Biography of Ray C. Dilgard, pages 760/761/762.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Ray C. Dilgard



	The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known as 
one of the honored citizens of Auburn, Indiana.  He has lived in DeKalb 
county all his life and for a number of years has been prominently 
identified with the commercial interests of this community. His well-
directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable 
management of his business interest and his sound judgement have 
brought to him prosperity and his life demonstrates what may be 
accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to 
work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any 
discouragement’s which may seem to arise.  In all the relations of life 
he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has 
been brought in contact and a biographical history of DeKalb county 
would not be complete without a record of his career.

	Ray C. Dilgard, a successful furniture dealer and undertaker at 
Auburn, is a native of DeKalb county, having been born about two and 
one-half miles west of Waterloo in Grant township, on May 23, 1881, and 
is a son of Simon and Eliza (Goodwin) Dilgard.  The subject’s paternal 
grandparents, Reuben and Lovina (Shaffer) Dilgard were residents of 
Mehackinville, Wayne county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of a 
miller.  He came to DeKalb county in 1847 and entered a homestead in 
Grant township, after which he returned to his Ohio home, where he 
remained until 1857, when he came to his Indiana farm and established 
his permanent home.  The subject’s mother, Eliza Goodwin, was born in 
Smithfield township, this county and was a daughter of Daniel and 
Susanna (Keefer) Goodwin, who came in an early day to this county from 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.  Simon Dilgard, who has followed the 
pursuit of agriculture all his life, is still living in Grant township, 
on of he honored and respected citizens of his community.

	Ray C. Dilgard was reared on this father’s farm until the age of 
sixteen years, assisting in the farm work during the summer months and 
attending the common schools in winter. He later entered high school at 
Waterloo, where he graduated in 1899, and afterwards was a student at 
the Tri-State Normal School at Angola.  He then became associated with 
the International Harvester Company as traveling salesman, with 
headquarters at Sioux City, Iowa.  A year later he joined T.G. 
Northwall & Company, dealers in a different line of farming implements, 
with headquarters at Omaha, Nebraska, with whom he remained as a 
traveling salesman.  Tiring of the road, Mr. Dilgard then entered a 
school of embalming at Chicago, taking a full course, after which, in 
January, 1905, he came to Auburn and formed a business partnership with 
Ben K. Adams, undertaker and dealer in furniture. In April of the 
following year Mr. Dilgard bought his partner’s interest, and since 
then has continued the business alone.  The business now controlled by 
Mr. Dilgard was established in Auburn about fifty years ago by a 
relative, C.C. Shaffer, and is probably the oldest established business 
house in the city.  Thoroughly qualified for his duties as undertaker, 
Mr. Dilgard has handled his full share of the business in this line 
throughout a large radius of surrounding country, while as a furniture 
dealer he is the leader in this section. His agreeable disposition, 
pleasing address and splendid business qualities have commended him to 
the good will of all who have had dealings with him and he enjoys a 
large and loyal circle of friends.

	Fraternally, Mr. Dilgard belongs to the Free and Accepted Mason, 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Maccabees, Benevolent 
of Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of the 
Golden Eagle, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Commercial Club, in 
all of which he has taken an active interest and is an appreciative 
member.  Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, to which they give an earnest support and contribute 
liberally.

	On June 14, 1905, Ray Dilgard was married to Katherine Smith, of 
Albion, Indiana, daughter of Charles L. and Melissa (Beck) Smith.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Dilgard move in the best social circles of the city and are 
deservedly popular.  Charles L. Smith was a native of Ohio and his wife 
of Albion, Noble county, Indiana.  He came to Indiana and here followed 
farming throughout his active life, being now retired. To him and his 
wife were born three children, namely: Leone, the wife of Edward Hicks, 
of Auburn; May, the wife of Walter Bonhan, of Albion; Katherine, Mrs. 
Dilgard. The latter is a licensed embalmer and works with Mr. Dilgard 
on all his calls.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodein@ctlnet.com