George W. Dillenback, the well known real estate, loan and insurance agent, at No. 1151 South Division street, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of Alburg, Grand Isle county, Vt., was born August 28, 1834, and since ten years of age has been a resident of Grand Rapids or its vicinity. He is the eldest of seven children born to Jasper and Margaret (Cook) Dillenback, both natives of Vermont, born in 1792 and 1808 respectively, and married in Alburg in 1831.

Jasper Dillenback spent the greater part of his life as a captain on lake Champain, transporting goods to and from the New York shore. On coming to Michigan he bought a farm in Byron township, Kent county, which township at that time, 1844, was a wilderness, in which fifty or sixty white persons only were living. But he was a sturdy pioneer, having descended from Mohawk Dutch stock, and settled in the province of New York before the Revolutionary war, three brothers being the original immigrants, and from these all of the family name in America are descended. The parents of Jasper, however, were born in Schoharie

County, N. Y.., whence they migrated to Vermont, and Mr. Dillenback, of this sketch, has a store of legendary information touching the early history of the family in America, which, although remarkable, is somewhat vague, owing to the lapse of time and chronological records. Jasper Dillenback, however, succeeded in working out a comfortable home in the wilderness of Kent county, and died thereon, one of Byron township’s most honored pioneers, at the age of seventy-five years,. His wife having died when she as forty-eight. The only living child born to this worthy couple besides George W. is Jackson D., a newspaper man of Denver, Colo., who, with his brother Frank, was a soldier in the Fourth Michigan cavalry during the war of the Rebellion, Frank dying of a disease contracted during his service. Three sisters and a brother, the other children, died young.

George W. Dillenback was reared on his father’s farm and educated in the district schools. Making rapid progress in the latter, he was soon able to begin teaching, and followed this as a vocation, with the exception of fifteen years, until 1888. He began by teaching in the country school, then taught in Missouri one year, and was there when the Civil war broke out, and the same year, 1861, returned to Grand Rapids and continued teach until 1864, in the summer of which year he enlisted as a recruit in company C, thirteenth Michigan infantry, under Capt. Yerkes. He joined his regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., and three days later started on the Atlanta campaign. When between Rome and Resaca, G., he was sent back to Chattanooga, where he was in a detachment camp until November, when he was detailed a clerk in the quartermaster’s department of the One Hundredth colored infantry at Nashville, Tenn.

While thus detailed, he participated in the battle of Nashville, but shortly afterward was attacked with measles, which disorder was greatly aggravated by exposure to a soaking rain, without proper shelter. The result was lung trouble, which has never been eradicated, and for this reason, he has been awarded a small pension. After recuperating from the measles, he rejoined his regiment at Jackson, Mich., but was not mustered out until four months after his regiment had been discharged, and he then returned to Grand Rapids and resumed his profession as a teacher.

The marriage of Mr. Dillenback took place in 1862, at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Rose Lilly, who was born near the city and is a daughter of Albinus and Mehitable (Vincent) Lilly, native of Berkshire county, Mass., but to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dillenback no children have been born.

In 1888, Mr. Dillenback engaged in his present business in Grand Rapids, in which he is associated with Herman Van Wormer, whose biography appears on another page the firm now doing the leading business in its line in the city.

Mr. Dillenback was one of the organizers of the republican party and has always been active in its affairs, wielding a quiet yet potent influence in its actions, more with a view of rewarding his friends and punishing his political enemies, than for self advancement, He has however, served as school inspector for four or five years, and also as a justice of the peace. He is also an active member of A. B. Watson post, No. 395, G. A. R.

For thirty years Mr. Dillenback was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but now he and wife are active and devoted members of the United Brethren society. He was a pioneer in the organization of the Sunday school of Grand Rapids, and has always taken an active interest in both Sunday school and church work, and in many other ways has been a useful and progressive citizen.