An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

LEONARD DILLER, proprietor of the I Hotel Diller at Seattle, was born near
Dayton, Ohio, October 26, 1839. His parents, Joseph and May Diller, were natives
of France and Germany, and emigrated to the United States about 1834, locating
in Kentucky. A millwright by trade, he erected the first flour and saw mills at
Louisville, and subsequently settled in Ohio. In 1846 he crossed the plains to
California, and spent one year in mining in California and southern Oregon; then
returning to his trade he built gristrnills on Rogue and Bear rivers, and in
1853 built the mills at Tumwater, Washington. His family came to the coast in
1854, by the Panama route, and joined Mr. Diller in Oregon, and they then
settled in Benton county, where Mr. Diller continued his trade and also engaged
in farming. Leonard Diller received his early education at Ottawa, Illinois, hut
at the age of thirteen years struck out for self-supports and in the fall of
1853 he started for the Pacific coast. From New York he embarked by the
steamship Illinois for Aspinwall, crossed the isthmus to Panama, and thence by
the Golden Gate to San Francisco, with about 1,200 passengers. Journeying
northward the steamer broke her shaft, and after drifting a number of days
repairs were completed and they ran into San Diego, but upon leaving that Port
they ran ashore and the vessel was partially destroyed, though no lives were
lost. Mr. Diller re-shipped on the Goliah and landed in San Francisco on the
24th of January, 1854, thence on to Portland, Oregon, arriving in February. He
began work in the grocery store and bakery of Strong, Pittock & Co., and learned
the business, remaining till 1861; then went to the Dalles, Oregon, as manager
of the store and bakery of Keagle & Mobons. One year later he went to Oregon
City as port steward of the People's Transportation Company, with boats running
up the Willamette river. In 1864 Mr. Diller engaged in the grocery and bakery
business in Oregon City, and continued to 1870, then sold out and entered the
general merchandise business, which he followed until January, 1873, when he
again sold out, came to Tacoma and ran a hotel at Oldtown until March, 1874;
then acted as Deputy Sheriff to February, 1875, when he came to Seattle and
entered the employ of Foss & Borst, proprietors of the People's Market. In 1877
Mr. Diller bought the Sneider Market, which he operated until October, 1881,
then started a small hotel called the Esmond, on the corner of Commercial and
Washington streets. In May, 1885, he purchased the stock of the Brunswick Hotel,
corner of Commercial and Main streets, a large three-story building containing
fifty-six rooms, and there continued to the great fire of June 6, 1889, when the
entire property was destroyed. Mr. Diller then began grading and building the
Hotel Diller, corner of Front and University streets, having owned the property
for a number of years. This hotel is 90 x 120 feet, four stories, brick, and
contains ninety-five rooms, fitted up with modern appointments, and was opened
for business on the 6th day of June, 1890, and has been continued with a large
patron age. Mr. Diller was married at Portland in 1879, to Miss Minnie Leahy, of
Wisconsin. They have two children, Earley B. and Lena P. Socially, Mr. Diller
affiliates with the 33d degree, Scottish rite, F. & A.M., and the I.O.O.F.
encampment. Mr. Diller resides on the corner of Eighth and Pike streets. His
time and attention is given exclusively to his hotel business. He is a careful,
conservative businessman, who, after selecting his occupation, devoted his time
to the one interest, and by economy and perseverance surmounted all obstacles
and established a reputation and a credit which is without dispute among the
business men of the Northwest.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.