John Dillard
Encyclopedia
John Dillard was an American soldier and pioneer settler, and a prominent figure in the establishment of Buncombe County, North Carolina and Dillard, Georgia.
Dillard was born in Culpeper County, Virginia
and served in the American Revolution, achieving the rank of lieutenant. A later resident of Pittyslvania County, Virginia]], he participated in the Battle of Guilford Court House
. Dillard's ancestor George Dillard had arrived from England to Jamestown, Virginia
, in 1650. John Dillard resided in Buncombe County, North Carolina
, for some 33 years where he was active in the formation of the county and the selection of its county seat of Asheville
.
In 1780, the General Assembly of North Carolina
enacted a statute granting 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of vacant land "not fit for cultivation" for iron works as a bounty from the State to any persons who "would build and carry on the same". At the October term of court in 1792, John Dillard and others were ordered by the court to be on a jury to view a piece of land "entered by Robert Love and William Trodway" to erect iron works and report thereon agreeably to the act of the Assembly.
At the April, 1792 term of court it was ordered that a jury consisting of John Dillard and others view and lay off a road from the Wagon Ford of Rims Creek to join the road from the Turkey Cove to Robert Hunters on Lindsay Creek of Cane River, the most advantageous and best according to law, "which jury is to meet the fourth Monday of May at John Dillard's; William Brittain (who was an adjoining property owner of John Dillard) to attend and qualify said jury who are to report to July court."
In December, 1792 and April of 1793, John Dillard was a Commissioner in a local political dispute of determining where the county seat of Buncombe County should be located. It was provided in an act creating Buncombe County that a committee of five persons be appointed for the selection of the site. A dispute arose between two factions of Buncombe County residents on opposite sides of the Swannanoa River
, one faction pressing for the county seat to be north of Swannanoa, which is now the center of Asheville, and the other faction demanding it to be at a place south of Swannanoa River which later became known as the "Steam Saw Mill Place" and which is now the southern part of the City of Asheville.
The state of Georgia acquired from the Cherokee Indians by treaty about 1819 what is now Rabun County, Georgia
, and sold it by state lottery. John Dillard's youngest son, James Dillard, purchased 1000 acres (4 km²) from Georgia state lottery holders and settled about 1823 in the northeast corner of Georgia in what would later become Rabun County, Georgia and the Town of Dillard. John Dillard accompanied his son in settling in the area, becoming one of the earliest settlers in that part of Georgia. John Dillard died and is buried in Dillard, Georgia.
John Dillard's descendants became prominent in and today reside in the Rabun County town of Dillard, Georgia which is named for the family. Various branches of Dillard descendants have operated since the Civil War lodging facilities under the name of the "Dillard House." One branch of his descendants still operates the Dillard House, which offers lodging and a family-style restaurant.
Dillard was born in Culpeper County, Virginia
Culpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
and served in the American Revolution, achieving the rank of lieutenant. A later resident of Pittyslvania County, Virginia]], he participated in the Battle of Guilford Court House
Battle of Guilford Court House
The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 in Greensboro, the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, during the American Revolutionary War...
. Dillard's ancestor George Dillard had arrived from England to Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
, in 1650. John Dillard resided in Buncombe County, North Carolina
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
, for some 33 years where he was active in the formation of the county and the selection of its county seat of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
.
In 1780, the General Assembly of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
enacted a statute granting 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of vacant land "not fit for cultivation" for iron works as a bounty from the State to any persons who "would build and carry on the same". At the October term of court in 1792, John Dillard and others were ordered by the court to be on a jury to view a piece of land "entered by Robert Love and William Trodway" to erect iron works and report thereon agreeably to the act of the Assembly.
At the April, 1792 term of court it was ordered that a jury consisting of John Dillard and others view and lay off a road from the Wagon Ford of Rims Creek to join the road from the Turkey Cove to Robert Hunters on Lindsay Creek of Cane River, the most advantageous and best according to law, "which jury is to meet the fourth Monday of May at John Dillard's; William Brittain (who was an adjoining property owner of John Dillard) to attend and qualify said jury who are to report to July court."
In December, 1792 and April of 1793, John Dillard was a Commissioner in a local political dispute of determining where the county seat of Buncombe County should be located. It was provided in an act creating Buncombe County that a committee of five persons be appointed for the selection of the site. A dispute arose between two factions of Buncombe County residents on opposite sides of the Swannanoa River
Swannanoa River
The Swannanoa River flows through the Swannanoa Valley of western North Carolina, and is a major tributary to the French Broad River. It begins at its headwaters in Black Mountain, NC, however, it also has a major tributary near its headwaters: Flat Creek, which begins on the slopes of Mount...
, one faction pressing for the county seat to be north of Swannanoa, which is now the center of Asheville, and the other faction demanding it to be at a place south of Swannanoa River which later became known as the "Steam Saw Mill Place" and which is now the southern part of the City of Asheville.
The state of Georgia acquired from the Cherokee Indians by treaty about 1819 what is now Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
, and sold it by state lottery. John Dillard's youngest son, James Dillard, purchased 1000 acres (4 km²) from Georgia state lottery holders and settled about 1823 in the northeast corner of Georgia in what would later become Rabun County, Georgia and the Town of Dillard. John Dillard accompanied his son in settling in the area, becoming one of the earliest settlers in that part of Georgia. John Dillard died and is buried in Dillard, Georgia.
John Dillard's descendants became prominent in and today reside in the Rabun County town of Dillard, Georgia which is named for the family. Various branches of Dillard descendants have operated since the Civil War lodging facilities under the name of the "Dillard House." One branch of his descendants still operates the Dillard House, which offers lodging and a family-style restaurant.