Harry Dills [1870-1948]

The rifle Harry carried during his term of military service [1898-1901 Harrison Francis Dills was the eldest son of Harrison and Francis Electaa [Gooding] Dills and was born at home on 16th and Kentucky in Quincy, Illinois and died at Kennedy VA hospital, Memphis, Tennesse [January 23, 1870-April 2, 1948]. He was buried on April 5th by his home in Locust Grove, Arkansas. Harry married to Myrtle Romans in Redfield, Kansas in 1892 and was divorced in 1912... He married Amealia Patterson in Caddo Parish, BLanchard, Louisiana 10 Dec 1928 until death in 1948. He was survived by 5 children from first wife and one son through second marriage. Harry left Kansas in 1906 for the last time after jobs away from home which ultimately contributed to the divorce. I heard from one of Harry and Mrytle's daughters that he lost vision in one eye over a bar room fight but medical records indicate that wasn't the reason for his failing eyesight. She also stated that her mother didn't speak bad of him but thought he was spoiled growing up since he was from a well to do family. Besides emotional aspects that prompted Roy to tell his dad not to come back to Redfield in a letter [1906], he was left to do the farming with help of younger brother Richard. One of Roy's sister said that she was suprised that her brother had kindly feelings towards her dad because he wasn't around, but it helped my grandpa Dills to put it to rest and to express his love for his father. They didn't understand that Harry was ill over time with bouts of fever and general health. Besides other events, Harry wasn't around when mother Fannie had passed away in Redfield [1908] after loosing contact from his family. Harry enlisted in the Army near his parent's home in Missouri in 1898 although I'm told that his father Harrison Dills wasn't happy about him being away from his family and farm. I heard also that there wasnt many opportunities for carpenters there but dont know the full story. As someone who worked away from home for the railroad, His son LeRoy, came to understand that it being away too long creates problems which helped him as a parent. Further notes at https://wordpress.com/post/harrisondills.wordpress.com/139 Provided by the Veterans Administration, here are documents relating to military service of Harrison Francis Dills. There are also records pertaining to Harry's half brothers John R Dills and George A Dills besides letters from his father Harrison Dills and both spouses about receiving pensions.