DIAZ
DIBBLE
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tion. In 1892 he was a candidate before the state
legislature for United States senator and was ap-
parently the favorite, but after two weeks ballot-
ing, in order to break a deadlock he cast his
strength in favor of Charles N. Felton, who was
elected. In 1892 he was appointed a member of
the board of control
and second vice-pres-
ident of the national
commission of the
World's Columbian
exposition at Chicago.
He built and became
owner of the Alcazar
theatre in San Fran-
cisco, and in 1890
erected the Chronicle
building, a ten-story
edifice. He repre-
sented his state as a
delegate to the Re-
publican national con-
vention in 1888 and
1892, and was a member of the National Re-
publican committee for eight years, serving as
its vice-chairman for four years. He was also
president of the International league of press
clubs and a director of the Associated pre.ss from
1882. His most notable achievement was the
promotion of the California midwinter interna-
tional exposition. The project was suggested by
him while serving on the national commission
of the World's Columbian exposition, at Chicago.
On his return to San Francisco he devoted his
energy to the promotion of th^ enterprise and he
was chosen president and director-general of the
exjiosition. He gave his personal attention to its
management, and succeeded in causing the erec-
tion of 150 buildings in Golden Gate park at a
cost of nearly $2,000,000, in which the exhibition
was opened ou the 1st of January, 1894, and lasted
six months, during which time it was visited by
nearly a million persons. When its affairs were
settled nearly $200,000 remained to equip the Mid-
winter Fair memorial museum in Golden Gate
park. In 1898 he was selected by Governor Budd
commissioner- general to represent California in
the Omaha Trans-Mississippi exposition.
DIAZ, Abby Morton, author and lecturer, was born in Plymouth, Mass., Nov. 22, 1821; daughter of Ichabod and Patty (Weston) Mor- ton, and granddaughter of Ichabod and Sally (Churchill) Morton and of William and Patty Weston. Her Pilgrim ancestor through Ephraim Morton was George Morton (author of " Mourts Relation," the first book published in England giving an account of the Plymouth colony), whose son Nathaniel, a brother of Ephraim, was a nephew by marriage of Governor Bradford,
served as his assistant, and was secretary of the
first colony nearly forty years and up to the time
of his death. He was the author of " The New
England Memorial," the first regular history of
the colony. Abby was educated in the public
schools of Plj'mouth and at the normal school,
Bridgewater, Mass. She was a worker in the
anti-slavery cause, and as a schoolgirl, secretary
of the Plymouth juvenile anti-slavery society;
an early disciple of " The New Thought " (mental
healing), and deeply interested in occult meta-
physical and spiritual science, in social econom-
ics. Christian socialism, and the home in its
relation to the state. She was a founder, became
a life member and for many years was president
of the Boston women's educational and industrial
union; was elected a member of the New Eng-
land women's club, of the Massachusetts woman
suffrage society, of the Belmont suffrage society
and of the Belmont educational union. After a
brief period of marriage she was left with two
infant sons whom she supported and educated.
She also subsequently cared for tliree motherless
grandchildren. She wrote for children, believ-
ing it ' ' easier to right- form, than to reform. ' '
Among her more popular books are: The King's
Lihj and Rosebud (1869); The William Henry
Letters (1870); William Henry and His Frieiids
(1871); Lticy Maria (1873); A Story Book for the
Children (1875); The Jimmyjohn (1877); The John
Spicer Lectures (1881); Polly Cologne (1881); The
Cats Arabian Nights (1881); Chronicle of Stimp-
cett Family (1882); and The Story Tree Series
(1888). Her books for adults include: Domestic
Problems (1875); Neighborhood Talks on Arbitration
vs. War (1876); Spirit as Power (1886); Law of Per-
fection (1886); Bybury to Beacon Street (1887); In
the Strength of the Lord (1889); Only a Flock of
Women (1893); Eeligioiis Training of Children
(1895); and contributions to many of the lead-
ing magazines.
DIBBLE, Samuel, representative, was born at Charleston, S.C, Sept. 16, 1837. He attended the public schools in his native city and in Bethel, Conn., entered the college of Charleston in 1853, and afterward Wofford coUege, Spartanburg, S.C, where he was graduated in 1856. He taught school for a time, was admitted to the bar in 1859 and began practice at Orangeburg, S.C. In 1861 he volunteered as a private in the Confederate army, and served until the close of the war in the 1st and 25th South Carolina volunteers, at- taining the rank of 1st lieutenant. At the close of the war he resumed the practice of law at Orangeburg; was elected a representative in the state legislature in 1877, a trustee of the Univer- sity of South Carolina in 1878, and chairman of the executive committee of the South Carolina agricultural college and mechanics' institute for
