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The
following statement is from; THE ENCYCLOPEDIA of American
Biography,
Published by the American Historical
Society, Inc.; New York; 1930; vol. XLI.
GEORGE WASHINGTON DILLON,
- Sea Captain
Born in Key West, Florida, April 29, 1850, George Washington
Dillon made for himself a career of unusual distinction. He
died in Miami, Florida, September 22, 1907. Though the years
of his life were not many, he employed them wisely, to the
full degree of service possible, and to the best of his
ability assisted in the advancement of Miami and Key West
interests, notably as they had to do with the all-important
factor of water transportation. His father, Lloyd
Edmund Dillon, was a skilled cabinet maker, and in later
years became a building contractor. It is of note that he
acted as superintendent and foreman in erecting Fort Taylor. His mother,
wife of Lloyd Edmund Dillon, was Harriet (Knight) Dillon who
was born near Macon, Georgia. Both the families of Knight
and Dillon are old in the history of the Southland; and from
them, their united product of courage and vision and
strength came through George Washington Dillon, of whom we
write. The schools of Key West, Florida, were of course
limited in scope as compared with those same schools today;
but they afforded an education ample and comparable with
current facilities elsewhere at that time. Mr. Dillon
secured a fair enough academic instruction, therefore, and
early took up the study of navigation, at which he became a
practical and recognized master among the best versed of his
colleagues at sea. Shipping and water transportation
occupied his attention from boyhood; and he became most
prominently identified with these affairs, as Commodore of
the Peninsular and Occidental Steamship Company’s line of
vessels. He was commander of the “Martinique”,
and of six other vessels of the fleet. From the first
organization of Miami as a community, he was associated with
Henry Flagler, whose work in this respect is now historic.
Flagler it may be cited here, was the principal owner and
builder ol’ the Florida East Coast Railroad, and financed
and promoted many industries in Florida which helped
materially in the growth of the state. It is said that he
was the best-known Floridian of his generation, and that his
name today is the most famed of those who have passed from
the rolls of activity. This pioneer industrialist,
capitalist and historic personage had the deepest of regard
for Mr. Dillon, and at the time of Mr. Dillon’s death sent a
message of condolence to Mrs. Dillon expressive of the depth
of that regard. Mr. Dillon was aboard the first boat (the
“Key West”) running between Miami and Key West, carrying
passengers. Next he sailed the “Cocoa”, a vessel in the same
trade, captured in the war with Spain; and of the “Cocoa”
Mr. Dillon was captain. The steamship “Miami” was later put
in service, and he served on it as mate, later becoming its
master. Still later he was
given a vessel by Flagler,
who controlled the P. and 0. line; and this, the
“Martinique”, he commanded for several years, until he
became Commodore of the Peninsular and Occidental fleet. In
1900, Mr. Dillon came to Miami to make his residence. He
quickly made for himself his natural position here, but did
not engage in public affairs. In fact he held only one
public office in his life,
- that of Chief of
Police, at Key West, in 1890. Fraternally he was active as
member of the Miami Blue Lodge of the Free and Accepted
Masons. He attended Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church,
Miami, occasionally, with Mrs. Dillon, who, until recent
years, had been one of this church’s dominate spirits.
Mr. Dillon married at Key
West, in May 1872, Elizabeth Pearson Albury; and of their
union were born children: l. Juliet Ley, who married
J.B.
Tompkins, of Miami, and their children are: Mary Viola,
Kitty Rucker, Alberta, and John B. 2. Rafaela, wife of
T.E.
Russell, of Miami; their children are: Marvin Archibald,
Merrill Dillon, Edmund Louis, Henry Charles, John, and
Thomas Ray. 3. Raymond Martin, married Adelaide Moody, of
Miami. Their children: Melville Edmund, Elizabeth, Eugenia
(Jeanie Allen), and Ruth Rosemary. Raymond Martin Dillon
made a number of trips by boat to deliver supplies for
building the over-seas railway from Miami to Key West. (Was
also Chief of Miami Police Department during the 1920’s).
4. Alice Barnett, wife of Alfred Louis Recio,
of West Palm Beach (born and lived in Key West), children:
Aurora Elizabeth (nick-name Pat), Louis, Anita, Adele,
Alice, Albert. 5. Charles Beverly, married Gladys Lasseter,
and their children are: Julia V., Charles Beverly and Martha
Ray. 6. Joseph Vernon, married Julia King: and they have a
son (adopted), Hal Davis. The welfare of her fine family of
sons and daughters and grandchildren comes closest to the
heart of Mrs. Dillon. The regard in which they hold her,
returns this affection many times. Mrs. Dillon resides in
Miami.
The names of many men endure. The name and record of George
Washington Dillon is one that will be remembered throughout
the years, as having belonged to one of large and worthy
spirit, courage and tenderness, a pioneer in the up-building
of Key West and Miami.
Alice Barnett Dillon
- born Feb. 22, 1886
Alfred L Recio
- born Sept. 23, 1885
Married at Key West
- Nov. 6, 1902
Sometime in the last quarter of the 19th Century, George
owned and was captain of the schooner “Lilly
White”. It is said that
he transported cattle to Cuba (probably from the West coast
of Florida). On one such trip, it was said that a loose
steer in the hold kept the crew at bay. He then dropped into
the hold and managed by muscle to break the steer’s neck. He
must have been a very strong man.
Prior to becoming Chief of Police, it was told to inc that
he was a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Key West. He transported
prisoners by boat to and from several county seats on both
coasts of Florida. (This, according to the Minutes of Monroe
County Commission. While I am sure that he transported
prisoners, I’m not sure of his official title
- he may have been
the Marshal).
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