Biography of F. L. Dille - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 128

G. M. Wheeler and F. L. Dille. Among the business enterprises of Morrilton none
are deserving of more credit than the firm of Wheeler & Dille, manufacturers of
and dealers in cypress, yellow pine and hardwood lumber, sash, doors and blinds,
lath, etc. As this sketch will show these gentlemen are recently from Wisconsin,
where they had wide experience in the lumber business, and notwithstanding they
came to Morrilton with a limited capital they have thus far met with a degree of
success that has enabled them to steadily increase the volume of their business
from year to year. This firm was established at Morrilton in the year 1888,
purchasing a saw-mill one mile south west of town to which is attached a gang
edger, lath mill and planing mill. They also run a steamboat in connection with
the mill to aid in supplying the mill with logs. The company also owns 280 acres
of cypress and 480 acres of pine land. The capacity of the mill is about 25,000
feet of lumber per day and the average monthly business is about 40,000 feet of
upper grade lumber, 80,000 feet of common grade, 5000 feet of cull lumber, 3000
pickets, 60,000 shingles, and 7500 doors and windows, with a total value of
about $2000. The mill employs on an average of six men, five yoke of oxen and
one mule team. The mill is under the immediate supervision of Mr. Wheeler, while
Mr. Dille has charge of the lumber yard in town and also does the buying and
selling.

Mr. Dille is a native of Dodge County, Wisconsin, and was born in 1853, being a
son of Dr. Brice and Phœbe M. (Andrews) Dille, who were natives of Ohio, born
and married near Cleveland, and from there they removed to the northwest part of
the State and settled where Toledo now is, but not foreseeing the future
greatness of the city he soon after immigrated to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where
Mrs. Dille is still residing. Dr. Dille was a successful physician for a good
many years. He died in 1874. F. L. Dille is the youngest but one of a family of
nine sons and two daughters. He attended the common schools till about fourteen
when he learned the art of telegraphy, and for about seven years was in the
employ of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company as operator and agent, and from
about 1882 to 1886 he and a brother, Melvern, were engaged in the lumber
business at Aberdeen, Dakota. He then returned to Wisconsin and formed a
partnership with Wm. Van Hoosear and was extensively engaged in the lumber
trade, operating three yards in Minnesota and Dakota till their business was
largely destroyed by fire, when Mr. Dille again turned his attention to
railroading, having charge of the station at Ironwood, Michigan, for a short
time, when he was employed by the Davis & Star Lumber Company, at Medford,
Wisconsin, as bookkeeper, shipping clerk and timekeeper, etc., and remained with
that firm till his removal to Morrilton in 1888. He was married on Christmas
Day, 1878, to Rose Hunter, a daughter of Jonathan and E. J. Hunter, of Sheboygan
Falls, Wisconsin, where Mrs. Dille was born and where her parents still reside.
Mr. Dille has three children and holds membership in the Masonic fraternity at
Aberdeen, Dakota, No. 38, of which he is a charter member. He is also a member
of the K. of P. at Morrilton, Hermion No. 28.