TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Central American Mission

Family Papers

Genealogy

Publications

Family Artifacts

Photographs

Dillon Family Collection

Biographical Note

Henry Clay Dillon was born on January 22, 1864 in Fleming County, Kentucky. He married Laura Seaman of Greenfield, Indiana on February 6, 1889. Their two children, Charles Howard Dillon and Ruth Dillon were born on November 15, 1889 and May 28, 1892 respectively. They came to Sherman, Texas in 1892 where H.C. Dillon worked as the YMCA Secretary and State Secretary for the Texas Gospel Union. They joined the Central American Mission as missionaries in 1893, leaving on December 11, 1893 for Central America. Sickness plagued the missionaries, necessitating their return. On a steam ship to San Francisco, Laura Dillon died on June 26, 1894. Returning to Dallas on July 21st, 1894, H.C. Dillon decided he must continue his work in Central America, left his children in the care of Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Powell and Mr. and Mrs. Devlin. During one of his trips back to Dallas, H.C. Dillon married again on April 22, 1896, to Margaret Neely. H.C. Dillon finally passed away on August 29, 1897 in El Paraiso, Honduras. Margaret Dillon died in Dulce Nombre in June 9, 1913.

Howard and Ruth, now orphans, continued to live under the care of the Devlins and the Powells. E.M. Powell, and his wife Mary, would play an important role in the lives of the orphan children. Mr. Powell helped establish the Central Congregational Church of Dallas, and was a noted business leader and supporter of missionary activity. Their other benefactor, Robert Devlin, was noted for his charity towards the orphaned, helping raise sixteen orphaned children over his lifetime. Mr. Devlin was also a member of the Central Congregational Church. Howard played football at Dallas High School, becoming a teacher and football coach at Duncan, Oklahoma and later Cooper, Texas. It was in Cooper where he met Nettie Wood, whom he would marry in October 15, 1912. Their child, Howard Clay Dillon, was born in Dallas on March 14, 1916. In Dallas, Howard Dillon worked in the Tax and Valuation department of Western Union. He was also active in church activities, and was a noted singer. Charles Howard Dillon died December 8, 1967 in Dallas.

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Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials chronicling the lives of three generations of the Dillon family. It consists of materials of Henry Clay Dillon, Charles Howard Dillon and Howard Clay Dillon. Within this collection are materials documenting the genealogy of this family, research on the missionary career of H.C. Dillon and the Central American Mission, correspondence from Central America to his children, and bulletins published by the CAM. The lives and careers of both Charles Howard Dillon and his son, Howard Clay Dillon are also documented. Snap shots document life in Dallas, including the Texas Centennial, and marching band activities from Sunset High School and Texas Christian University in the 1930s. Also contained are photos of H. Clay Dillon's service during the Second World War in Hawaii. One may also find information on the early history of the Central Congregational Church, and some of its most prominent founders and members.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Organizations:

Family Names:

Places:

Subjects:

Titles:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

MA09.2 Dillon Family Collection, Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library

Processing Information

Processed by Bryan McKinney

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Detailed Description of the Collection