Henry Clay Dillon was born on January 22, 1864 in Fleming County, Kentucky. He married Laura Seaman of Greenfield, Indiana on February 6, 1889. Their two children, Charles Howard Dillon and Ruth Dillon were born on November 15, 1889 and May 28, 1892 respectively. They came to Sherman, Texas in 1892 where H.C. Dillon worked as the YMCA Secretary and State Secretary for the Texas Gospel Union. They joined the Central American Mission as missionaries in 1893, leaving on December 11, 1893 for Central America. Sickness plagued the missionaries, necessitating their return. On a steam ship to San Francisco, Laura Dillon died on June 26, 1894. Returning to Dallas on July 21st, 1894, H.C. Dillon decided he must continue his work in Central America, left his children in the care of Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Powell and Mr. and Mrs. Devlin. During one of his trips back to Dallas, H.C. Dillon married again on April 22, 1896, to Margaret Neely. H.C. Dillon finally passed away on August 29, 1897 in El Paraiso, Honduras. Margaret Dillon died in Dulce Nombre in June 9, 1913.
Howard and Ruth, now orphans, continued to live under the care of the Devlins and the Powells. E.M. Powell, and his wife Mary, would play an important role in the lives of the orphan children. Mr. Powell helped establish the Central Congregational Church of Dallas, and was a noted business leader and supporter of missionary activity. Their other benefactor, Robert Devlin, was noted for his charity towards the orphaned, helping raise sixteen orphaned children over his lifetime. Mr. Devlin was also a member of the Central Congregational Church. Howard played football at Dallas High School, becoming a teacher and football coach at Duncan, Oklahoma and later Cooper, Texas. It was in Cooper where he met Nettie Wood, whom he would marry in October 15, 1912. Their child, Howard Clay Dillon, was born in Dallas on March 14, 1916. In Dallas, Howard Dillon worked in the Tax and Valuation department of Western Union. He was also active in church activities, and was a noted singer. Charles Howard Dillon died December 8, 1967 in Dallas.
From the guide to the Dillon Family Collection MA09. 2., 1890-1980, (Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library)
