El Dorado County
Biographies
HON. HARLEY E. DILLINGER
One of the outstanding citizens of Eldorado county is the Hon. Harley E. Dillinger, who has won wide recognition not only as an assemblyman, but as an able business man, as a lawyer, as one actively interested in civic affairs. Mr. Dillinger is now serving his fourth term as assemblyman from the sixteenth district, and has made a meritorious record in the legislative halls of the state. He has been a consistent champion of water conservation for his district, and has worked in the interest of many other measures affecting the welfare of his constituents. He is also the owner of one of the most modern furniture and undertaking business of Eldorado county, located in Placerville.
Harley E. Dillinger was born on a farm near Eddyville, Iowa, September 4, 1889, a son of Allison S. and Malissa (Geyer) Dillinger. Allison S. Dillinger was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared in Virginia, and during the Civil war served in the Third West Virginia Cavalry, after which he became a miner and also followed farming.
Harley E. Dillinger attended the rural and high schools, then entered college at Des Moines, Iowa. His first work was in connection with bridge and iron trade, and he was employed in the coal mines and oil fields. In 1910 he was located at Mare Island, California, in the service of the government, then in 1911 came to Placerville, California, and for five years was in the forest service. In 1916 Mr. Dillinger purchased the business which he now conducts in a most successful way, with up-to-date stock and equipment. He had previously studied law and was admitted to the bar after taking the necessary examinations. He then practiced the profession for eight years, but eventually gave it up to devote his entire attention to the furniture and undertaking business which he had acquired.
Mr. Dillinger is a democrat in his political affiliation, and served one and a half terms as city trustee of Placerville. He is a member and past master of Eldorado Lodge, No. 26, Free and Accepted Masons of Placerville; member and past president of the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles; and belongs to the Foresters; the Loyal Order of Moose; the Druids; The Lions Club; and the Placerville Golf Club, of which he is a charter member.
Mr. Dillinger was married to Miss Alice L. Johnston, a native of Eldorado county, and they are the parents of two children, Marian Alice and William Clarke.
Transcribed
by Craig Hahn.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 pgs. 8-9. The Pioneer
Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Craig Hahn.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies