Person:William Dill (11)

During the Civil War, W. W. enlisted as a private with the 28th New Jersey Infantry for a nine month term. It was mustered in at Freehold, New Jersey and spent some time in the defense of Washington D.C. W. W. fell ill there and was treated in "Lee House Hospital" for four months. On April 16, 1863 W. W. received a disability discharge for severe rheumatism from exposure. Shortly after his discharge the 28th New Jersey left Falmouth and fought in the battle of Chancellorsville in May, taking such heavy losses that the unit was disbanded later in July 1863.

After the war he became a patent medicine man, and marketed himself as "Professor W.W. Dill." Later he started the "Dill Medicine Company" of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and sold products like Dill's Pills, Healing Salve, Balm of Life, and Royal Cough Cure from which he built a fortune.

The Professor is mentioned in Appendix 2 of Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA. The Chief Marshal listed the order of the parade for the honor of the centennial of Montgomery county on Thursday, September 11th, 1884. At the very end of the parade was Prof. Dill's Balm of Life wagon with red tent and blue banner.

He also advertised in a Montgomery County Directory as a "Patent Medicine Manufacturer" at Marshall and Stanbridge.

Prof. W. W. Dill was involved with a splinter Mennonite group called Evangelical Mennonites (later renamed to the Bible Fellowship Church). In 1858 seven Mennonite revivalists, who were under pressure from bishops of the General Conference Mennonite Church to give up their style of evangelism, decided they didn't want to restrict the freedom of expression they enjoyed in their revival and prayer meetings, so they left the General Conference and formed the Bible Fellowship Church. They seem to have been strongest in Buck and Lehigh Counties.

A BFC church in Norristown was first opened in 1888 but was too weak and closed in 1890. Several more attempts were made to start this church. It was re-opened 1894 to 1899, 1901 to 1910, and finally 1934 to 1936.

Verhandlungen is the minutes of the conferences of the Bible Fellowship Church when it was known as the Evangelical Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren in Christ. The church historian in 2006, Dr. Richard Taylor, was kind enough to send me translations from the original German minutes, of the sections relating to the Dills.

From Verhandlungen, 1895, page 243: "Whereas the Lord has led Brother W. W. Dill of Norristown, to build a church at that place and to present it to this denomination, handing the keys over to the Presiding Elder at the dedication, January 1, therefore Resolved: That this conference tender a hearty vote of thanks to the Lord and the dear brother for his kindness and liberality, and ask the Lord to bestow His richest blessings upon him and use the church as the birthplace of hundreds of souls."

Verhandlungen, 1897, "Resolved, That we kindly ask Brother W. W. Dill to compile and publish a tract on his knowledge and experience on tobacco."

Verhandlungen, 1899, W. W. Dill is listed as a licensed missionary, which, according to Dr. Taylor, indicates he may have presented himself to be a preacher, with recognition from the local Norristown church, but not the denomination.

Verhandlungen, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904, W. W. Dill is again listed as a licensed missionary. Verhandlungen, 1905, he is listed as a licensed "worker".

There is some confusion in the Verhandlungen between Prof. W. W. Dill and his son Dr. W. W. Dill, for obvious reasons. For example, in the marriage record for Wallace and Maude Willman, both father and son are called William W. Dill. So, some (or all) of the above W. W. Dill's might refer to Wallace.

1. ↑ W. W. Dill File (Co. H 28 N.J. Volunteers), Pension Records, (Washington D.C.: National Archives),.
2. ↑ W. W. Dill File (Co. H 28 N.J. Volunteers), Pension Records, (Washington D.C.: National Archives),.
3. ↑ Private, Co. H, 28th New Jersey Infantry, served Sept. 1 1862 to Apr. 16, 1863 (7 mths 16 days). Residing in Norristown, Pa. General debility from exposure. Received a disability discharge.