Solomon
Dillinger (deceased) was born in Westmoreland County, Penn.,
December 14, 1805, and was a son of Jacob and
Catharine Dillinger. The former immigrated from Germany with
his parents to Westmoreland County, Penn., when a small boy, where he grew
up and married. About 1807, they removed to Jefferson Township,
Mercer Co., Penn., with a large family, of whom six sons and one daughter
grew to maturity: John, Jacob, George,
William, Henry, Solomon and Elizabeth.
Henry, who resides on the old homestead, in the faith of the Lutheran
Church. Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and about 1831
came to Sharon and entered the employ of Elias Jones,
who then owned all of the lands now included in the northwest portion of
the borough. On January 7, 1833, he was married to Miss
Jane, daughter of Elias and Jane (Smith)
Jones, the former a native of Wales, and the latter of Virginia.
They were married in that State, and in 1803-04 came from Winchester, Va.,
to Hickory Township, Mercer County, and settled on the M.C. Trout farm, where Mrs. Dillinger was
born, December 10, 1807. There were six children in the family of Elias
Jones: Betsy, Smith, Sara, Hannah, Jane
and Elias, the two last mentioned being
twins. Mrs. Dillinger is the only
survivor. Mr. Jones removed with his
family to the site of Sharon a few years after the birth of Mrs.
Dillinger, where he kept hotel, and was also the first postmaster
of the village, as well as its first merchant. Both he and wife died
in Sharon. One child, Elizabeth J. (wife
of Septimus Marsden, of Sharon), was born to Solomon
and Jane Dillinger. Mr. Dillinger
was a Democrat, and followed farming up to his death, which occured
October 10, 1985. His widow now resides with her daughter, Mrs.
Marsden.
History of Mercer County, PA, 1888, pages 720-721 |