Zenas Albion Dilley

From the booklet "Legend and Legacy" by Naomi O'Hara Stiggins, 1986

Page 19 and 20

Zenas and Emma Dilley worked diligently clearing the land and establishing a fine farmstead. Her father passed away, leaving Emma a small inheritance. She invested it in a nice house and other improvements to the homestead. In the summer of 1884, Amos Everett offered to buy the Dilley's farm.

Zenas was tempted to sell, but Emma steadfastly refused. The farm represented to her the life work of her father because she had invested her legacy in it. Whether or not sentiment had been involved, in her opinion, the offered amount was not sufficient.

Zenas. had a fine stud hors.e standing. for service in Hutchinson. He traveled there June 5th, to bring the animal home. It was late when he started for home, the gathering clouds, in the west foreboding a storm. He knew he would get wet before he reached home. Because he had something to discuss with Emma that would upset her, he wanted to get home and get it over and done as quickly as possible. He jumped astride the stallion and set off at a fast pace. Just after dusk he felt the first raindrops as he passed Sherman Station. The sky crackled with lightning and rumbled low. As the storm moved in, he pulled his hat down and turned up his collar. Soon he was half way to Reno Center, Reno Co., KS, USA (the city of Partridge was named Reno Center before the railroads can to the area) where he would find shelter until the storm passed. The lightning struck closer and he urged the horse to quicken the pace. He could
make out the cemetery grounds (this is the Partridge Cemetery) when the storm's fireworks lit the sky. A sudden burst of fire exploded, immersing the man and horse in blinding light and pain.
Emma put the children to bed and waited up until late. She decided Zenas must be staying overnight in town because of the storm. When morning came he hadn't returned, and a search was made. He was found not far from the cemetery. His horse was dead and Zenas' leg was pinned under his mount. He was dreadfully burned, and suffering greatly. He was moved to the home of his father, Samuel Dilley, who lived not far from where Zenas was found. No one knew how to treat such dreadful injuries. Someone remembered an old Indian remedy for very bad burns. A pit was dug in the yard, and mud was packed around Zenas' body. The cooling ooze soothed his woefully burned body, making him a bit more comfortable. He lay in this state for three days before God mercifully called him. The heat from the lightning had been so intense, the coins he was carrying in his pocket were welded together. His headstone, not far from the place where he was struck down reads: June 8, 1884, 34 yrs. 9 mo. "To the memory of my Beloved husband". The end of this story is yet to come. There was a lawsuit over the widow Dilley's farm. Amos" Everett came forward' and claimed he had paid Zenas $200 down for the farm. Amos, through his brother, Elmer Everett, a well respected citizen, took her to court to get possession of the land.

The district court awarded the farm to Emma Dilley. The following year, the Everetts appealed the decision to the Kansas Supreme Court, and the District Court action was reversed. The widow Dilley was left without a home, and with three small children to raise, Lulu, Edna, and Earl.

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