Colonel John Dils, Jr., was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost entrepreneurs and businessmen. Early on during the Civil War, he was incarcerated by John "Cerro Gordo" Williams and sent to Libby Prison. Dils tried to continue to do business in the area upon his release from prison and his return to Pike County, but a raid in early August of 1862, led by Nathaniel McClure "Peg-leg" Menifee, among others, cleaned out his store. Dils, from this point on, was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost Unionist leaders. Using his fortune and his influence, he cobbled together the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, U. S. Volunteers (http://www.geocities.com/rmbaker66/index.html), which gave good service to the area and kept the local guerrilla groups from gaining the upper hand in the mountains. After his dismissal from the service and the end of the war, Colonel Dils was instrumental in bringing industry to the Appalachians. He was also influential in bringing the Methodist Church and upper-level education to this remote region. Finally, it is also believed that the Colonel played a key part in the later stages of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud on the side of the McCoys.
Colonel John Dils, Jr., was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost entrepreneurs and businessmen. Early on during the Civil War, he was incarcerated by John "Cerro Gordo" Williams and sent to Libby Prison. Dils tried to continue to do business in the area upon his release from prison and his return to Pike County, but a raid in early August of 1862, led by Nathaniel McClure "Peg-leg" Menifee, among others, cleaned out his store. Dils, from this point on, was one of the Big Sandy Valley's foremost Unionist leaders. Using his fortune and his influence, he cobbled together the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, U. S. Volunteers (http://www.geocities.com/rmbaker66/index.html), which gave good service to the area and kept the local guerrilla groups from gaining the upper hand in the mountains. After his dismissal from the service and the end of the war, Colonel Dils was instrumental in bringing industry to the Appalachians. He was also influential in bringing the Methodist Church and upper-level education to this remote region. Finally, it is also believed that the Colonel played a key part in the later stages of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud on the side of the McCoys.
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" BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD "
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