-Deriah John Dilley, born 1797 in Pennsylvania

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-1821 Tax rolls, Hanover Township, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania:

A=Acres, V=Value

DILLEY, Richard-Improved Lands 70 A, V 720; Unimproved lands 64 A, V 94; 1 house, V 50; 1 Outhouse, V 40; 1 horse, V 25; 2 oxen, V 45; 3 cows, V 30; Total V 1004.

(other surnames here)

DILLEY, Jonathan-Improved Lands 49 A, V 414; Unimproved lands 14, V 7; 1 house, V 15; 1 Outhouse, V 70; 1 horse, V 25; 2 oxen, V 40; 1 cow, V 10; Total 581

DILLEY, Deriel J.-1 horse, V 30; single man 100 Total 130

(other surnames here)

DILLEY, James-1 horse, V30; 3 cows, V30; Total 60

DILLEY, Jesse-1 horse, V30; singleman 100; Total 130.

Note: Jonathan Dilley and Deriel Dilley were listed next to each other. James Dilley and Jesse Dilley were listed next to each other. This is the only time Deriel/Deriah J. Dilley appeared on the Hanover tax rolls. It is assumed he moved to Wilkes Barre township when he married Almira Jameson.

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-1822, married Almira JAMESON in Pennsylvania, per Divorce decree in Iowa County, WI county courthouse. It is assumed this marriage took place in Luzerne Co., PA since Deriah was there in 1821 and Almira was there with her family at the time of the marriage.

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-1823 firstborn Fisher Stuart Dilley was born in Pennsylvania, assume it was in Luzerne Co., PA.

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-1825 second born child Sarah Ann Dilley was born in Ohio. It is not known where in Ohio.

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-1828 third born child Barbara Jane Dilley was born in Ohio. It is not known where in Ohio. Barbara married Richard Tregaskis on the 3rd of July 1845 in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin. They had two children, Richard H. Tregaskis born 1848 in Iowa County, WI and Barbara Jane Tregaskis, born 1850 in Iowa County.

1850 Iowa Co., WI census, Mineral Point:

#121, 121:
Richard Tregaskis, age 26, merchant, b. Eng.
Barbara J, age 22, b. OH
Richard H., age 2, b. WI
Barbara J., age 5 mo., b. WI

I have been told that Barbara Jane (Dilley) Tregaskis died in July of1850 in Sauk Co., WI while visiting her mother, but have not confirmed that yet. Her widowed husband, Richard, remarried on 16 March 1851 in Sauk County, Wisconsin to Miss Elizabeth "Eliza" Jameson, who was the younger sister of Barbara J. Dilley's mother, Almira Jameson. Richard and Eliza made their home at Mountain Home, Idaho, right near where Stephen B. Dilley was residing.

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-1830 Federal Census, Delaware Co., Ohio

Listed as DILLA, Derial, page 074, Harlem Township.

I have been told by a researcher in Delaware Co., OH that Deriah does not appear on their tax rolls prior to 1830. Where they were the first 5 years they were in Ohio is still a mystery.

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-1830 fourth born child Augustus Dilley was born in Delaware Co., OH. Location fixed by census records.

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-1831-Delaware County, Ohio, Deed book Volume 10

A. Byxbee by Trustee, to Deed Deriel J. Dilley:

Know all men by these presents that I Leonard H. Cowles, Trustee of Appleton Byxbee of the County of Delaware in the State of Ohio for and in the consideration of the sum of Two Hundred dollars received to my full satisfaction of Deriel J. Dilley, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell & confirm unto him the said Deriel J. Dilley his heirs & assigns forever, the following described tract of land situated in the west tier of Lots in the third Section of the third Township in the Sixteenth Range of the United States Military lands in Ohio, butted and bounded as follows: beginning at the South East corner of Lot No. three in South West tier of Lots, thence running West two hundred rods, thence North eighty rods, thence East two hundred rods, thence South eighty rods to the place of beginning to contain one hundred acres. To have and to hold the above described granted & bargained premises with all the priveledges & appurtenances to the same belonging to him the said Derial J. Dilley, his heirs & assigns forever to his and their own use. And I the said Leonard H. Cowles do covenant and agree with him the said Dilly his heirs & assigns forever that I am fully authorized to sell & convey the above described tract of land to hold as aforesaid as the Trustee of Appleton Byxbee, and that the same is free and clear of all incumbrances by sale or otherwise. In witness of the same I have hereto set my hand and seal this 30th day of June 1831.
Signed by Leonard H. Cowles, Trustee of Appleton Byxbee.
Witnessed by William Budd & R.H. Randall.
Received & Recorded 17th March 1832.
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-26 June 1832 fifth born child Stephen Barnes Dilley was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, location fixed by land documents.

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-1835 sixth born child Gilbert Austin Dilley was born in Ohio. It is not known where in Ohio Gilbert was born, possible Delaware Co.

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-1838 Iowa County, Wisconsin. Iowa County History Book, written in 1881, mentions on pg. 771 a list of dozens of men who had emigrated to IA County by 1838. D.J. Dilley appeared in this list, which was a population polling list.

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-1838- seventh and last child born, George William Dilley, in Mineral Point, Iowa County Wisconsin. Place of birth fixed by George's Civil War Pension File.

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-1840 Iowa County, Wisconsin, Western Reserve, fed. census, pg 59:
D.J. Dilley
2 males under age 5
2 males 5-10
one male 15-20
one male 40-50
2 females 10-15
one female 30-40

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-1842 WI territorial census, Ranges 1 & 2, Western Division, pg. 10:

D.J. Dilly with 8 males and 3 females in household.

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-Court Document located for Iowa Co., WI, dated Jan. 1843:

To the Honorable Charles Dunn, Chief Judge of the Territory of WI and presiding in Iowa County District Court.

Derial J. Dilley of the County of Iowa and Territory of WI humbly complaining unto your Honor herewith.
That your petitioner has resided in this territory for more than one year previous to this application and is forty five years of age and that in the year 1822 your petitioner was married to Almira Jimison aged 36 years also of the County of Iowa and whom your complainent prays may be made defendant to this his bill of complaint.
Your petitioner further shows unto your Honor that during your petitioners connection and cohabitation with the said Almira she has borne seven children the Eldest of which is nineteen years of age and the youngest four years old.
And your petitioner further shows unto your Honor that the said Almira since your petitioner's marriage with her at three different times wilfully and without any cause or provication deserted your petitioner and his children leaving the sole care and charge of the same upon your petitioner and that finally on the 9th day of Dec. 1842 without any cause or provication and in the absense of your petitioner the said Almira in company of a young man by the name of George Folley left the bed and board of your petitioner taking with her all her wearing apparel leaving the younger children without any protection and has and still refuses to return to her home and duty as a wife.
Your petitioner therefore prays your honor to examine witnesses to Enquire into the truth of the allegations above set forth and if found true or sufficient thereof to grant unto your petitoner a decree of divorce forever dissolving the marriage contract between your petitioner and the said Almira Dilley and your petitioner as in duly bound will ever pray.

Signed
Derial J. Dilley
By Parley Eaton, his Solicitor

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-Spring of 1849 Deriah left on a wagon train headed for gold country in California. Also on this train were his daughter Sarah Ann (Dilley) Bennett, her husband Asa Bennett, and their children (Deriah's grandchildren) George, Melissa, and Martha Ann Bennett. Iowa County, Wisconsin History book gives a list of emigrants pulling out for California, and the above are all listed.

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From the book "California Wagon train Lists", Volume I, April 5, 1849 to October 20, 1852, by Louis J. Rasmussen, page 67:

On May 29, 1849 a group of California emigrants left Kanesville, Iowa, to begin the long journey across the plains. This wagon train was known as the "Badger Company" and memebers of the train were:

(included the names of) Isahel Bennett and D.J. Dillay

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The book "Death Valley in '49" by William Lewis Manley described the trek of the Bennett/Arcane party of the Death Valley 49'rs, of which Asa Bennett and family were memebers of. It is said that this book was actually written by a woman, on remembrance of the tales that Manley had told her. It would appear so, since in this book it states that Manley had not seen Deriah Dilley since before they left Wisconsin. If indeed Manley was with this wagon train, and if indeed he did write this book, then he would have known Deriah Dilley was also a member of this train (per the two documented wagon train lists above). Very interesting reading, nevertheless.

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The Bennett/Arcane Wagon Train of Death Valley 49'rs arrives in California by January of 1850. Asa Bennett and family, along with Deriah John Dilley, settled first in El Dorado County:

1850 Census, CA., El Dorado County, Illinois Canion, 18 Dec. 1850, pg. 40, Household # 4:

Asahel Bennett, age 36, M, Merchant, $2500, Born NY.
Sarah Ann, age 25, F, born Ohio.
George, age 8, M, Born Wisconsin.
Melissa J., age 5, F, born Wisconsin.
Martha A., Age 2, F, Born Wisconsin.
L. Battle Holman, age 34, M, Carpenter, born Georgia.
Deriah J. Dilley, Age 53, M, Laborer, born Pennsylvania.

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-We have not been able to locate Deriah J. Dilley on the 1860 federal census.

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-By 1863 Deriah Dilley was teaching school in El Monte, California. In 1863, Deriah was 66 years old.

Microfilm received from California State Archives, Sacramento, CA.
"Common School Reports, 1861-1868" (2 rolls of film)

Roll #1:
"Supplementary Report of the County Superintendent of Public Schools"
For Sept. 1, 1862-Aug. 31, 1863
County: Los Angeles
Name of School District: El Monte
Name of Post Office of School District: El Monte
Name of School Teachers: El Monte: D.J. Dilley and Thomas J.B. Cramer
Names of Teachers to whom Certificates were issued, and Date of Certificate: D.J. Dilley, May 30, 1863

1863-1864-no teachers listed
1864-1865-no teachers listed

Roll #2:
Sept. 1 1865-June 30, 1866:
Same info as above, except:
Teacher's certificates renewed:
D.J. Dilley for El Monte

1866-1867-D.J. Dilley not listed as a teacher
1867-1868-D.J. Dilley not listed as a teacher

So from these entries, we can see that Deriah was teaching school in El Monte, California from 1862 through 1866.

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-1873 Great Register of Voters, Los Angeles County, CA, El Monte Twp. lists a Derial John Dilley, age 68, with place of birth Pennsylvania. His occupation was Teacher. Date he registered was August 11, 1866. There is also a Fisher S. Dilley, age 43, a farmer, also born in Pennsylvania who was registered July 30, 1866. Since "dead" is not listed after Derial's entry, it is assumed he is still living in 1873. The Fisher S. Dilley is Deriah's firstborn son, who must have gone out to California to live near his father.

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We have not found a date or place of death for Deriah. We know, from the above listing, that he was still living in 1866 (contrary to what William Manley said in his Death Valley 49 book, which had Deriah dying circa 1853).

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Family Group Sheet:

Name: Deriah John DILLEY
__________________________________
Birth: ca 1797 PA
Death: aft 1866/1873 El Monte, Los Angeles Co, CA
Father: Unknown
Marriage: 1822 PA
__________________________________
Spouse: Almyra D. JAMESON
__________________________________
Birth: 6 Aug 1805 Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA
Death: 1 Sep 1879 Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., WI
Burial: Prairie du Sac Cemetery
Father: John JAMESON (ca1770->1846)
Mother: Clarissa BARNES (ca1779->1846)
Other spouses: Daniel D. DILLEY

Children
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1 M: Fisher Stuart DILLEY
Birth: ca 1823 Pennsylvania
Death: ca 1882 St. George, Utah (?)
Spouse: Mary A. _______
Marriage: ca 1849 Wisconsin
Spouse: Mary Elizabeth MEREDITH
Marriage: ca 1869 Utah
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2 F: Sarah Ann DILLEY
Birth: ca 1825 Ohio
Death: 1857 San Jose, Santa Clara Co, CA. (Consumption, TB)
Spouse: Asahel BENNETT
Marriage: 17 Dec 1840 Iowa Co., WI
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3 F: Barbara Jane DILLEY
Birth: 1828 OH
Death: 8 Jul 1850 Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., WI
Spouse: Richard TREGASKIS
Marriage: 3 Jul 1845 Mineral Point, Iowa Co., WI
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4 M: Augustus DILLEY
Birth: 1830
Death: aft 1862 Prairie du Sac Cemetery
Spouse: Adelaide WARDWELL
Marriage: 12 Feb 1862 Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., WI
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5 M: Stephen Barnes DILLEY
Birth: 26 Jun 1832 Ohio
Death: 3 Mar 1900 Bellevue, Blaine Co., ID
Spouse: Rosetta Francis SIDEBOTHAM
Marriage: 27 Nov 1873 Rocky Bar, Alturas Co., ID
Divorce: 6 Apr 1882 Alturas Co., ID or Boise??
Spouse: Francis E. BUTLER
Marriage: 7 Jun 1882 Kenosha, WI
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6 M: Gilbert Austin DILLEY
Birth: 1835 OH
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7 M: George William DILLEY (alias George H. DeLea)
Birth: 1838 Mineral Point, Iowa Co., WI
Death: 19 Feb 1898 Ponchatoula, Taugepahoa Co., Louisiana
Spouse: Lizzie W. BAKER
Marriage: 31 Jul 1869 Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., WI
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