John Dils Jr (1818 - 1895)

Born 18 Sep 1818 in Parkersburg, Wood County, Virginia, United States

Died 11 Aug 1895 at age 76 in Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: L A Banta [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1818. He passed away in 1895.

Colonel John Dils, Jr., was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Early on during the Civil War, he was incarcerated by John "Cerro Gordo" Williams and sent to Libby Prison. Dils tried to continue to do business in the area upon his release from prison and his return to Pike County, but a raid in early August of 1862, led by Nathaniel McClure "Peg-leg" Menifee, among others, cleaned out his store. From this point on, Dils was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost Unionist leaders. Using his fortune and his influence, he cobbled together the 39th Kentucky Infantry Regiment for the Union, which gave good service to the area and kept the local guerrilla groups from gaining the upper hand in the mountains.

After his dismissal from the service and the end of the war, Colonel Dils was instrumental in bringing industry to the Appalachians. He was also influential in bringing the Methodist Church and upper-level education to this remote region. Finally, it is also believed that the Colonel played a key part in the later stages of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud on the side of the McCoys.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5134800/john-dils: accessed 24 June 2023), memorial page for COL John Dils Jr. (18 Sep 1818–11 Aug 1895), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5134800, citing Dils Cemetery, Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Rob (contributor 33930740).

• https://kentuckykindredgenealogy.com/2023/06/23/dils-cemetery-pike-county/

• https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/796?tour=55&index=11