Guy Ernest Dilsaver
Guy Ernest Dilsaver, prominent citizen and general farmer, residing on his valuable farm in Thompson Township, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 30, 1867, and is a son of Simon and Kate (Irving) Dilsaver.
The first members of the Dilsaver family to come from Pennsylvania to Delaware County were William H. Dilsaver and his brother, the former then in boyhood. He was born July 5, 1814, and died May 28, 1901. He was reared in Ohio and married Sarah Dilsaver. who was burn February 4. 1816, and died August 30, 1896. They had four children: Lavina, who married William Wiles, died in Michigan; Jane, who lives in Michigan, is the widow of Louis Gearhart, formerly of Virginia; Simon, father of Guy Ernest Dilsaver; and Martha, who is the wife of Benson Smith, residing in Michigan. Simon Dilsaver was born in Thompson Township, Delaware County, Ohio, in 1842, and has been a life-long resident of this township. He married Kate Irving, who was born in 1841, in Liberty Township, near Powell, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Eliza (Rhodes) Irving, who lived in Delaware and Union Counties. To this union was horn one son, Guy Ernest.
Guy Ernest Dilsaver was reared on his father's farm of 135 acres, which is a part of the old homestead property on which William H. Dilsaver settled. Very little change has been brought about during the lifetime of Mr. Dilsaver, his parents having lived all their married life in the same residence and even the cook-stove has not been moved for forty vears. Mr. Dilsaver was mainly educated in the schools of Thompson Township and his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. For seven years following his marriage be resided on his father's farm and then moved to his present farm which he purchased from Jane Pitcher, and here he has engaged in general farming. He has an excellent farm and has placed it under a fine state of cultivation. In December, 1887, Mr. Dilsaver married Alice Manuel, who was reared in Union County. Ohio, and is a daughter of A. J. and Sarah (Franklin) Manuel. The father of Mrs. Dilsaver was born in Virginia and her mother in Scioto Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dilsaver have three children: Paul Irving, Clifford and Burr. Paul Irving was born June 10. 1889, and died August 7. 1905, aged sixteen years, one month and twenty-eight days. Despite his youth he had attained to the stature of a full-grown man, at the time of his death being six feet, two inches in height. Clifford, born May 27, 1895, and Burr, born December 20, 1901, are both attending school.
Mr. Dilsaver has been identified with the Republican party ever since the first election of the late President McKinley and he has taken a very active interest in public matters and works loyally for his friends in the various campaigns. For a period of eighteen months he served as a justice of the peace and on numerous occasions he has attended county and Congressional conventions as a delegate. recently being a member of the convention that cast 1,501 votes for Delaware County.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908