John D. Reilly—. In the passing of John D. Reilly, Nov. 27, 1910, the city of Abilene lost a citizen of high standing and sterling worth, one whose upright life and prosperous and energetic spirit were always an inspiration for better living to all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Reilly was born June 13, 1847, at Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Henry and Mary Ann (Kelly) Reilly, were natives of Pennsylvania. After completing a common school education in his native state, at the age of nineteen, in 1866, he enlisted in Company E, of the Eighteenth New York regular infantry, and served three years. He was sent from Harrisburg, where he had enlisted, to the Dakotas, serving there in the Indian troubles of that period. For a time he was stationed at Fort D. A. Russell, in Wyoming. The regiment was then sent to Atlanta, Ga., where he received his discharge, Jan. 14, 1870. After leaving the service he joined his parents in Virginia, whither they had removed during his enlistment and had located in the Shenandoah valley. There he met Sarah Alice Garrett and made her his wife, Feb. 22, 1871. She is a daughter of Richard and Sarah (Bates) Garrett, natives of England, to whom she was born, March 10, 1847, in their native land. They immigrated to the United States in June, 1848, and located in Pennsylvania, but in 1867 removed to Virginia, near where the Reillys were located. Both were farmer families. Mr. and Mrs. Reilly farmed for a time in Virginia, later in Pennsylvania, and then, in 1877, came west, locating in Russell county, Kansas, where they took up a claim. Later Mr. Reilly disposed of this claim and bought a section of land near Dorrance, Russell county, where he engaged extensively in the stock business, in connection with farming, and made it a very successful and profitable business. In 1901 he sold all of his land holdings in Russell county and took up his residence in Abilene, where he invested extensively in improved business property. He also bought a beautiful home on a twenty-acre plat just at the edge of the city. On a beautiful lawn shrubbery has been so disposed as to give to the house grounds which form a pleasing and most artistic setting.

To Mr. and Mrs. Reilly were born six children: Mrs. Nellie Steelsmith, of Sourlake, Tex.; Ada is the wife of Edward Rabe, of Topeka; John H. is a resident of Dorrance, Kan.; W. Edward is a resident of Abilene, Kan.; Alice is the wife of Thomas J. Scheetz, of Dorrance, Kan.; and Anna resides in Abilene. Mr. Reilly gave to his children the example of strict integrity and probity of character, and Mrs. Reilly, an accomplished and educated lady, has given to them the example of a most refined and gracious womanhood. Both attended the Presbyterian church, though the parents of Mr. Reilly were communicants of the Catholic church and those of his wife were Methodists. In political affairs Mr. Reilly was a Democrat and an active and aggressive worker for his party, though of broad mind in his own views and in respect for the views of others. As a citizen and business man he was distinctly progressive and his personal qualities were such that at the time of his death he passed to his reward, loved and honored by all who knew him. His family shared with him this enviable standing.