Will County IL Archives Biographies.....DILLMAN, A. CLINTON ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 24, 2007, 4:18 pm Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD A. CLINTON DILLMAN. Typical of the progress of Joliet in commercial lines stands the firm of Poehner & Dillman, which was organized in 1890, and has since become one of the substantial companies of the city. In the Metropolitan block, Nos. 417-19 Cass street, they occupy two floors 48x130 feet, having a basement that is used for storage and also as a shop, while the stock of hardware and stoves is kept upon the first floor. The firm has the largest trade in plumbing and hot-air and steam-heating in the city, and also takes many contracts for gas-fitting, furnishing, in their various departments, employment to thirty-five hands. Among their most important contracts were those for the Farragut school, Metropolitan block, two residences for the Sehrings, the new Central Presbyterian Church, and the residences of Col. John Lambert and Henry Piepenbrink, in all of which the systems of heating and plumbing have been modern, thorough and entirely satisfactory. The Dillman family descends from German ancestry. Michael Dillman, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to Stark County, Ohio, and in an early day settled in Plainfield, Ill., where for a time he carried on a foundry, but later engaged in farming. His son, Lewis E., was born in Summit County, Ohio, March 21, 1828, and learned the trade of a tanner and currier. In 1847 he drove to Illinois by wagon with A. H. Shreffler, stopping at Plainfield and selling four Hussy reapers, the first introduced into Will County. In May, 1849, he brought his father, Michael, and the other members of the family to Plainfield, and the firm of M. Dillman & Co. was soon afterward organized. Later he drove back to Ohio, where, April 4, 1851, he married Miss Maria E. Hunsberger, whom he brought back to Plainfield in his buggy. He then started a foundry and machine shop and began the manufacture of agricultural implements, this being the start of what is now the Joliet Manufacturing Company. On selling that he engaged in general merchandising for a few years and then resumed manufacturing as president of a company that, in the fall of 1862, moved the business to Joliet. The next year he brought his family to this city, where he was treasurer of the company, being associated with A. H. Shreffler and Andrew Dillman. After a time Mr. Dillman started a barb wire business, which he sold to the Lockstitch Fence Company, becoming its treasurer, and continuing in the manufacture of the wire until a stroke of paralysis terminated his activities. He is still living in Joliet, interested in the growth and prosperity of the city, with whose history he has for so many years been identified. He has been acquainted with many of the pioneers of the county—those men to whom we are indebted for our present high standing among the counties of the state; and, indeed, his own work as a pioneer business man is of such importance as to entitle him to a high place in the gratitude of the present generation. For two terms he was alderman from the first ward. In religion he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife is also living, and is now (1899) sixty-seven years of age. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter who attained maturity, E. Corbin and A. Clinton, of Joliet; Milo Fred, who died here, and Mrs. Mabel Moore. Born in Plainfield, this county, September 23, 1860, the subject of this sketch has spent all but the first three years of his life in Joliet. He graduated from the high school, after which, at eighteen years of age, he began to learn the wire business. Three years later he became superintendent of the factory of the Lockstitch Wire Fence Company, and continued with the same firm until 1888. He then went on a tour of inspection with a view to locating, but his visit in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa disclosed nothing desirable, and he returned home. Since 1890 he has been devoted closely to the building up of the business with which his name is identified. Though not active in public affairs he is a stanch Republican. Socially he is a member of the Union Club. He has been treasurer of the Sunday school and a member of the board of stewards in the Ottawa Street Methodist Episcopal Church, with the work of which he is intimately associated. His marriage, in this city, united him with Miss Jessie Frances Stevens, who was born in Wisconsin and educated in the Iowa State University. They and their children, Milo Stevens and Frances, reside at No. 418 Eastern avenue. Additional comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/dillman1756nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb