Sardis, Ohio 1887 The Methodists were the first, and as yet the only religious denomination to occupy the place. Methodism marched along with the van guard of civilization in the early histroy of the country, and took a strong hold on the hearts of the people. For many years prior to the founding of the village, these earnest worshipers met at private houses to hear preaching or to attend class. The houses of Charles WELLS and D. B. Patton seem to have been the most used for this purpose. This is the Charles WELLS who afterwards lived and died in Stafford. these meetings at private houses continued till the building of the first school house in 1843. After the building of the school house it was used as a place of worship till 1856, when the first church was built on the spot occupied by the present handsome edifice. Brownsville, Ohio 1886. Centennial Cracked Liberty Bell of 1876. Previous to the 4th day of July 1876, the Brownsville, M.E. Sabbath School met to make arrangements to celebrate the grand Centennial Anniversary of American Independence, when our forefathers met in Independance Hall in Philadelphia, on the 4th day of July 1776, when they passed the celebrated Declaration of Independence by which they forever threw off their allegiance to the king of Great Britain. It gave birth to a nation, changing a dependent people into a free and Independent Government; and a down trodden country into a land of liberty. What a thankful people we should be for thse heaven granted privileges. C. Sander was chosen President for the occasion. W. L. WEST, M. D. was appointed to ring the school-house bell at daybreak to let the people of Brownsville and vicinity know that the great Centennial Liberty day of 1876 had dawned. All appreciated the exercises of the day and we hope that in the century to come our Republic will have made greater progress than in the one past. We think this bell likely to be the only Centennial cracked bell in the world. It is owned by C. Sander who highly appreciates the treasure. Monroe Co., Ohio Will Abstracts Book 1 & 2 Dillon Not found McFadden Not found Book 1 William Wells of Seneca Twp, Monroe Co., Oh Will Book One pp 360-1 Signed: 21 Apr 1873; Probated: 13 Feb 1877 Witnessess: Samule Gilmore, Nancy Gilmore Spouse: Nancy Wells Devisees: Nancy Wells, wife Julietta, granddaughter James Wells Lang (Lany?) McMullen Adam Wells Betsey Daugherty William J. Wells Apollo Wells Nancy Howiler Executors: Samuel Gilmore, Nancy Gilmore Book 2 Lydia West Will Book Two, Page 274 Signed: 22 Oct 1878; Probated 2 Oct 1882 Witnesses: C. W. True, Matthew Warwick (Both of Masterton, Ohio) Spouse: Husband Not mentioned Devisees: John West James West, son Jacob West, son Melissa Messner, daughter Sarah Hall, daughter Martha Night, daughter Ezra West, son Executor: not named Note: Lydia West was 67 years old when she made her will. Perry Twp Gleanings & Cemetery Inscriptions Antioch Cemetery Mattie Virginia Dillon b 8 Apr 1885 d/o Goin & Elizabeth Eddy of Grandview, Washington Co., Oh d 30 June 1946 age 61yrs married 10 Nov 1900 to Albert Dillon who died 14 July 1945 - both buried at Antioch Row Three N - S Dillon, Thomas 1872-1972 Dillon, Anna (MORGAN) 1868-1950 Dillon, Melvin O. 1907-1981 Dillon, Mary F. (SMITH) 1916-?? Row Seven N - S Two footstones - FATHER, S.D. Dillon MOTHER E.D. (leaning together) Row Seven S - N Dillon, Mabel Joyce 17 May 1923 - 2 June 1923 d/o C.E. & I.M. Dillon Dillon, Clinton E 1900-1975 FATHER Dillon, James W. 1875-1965 Spanish American War Dillon, Mabel J. 1879-1931 Row Eight S - N Hooper, Hilda (DILLON) 1902-???? Crosses of Mercy Cemetery Row Five Dillon, Jackson F. 1910-???? Dillon, Virginia M. 1920-???? Row Eight Dillon, James C. 6 Mar 1906-13 Oct 1972 WT2 US NAVY WWII Dillon, Alice M. (COVERT) 1908-1977 Married 1930 Greenbrier Cemetery Row Eight S - N Dillon, John L. s/o Henry C. Dillon d 3 Sept 1875 age 13y4m8d Dillon, Henry 20 July 1840-19 Oct 1907 Dillon, Elizabeth 2 Sept 1840-Not Cut Row Nine N - S Dillon, Mary E. d/o Henry & E. Dillon d 11 Dec 1880 age 11m1d Dillon, Margaret A. w/o Henry Dillon d 28 Dec 1867 age 21y8m15d Dillon, Lima Ann d/o H & M.A. d 27 Dec 1866 age 2m11d Row Ten S - N Dillon, Sarah Catharine d 8 Nov 1878 age 30 yrs w/o Martin Dillon Published in the Monroe County Republican Oct 28th & Nov 4,1937 Plainview Centennial Nov 5 & 6, 1937 by Forrest S. Hogue Who taught the Plainview (Rice) School for Almost forty years Grandpa WEST has in his possession the original deed, by which the government granted to a Mr. John DILLON the plot of the ground on which was later erected the Plainview School House. The deed is dated 1837 and has the signature of Martin Van Buren, President of the United States. Two great-grandchildren of Mr. DILLON, David Briggs and Betty Barnard are enrolled in this school at the present time. This deed will hold the place of honor among other articles of interest which we hope to display. Presuming that many of you are interested in knowing the original settlers of your present homes we are listing as nearly as we can ascertain, the original settlers and the names of those who now occupy the farm, the original owner appearing first followed by the present owner: Mr. Rice - Carl Kinsey H. Barnard - Henry Barnard S. Barnard - Roger Briggs Capt. Wm Dougherty - Haud Hendrix Mr. Menamie - Philip Pickens John Phillips - John Thomas Isaac Phillips - Rex Kindall Mr. Piatt - Wm Foraker George Andrews - Victor Colvin Philip Turex - Marion Covert Tom Moffett - Janie Bonam George Eickleberry - Henry Bonam John Drom - Pearlie Briggs Mr. Dunn - Tom DILLON George Foraker - Arthur Weddle Mr. Stewart - Denver Haught Thomas WEST - Oliver WEST Samuel Cox - Paul Pickens Nathaniel States - Earl WEST Jacob Hall - Pete Edington Place McFadden Nothing found Unity Cemetery Row Fourteen N - S Section Two Wells, Edgar H. 1911-1986 Wells, Mary F. (HAYHURST) 1919-1987 Antioch Cemetery Row Four S - N West, George 7 Sept 1852-26 Feb 1898 age 45y5m9d West, Elizabeth w/o Thomas West 18 Sept 1824 - 1 Aug 1906 age 81y9m5d West, Thomas 8 Sept 1818 - 30 June 1897 age 78y9m22d Row Three N - S West, Cora Pearl d/o Oliver & Elizabeth L. West 20 Dec 1890-6 Oct 1891 Plainview Cemetery 12-1 West, Oliver 1858-1939 12-2 West, Lurilla (MOLDEN) 1861-1956 12-3 West, Emmett 1880-1962 12-4 West, Lorena L. 1881-1950 12-5 West, E. Earl 1890-1960 12-6 West, Allie B. (THOMAS) 1890-1954 12-7 West, Russell L. 1910-1980 12-8 West, Evelyn (LOHRI) 1909-???? The incident of the Johnson boys killing their two Indian captors with their own rifle and tomahawk as related in Howe's Histroy of Early Ohio is thought by some to have occurred in or near our district. Grandpa WEST says that his father, Thomas was acquainted with the elder brother and often heard his father say that Mr. Johnson avoided discussing the incident. His remains lie today, it is said, in an unmarked grave in the pioneer section of the Antioch Cemetery. A list of the Civil War Veterans who lived in our district or whose people now do so: Theodore Molden - Brother of Mrs. Oliver WEST. more to follow