
cumstances, possessing valuable real
estate holdings, not only in the county
but elsewhere. His business was one
of the largest of its kind in the state
He was a member of the T. P. A. and
the Friends church.
Sketch of His Life.
At eighteen or twenty years of age,
Mr.. Dilks determined on a commercial
career and was employed at the Rich
mond Church and School Furniture
company and afterwards for George
H. Grant and company. After four
years he resigned to take a position
with T. H. Hill in the grain business
and in 1880 resigned this place to ac-
cept that of superintendent of the
Chicago Linseed Oil company. A year
later he resigned and accepted a posi-
tion in a similar capacity with the ].
P. Evans and company of Indianapolis,
which concern also was engaged in the
manufacture of Hnseed oil.
In 1886 he returned to Richmond as
superintendent of the Haynes, Spen-
Ger and company, manufacturers of
church furniture. Two years later he
w. J. Benners and Sons, Of Philadel-
phia. wholesale dealers in hardwood
lumber, and until 1891 divided his
time between the office here and on
the road for the company. During the
five ensuing years he was associated
with the NJ. B. Martin firm of Cincin-
natl as travelling salesman.
Upon retiring from that firm, he
engaged in the hardwood lumber busi-
ness for himself. His business. which
was jobbing exclusively has assumed
considerable proportions and he was
regarded as one Of the leading dealers
in the state.
Born in Philadelphia.
He was born in Philadelphia on Oct
20. 1854 and lived there until seven
years old, when the family moved to
Richmond. His father. George Dilks,
who was a prominent Friend and a
wellto-do lumber dealer and financier
of Philadelphia, died when Mr. Dilks
was quite young Mr.. Dilks received
his elementary education in the pub
lie schools here. and later attended
the old boarding school of the Friends
at Westown, Chester County, Pennsyl
vania. In October, 1876, he was mar
ried to Miss Alice Hill. daughter of
George Hill and wife, who survives
Sly children were h,-n five Of whom
including Mrs. J. E. Weller, Mrs. Geo.
Coale and Miss Dorothy, and Geo. H.
Dilks, Jr.. all of this city and Harry r.
Dilks. of Buffalo, New York. survive.
Three sisters. Mrs. j. c. Griffith. of
Chicago. and Mrs Joseph c. White,
and Mrs. Rachael ]. Shoemaker, OF
this city. also survive