The following recollection was written by Luella Dillon McConron, the daughter of William Lansden Dillon, dated Oct 30, 1996 and April 5, 1997.

The year was 1933 of this recollection narrated to Luella Dillon by her grandmother, Stella Taylor Dillon, in Kearney, Nebraska. Luella was staying at her Grandmother's home during her first year at Kearney State College. There was no radio or television. Luella would stoke the wood heater during the cold winter nights while Grandmother told of her life in South Dakota.

She was married to Edward Ellsworth Dillon in 1873. The place of their marriage was Indiana. They migrated to Fort Pierre, South Dakota (known as White Swan at that time). They made their home on the west side of the Missouri River. Fort Pierre was located on the east side of the river. Grandfather operated the ferry, carried the mail and tended to the horses of the Cavalry. The Indian women came to Grandmother's home many times. She would give them flour, sugar and salt. This would appease them and they would leave. Luella asked Grandmother if she ever knew of anyone who had been scalped and lived. Her reply was "Yes, the man wore a sturdy cap on his head."

After the Indian skirmish in the Black Hills, Grandfather and family were transferred to Fort Randall, South Dakota where William L. Dillon was born on April 9, 1887. During all of this time, Grandfather's family remained friendly with the Indian tribes. Grandmother said that her family was helped many times by the Indians and that they would not have survived without their help.

One son, Tom Dillon (Charles Thomas Dillon), was made an honorary Chief of the Sioux Nation. Another son, Billy William Lansden Dillon), was made an honorary member of the Crow Nation in Montana.

Stella was “Converted in a sod schoolhouse in Northwestern Nebraska in 1894. She and E.E. Dillon spent a number of years preaching and organizing Sunday schools in the isolated sections of that part of the state. Many souls were started heaven ward. Her life exemplified and magnified the more excellent way of of perfect love. A daughter testified, "There was perfect purity of thought, expression, and action."