Charles Hall Dillon Biography


	This biography appears on pages 357-358 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CHARLES HALL DILLON.  

	Charles Hall Dillon, member of congress from the first 
congressional district of South Dakota and a  resident of Yankton, has 
left and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the history 
of his  state, where he has become widely known both as a lawyer and 
lawmaker. He is imbued with the spirit of enterprise which has ever 
characterized the development of the west. He was born three miles west 
of Jasper, in Dubois county, Indiana, on the 18th of December, 1853, 
and is a son of Matthew B. and Mary A. (Stewart) Dillon.  

	Liberal advantages were accorded Charles H. Dillon. He was 
graduated from the Indiana State University at Bloomington in June, 
1874, and, having completed the scientific course, the B. S. degree was 
conferred upon him. His choice of a life work fell upon the law and in 
the same university he pursued his law course, winning his LL. B. 
degree upon graduation with the class of June, 1876. He entered upon 
the general practice of his chosen profession at Jasper, Indiana, where 
he remained for about five years, and then came to South Dakota in 
January, 1882, settling at Mitchell. He there formed a partnership with 
Harrison C. Preston, practicing under the firm style of Dillon & 
Preston for about twelve years, or until 1894, when he removed to 
Yankton, South Dakota, where he entered into a partnership with Hon. 
Robert J. Gamble under the firm name of Gamble & Dillon. That 
partnership was continued for five years, after which Mr. Dillon 
followed the practice of law independently until elected to congress. 
His ability at the bar was recognized in a large clientage that 
constantly grew in volume and importance, connecting him with much of 
the notable litigation tried in the courts of his state. His 
preparation of cases has always been thorough and exhaustive and in the 
presentation of a cause his logical reasoning has been a potent force 
in winning verdicts favorable to his clients. Aside from his law 
practice he became connected with business interests of Yankton as a 
director of the Dakota National Bank.

	On the 28th of August, 1889, in Yankton, Mr. Dillon was united in 
marriage to Miss Maude B. Tripp, a daughter of Bartlett Tripp. She died 
November 6, 1894, and on the 26th of September, 1900, Mr. Dillon was 
joined in wedlock to Miss Frances D. Jolley, a daughter of Colonel John 
L. Jolley, of Vermillion, South Dakota.

	Mr. Dillon is well known in fraternal circles. He was elected the 
second exalted ruler of the Elks lodge of Yankton and was appointed 
district deputy of the state of South Dakota by the grand exalted ruler 
of the Elks for the year 1910. He is a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and he also has membership 
in the Masonic lodge. Outside of his profession he is perhaps best 
known through his political activity. Before his election to congress 
he served as a member of the state senate from Yankton county through 
the sessions of 1903, 1905, 1907 and 1909.

	He gave careful consideration to each question which came up for 
settlement and that the decisions which he made found favor with the 
general public is indicated in the feet that he was the successful 
candidate for congress in 1912 in the first congressional district of 
South Dakota. Again he labored untiringly for the best interests of his 
district, his state and the country at large and in 1914 was reelected. 
In the sixty-third congress he served on the committee on coinage, 
weights and measures, the committee on revision of the laws and the 
committee on claims. He enjoys the high regard and confidence of his 
colleagues and even those who oppose his views speak of him in terms of 
high regard, recognizing the honesty of his opinions and his loyalty to 
his convictions. His integrity is one of his most marked 
characteristics and the ideals and principles which govern his life are 
found in the teachings of Christianity. He holds membership in the 
Yankton Congregational church and takes a great interest in its work. 
All movements seeking the betterment of his community and state receive 
his hearty support and he is an especially stalwart friend of 
institutions of higher education and as a member of the board of 
trustees of Yankton College has for the past twenty years done much for 
the welfare of that school.