Mayor’s Corner

by Marlinton Mayor Sam Felton

Did you know, there is record of at least 310 cemeteries within the boundaries of Pocahontas County? These statistics have been gathered through the efforts of a few persons, with a sincere interest and respect for those who have gone on before. Some of those cemeteries are maintained by local churches; others are on family farms. Over time, some have been abandoned by caretakers. Only our Maker knows how many more rest beneath croplands or within the boundary of the national forest. Others, unknown to us, may have been buried deep within a hollow and now wait for the promised Trumpet Sound.
Mountain View Cemetery is owned and maintained by the Town of Marlinton. The original owner of the property was Albert Curry. Some of the earliest burials include:
W. W. Vandervort, 1817-1902 A. N. Vandervort, 1894-1919
Thomas F. Ferrell, 1829-1922 Eveline Johnson, 1832-1920
Dr. Richard Williams, 1845-1894 Clifford Lockridge Milligan, 1879-1881
Ellis Smith, died 1887 James Warwick Lockridge, 1888-1889 S. L. Gibson, died 1890, aged 68 y 10 m 16 d
Rules and regulations governing Mountain View were first notarized May 5, 1919. As cemetery markers are worn away by time and the elements, the same goes for cemetery records. Through the years the Town has attempted to maintain records, as best it can. However, often times, 100 years ago, a person would purchase several plots next to each other and then (over the years) allow other family members or relatives to be laid to rest in them, without informing the Town. Typically, when there is an issue, this is what will be discovered in the search. We want our citizens and those who have loved ones interred at Mountain View Cemetery to know we will continue to work hard to maintain and secure those records entrusted to us. Much planning and discussion is going into a system of improved records for the future.
As noted in a recent article in The Pocahontas Times, the longtime caretaker was Frank Gravely, who recently passed away. He knew of many graves which had no markers. Kenneth Faulkiner spent many hours with Frank. Pam Hoover had worked with him as well to develop a concise record. Pam met Marvin Hill at a Dilley Family Reunion back in August 1993. Mr. Hill asked Pam if she would like to inventory Mountain View Cemetery and she gladly said “yes.” The work to develop this inventory has been laborious and at times even tedious. Without the tenacity of volunteers Pam, Pat Gatens and Jan Orndorff, we would not have much of the information.
As evidence of the quality and the sacrifice of our people, Mountain View Cemetery has more veterans per capita interred than any cemetery in the state.
The inventory was published by the Allegheny Regional Family History Society (ARFHS) located in Beverly, West Virginia.
The care of the cemetery this winter has tested all of us who are committed to its best appearance. Nevertheless, all efforts will be made to re-seed, re-groom, and re-new the moment the weather breaks.
In addition, the Marlinton Town Council is taking steps to reverse a now in-place restriction on the new section of the cemetery. As of now, only footstones are allowed. If possible, the council will find a way to allow upright stones to be placed there, as well.