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Feb. 25, 1905
DEATH OF BENJAMIN F. DiLLEY.
At 11:40 last night occurred the death of Benjamin F. Dilley, one of Wilkes- Barre's best known citizens. Mr. Dilley was known not only in this city, but by reason of his prominence among the Elks and other fraternal organizations, was known all over the State. His death occurred after an illness lasting over a year, but a month or more before Christmas his ailment began to take on a more serious turn. Since that time he had been gradually weakening and for some days past his death had been momentarily expected.
On Monday last he fell into a state of coma from which he never fully recovered, although there were occasional gleams of consciousness. Faithful friends, of which no man in the city had more, watched by his bedside day and night and did all in their power to aid him. His death was due to uremia. On Thursday it was thought that he would not be able to live until night but he survived the night and yesterday morning was apparently a little better. Last night he again grew worse and at 11:40 o'clock passed peacefully away.
Mr. Dilley was born in Philadelphia on Sept. 23. 1836. His parents died many years ago. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1866 and entered in partnership with the late A. H. Shimer as proprietor of the Exchange Hotel. This partnership lasted until Mr. Shimer's death in 1870. Several years later he started in the hotel business on his own account, leasing the building where Edward Kemmerer now has a jewelry store, on Public Square, being now a portion of the Marks building. At that time it was a three story brick, owned by the late Joseph Baker, who conducted a butcher shop there. Mr. Dilley remodeled the place which he successfully conducted as a hotel up to 1882. He then leased the property at 10 West Market street, from William Stoddart, which he has occupied ever since.
He leaves no near relatives. His brother, who was employed as a compositor in the Wilkes-Barre Record office in 1885, died about 1888. His wife died several years ago. Mrs. Dilley's sister, Mrs. George Ent of Anglesea, N. J.. is the only one of the family circle now surviving. His nearest friend, Col. S. 1. Middleton of Philadelphia, an old schoolmate, who has been at Mr. Dilley's bedside the past two weeks at the special request of the deceased.
The deceased was highiy successful in business and amassed quite a fortune, despite the fact that he gave away hundreds of dollars every year in charity. He was generous to a fault. He always remembered the poor and needy. The rental from his property adjoining his hotel he has devoted to charity fcr many years and he was never known to refuse the request for aid of any deserving person. 1n many instances he was known to spend hundreds of dollars in paying the rent and for the necessaries of life for numerous poor persons and families.
He established a poor box in his place of business in 1877, where customers dropped spare change. All this money was given to charitable purposes. Since the establishment of the box the contents have amounted to about $11,000. He left quite an estate.
Through the personal efforts of Mr. Dilley, Wilkes-Barre Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was organized in this city and the members thought so well of his excellent work for the organization that he has been the exalted ruler of No. 109 the past twelve years. He was considered by all the members as the father of the lodge and his every wish was followed in the strictest sense of the word in the management of the affairs of the organization. He was considered one of the leading Elks of the United States.
He established the Elks' Rest in Hollenback Cemetery several years ago. He purchased the plot and personally supervised the placing of a fifty ton boulder on the plot. This boulder was hauled from the Wilkes-Barre Mountain to the cemetery. After the boulder was put in place he had erected upon the summit a monster bronze elk. This alone cost him over $5,000. This plot he deeded to Wilkes-Barre Lodge of Elks as a memorial to the order. He also endowed the Hollenback Cemetery Association with enough money to keep the plot and monument in good condition for many years to come. He erected this monument in memory of his wife, Mrs. Carrie Dilley. The latter left a will in which was a request that her remains be cremated, and this request was carried out by Mr. Dilley. Her ashes were placed in an urn and the urn was enclosed in a niche cut into the boulder.
He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mt. Horeb Council, a royal and select master Mason of Wilkes-Barre, a member of 1rem Temple, a noble of the Mystic Shriners of Wilkes-Barre. He was also a life member of the Blue Lodge Chapter, commander and consistory, thirty-second degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites of Brooklyn, N. Y. Deceased also belonged to Broderick Conclave of HeptasopTis, Council 396 Royal Arcanum, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He was also a member of the Wilkes-Barre Press Club. being eligible on account of having been a printer and newspaperman in early life.
Mr. Dilley enlisted on Dec. 2, 1861, in the First brigade of the Department of West Virginia, and participated in many engagements in the Potomac campaign, until finally captured by a mounted force in one of Gllmore's raids. He was a sergeant at that time and in charge of a company in winter quarters at Patterson's Creek, Va. Mr. Dilley was confined in Belle Isle Military Prison, which he says was worse than Andersonville, and on March 8, 1864, was taken to the latter place, be- ins among the first batch of prisoners who arrived. He remained at Andersonville until March 18, 1865, one year and one week.
There were about 200 men in Andersonville when Sergt. Dilley arrived, one of a large batch of starving, dying men from Belle 1sle. He was an excellent penman at that time, and learning that Commandant Wirz was looking for a few good clerks among the . Union soldiers to assist in keeping a record of the prisoners, he tendered his services. Wirz was so pleased with his penmanship, which was shown in a printed letter of application, that he at once engaged Sergt. Dilley, and then began for the latter a year of exciting incidents, although with less privation than those confined on the inside. (Daily Record)
