Biography of Simon A. Dilgard, pages 578.579/580. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. Simon A. Dilgard All credit is due a man who wins success and by persistency and energy gains a competence and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of the subject of this sketch is that of such a man, for he came to DeKalb county in the days of her rapid growth and here worked out his way definite success and independence. He quickly adapted himself to the conditions which he found here and has labored so consecutively and effectively that he is now held in high regard by all who know him, having her maintained his home since 1859. Simon A. Dilgard was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on August 18, 1854, and is the son of Reuben and Lovina (Shaffer) Dilgard. Reuben Dilgard was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, on February 29, 1822, and was the son of Jacob Dilgard, whose father was a native of Paris, France, and who came to America in his youth, being reared by a German family in Pennsylvania, where he became first a mountaineer teamster and later a miller. When fifteen years of age Reuben Dilgard moved with his parents to Ohio, being one of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and it is a noteworthy fact that of this family the father and all seven boys learned and followed the trade of milling. In Ohio Reuben Dilgard married Lovina Shaffer on March 10, 1846, the wedding occurring at her parents’ home near Loudedville, Ashland county. Lovina Shaffer, was the daughter of Simon and Rebecca (Kinnard) Shaffer, the latter’s father having been a native of London, England, who, in early childhood, was brought by his parents to America. Soon after landing in America, while crossing a frozen river, the ice broke and the parents were thrown into the water and drowned, an Irish woman rescuing and rearing the lad, who grew to maturity and became the father of Rebecca, Mrs. Shaffer. She had an uncle, General George, in the War of the Revolution, and others of the family have been noted for their courage patriotism. After Reuben Dilgard’s marriage in Ohio, he lived there until October, 1859, when he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and located in the northwest quarter of section 7, Grant township, which at that time was covered by a dense forest, not a stick of timber having been cut. Though some other land had been bought in the neighborhood, but little of it had been at that time improved. Here Mr. Dilgard entered bravely upon the task of clearing and improving the land in true pioneer fashion, and her he and his wife lived the rest of their lives. They were the parents of four children, two daughters and two sons, the former dying in infancy in Ohio. The boys were the subject of this sketch and a brother, William, who was born on August 28, 1850, and died at the age of thirty-five years, unmarried. Reuben Dilgard did on July 27, 1896, and the mother, who was born May 11, 1824, died on August 17, 1891. Simon A. Dilgard has spent all his life since coming to Indiana on the original farm excepting about three years spent in New Mexico, dating from March, 1909. He has been active during all these years and acquired a competency so that during the later years of his life he has been enabled to spend a good deal of his time in travel. He and his son together own three hundred and forty acres of land in one piece and his son’s wife also owns a quarter section of land adjoining in New Mexico only a few rods from the old and historic Santa Fe trail. Mr. Dilgard has seen a good deal of frontier life during his travels, having come in contact with the Indians and the old trails and Indians battle grounds, which he has closely observed, and has also witnessed many strange customs among the border tribes. For a time he operated a flour mill at Auburn, but the mill was destroyed by fire in 1905. On February 3, 1876, Simon Dilgard was united in marriage with Eliza Goodwin, who was born in Smithfield township, this county, the daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Kiefer) Goodwin. Daniel Goodwin was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on October 2, 1824, and was the son of David and Catherine Goodwin. He came to DeKalb county in 1843. His wife, Susanna Kiefer, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 1828, the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) Kiefer. She was married on April 20, 1855, and came at once to DeKalb county, living in Smithfield township, Daniel Goodwin died on July 4, 1900, and Mrs. Goodwin is still residing in Smithfield township, where she enjoys the respect of all who know her. Daniel Goodwin was twice married, his first wife living but a short time after their marriage. Her maiden name was Mary S. Barron, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, where their marriage occurred on June 28, 1850. She was the mother of two sons, Philemon, born May 14, 1851, in Ohio, and Henry, born in Indiana on September 20, 1854. The mother of these children was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on August 2, 1830, and died on September 24, 1854. Daniel Goodwin first came to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1853, and entered land in Smithfield township, after which he returned to Ohio for a time. By his union with Susanna Kiefer were born the following children: William, born August 24, 1856; Eliza, born August 26, 1858; Elmira, born September 10, 1860; John W., born July 22, 1862, and David, born October 20, 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Dilgard have been born the following children: Myrara Arvie, who died at the age of four months; Ray C., and undertaker at Auburn; Jay W., born March 17, 1887, is at home; Bernice, born August 8, 1892, died at the age of two months; Verna Katherine, at home. Fraternally, Simon Dilgard has been a member of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias at Waterloo from the time it was instituted, and is also an appreciative member of the time-honored Masonic order. His parent were active members of the Lutheran church, in which they were earnest workers and were close students of the Bible. He, himself, has taken and active interest in local public affairs, having been a member of the first township advisory board of Grant township. Politically, a Democrat, he has frequently been a delegate to county conventions and has been prominent in the councils of his party, enjoying a close personal acquaintance with Vice-president Marshall and other eminent leader of the party. He has been a man of industrious habits, showing wise discrimination and wise judgment in all his affairs and the success which has come to him has been gained by honest, earnest effort, for which he is entitled to the universal respect which is accorded him in this community. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com