George and Martha (Bandy) Dilbeck

Martha Emily Bandy was born in 1853 in Tennessee. After losing her parents early on, she married George Washington Dilbeck in 1869 at the age of 16.

George, named for his birth on Independence Day, was originally from Georgia but relocated to Tennessee as a child. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Following the war, and after they were married, the young couple moved west to Missouri in 1870 in a covered wagon. While traveling through Kentucky, Martha gave birth to their first son, William Franklin.

The couple initially settled in Howell County, Missouri, and later moved to Barry County, where they became prominent farmers. Although they never received a land patent, they established a significant farm and were well-respected in the community. They raised a large family of seven children and spent the rest of their lives in Cassville, Missouri. Martha passed away in 1931, and George followed three years later in 1934. They were married for 62 years, had seven children and are both buried in Sparks Cemetery in Barry County, Missouri.