ANDREW RICHARD DILLEN

 The following bio was taken from page 178 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited And used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator 

Andrew Richard Dillen (Dillon), the oldest child of James Nelson Dillen and his first wife, Margaret “Maggie”  Wilson, was born October 12, 1844 in Tennessee, probably in McNairy County.  About 1848, he moved with his parents from Tennessee to Shelby County, Texas.  A number of years later, the Dillens settled in Caledonia, Rusk County.  The family was members of the Methodist Church.

 In February 1863, Andrew enlisted in the Confederate service and participated in the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana in 1864.  Later he was a member of Company A, (Dave) Terry’s Texas Cavalry Regiment.  After the war, Andrew returned home to become a farmer.

Active in the Masons, Andrew was affiliated at various times with Brushy Lodge No. 367 near Timpson, Texas, and with Murvall Lodge No. 162.  He was a charter member of the Golden Drain Lodge No. 437, which was formed at Caledonia in 1874.  As a member of this organization, he held several offices.  He was demitted from the Masons on December 16, 1888.

 On February 22, 1867 in Rusk County, Andrew married his first wife, Rufus Elizabeth “Lizzie” Watts, who was born in 1857 in Floyd County, Georgia.  Her parents were Richard F. Watts and Matilda (Mary) Ann Wragg, who settled in Caledonia in 1870. 

 Elizabeth died shortly after giving birth to twins ( a boy and a girl) at Caledonia in 1886.  She and one twin are buried in grave number 269 in the Dillen family plot in Caledonia Cemetery.  The other twin, who died within a short time, is buried in grave number 271.

 Three children of Andrew and Elizabeth survived to maturity.  Richard Hoyt, who was born in 1878, married Lula.  He died in the 1930’s in Dallas, and is buried in Caledonia Cemetery.  Annie Bunyan, who was born July 14, 1880, married Vernon Forsyth Weaver May 8, 1898 in Center, Shelby County, Texas.  She died March 30, 1967 in Center, Texas and is buried in Fairview Cemetery.  Dottie Velma, who was born March 30, 1885, married Charles Lewis Dennard on December 10, 1902 in Rusk County.  She died September 18, 1934.

 As his second wife, Andrew married Elizabeth’s sister, Martha Ann Watts, on September 21, 1886 in Rusk County.  She was born in Floyd County, Georgia on November 11, 1859.

 Andrew and Martha Ann had four children.  Nettie Alma, born April 3, 1888, married Curtis Pope.  She died January 14, 1913 in Caledonia.  Sarah Katherine “Kate,” born in 1889, died in infancy and is buried in grave number 268 in the Dillen family plot in Caledonia Cemetery.  Raymond, born April 14, 1880, married Ennes C. Forbes.  He died August 6, 1970 in Henderson, Texas.  Dola George, born July 15, 1895, married Crawford Parks Hamilton.  He died in 1981 and is buried in Concord Cemetery.

 On December 23, 1895 Andrew died in Caledonia.  His widow died on March 1, 1920, in Livingston, Polk County, Texas.  Both are buried in Caledonia Cemetery.  Martha’s grave in the Dillen family plot is number 270.

 Submitted by Marleta Childs