JAMES NELSON 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

 Born about 1817 in Guilford  County, North Carolina, James Nelson Dillen (Dillon) was the only son of Andrew Dillen and his first wife, Sarah “Sally” Kirkman.  About 1838, Nelson moved with Andrew and his second family to McNairy County, Tennessee.

 In Tennessee, probably in McNairy County, Nelson married his first wife, Margaret “Maggie” Wilson in 1842.  Born about 1825 in North Carolina, probably Guilford County, she was the daughter of John Wilson and Margaret “Peggy” Short.

 Around 1848, Nelson moved his family to Buena Vista, Shelby County, Texas, where they remained for a number of years before settling at Caledonia in Rusk County.

 During the Civil War, Nelson enlisted for six months on the Confederate side in 1864.  After the war, Nelson returned to farming.  He and his family belonged to the Methodist Church.

 Interested in the Masons, Nelson was affiliated with Brushy Lodge Number 367 near Timpson during the years 1873-1874, and with then Golden Drain Lodge number 437 at Caledonia during the years 1883-1884.

 Nelson’s wife, Margaret, died before 1860 and was buried in the field “behind the old Elliot place” at Caledonia.  Margaret’s sister, Mary Elizabeth had married Lewis Elliott.

 There were four children born to Nelson and Margaret.  Andrew Richard, born October 12, 1844 in Tennessee, probably McNairy County, married first Rufus Elizabeth Watts, and second Martha Ann Watts.  He died December 23, 1895 in Caledonia and is buried in Caledonia Cemetery. (See Andrew Richard Dillen family and Richard F. Watts family.)

 John D., born in 1847 in Tennessee, probably in McNairy County, remained single.  He died February 25, 1886 at Caledonia; James C. “Jim,” born about 1848 in Texas, probably Shelby County,  married Sarah N. Davis.  John and Jim are buried in the Dillen family plot in Caledonia Cemetery in graves number 274 and 273 respectively. 

S. Margaret “Maggie” was born in 1851, probably in Shelby County, Texas.

 As his second wife, Nelson married Letitia “Tishia” Milestead.  They are said to have had these children:  Richard S. “Dick,” Jesse Nelson, Laura, Clotie (Same as Claudia), and Lily.  The 1880 census also lists Martha A. and Dolly M.

 Nelson died in Caledonia on June 24, 1892 and is buried in grave number 275 in the Dillen family plot in Caledonia Cemetery.  Buried in an unmarked grave next to him is his second wife, Tishia.

 Submitted by Marleta Childs