William Dill, lawyer and judge of the district court of Leavenworth, was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, April 16, 1846, the son of John and Rachel (Jones) Dill. His grandfather, George Dill, was a Kentuckian who moved to Ohio at an early day, and there John Dill was born, reared and educated. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming. His grandfather, John Jones, was a patriot and served in the army during the war of 1812. John Dill lived to the hale old age of eighty, the last twenty years of his life being spent at Columbus, Ohio. William Dill's maternal great-grandfather, Colonel Robbins, of Pennsylvania, served in the war of the Revolution and his son-in-law, John Jones, served as an officer in the army during the war of 1812. Mrs. Dill was born and reared in Hilisboro, Ohio, and spent her life in that state.

William Dill received his elementary education in his native town and then entered Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio; received his A. B. degree with the class of 1866 and then pursued graduate work in the same institution. In 1869 he received his M. A. degree and upon his return to Hillsboro determined upon a professional career, and began to read law. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, and engaged in the practice of his profession at Hillsboro for about one year. Believing that there were more opportunities for a young lawyer in the new country opening up in the West, Mr. Dill came to Kansas, located at Leavenworth, and opened an office where he has since been actively engaged in the work of his profession. He at once took active part in the life of the city and politics and soon became recognized as one of the leaders of the legal profession. Mr. Dill is a Republican in politics, and in 1880 was elected county attorney on that ticket, serving two years, afterwards filling this office by appointment for about one year, and in 1888 was assistant attorney-general for Leavenworth county. In 1909 the governor appointed him judge of the First judicial district of Kansas, to fill the vacancy left by Hon. J. H. Gillpatrick.

In 1875 Mr. Dill married May Eliza, the daughter of William H. Ralston, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Leavenworth, who settled in the territory in 1856. He came from Warsaw, Ill., and was in Leavenworth all through the troublous times of the border warfare. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dill, only one of whom, Virginia, is living. She is a teacher in the Kansas City schools. Mr. Dill belonged to the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity while in college, and now is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a warm hearted man, has many friends and is regarded as one of the progressive and prosperous citizens of Leavenworth.