Casper Dilling
My mother, Candy Kinser, happened to have this bio on Casper Dilling in her
genealogy folder, so I decided.to type it in just as the copy she had,
typos and all. A great deal of research has been done on Casper so I’ll be
writing about him in the future and adding more information as I find it.
Mr. Wilbur Linder of Portland, Indiana, sent to me a letter from a
professional genealogist in Germany. That man was Herr Herbert Bussenschutt
of Kressbronn, West Germany—he is now deceased. Herr Bussenschutt said he
“have lists of all Hessian soldiers who came to America. Kasper Dilling,
also known as Dillinger, originated from Oetmannshausen. He deserted in May
1783 and settled in America.”
Casper Dilling came to America during the American Revolutionary War in the
service of the British,
he was a subject of the reigning House of
Hesse-Kassel. Since he was said to have been from Darmstadt, Hessen,
Germany, that may have been where he “enlisted.”
There are two different
versions of how he became part of the American military force. One story
claims he deserted from the British. The second story is that General
Washington assigned half of the captured prisoners to service in the
Colonial Army and freed the other half on the condition that they would
settle on the government lands on what was then the western frontier. One
Dilling researcher states Casper must have served for the Americans, since
he received a grant of 600 acres for such services.
Casper Dilling is listed, as one of the early settlers of Old Woodberry
Township, in what is now Huston Twp., of Blair County, Pennsylvania. He
arrived there between the close of the Revolutionary War and the 1800
census, and settled on property at the Rebecca Furnace. In 1800 he is
listed as owner of a sawmill. In 1808 he was appointed constable of
Woodberry Twp., but he refused to serve and was fined $40.00. (Note: He
had a son also named Casper who would have been 20 years old in 1808. It is
possible this last was the son instead of the immigrant Casper)
About 1786 Casper married Christina Puterbaugh. (see also family of George
Puterbaugh/Butterbaugh.) They moved on west over Tussey Mountain and
settled in Morrison’s Cove, near the Rebecca Furnace.
Casper is described as being a small man, “the little Dutchman”, and Christina
as an unusually large woman.
Their children were noted to be of “large
stature and great physical strength.”
The Puderbaugh family record written by Marie Galbreath Good says that
Casper was a Catholic and therefore was not buried with his wife in the
Brumbaugh Cemetery (Church of the Brethren). However, Mr. Gerald Helsel
advised that he has been all over that part of Pennsylvania, and that the
Rebecca Furnace Cemetery is not a Catholic Cemetery—that there are no
Catholic cemeteries in the whole of the Morrison’s Cove area. Mr. Helsel is
of the opinion that Casper Dilling belonged to the “Dunkard” Church—all the
Dillings he found in records belonged to the Dunkard Church.
Variations of spelling for this name include: Gaspar Dillinger, Delling,
Dilinger, Deling, Gaspar(d) Dillinger.
Besides the ten children listed on the family group sheet for Casper and
Christina, there were considered to be two infants—they were not necessarily
the youngest children.
Sources of Information:
The Pud(d)erbaugh-Butterbaugh Families, by Marie Galbreath Good.*
“Bygone Days in the Cove,” by Ella M. Snowberger, published by The
Morrison’s Cove Herald, Martinsburg, Pa., Vol. II, Jan., 1934.
Manuscripts of George H. Liebegott
Will of Casper Dilling, Huntingdon Co., Pa., Will Book 4, pp.90-91.
History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pa., Philadelphia, by J. Simpson
Africa, published by L. H. Everts, 1883.
Mrs. Phyllis Brechbiel Hanson, 1430 Academy Ave., Albert Lea, MN 56007 (info
for Casper Dilling’s third child, John.
*Mrs. Good lists as her sources for this family an old German Family Bible
of Henry Rodland (Roadland) which belonged at that time to Samuel Tetweiler
(Detwiler), who lived at Mill Creek, near Huntingdon, Pa.; also some of it
verified by grave markers. She says this information was gathered by Mrs.
Ernest A Brumbaugh, who lived at that time at R. D. 2, Williamsburg, Pa.
Casper Dilling's Will
Huntingdon County, Pa., Will Book 4, Pages 90-91:
Last Will of Casper Dilling
I, Casper Dilling of Woodberry township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania,
being sickly, aged and of bodily infirmities but of sound and disposing
mind, memory and understanding, and being aware that I have not many years
to live, therefore in order to be better prepared to leave this world as to
my earthly concerns, do make publish and declare the following to be my last
Will & Testament in the manner and form following, Viz. 1st, as soon as
possible after my decease I request that all my just debts be paid. 2nd, I
give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Christiana all my personal property
that I am now possessed of excepting promissory notes of hand with every
privilege arising from an Articles of agreement between my son Henry
(deceased) and me for the Sale of a tract of Land whereon I formerly resided
and the Sum of thirty dollars cash yearly on the 1st day of May Annually;
and as much wheat Rye Corn Buckwheat Oats Potatoes, Meat hay Straw, Coffee
Sugar and Tea as she may want for her use and for the person or persons it
may be necessary to keep to attend to her during her life. 3rd, My will is
that my children namely Casper, John, Catharine married to Henry Daily,
Jacob, Henry (deceased), Elizabeth married to Mathew Shields, Christiana
married to Henry Fisher, Susanah married to Solomon Kasner, or their
children are to have equal shares of my whole estate after paying all my
debts, and giving my wife Christiana her portion as above mentioned,
excepting however the children of my son Henry who are not to have anything
more of my Estate than the plantation I sold to my son Henry because I
consider the said plantation to be a full and fair portion of my estate for
my son Henry’s four minor children, and it is also my will that whatever may
be yet coming to my daughter Elizabeth married to Mathew Shields the one
half thereof shall be paid unto the said Elizabeth or her children that she
has with said Shields and the other half to her two children she had with
her first husband Abraham Rhodes (deceased). It is also my will that
Solomon Kershner married to my daughter Susanah is to have the privelege of
residing upon and occupying the place or farm he now live upon during his
life and the remainder of the balance which will be coming to my daughter
Susanah for her share to be paid to her children except twenty five dollars
yearly to be paid to said susanah during her life on the first day of May
Annually. And whereas I am bound jointly with Henry Fisher married to my
daughter Christiana for the payment of a Plantation he bought of James
Entrekin, Esquire, it is my will that if said Fisher pays the said
Plantation to the said Entrekin that my Executor make said Fisher and his
heirs a deed for the whole of said Plantation. Should said Fisher however
not be able to pay for more than the one half of said Plantation is to have
a deed made to him for the one half or for so much thereof in the proportion
to what he pays or has paid on said Plantation according to an Article of
Agreement between him and me dated first day of this instant, Sept. 1st
1835. And in case said Fisher is not able to pay said land and my estate
has to pay the same in that case my will is that said Plantation shall be
for the use and support of his wife Christiana during her life and then her
heirs to receive the balance coming to her share of my whole estate. And my
will also is that in case said Fisher pays the one half of said land or said
land is divided by giving his proportion according to what he pays my
Executor may either sell my share of the same or may lease it out as they
may deem most beneficial for my estate. And it is also my will that the
widow and children of my son John (deceased) are to have the plantation
which I sold the said John and whereon they now reside for the support of
said widow and children of said John. And the balance of what is coming to
my son’s share is to be paid to his children. It is not to be understood by
this will that the estate of Henry Dilling my son is to released from paying
the plantation he bought of me and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint
my son Casper Dilling and Henry Beaver Executors of this my last Will and
Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal Sept. 25th 1835.
Signed, Sealed, published and declared by Casper Dilling to _ his last Will
and Testament in presence of us who in his presence Set our names as
Witnesses
John Brumbaugh (in German)
George Brumbaugh (in German)
Casper Dilling (in German) [SEAL]
Huntingdon County, Pa., Will Book 4, Page 91:
Huntingdon County –
Before me the Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of
Administration in and for said County personally came the above named John
Brumbough and George Brumbough and been affirmed according to law do depose
and Say that they were personally present and did see and hear the above
named Casper Dilling, sign, Seal, execute, publish, pronounce and declare
the within instrument of writing as and for his last Will and Testament and
that they these deponents did Sign their names thereto as witnesses in
presence of each other and in presence of the said Testator and at his
instance and request, and that the said Testator was at the time of sound
and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge
and belief.
Affirmed and Subscribed the 12th day of March A.D. 1838, before John Reed,
Register)
John Brumbough (in German)
George Brumbough (in German)
Renunciation of Henry Beaver
This is to certify that I do hereby renounce my right as one of the
Executors of the last Will and Testament of Casper Dilling (deceased) unto
my coleage Casper Dilling. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand
this 12th day of March 1838. Henry Beaver
Huntingdon County, Pa., Will Book 4, Page 92:
Casper Dilling, (Executor) or Casper Dilling (deceased)
Memorandum
Letters Testamentary were this day issued to Casper Dilling Executor of the
last Will and Testament of Casper Dilling (deceased). Inventory to be
exhibited within one month and a just and true account calculation and
reckoning of his said administration within one year or when thereunto
lawfully required. Given under seal of Office the 12th day of march A.D.
1838. John Reed, Register
Family of Casper Dilling Spread Throughout Nation
Among all the large families of Morrisons Cove, the descendants of Casper Dilling, pioneer farmer and hunter, are among the largest and most widely scattered.
They are prominent in many walks of life in numerous sections of the United States and
outside of the Cove. One of the largest branches of the family is located in the state of Indiana.
During the past summer, the historian of the Indiana branch of the family Mrs. Gertrude Ragan of Monticello RD 2, Ind., visited with relatives in the Cove and gathered more information concerning the early Dillings of Central Pennsylvania.
While here, Mrs. Ragan was able to visit the log cabin in the Clover Creek area, a building said to have been erected by the first Casper Dilling in times soon after the Revolutionary War. The building is located on what is known as the Elmer Dilling farm now occupied by the Samuel Dilling family.
According to the Dilling Family History, compiled for the Indiana branch of the family in 1941 by Mrs. Ragan and her mother, Mrs. Lottie Poncebaker, Casper Dilling was born near Hessen, Germany, Feb. 25, 1759. At the age of 19, he was drafted into the army that the ruler of Hesse-Cassel sent to America as mercenary soldiers to help the British King in his effort to put down the rebellion of the colonists.
There are two versions of what happened to young Casper after he arrived in America. One is that he was captured with the Hessian troops that Washington took at Trenton after crossing the Delaware, and the other and most widely accepted is that as soon as his ship landed at Baltimore he deserted to serve in the American army.
That he performed some important service for the American cause is seen from the fact that he received a government grant of 600 acres of land. These lands he located himself in the section of the Cove in the vicinity [missing and illegible] the site of the village of Fredericksburg.
He came this way after the war and lingered for a time in the Conococheague valley in Franklin County, where he found a wife, Christina Putterbaugh, whom he married in 1786.
The tradition in the family is that soon after they were married they packed their possessions on horseback and followed the rough trails westward until one evening from the top of the Tussey Mountain he saw the sunset over the beautiful valley which was to be known as Morrisons Cove.
It was then a vast and cruel wilderness, but it is said that Casper Dilling vowed when he saw it that it was good enough for him. And so he built his cabin.
Of necessity he had to be a hunter as well as a farmer, for there were bear dens on the Tussey Mountain then, and it was a continous fight to protect his sheep and hogs from bruin’s depredations. There were wolves, too, and many other wild animals, but the streams were clear and the land was fertile.
Many of the things that the early Dillings needed were raised on their own farm.
But according to their family history, Casper had to go back to the Conococheague settlement to take his grain to the mill. In doing so, he is said to have followed an old elk trail which crossed Tussey Mountain at a notch used by the present Rt. 164 between Martinsburg and Saxton.
Old maps of Blair County name this point at the crest of the mountain as Elk Gap, so that in Casper Dilling’s time the noble elk may have roamed in the mountains of southern Pennsylvania.
Casper and Christina Dilling had 12 children of which ten survived to maturity six sons and four daughters.
One of Casper’s sons was Conrad Dilling, and a son of Conrad, George B. Dilling, emigrated to Indiana about 1865. George B. Dilling was married three times and all three wives were from the Cove.
His first wife was Elizabeth Longenecker, and there were ten children to that marriage. After her death, he married Margaret Stayer, and there was one child born to that union. After her passing he married Sarah Burket and there were eight children born to the third marriage. From this family there came the Indiana branch of the Dillings, numerous in White and Carroll counties, who have held large annual reunions for many years.
From his lands in the Clover Creek area, the original Casper Dilling was able to leave each of his children a farm, and many of his descendants today are prominent residents of the Cove.
Miss Ella M. Snowberger in the second volume of her “Bygone Days in the Cove”, quotes a number of the members of the Cove branch of the Dilling family concerning the story of the original Casper Dilling, the Cove pioneer.
His abilities as a hunter have become a legend in this region.
According to the family history, the first Casper Dilling died in 1838 and his widow in 1844. Their children who survived to adult ages, in addition to the before-mentioned Conrad, were George, Casper Jr., John, Jacob, Henry, Mrs. Catherine Daily, Mrs. Elizabeth Shields, Mrs. Christina Fisher, and Mrs. Susanna Casner, according to the record supplied from the family Bible for the Daily sister who lived near Beavertown.