Terrell-Baker-Richmond County GaArchives Biographies.....Dillon, William Count 1836 - 1896
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 11:37 am

Author: William Harden

   CAPT. WILLIAM COUNT DILLON. Especially worthy of note in this volume among
the many capable and intelligent men who have been actively associated with the
agricultural interests of Terrell county is Capt. William Count Dillon, late of
Dawson, who brought to his independent calling good business methods and
excellent judgment, and whose labors were crowned with success. He was a native
of Georgia, his birth having occurred in Augusta, November 5, 1836.

   A small boy when his father died, he was brought up by an aunt, and began
when young to be self-supporting. He was naturally a studious lad, but as he had
little opportunity to attend school he obtained his education, principally,
evenings, by the light of a candle. Industrious and thrifty, he saved his
earnings, and when he had accumulated a sufficient sum to warrant him in
becoming a landholder he purchased a farm in Baker county, Georgia, where he was
soon busily and profitably engaged in raising cotton and corn. As his means
increased, Mr. Dillon bought other land, and carried on farming on an extensive
scale.

   Renting his Baker county lands in 1879, Mr. Baker located in Terrell county,
purchased a farm lying two miles east of Dawson, and was there a resident until
his death, February 15, 1896.

   While living in Augusta Mr. Dillon served as chief of police, in that
capacity performing his duties faithfully and fearlessly, to a noticeable extent
clearing the city of desperadoes. While thus employed the captain was shot, and
carried the bullet in his body as long as he lived. Public-spirited and liberal,
his influence and assistance were ever sought in behalf of undertakings for the
public good and for the advancement of the best interests of his community.
Although Captain Dillon acquired a large property, he did not obtain his wealth
by penury, but by his business tact and ability, as is shown in his farming
operations and in his wise investments.

   Captain Dillon married Mrs. Mary Virginia (Elliott) Wilkinson, who was born
January 6, 1845, in Baker county, where her father, James Elliott, was a farmer.
By her union with her first husband, Dr. W. W. Wilkinson, Mrs. Dillon had one
son, Walton Wilkinson, who died unmarried. Three children blessed the union of
Captain and Mrs. Dillon, namely: George Crawford Dillon, who is an invalid;
William Count Dillon, Jr., who died unmarried; and Susan Wright, who married
Walter Aloisius Mercer, of Dawson, and has two sons, William D. Mercer and
Walter A. Mercer.

   Mrs. Mercer received her education first by private tutors in Dawson, then in
Union Female College, under Mrs. James; then in Lake View University, at
Birmingham, Alabama; then back to Eufaula, under Mrs. Simmons; then to Wesley
Female College, at Macon.

   Mrs. Mercer and her husband are both members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, to which Mrs. Dillon, who died June 6, 1881, also belonged.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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