JOEL C. DILLARD, a native of Orange County, Indiana is the fourth in a family of ten children that were born to John L. and Elizabeth (Kearby) Dillard, his birth occuring January 20, 1818. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky, and they were married in the latter State, whence they came to Indiana in 1811, and located in what is now Stampers Creek Township, Orange County. He died in 1830 and she in 1868, both being buried in the Paoli cemetery. Joel C. lived with his parents until the death of his father and then began the tailor's trade, which he followed for some time. By diligence and application he acquired a good common education with but little if any help from the teachers and chools of his day. He did this so thoroughly that he was well qualified for teaching, and after that taught thiry-six terms of schoool and all but two in his native county. His marriage with Miss Mary Harned was solemnized March 2, 1842. To this union four children have been born, and named, Rachael P., Elizabeth E., Sarah S. and Samuel H. Mr. Dillard now devotes his attention to farming, and owns 200 acres of good land (Greenfield Township). On August 20, 1849, he was grieved by the death of his wife. Mary Hall became his second wife September 5, 1850. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dillard are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Democrat in politics. In 1848 he was elected Justice of the Peace, but after two years he resigned that office. In 1870 he was elected County Commissioner, and in that capacity he served the people of the county for nine years..