Hello Zahn: I found my census records. Robert (Uncle Bob) Dillman's parents were Tipton Dillman b. 1876, son of George and Mary (unk. maiden name) Dillman, and Alice Eldridge Dillman. George Dillman was a blacksmith at a place near Rose Hill called Bales Forge. I do not know where that is located. They also have an entire houseful of people with the surname of Campbell primarily, but there is also a Mary Van Huss there too, and a lady named Martha Carmony (looks like that surname), who is a sister-in-law to George Dillman. They must have been running a boarding house, along with George being a blacksmith. Tip, Uncle Bob's Daddy, was only four years old. This was on the 1880 Lee County census. In 1900, Tipton "Tip" Dillman and wife Alice Eldridge Dillman, are living in their own household, have son Emory, daughter Leone, and a servant who looks like his name is Frank Call/Coll and is 14 years old. Something obviously happened to Tip before the 1910 census, when Alice at only age 28, has moved in with her parents, Thomas R. and Miami Eldridge, with her children. Uncle Bob is on that census at 8 years old, since he was born in 1902. I wonder what happened to Tip, Uncle Bob's daddy? On the 1920 census, Alice is gone, and she and Tipton's children are still living with their grandparents, Thomas R. and Miami Eldridge. Alice Eldridge Dillman would only have been about 38 years old here, so now I am wondering where she went? So, I have two mysteries on my hands. What happened to Uncle Bob's Daddy, Tipton "Tip" Dillman between 1900 and 1910, and then what happened to his mother, Alice Eldridge Dillman, after 1910 and before 1920? If you or anyone knows the story or stories behind these disappearances, I would really love to hear them. It might explain Uncle Bob's "James Dean" behavior, before and after he and Aunt Allie were married. He was a "major" daredevil, and would do anything dangerous, and it led to his death at a very young age. My Daddy, who passed away in 2002, and was a retired Captain on the TN Highway Patrol, thought the world of Uncle Bob, who took him riding on his motorcycle, and all sorts of things when Daddy was very young. I certainly hope you and/or all the good people on this list know what happened to Tipton "Tip" and Alice Eldridge Dillman. Sincerely, Libby Bunch Smiddy I hear their whispers...ethereal, soft and still. Daughter, if you do not remember us, who will?

Libby, and other interested Eldridge/Dillman researchers: This is not my immediate family, although my husband was an Eldridge descendant. Since I have done a bit of Lee County research, I can help with some of your questions. Elizabeth Smiddy wrote on 7 October 2008: Robert (Uncle Bob) Dillman's parents were Tipton Dillman b. 1876, son of George and Mary (unk. maiden name) Dillman, and Alice Eldridge Dillman. My response: George W. Dillman's first wife was Mary E. Carmony. She was the mother of Tipton Dillman. George W. Dillman married (2) Mary F. Hill, and (3) Victoria L. Speak. You wrote: In 1900, Tipton "Tip" Dillman and wife Alice Eldridge Dillman, are living in their own household, have son Emory, daughter Leone, and a servant who looks like his name is Frank Call/Coll and is 14 years old. My response: This is Henry Franklin Cole b. 1885. His mother died in 1890 and his father in 1891, leaving several small children. The children lived with various friends and neighbors until they were old enough to be on their own or until the older siblings were able to look after the younger ones. You wrote: I have two mysteries on my hands. What happened to Uncle Bob's Daddy, Tipton "Tip" Dillman between 1900 and 1910, and then what happened to his mother, Alice Eldridge Dillman, after 1910 and before 1920? My response: Tip Dillman probably died before 1910 as Alice Dillman is listed as a widow in the 1910 census. Alice Eldridge Dillman remarried in Lee Co, VA 26 March 1919 to Caleb Bales. His first wife had died in 1918. Caleb Bales and his first wife are buried in the Bales Family Cemetery, Rose Hill, VA. Alice Eldridge Dillman-Bales is buried in the McLin Cemetery, Rose Hill, VA. I suspect that Tip Dillman is buried in McLin Cemetery, also, probably in an unmarked grave. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions. I may be able to help fill in a few more blanks. -- Gail -----Original Message----- From: valee-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:valee-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Smiddy Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 3:08 AM To: VALEE Subject: Re: [VALEE] Tipton Dillman