Person:Jacob Dilling (1)

Our grandfather Jacob Dilling also came from Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Here he married Marie Sherer whose father had come to America earlier from the same place in Germany. They lived in Wisconsin until their oldest son, George, who was working at Milwaukee at the time, heard about the possibility of filing for a homestead in Washington, and decided to file a claim. He was the first on of the relationship to come west, and not long after, his father ( our grandfather) followed, and they settled in the Connell country, Franklin County, Washington. Our grandparents Dilling had the following children.

As can be expected our grandparents were also concerned about the spiritual care for themselves and their children. So they appealed to the wisconsin Synod, of which they were members, to supply them with a pastor. As this request was not granted they turned to the former Ohio Synod with the same request. Soon this Synod went a man who would take care of scattered Lutherans in this new country. As a result we now have Gideon congregation at Connell. It was organized in 1905 and was served by Pastor Hans wittrock from 1906 until 1923, and by a Dilling freatgrandson Pastor Roland Wittrock, from 1948 to 1951. The first church building was erected ou in the country when the congregation was first organized. In the cemetery next to the now deserted church building both grandparents Dilling, besides other relatives, are buried. A majority of the members of Gideon congregation are descendants of these our grandparents.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Forest, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States

2. ↑ Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Empire, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States