As the oldest relative of my father, Frank Dillon, with the exception of his first cousin, Charlie Dillon, I have been asked to write a detailed account of the things I can remember about the Dillon family.

I can remember my father telling me that his great, great grandfather came over from Ireland, and that his father, John Dillon, and his grandfather, Parris Dillon, came to West Virginia from the County of Tazewell, in the state of Virginia.

Dad's father, John Dillon, married Kate Austin somewhere in Putnam County, West Virginia, and homesteaded about three acres of land on Scary Creek, at Scary, West Virginia, for about three years. Then it belonged to them. It was there at Scary, on June 26, 1884, that Dad was born.

I do not recall just how long Dad lived with his parents, but Aft.er his mother died, his father married again. Dad's stepmother's name was Blanche. It seems that they never got along too well with each other, so Dad went to live with his grandparents, Parris and Lethia Dillon. He stayed with them until he was old enough to go to work for himself. Dad also had a half brother, Lim Austin, and also two sisters, Mary Loftus and Rosa Woolwine.

Dad's father, John, and his grandfather, Parris, both died in 1915, only two weeks apart. I never saw either one of them at any time. He also had an uncle, George Dillon, whose son is the cousin I mentioned above. This cousin, Charlie Dillon, is Dad's only living relative, outside his immediate family, and is now 84 years old.

I remember Dad telling me that he worked at Wichers Creek, Bet.ween Charleston and Montgomery, W.Va,, where he drove a team of horses and did logging for sawmills.

The next work I remember while he was yet single, was on Coal River, at Brier Creek, in the coal mines. The name of the mines were White Head and Knickerbocker. Dad drove a small bank mule by the name of Grey Bob, pulling the small coal cars in and out of the mines.

My father met, courted and married my mother, Eliza Ann Miller. They were married on the fifth of August 1905. The Ministers name was Rev. White. My mother's parents were Jefferson and Virginia Miller. They had a farm on Crooked Creek, just a few miles from Alum Creek on Coal River.

Now, just a few lines about my mothers family. There were two brothers, Jefferson Miller, Mom's father, and John Miller, his brother. These two brothers married two sisters, Virginia Akers, Mom's mother, and Rosa Akers, her sister. So this made their children double cousins.

Mom came from a very large family of eleven children, eight girls and three boys. Four of them are living today, two boys, Bud and Henry, and two girls, Marie and Erma. Aft.er my father and mother were married, they moved to Brier Creek, where he was working in the coal mines as previously mentioned. It was there on Brier Creek, Post Office Dunkirk, West Virginia, on March 25, 1908, that their first child was born, Mom's brother, James Wesley Miller, was boarding with her so they named me James Wesley, Aft.er him.

Now, about my father's immediate family, who, when, and where they were born. Soon Aft.er I was born my parents moved from Brier Creek to South Charleston, on the old Kanawha Turnpike, just east of Carbide's Tech Center at Wards Hollow. Here is where Goldie Mae was born on October 16, 1909.

From South Charleston they moved to what is now Route Fourteen, about four miles from the C & O Railway Station, then to Sowers Farm. While they resided there, Mamie Virginia was born, on March 18, 1912.

From that farm, called Joplins Branch, they moved back about two miles from Charleston, still on Route Fourteen. Just below the road in a small yellow frame house, Henry Ellis was born, on October 25, 1914. During the last five years Dad worked at the old dye factory and lead plant, both near the C & O Railroad Bridge, just above where Patrick Street Bridge is located now.

Jim Crawford owned a farm on the hill just above where Ellis was born. While living here Dad worked for Jim. Ellis was named Aft.er Jim's son, Ellis.

From the Crawford place, Dad moved to what is now Crede, about five miles above Charleston, on Route 119. An old German by the name of George Crede owned a large farm and Dad worked for him. It was while living here that I have many personal memories, some good, but one was real bad. As soon as we moved into the house, Dad was cutting a piece of steel stove pipe for our kitchen stove, when a piece of steel hit him in his left eye. He went to the Shepherd and Dillon Hospital where they removed Dad's left eye ball and gave him a glass eye to wear. This was in the year of 1915. While living here, Dad's father, John, and his grandfather, Parris, both died. I was about seven years of age, Goldie was five or six, Mamie was three, and Ellis was just a baby.

From the George Crede farm we moved back out Ferry Branch way, on Route 14, about one mile from the C & O Railway Station, to what was then called the Hall's House, up high on a hill. This house had flying squirrels in the attic, and made it sound like a haunted house. It was here that I caught Dad and Mom gone, and smoked one of his large black havana cigars, my first and my last, for I became deathly sick. Nellie was born here on September 18, 1917.

From the Hall's house, we moved back to Spring Hill in 1918, Bet.ween Park and McDonald Street, on the north side of MacCorkle Avenue. Next we moved into two other houses, near the same location, out on the river bank. During this period of time Dad was working at the Naval Ordnance Plant site. He drove a team of horses, used a slip shovel, and helped excavate for the foundations and also the lake.

From the river bank we moved out toward the railroad on Park Street, just in front of the old Indian Mound. This mound is still a very old grave yard. While living here Richard Owen was born, on March 12, 1919. Also while living here our entire family, Mom and Dad and six children, were in bed with the flu at the same time. This was the worst flu there has ever been.

Then we moved into a house on Spring Hill Avenue, out on the hill. Here my Uncle George, who was staying with us at the time, died. I watched them embalm him. This was in 1920.

Then we moved off the hill onto the Kanawha Turnpike, about three hundred yards east of Chestnut Street. This house was across the street from Dr. C. W. Shepherd's office. It had been a school house for many years. I remember going to school here very well. It had been made into a real nice dwelling house, and it was here that Clark David was born, on November 20, 1922.

From here we moved five or six miles out in the country on a farm on Little Creek. This was in 1923 or 1924. I went to school at Dogwood Flats, about one mile from home, then for a few months I walked to Spring Hill School on Chestnut Street, which was about five miles away, and took me over one hour to walk each way. This was in 1924, and the brick school is still standing today.

From Little Creek we moved back on the hill in the Jim Matthews house on Marlanka Lane. This property was to become later our final home place. I say later because Dad lost the property because a lawyer failed to turn up a second mortgage against

It was here in this home in June or July of 1925, that another baby was born, of an early delivery, only seven months, caused by a neighbor (Mrs. Riggs) fighting with Mom. They named the baby boy Henry Franklin. He lived only five hours.

From here we moved off the hill to a place on McDonald Street, just back of where Baris Auto Parts is located now. During this time Dad was working at Barium Reduction Chemicals, Co. When Carbide bought Barium out, Dad was transferred to Carbide, where he worked until he retired.

From here we moved back on the hill and into the same house on Marlanka Lane. The house that Dad had lost, he bought again. This was in 1927 if I recall right. Here is where William Ray was born on February 26, 1928. Also, while I was living here, I was married to Hurtle Gladys King, on July 8, 1929. This has been forty-five years of happy married life to the date of this writing, December of 1974.

Here in this old home place Dad passed away on April 23, 1958. He left thirty grand-children and thirty-one great, grand-children.

It was while living here that Mom went to the hospital and passed away on March 13, 1965. She left thirty grand-children and sixty great, grand-children.

I was appointed administrator of the old home place. It was sold to Daniel Hudson, Goldie's son. The furniture was sold and the proceeds from the entire estate was divided equally with the eight heirs.

All eight of our family are living today. Here is a list of each, giving their children and grandsons:

Mom and Dad left 5 sons, who have 14 sons, who in turn have 13 sons.

So, at this writing, there are 32 men and boys, who will carry the Dillon name into the future. December 1974

I will always remember my mother as a mother who took care of her children. She had a high temper, and would very quickly tell anyone what she thought of them, when- ever the occasion arose. She never met a stranger and would laugh and joke with anyone. She had a very great sense of humor. She was a very short woman with long beautiful black hair, later to become completely gray, that would reach her waist when let down.

She was raised on a farm and was brought up to work in the fields. She worked hard all of her life. She was never lazy and never spent her time idly. She kept her house, porches and lawns very clean. She was also a good cook, and kept her family clothed and with enough food as needed. She sure could bake good lemon pies!

One characteristic of Mom was that she would most always be singing as she did her housework. She was loved by everyone who ever knew her. She was ready anytime to go anywhere. She would buy anything if someone told her it was on sale or a bargain.

I remember her as a mother who wanted to enjoy life, and she did just that! A mother who would fight for her children and she did many times.

To sum it all up, my mother was a jolly, good natured person, who worked hard to raise her family. She was friendly to all, except when someone tried to cross her. Mom and Dad's marriage lasted fifty-three years, until Dad passed away.

She was my mother and I loved her very much, and still do!

When I think of my father, I remember him as an uneducated man, who came from a poor family. Being raised to manhood by his grandparents, my father, though uneducated and poor, always provided for his family.

His love for his family and his willingness to handle hard work and tough jobs, gave him the drive he had to raise his family. The fact that Dad moved about thirteen or fourteen times and that he had worked at from twelve to fifteen jobs, is proof that he was doing his best for his family.

Dad contracted to buy several places but I think that he never really paid for any completely, until he bought his last place on Marlanka Lane in Spring Hill, West Virginia He loved to work on farms and with horses. This is the work he most desired to do. His love for horses was his greatest satisfaction.

My father used to play the banjo and call for square dances. His uncle, George Dillon, was a great fiddler, and so was his grandfather, Parris Dillon. Parris won many fiddlers contests in many states.

My dad was well loved by everyone. He was honest and fair with all. Any of my sisters-in-law will tell you today that Dad was like a father to them, as well as to his own children. He worked very hard up to the time he became ill unto death.

To me he will always be remembered as the most honest and hard working man I have ever known, and I loved him for that.