Daughter of Charles Philip Dickens and Lucy Rathbone. 1m to Charles Chester Conley on 06 Jan 1844. 2m to Augustus Dilley in 1896. Filed for pension on 03 Apr 1892. Filed for widow's pension on 10 Mar 1906.

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Emporia Gazette, Monday, February 15, 1897; page 4, column 2

Dilley - Conway

Mr. Augusta Dilley, a well known old solider of this town, and Mrs. Rowena Conway, of 10 Neosho street, were married last evening at the home of Joseph Phillips, a son-in-law of the bride, at 5 o'clock. Both people are well known in Emporia. Judge Culver united the couple who were attended by their immediate family and friends.

The bride has something of a history. When the civil war was declared, she was married and had three children, and was so much in sympathy with the north that because her husband would not go to war, she herself went and acted as a nurse during the entire time. She was honorably discharged and now draws a comfortable pension from the government for her services. Mr. Dilley was also a veteran on the late war.

Mr. and Mrs. Dilley will live at No. 10 Neosho street where their many friends hope they will enjoy a long and pleasant life.

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The Emporia Gazette, 26 Sep 1912, Thursday

MRS. ROWENA DILLEY DEAD

Mrs. Rowena May Dilley died last evening at 6 o'clock at her home, No. 10 Neosho Street, of paralysis, after an illness of five months.

Rowena May Dickens was born May 10, 1826, at Summer Hill, N.Y. Her father, Philip Dickens, according to an autobiography of her life found among her papers, claimed to be a second cousin of Charles Dickens. On January 6, 1844, she was married to Chester Conley. In 1862, her son, Charles Conley, enlisted in the Civil War, and a few months later was injured while felling trees for breastworks. The boy was taken to the hospital at Harper's Ferry, where Mrs. Conley nursed him for six weeks. While there she was prevailed upon by the physician in charge to volunteer as a hospital nurse, as, at that time, there was not a nurse in the hospital. Upon the recovery of her son she went home long enough to make arrangements for the care of her other three children, and returned to Harper's Ferry, where she was assigned to work in the hospital. She had sixty wounded men to look after on average. Later she was transferred to a hospital at Washington, where she was in hearing of two battles. Mrs. Conley served through the remainder of the war, and at its close returned to her home in New York.

Later the Conleys moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Conley died in 1878. In 1894 she and her children came to Emporia, where she was married two years later to Augustus Dilley, who died in 1910. She is survived by one son, Theodore Conley. She was a member of the Women's Relief Corps and Methodist Church. Rev. J. B. Mackenzie will conduct the funeral services, but the time has not been decided upon. Interment will be made in Maplewood Cemetery.

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The Emporia Gazette, 27 Sep 1912, Friday

NOTICE TO GARFIELD CIRCLE

All members of Garfield Circle No. 22, Ladies of the G.A.R., are requested to meet in the vestibule of the Grace Methodist Church, tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock, to attend the funeral of Mrs. Rowena Dilley, who was an honorary member of this circle.

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Rowena Connelley (sic) in the 1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Rowena Connelley
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1827
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1850: Lawrence, Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA
Gender: Female
Family Number: 167
Household Members: Name, Age
Chester Connelley 32
Rowena Connelley 23
A G Connelley 5
Jerusha J Connelley 4

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Rowena Conly in the New York, State Census, 1855

Name: Rowena Conly
Birth Year: abt 1826
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Relation to Head: Wife
Residence: Scott, Cortland, New York, USA
Household number: 41
Line Number: 36
Household Members: Name, Age
Chester Conly 37
Rowena Conly 29
Adison Conly 10
Jersha Conly 8
Josephine Conly 3
Berry Conly 0

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Roena Conly in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name: Roena Conly
Age: 33
Birth Year: abt 1827
Gender: Female
Birth Place: New York
Home in 1860: Summerhill, Cayuga, New York
Post Office: Locke
Family Number: 176
Value of Real Estate: View image
Household Members: Name, Age
Chester Conly 43
Roena Conly 33
Aderson Conly 15
Jennie Conly 13
Josephine Conly 8
Perry Conly 5
Theadore Conly 1

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Roena Conley in the New York, State Census, 1865

Name: Roena Conley
Gender: Female
Relation to Head: Wife
Birth Year: abt 1827
Age: 38
Residence: Groton, Tompkins, New York, USA
District: 03
Line Number: 21
Page Number: 3
Household Members: Name, Age
Chester Conley 47
Roena Conley 38
Charley Conley 20
Josie Conley 14
Perry Conley 10
Theodore Conley 6

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Roena Conley in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Roena Conley
Age in 1870: 41
Birth Year: abt 1829
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1870: Willoughby, Lake, Ohio
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Willoughby
Value of Real Estate: View image
Household Members: Name, Age
Chester Conley 52
Roena Conley 41
Josephine Conley 18
Theodore Conley 11

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Rowina Conley in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Rowina Conley
Age: 53
Birth Year: abt 1827
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1880: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and Dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane: View image
Household Members: Name, Age
Rowina Conley 53
Theodore Conley 21