Guardianship is when a court gives an adult custody of a child and/or the responsibility of managing the child's property. Before women could own property, guardians were appointed for their minor children if their husband died.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
The Civil War had more casualties than any other American war. Disease and infection were the biggest killers.
She moved with her family to Shelby County, Ohio as a child where her father died in 1834.
According to the Shelby County, Ohio Probate Court guardianship records, Ann was six years old on October 28, 1834. John Staley was chosen as her guardian and the guardian of her sisters, Margaret and Nancy. On August 4, 1836, William J. Martin was appointed guardian to the Taylor children.
Ann married Espy C. Dill on October 7, 1860. Espy was born on August 30 1824 in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of Richard Crane Dill and Hannah Burch. The Anna Methodist Episcopal Church, originally known as Mt. Gilead Methodist Episcopal church, was organized at the home of Richard C. Dill, in 1833.
Espy was a widower. His first wife was Achsah Nichols. Espy and Achsah married on November 2, 1848. Espy and Achsah had a son named Joseph Dill.
Ann and Espy had at least one son, Harrison W. Dill, who was born on December 5, 1861 in Shelby county. He married Eliza Lovina Fridley. Harrison died on March 20, 1950.
Espy enlisted as a private in the Union Army on August 13 1862 at the age of 38. He enlisted in Company H, 99th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 26 August 1862. He became a prisoner of war on September 20,1863 at Chickamauga, Georgia. He transferred to Company H, 99th, 50th Infantry Regiment Ohio on December 31, 1864. Ann Dill filed for a Civil War widow’s pension on October 27, 1865.
Washington D.C. June 15th 1866
I John E. Cummins do hereby certify that I was Lt Col of the 99 Regt Ohio Vol Infantry and was present with the Regt at the battle of Chickamauga, that the Regt was driven back Several times during the engagement by the enemy and on one of those occasions Espy C. Dill who was a private of Co “H" 99th OVI was missing since which time he has not been heard of. I am not atty for the applicant or in any wise interested in this claim. It is my belief that he was killed on the field or left the field in hands of the enemy.
John E. Cummins
Formerly Lt Col 99th Ohio
Ann appeared in the 1870 census in Dinsmore Township. The household consisted of Anne who was age 39 and a farmer, Joseph who was 20 and an invalid, and Harison who was age 8. As a widow, Ann became a feme sole and could own and operate her own farm.
In 1880 she was still living in Dinsmore Township. She was 50 years old and living with her 18 year old son Harison. She was a widow.
During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.
Shelby County, Ohio is in western Ohio and was formed in 1819 from Miami County.
from Sidney Daily News, January 4, 1947
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Dill Bride And Groom of 61 Years Ago Review Wedding Day and Intervening Time
“There are good days and there are bad ones” smiled Mrs Harrison Dill of 941 North Main avenue as she turned to her bridegroom of 61 years her eyes softening at his answering smile. “I just took the milk bottles to the grocery” she explained as she drew off her coat. ‘‘We were getting so many I thought I’d better take them back before I had to wash them over again.” she twinkled.
And then the next minute the 81-year-old bride eyed the jumbled mess her 85-year-old bridegroom was making of the desk drawer where their photographs were kept. She complained in well-chosen phrases. He pretended he didn’t hear. And she nodded assent to the query of “do they do that even after 61 years” Mr.
Dill former school teacher and president of the Anna Mutual Insurance company for 30 years described their wedding and told of their family and life together while Mrs. Dill was gone to the grocery and she supplied the remainder of the details when she arrived home.
They were married December 27 1885 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Haney their good friends at Port Jefferson. The Rev. J. M. Smith pastor of the Church of Christ performed the ceremony with Mr. and Mrs. Haney, Abraham Pence (father of Walter Pence of this city) and Jack LeFevre as witnesses.
“What did your bride wear” was the question Mr Dill scratched his head grinned and said after some hesitation. "‘She wore a brown dress. I’m sure yes it was a brown dress." Mrs Dill supplied the details. And without much exception she could wear her gown and hair-do this very day and be right in style. It was of brown wool fashioned with long sleeves, a tight-fitting basque with a row of buttons down the front of the bodice with a pedlum flaring from the tight waist. The long full skirt was edged in a pleated ruffle. A draped over-skirt at the side was of heavy embroidery and this same trim was repeated at the sleeves. A nosegay of ribbons adorned the flounce of embroidery A touch of white at the throat, a handsome necklace, and a dainty handkerchief completed her wedding ensemble. Her hair-do was a very definite upsweep with a pompadour and a reverse "top-knot" that looks every bit like Harper’s Bazaar or Vogue.
The distinguishing feature of Mr Dill’s wedding "ensemble" was the fact that he buttoned only the top button of his wedding suit — allowing the coat to flare open in a rakish manner. And as his claim to a modem Esquire was a snappy bow tie and a handsome watch chain which fell over a "tightly-buttoned" vest.
The newlyweds were photographed at the Spellman studio, 111 Poplar street Sidney known as "extra finish" photographers. They posed with their right arms casually resting on an unidentified object covered with rich brocade and in front of a simulated fireplace, ornate and very Victorian.
The weather on their wedding day as Mr. Dill remembered it was cold but it thawed in the afternoon and became very muddy. They were married at high noon. Both were from Dinsmore township and they returned there to establish their new home on a farm five miles northeast of Anna.
Mrs Dill’s maiden name was Louvina Fridley daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Fridley.
When Mr Dill was eight months old his father Espy C. Dill marched off to the Civil war. A year later his wife and son received word that he had been killed in the battle of Chattanooga.
For 15 years after their marriage, Mr Dill taught school — one year at Poplar Knob and the remainder of the time in Dinsmore township. “I taught school when you didn’t have to know so much." said Mr Dill but his alert face his sense of humor and his vocabulary gave lie to this. "I trimmed up a couple or three boys when they sassed me" Mr. Dill recalled "but other than that I never had any trouble." One boy, he said was about 16 and in the eighth grade.
Bitter cold weather bad roads miles to walk were barriers to education in those days "And the school teachers built the fires too" said Mr Dill. Abandoning his career as a pedagogue after 15 years, Mr Dill became a farmer. Prominent in civic affairs he was assessor in the Dinsmore township community for many years, became president of the Anna Mutual Insurance company which post he held for 30 years.
Twenty-seven years ago they left the farm and moved to Sidney for several years. Mr. Dill was employed at the Johnson Candy company until his retirement. “We have ‘fair’ health” said Mr Dill as he fingered his shoulder' “Twinge of rheumatism” he explained.
They are members of the Church of Christ and have attended regularly until just recent weeks when the weather became bad.
They have five sons and daughters: Mrs. Vern Ware (Letha),who resides between Port Jefferson and Maplewood, Lee Dill cashier in a Knox county bank, Mrs Walter Gunn (Lorah) Charleston, Miss Alvie Dill registered nurse Toledo, and Mrs R. C. White (Grace) of Detroit. There are nine grandchildren and five- great-grandchildren. No special observances was planned for their 61st anniversary although Mr. and Mrs. Lee Dill and Mrs. Lee Dill’s mother, Mrs. Lucy Reed of Knox county came to spend the day with them Sunday
The Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia was September 19 - 20, 1863. Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga. It ended the Union offensive in south-central Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. It was the last significant Confederate victory.Espy Dill, Ann Taylor Dill's husband, William C. Baker, Rudolph Baker's grandson was taken prisoner by the south. Josiah Smith was taken prisoner by the north.
In the Civil War (1861 to 1865) eleven Southern states seceded from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America.
The Civil War had more casualties than any other American war. Disease and infection were the biggest killers.
History of Shelby County, Ohio
Richard C. Dill, deceased, was born in Washington County, Pa., August 25, 1786. He came to Ohio sometime prior to the war of 1812, and located in Greene County. He entered the army and served about six months in the war of 1812. He married Miss Hannah Burch, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Speedy) Burch, of Hamilton County, born January 9, 1792,
Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled in Hamilton County, remained until in, October, I832,,when they came to Shelby County, with a family of nine children, entered,made improvements, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 29, Dinsmore Township, on which they passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Dill died July 14, 1861. His companion survived him until June 4, 1873.
They reared a family of eleven children, viz., Jane, Margaret,Ann, Rebeeca, Joseph, Espy, Amanda, James C., Franklin, Susan, and Catharine, six of whom are yet living, viz., Jane, Amanda, James C., Ann, Susan, and Catharine.
Espy was in the battle of Chickamauga, 'I'enn., in the war of 1861, and it is supposed that he was killed in the engagement, as he has never been heard of since that battle.
Mr. Dill served as commissioner of Shelby County one or two terms. He died respected by all who knew him, and was considered among one of Dinsmore’s influential citizens.
Franklin Dill, deceased, youngest son of the aforesaid Richard C. and Hannah Dill, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 2, 1830. He was brought to this county by his parents in the autumn of 1832 (then only two years of age), where his boyhood days were passed on a farm. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy A., daughter of Moses E. and Lucretia Baker, of Van Buren Township, this county, where Miss Baker was born November 26, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled on his father’s home farm in Dinsmore Township, where he died October 5, 1861, leaving awife and two children, viz., James N. and Franklin, to mourn the loss of a kind husband and an indulgent parent. He filled the office of clerk of Dinsmore Township for several years.
Espy C. Dill was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, August 30,1824. He came to Shelby County with his parents, Richard C. and Hannah Dill, in October, 1832, and settled in Dinsmore Township.
He married Miss Axey Nichols, of Shelby County, by whom he had four children, one of whom is now living, viz., Joseph C. Dill, who lives in this county, five miles southeast of Sidney. His companion died, and on the 7th of October, 1860, he married Miss Ann, daughter of David and Mary Taylor. Miss Taylor was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 5, 1829, and came to Shelby County with her parents in 1834.
Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled on the farm in section 14, Dinsmore Township, now owned and occupied by his widow and son, Harrison W. Dill,
August 14, 1862. He enlisted in Co. H, 99th 0. V. I., left his wife and one child, and went forth in defense of his country. He served faithfully until the battle of Chickamauga, in September, 1863, in which he was engaged, and has not been heard of since that engagement. It is supposed that he was either killed in battle, or taken prisoner and died in prison. At his death the Union army lost a brave soldier, and Dinsmore Township a good citizen.
Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787. Daniel Shays led four thousand rebels (Shaysites) in rising up against perceived economic injustices.
Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck
from Bickerstaff's Boston Almanack
Washington County, Pennsylvania, was created from Westmoreland and Fayette Counties in 1781. Originally it was a part of Virginia. Washington County split into Allegheny, Greene and Beaver Counties.
In the War of 1812 (1812-1815) the United States declared war on England because of trade restrictions, impressment, and British support for Indian attacks. They signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 after reaching a stalemate.
The Sidney Daily News,
Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio March 20 , 1950
Former Sidney Resident Passes
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Cromes funeral home for Harrison W. Dill, 88 year old retired farmer, who died of old age complications at the Glendora rest home in Centerburg, Saturday at 10:45 a.m.
A resident of Shelby county for most of his life, Mr. Dill moved to the rest home with his wife two years ago. He had been in failing health for several months.
Born December 5, 1861 near Anna, he was the son of Espe and Anne Dill. He was married to Louvina Fridley on December 27, 1885 and she survives along with five sons and daughters.
They are:
Miss Alva Dill, Toledo;
Mrs. Robert C. White, Genoa, Ohio;
Mrs. W. W. Gunn, Charleston, Mississippi;
Mrs. Vern Ware, Maplewood; and
Lee H. Hill, Centerburg.
Three children are predeceased. Nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive.
Rev. J. A. Long, of the Nelsonville Church of Christ will officiate at the services which will be in charge of G. H. Brell of Anna. Burial will be in Pearl Cemetery.
Mr. Dill was a member of the Sidney Church of Christ for 31 years. His last home in Sidney was at 941 North Main street.
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