C. B. Dillenbeck, proprietor of the "City Dairy Farm," El Dorado, is known not only in Butler county, but throughout the country as a breeder of thoroughbred standard trotting horses of national reputation.

Mr. Dillenbeck was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Ostrander) Dillenbeck, natives of New York. He was one of a family of eight children, the others being as follows: John S., died in New York; Mrs. Amanda Nellis, died in New York; Menzo, died in New York; Sophia, married a Mr. Simmerman, who was killed in the Civil war, and she afterwards married Luther Dillenbeck; and Jerome, now living retired at El Dorado.

Mr. Dillenbeck was educated in the public schools of his native State, and at the age of nineteen, enlisted at Watertown, N. Y., in Company M, Tenth New York heavy artillery. He served in the army of the Potomac, and took part in many important campaigns. He was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and was at the seige of Petersburg, and was mustered out of service at Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., in July, 1865, after having served three years.

After returning from the army, Mr. Dillenbeck was engaged in farming in New York State until 1882, when he came to Butler county, reaching here September 19 of that year, and engaged in farming, stock raising and dairying on 640 acres of land west of El Dorado, which his brother had previously bought. Later C. B. sold his interest in that farm to his brother and bought the Van Slyke farm of 320 acres, and conducted his farming and dairy business there, but lived in El Dorado a part of the time. He bought this farm for $12.50 per acre in 1888, and ten years later, sold it for $27.50 per acre. He also bought another quarter section a half mile south, for $900, and sold it for $2,000 at the time he sold his other farm.

For the last fifteen years, Mr. Dillenbeck has lived in El Dorado, where he has been engaged in buying and shipping horses, and at the same time he has been engaged in the dairying business, and his son, W. E., is in partnership with his father. They have bred and developed some very high class and valuable standard bred registered trotting horses, among some of the well known ones are: Julia D., 2:14 1/4; Harbor Master, 2:17 1/4; Daisy Dorff, 2:10 1/4, and Symbol Meath, 2:07 1/2 At the present time they have eleven head of standard bred registered horses which are undeveloped, but Mr. Dillenbeck has never yet raised a thoroughbred that was a failure. In March, 1916, he shipped three head of horses to Indianapolis, Ind., Symbol Meath,

2:07 1/2; Daisy Dorff, 2:10 1/4, and Fair Margaret. While the Dillenbecks have been successful in developing thoroughbred horses, they have not neglected the pure bred cattle department of that business. Mr. Dillenbeck breeds Holstein cattle on the farm, and at present, has thirty-seven head of high grade Jerseys also. The City Dairy herd is headed by "Katimas Sultan," which is one of the best registered Jersey bulls in the State of Kansas.

Mr. Dillenbeck was married in 1865 to Miss Helen R. Visscher, of Gouverneur, N. Y. She was a daughter of William Visscher, who came to Butler county the same time that Mr. and Mrs. Dillenbeck came to this county, and he died here. His wife died in New York State, in 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Dillenbeck were born the following children: Dr. F. E., El Dorado, Kans.; W. E., who is associated with his father in business, married Marie Olin, of Eudora, Kans., and they have three children, Helen, Charles and Doris. The wife, and mother of these children, died March 19, 1915.

Mr. Dillenbeck is one of Butler county's substantial citizens, whose efforts, since coming to this county, have been rewarded with success.

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