The Dolores star., 1922-11-03
AbsOlOm w. Dillon.

and died Wednesday. October IS, 1922,
making him "a years, 8 months and 26
days old.
His father started for California in
the rush of '49, when Mr.. Dillon was
but year old, and was never heard of
again. 1t is supposed that bis remains
helped to guide the next adventure on
his way to the longed-for colorado.
Mr.. DilIon's orphan childhood was
spent in Illinois. At the early age of
fifteen he Joined an exploring party
coming west. They crossed the prairies
to Denver. travelling up the Platte river
and on to Cheyenne. There he Joined
Clusters army as a roust-about. being
too young to enlist as soldier. He
was one of the rescue party to the
soldiers marooned on Beecher's Island,
being driven there by the hostile In
dians whom the government was trying
to move from Western Kansas to
Oklahoma. Nearly all of the rescued
men died from the exposure and starva-
ton, shortly after their release.
After few more years of this hard
and adventurous life he began freight
ing with oxteams from the end of the
railroad to Cheyenne. leading the life
of hardship. endurance and efficiency
that distinguished the early freighter
across the plains. After leading
several years of this hazerdous life he
returned to Illinois in order to obtain
more education. He spent four years
going to school, teaching, attending
Normal school and finally taking term
at Chicago University. During this
time he united with the Christian
church, becoming an active member
and remaining true christian man, in
the best sense of the word, ever since;
holding for his life's motto that "It's
not few paultry dollars that counts,
but being real man among men," and
we who knew him best know how well
he lived up to this ideal.
He was married to Laura NJ Hill,
June 5, 1880. Their union being truly
one of perfect companionship through
long and eventful life.
Soon after their marriage the young
husband again started west to lay the
foundation of that hearthstone that
was ever the heaven for many way
farer, as we'll as his own family. He
first stopped at Telluride, then called
Columbia, going little later to Rico.
Again his work was teaming with
| oyop kbrorfrb bo ,,,oppfoipo ~, e,r,p,or
and sending the teams to the lower
country for the winter. Thus it was
that he first came to know and love the
Dolores river and Montezuma valley.
In 1881 Mrs. Dillon joined him. Ala
mosa was the end of the railroad then,
and she was obliged to make the trip by
overland stage from that point to
Telluride. No easy matter as it is
today in super-six.
After living in Telluride and Rico for
some time the little family moved to
the Dolores river in the fall of '83.
AS soon as work was begun on the
bitches in the Montezuma valley they
came to the Shaft and in 81 located on
the Arriola homestead, that has always
been a landmark for that part of the
country. Building there home in the
truest sense of the word, where father,
mother and children worked together
in happy harmony for the betterment
of all. Where father was never so
busy but what he could help in any
undertaking that was for the better
ment of family, community. county or
State. Where work and hard times
never kept him from insisting on keep
ing the children in school every day,
and education and improvement was
the aim of their lives.
No meeting was ever complete with
out his able head to lead it; no under
taking successful without his guiding
hand to pilot it.
Such was the man who has gone from
our midst. One more Of the hardy
pioneers, whose sturdy qualities have
made 1t possible for those of later
generation to enjoy the fruits of their
labor. One whose industry and far
sight has given to us one of the great
est empires on the globe, and whose
qualities of manhood should lead US
also to look forward, not back; look up,
not down, and lend hand.
He leaves behind to mourn their loss
four sisters. fourteen grand children.
and five grown children, who are Mrs.
Edna Longenbaugh of Buelah, Mrs.
Kittie Winbourne and R. E. Dillon of
Lewis. Mrs. Blanch Royce of Dove
Creek, and Mrs. Florence Brown of
Los Angeles, while he has gone to join
the dear one whose void has never been
filled and whose joy will be wonderful
at their reunion. w