California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JOHN M. DILL. � One of the oldest settlers in Long valley, who has given of his best efforts to build up the community is John M. Dill, an honored citizen of Laytonville. He is a native of the Pacific coast, having been horn in Oregon City, Ore., March 13, 1848, the son of James and Sarah Williams, natives of Ohio. They crossed the plains with ox teams in 1847, taking a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres on the Willamette river in Linn county, where he made his home. However, on the discovery of gold in California he came on to the new Eldorado in 1849 and followed mining, but had his family on the ranch. He followed different mining ex- citements at intervals, among them the Salmon river strike. His death oc- curred in Idaho, but the mother died in Oregon. John M. Dill was brought up on the farm in Oregon from a boy. He learned the cattle business and when eleven years of age, in 1859, accom- panied his father with cattle to Idaho. In 1863 he came to Green valley, Solano county, Cal., where he was employed on a ranch. The dry year of 1864 drove many cattlemen to Mendocino county with their stock for feed, and he came with D. B. Holman to Long valley, arriving in April, 1864. He liked the country here and has remained in the vicinity ever since. Here he has achieved much success, having risen to a place of prominence and influence and being recognized as an honored pioneer. He worked for ranchers, and as soon as he could he began the cattle business, securing a few head. In the meantime he continued to work for others and to invest his savings in cows. When finally his herd had increased to such an extent that it became necessary for him to give it his entire attention he engaged in farming and stockraising, his brand being the figure 5. He purchased land and became owner of a thirty-six-hundred-acre ranch six miles northeast of Laytonville. He also engaged in buying cattle and sheep for the San Francisco and coast market. When he first came to Long valley there were no fences nor roads, and now there is scarcely a ranch that is not fenced and has a road leading to the place. With his family he lived at Cahto until 1881, when he moved to his ranch, building a suitable road into the place. Aside from ranching and stockraising, Mr. Dill for two years engaged in the mercantile business in Laytonville. In 1912 he sold all of the ranch except three hundred acres, which he still retains, continuing his interest in cattle raising. He now resides in a comfortable residence in Laytonville, from, which place he manages his varied interests. He also owns property in Palo Alto and is one of the original stockholders in the Commercial Bank of Ukiah. In Cahto, October 23, 1870, Mr. Dill married Miss Margaret Williams who was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Samuel and Martha (Taylor) Williams, born in Tennessee and Alabama respectively. From Kentucky they removed to Missouri and in 1861 came to Dayton, Butte county, Cal. In 1863 they came to Lakeport and afterwards to Ukiah. In 1868 he came to Cahto, where Mr. Williams engaged in blacksmithing and farming. He died in Long Valley, while the mother resides with her son L. J. Mr. and Mrs. Dill have five children : James G., manager of the Layton- ville Mercantile Company ; Ida, wife of W. S. Pinches, a merchant in Layton- ville ; Nellie, Mrs. Betts, proprietor of the Laytonville Hotel ; Herbert T., re- siding at Willits ; and Delia V.. Mrs. Morrow of Laytonville. Fraternally Mr. Dill was formerly a member of the Odd Fellows, belonging to the En- campment. Always interested in the cause of education he has served for many years as school trustee as well as many times as deputy sheriff and constable.