[1] Pioneers in Henry County, George's parents owned two farms including one with a substantial coal mining operation.
Under his leadership, the first building was constructed and enrollment grew from 35 to 252 students with varying educational preparation.
On May 1, 1891, Lilley was appointed as the first president of the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science for a one-year term.
Again he led a fledgling college through construction of its first small building, the hiring of five faculty members and the opening of classes.
They had one child, a son Frank Munn Lilley, who was born in Corning, Iowa, on May 3 and died on May 6, 1880.,[14][15] After her husband's death in 1904, Adelaide trained to be a librarian and served in that capacity for the Carnegie Library of Eugene, Oregon, for more than a quarter century, from the day it opened on August 20, 1906,[16] until 1933.
[17] The 1930 Census showed her living in Eugene, a widow, 73 years old, working as the librarian for the City Library.