William Wilfong was born June 28, 1830 at Top of Allegheny, the son of Michael and Catherine Simmons Wilfong. He was married first to Lucy Jane Shipman, who died in childbirth in September 1861. He was Quartermaster Sergeant in Company M, 3rd W.Va. Cavalry, with total Civil War service from July 10, 1863 to June 30, 1865. On March 6, 1866 he married Cyrena Hanks Yeager, widow of John Letcher Clayborne. She was born December 2, 1831 at Top of Allegheny, the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Ann Hidy Yeager, who owned “Traveler’s Repose” in Bartow. They had three boys: Frank, William and Ota. William and Cyrena moved to Gilmer County in November 1866 where they settled and raised their family. He died March 17, 1904, and she died May 16, 1911. They are buried in Wright Cemetery on Duck Run, just south of Glenville. The original of this picture of William Wilfong was in color and in the possession of the late Ota Wilfong, Jr. who had copies made for the family. The digital image was sent to Preserving Pocahontas by Ira Latimer of Charleston. His wife, Mary Ellen Wilfong Latimer, was the great-granddaughter of William Wilfong. (Courtesy of Ira S. Latimer, Jr.; ID: PHP007981)
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If you have photographs or documents to be scanned for the county Historical Archive contact Preservation Officer B. J. Gudmundsson at 304-799-3989 or email info@pocahontaspreservation.org Prints of photographs are available.
