Friends of the Bellbrook Cemetery

09/07/2026

🏛️ Monument Monday: The Untold Stories of Bellbrook's Resting Places

Every gravestone tells a story, but around here, the history goes deeper than the stones themselves. Long before our modern cemeteries were established, Bellbrook’s earliest history was written right into the soil.

Here is a look back at how our local resting places came to be:

🌲 Early Burials (1790s–1800s)
When pioneers first began arriving in the Bellbrook area around 1796–1797, there were no established graveyards. Families simply laid their loved ones to rest on chosen plots of private land across their homesteads.

⛪ Church Graveyards & Family Grounds
As the community grew, local church congregations (Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist) created cemeteries alongside their houses of worship.

Active Historic Sites: You can still visit sites like Middle Run Baptist Church Cemetery and Fairview Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery today.

Family & Pioneer Sites: Other historic grounds include Pioneer Cemetery (active until around 1900, located just north/left of the main cemetery), along with private family burial grounds like Marshall Cemetery on Upper Bellbrook/Shepherd Road and the Ferry Family Cemetery on Little Sugar Creek.

📜 The Bellbrook Cemetery Association (1849)
To bring a unified, dedicated space to the community, the Bellbrook Cemetery Association was formed in 1849.

First Official Burial: Recorded on January 7, 1851.

Moving the Past: Even though official burials began in 1851, at least 49 older burials were reinterred at this location from earlier family and church sites prior to that date, bringing generations of early settlers together under one ground.

💡 History Mystery for the Week: Have you ever stumbled upon one of our area's smaller family cemeteries while out exploring? Drop your favorite local history spot in the comments below! 👇

09/05/2026

Ever wonder how the final dates end up on a tombstone after a loved one passes away?

When a couple buys a headstone together, the surviving spouse’s birth date is included, but the final death date is left blank.

Once that surviving spouse passes, someone needs to arrange for a monument company to perform "final inscription" or "cemetery lettering."

Because the surviving spouse can’t handle it themselves, this responsibility usually falls to the adult children or estate executor.

A few helpful tips to keep in mind:

* Pre-paid vs. Post-paid: You can often pre-pay for the final date inscription through your local monument company so the family doesn't have to worry about the cost later. If it wasn't pre-paid, the family or estate simply pays the engraver when ordering the work.

* Done On-Site: The headstone does not need to be removed! A skilled engraver brings specialized mobile equipment right to the grave site to match the existing font and style.

* Patience Required: On-site lettering requires specific weather conditions (usually dry, above-freezing temperatures), so it may take a few weeks or months after the funeral to be completed.

If you are managing an estate or organizing family affairs, check the original monument paperwork to see if the final lettering was pre-paid, or reach out to a local monument vendor to get the process started.

09/04/2026

Middle Run Cemetery

📍 Address: Near Middle Run Rd. & Waynesville Rd. (Approx. 3484 Middle Run Rd., Spring Valley / Sugarcreek Township, OH 45370)

Steeped in local history, the Middle Run Baptist Church and Graveyard stands as a remarkable window into the earliest days of Greene County. Founded on July 27, 1799—making it widely recognized as the oldest church organization in the county—the congregation originally gathered in a small log house of worship built by pioneer settlers and early Elders like Daniel Clark and James Lee. Over generations, the church structure evolved: the original log house was replaced by a brick building in 1832, which was later torn down to erect a more commodious frame structure in 1852.

While the surrounding graveyard serves as an intimate pioneer resting place containing roughly 150 to 200+ documented burials, it holds an important place in the region's timeline compared to other local burying grounds:

* Middle Run Cemetery (1799): Established alongside the 1799 church organization, making it one of the earliest pioneer burial sites in the southern portion of the county, featuring early 1800s headstones like Sarah Gerrard (1815) and Philip Buckles (1821).

* Bellbrook Pioneer Cemetery (circa 1815–1816): Located on Upper Bellbrook Road, this historic knoll holds early settlers, including Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans, with early burials (such as William Rogers in December 1815) closely matching the town's founding by Stephen Bell in 1816.

* Bellbrook Cemetery (1850): Established in 1850 by the Bellbrook Cemetery Association (located at 3939 Upper Bellbrook Rd.) to create a systematic, expanded community burial ground featuring continuous use from its inception right up through the present day.

Weathered headstones in Middle Run's peaceful sanctuary preserve the memory of Greene County's earliest families—such as the Buckles, Chenoweths, Cramers, and Pierces. Walking among these historic stones and past the surviving 1852 frame church building offers a powerful connection to the men and women who carved a community out of the Ohio wilderness well over two centuries ago.
🌿🪦

09/03/2026

View Barbara Lou Simms's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/31/2026

📜 Echoes from the past: A Shield of Remembrance ✨🌳

Every headstone tells a story, not just through the words carved into its surface, but through the very art and material chosen to honor a life. For this week's , we are pausing to look closely at a beautifully detailed, mid-19th-century marker that stands as a tangible link to our early history.

🏛️ Transcription & Immediate Details

Name: Frances Voss
Birth Date: November 12, 1791
Death Date: July 20, 1866

Iconography: A prominent, raised five-pointed star rests at the apex of the stone. Below it, the primary inscription is elegantly framed within a raised, carved shield. The top corners of the monument feature distinct, decorative scrolled "ears" or roundels, creating a highly stylized architectural silhouette.

🎨 Historical & Material Lesson

This monument is a wonderful example of a transitional Victorian-era grave marker carved from white marble. Popularized in the mid-1800s, white marble was favored for its bright, clean appearance and its association with purity and classical ideals.

The design itself carries deep symbolic meaning:

The Shield: In funerary art, a shield design often represents spiritual protection, strength, and victory over death. It frames the individual's life details like a coat of arms, giving a sense of honor and legacy.

The Star: A single five-pointed star can carry multiple meanings, ranging from a symbol of divine guidance and the soul's ascent to heaven, to a marker of Christian faith.

The Material & Age: Because marble is a relatively soft, calcium-rich stone, it is highly susceptible to weathering from rainwater and acidic environmental factors. The dark biological growth and softening of the crisp edges seen here are classic characteristics of aged marble monuments, showing us just how long this marker has weathered the elements to keep Frances's memory alive. Born in 1791, Frances lived through the earliest decades of our nation's history.

Seeing a birth date from the late 18th century really drives home how deep our local roots go. Do you have ancestors in your family tree who lived during the late 1700s or early 1800s? What kind of stories or records have you uncovered about them?

Share your thoughts or family discoveries in the comments below! 👇

08/27/2026

https://www.connerandkoch.com/obituaries/arthur-bailey-9/obituary

Read the obituary of Arthur Bailey from Bellbrook, OH. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

08/26/2026

Have you ever walked through a cemetery and noticed small rocks or coins carefully balanced on top of a headstone? These simple gestures are rich in history and meaning, carrying quiet stories of respect, love, and remembrance.

Leaving Stones & Rocks

The practice of placing small stones on graves is an ancient tradition with deep roots in Jewish customs, though it has grown into a widespread gesture across many cultures.

Enduring Memory: Unlike flowers, which eventually wither and fade, a stone lasts forever—a lasting symbol of an enduring bond.

"I Was Here": Leaving a rock lets the deceased and future visitors know that someone came to pay their respects.

Ancient Protection: Historically, in desert regions, piles of stones protected graves from wildlife and the elements. Adding a rock helped maintain the final resting site.

Leaving Coins & The Military Tradition

Coins are most commonly found on the headstones of military veterans and public servants, carrying a specific language of camaraderie and honor.
A Military Code: Within the veteran community, different coins signify your connection to the fallen service member:

Penny: Indicates you visited to pay your respects.

Nickel: Means you and the deceased trained or attended boot camp together.

Dime: Signifies that you served with them in some capacity.

Quarter: Tells the family that you were present when the service member passed away.

Supporting the Family: Historically, coins left on a veteran’s headstone were collected to help cover burial costs or assist the grieving family.

A Local Example: PFC Jack Carter Simms

A walk through Bellbrook Cemetery brings these traditions to life. On the headstone of Jack Carter Simms (Apr. 23, 1933 – June 4, 2003), you can see this active tradition in person.

PFC Simms served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart—a decoration given to service members wounded or killed in combat as a direct result of enemy action. On the bronze military marker on the back of his monument, visitors still leave small coins on the ledge beneath his name. Each coin left for PFC Simms is a silent salute to a local hero, ensuring his sacrifice and service during the Korean War are never forgotten.

Whether it is a smooth pebble or a shiny penny, these mementos remind us that a cemetery is not just a place of silence—it is a place of active, ongoing connection between the past and the present. Next time you visit, take a closer look at these small tokens. Every single one represents a visitor who stopped, remembered, and refused to forget.

08/25/2026

https://www.connerandkoch.com/obituaries/benjaminbenny-ulmer-54257

Read the obituary of Benjamin "Benny" Ulmer from Bellbrook, OH. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

08/24/2026

🪦 Monument Monday: The Story Behind the Sackett Name
Ever wonder about the story behind the names on our local park signs? Today’s takes us to a beautifully preserved granite marker in Bellbrook Cemetery belonging to John Sackett (1825–1891) and his wife, Eliza Sackett (1827–1892).

If the surname sounds familiar, it should—their family legacy is immortalized just down the road at Sackett-Wright Park on State Route 725!

📜 A Quick Slice of History
Pioneer Roots: John was the grandson of Cyrus Sackett, one of the earliest pioneer settlers to arrive in Sugarcreek Township back in 1799.

Life in Bellbrook: John and Eliza spent their lives farming the fertile land along the Little Miami Valley. Over generations, the Sackett family held key agricultural acreage—much of which eventually grew into the sports fields and open spaces the community enjoys today.

The Monument: Notice the sharp, deep-cut lettering and classic late-19th-century granite work. Even after more than 130 years facing the Ohio elements, their names stand remarkably bold and clear.

Next time you're driving past Sackett-Wright Park or taking a quiet walk through Bellbrook Cemetery, take a moment to tip your cap to John, Eliza, and the early families who helped lay the foundation for our town!

08/24/2026

Share Memories and Support the Family.