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- Dillon County (formerly part of Marion County, SC) was named for James W. Dillon. There is also a city named Dillon in his honor.
His obituary read: ... Mr. Dillon's old age was very beautiful. His mind was as clear as in the heday of his youth, his heart was as warm and sympathizing, his spirit as bouyant, and witha zeal for good works that never faltered and he went like one 'who wraps the drapery about him' and lies down to pleasant dreams.
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James W. Dillon House
I have not written about the Dillon house before because I knew most people are familiar with it and that much publicity had been given to it. It is my purpose now to write about it in the same manner that I have written about other early homes in the town and county.
Located on the corner of lst Ave. and Washington St. a block west of his store on the corner of Railroad Ave. and Washington St. and built in the early 1890's, soon after Mr. Dillon had moved his family from Little Rock, it stood there typical of the residential architecture of the period.
After Mr. Dillon's death in 1913, in time the residence was used as a rooming and boarding house and was operated by "Aunt Brookie' David. It was a popular place for the single men of the town and was known for its good food.
Some years later the old place became vacant and somewhat rundown and came into the possession of the heirs of Mr. Charlie Saleeby, and later Saleem Saleeby became the owner. He converted it into several apartments and used it for rental property. Recently as I had the Dillon Museum open for visitors a lady was there who was thrilled at seeing the upstairs rooms where she had lived as a girl with her family.
In the mid 1960's the old place caught on fire and burned such that Saleem decided to sell the remains for dismantling. Some talk had been made of the importance of restoring it for historical reasons, but no action had been taken. Dr. Suzanne Black was passing by the house and saw the workmen removing the shingles from the roof, and she the removal p had begun. She stopped her car, talked with the workmen and arranged for them to stop their actions for twenty-four hours to see if the building could be saved. The result was that the Dillon County Historical Society purchased the house with the purpose of moving it to another location. But to what location? Osborne and Betty Wallace solved that problem by giving the lot where the building now stands. But that is how near the historic residence came to being gone.
Much credit is due those who participated in the restoration. I am tempted to call names, but I am afraid I will leave off some who are most worthy. All will agree that the chief promoter in the moving of the house, the physical repair work and the finance campaign was Gen. John C. Henagan. It is fitting that his portrait should be in the library room of the beautifully restored and furnished antique dwelling.
The Dillon House Museum is something valuable to the community and of which all can be proud. Fortunately, Mr. Thomas Dillon who lived in Florida and was a great-Grandson of Mr. Dillon, gave a sum of money to the Museum such that the income from it is being used for the upkeep of the building and grounds.
It is not necessary for me to mention Mr. Dillon's part in history. He is accepted as the father of the town and county. Had he not dealt with the railroad there would have been no Dillon or Latta, and had he not furnished leadership and financial support there would have been no Dillon County.
James W. Dillon (1826-1913) married three times. His first wife, Harriet Jones, was the mother of William S., John B., and Thomas A. Dillon. His second wife was Sallie McLaurin who was the mother of Daniel M. Dillon and Harriet D. David. The third wife was Sallie I. Townsend who had no children. Frank B. David, Jr., a great-grandson, is the only descendent living in the county. Two great-granddaughters, Harriet P. Goodwin and Jeddie P. DeCorcy, live in Chestertown, Md.
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House of Hackett
1826 - 1913 (86 years)
