History:

The history of the Diller community dates back into the "70's". According to members of the Diller family, Samuel Diller and his son, J.B. Diller, greatgrandfather and grandfather, respectively of Marion Diller Logan, who lives in Diller today, came from their home near Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania to Fairbury in 1876 as landseekers. They purchased property in Fairbury and two sections of land north of Diller, not on the Indian reservation. In 1877 they brought their families to Fairbury and in 1879 came to live in the Diller community.

Samuel Diller was instrumental in bringing a colony of Pennsylvania German soldiers from Cumberland County, Pa., in April 1878, via chartered railway coach to Fairbury, thence on to this community. There were quite a number of young married couples and single men, 19 adults and 13 children. Mr. Diller became a patron saint to these young settlers, loaning them money at a low rate of interest to purchase reservation land, which had been opened up for settlement in 1878. He was influential in providing education advantages and a place of worship for them. School was held in his home around the kitchen table, with his son William as teacher. Church services were conducted in his home northeast of Diller.

He gave 2 acres of land for the Diller Prairie Home Cemetary. He died in December, 1879, and his grave was the first one or one of the first to be made therein. He died without knowing that the town was to be named for him.

In addition to Pennsylvania Germans, there were settlers of several other nationalities including Scotch-Irish, Germans and others, who came from other parts of the country.

As early as 1873, Abraham Blauser, native of Ohio, had settled just to the northwest of town and was said to have turned the first sod in Pleasant precinct.

The first Post Office was established in Diller on April 5, 1880, with D.R. Kelley as the first Postmaster. The office was located in his home which stood on Indian Creek, a little to the north and east of Diller and was later moved on to the townsite.