JOHN COOK OR NEALE GRAVEYARD Wood Co. WV Some Pioneer Graveyards of Wood Co. by John A. House No place they sought in hall of fame, Nor ever dreamed of deathless name, For them it was to dare and do - They builded wiser than they knew (J. A. H.) At a point on the old Sand Road, opposite the head of Neale's Island, and about half way between the elbow turn of the old road - at old site of Neale schoolhouse and the junction of the old and new roads, at the Essex Glass Works, lies the old John Cook Graveyard. The cemetery is at the top of a bank below Pond Run, and lies at the south side of the old Sand Road. A few of the evergreen trees which once surrounded it still stand. The cemetery has been used for burying purposes for many years, and the original ground seems to be practically filled up, since which there has been added a strip of land about twenty feet wide at the west end, and one or two rods at the east. This, however, includes a part of the bank in the northwest corner, which will not do for burying purposes, and has been allowed to grow up with brush and weeds; the graveyard is nicely fenced and kept clean. There are many graves without tombstones or markers. Some of the others have granite monuments, others marble stones and some of the oldest plain slabs of marble or sandstone. The oldest date I saw was that of Abram Samuels, June 21st, 1852. Probably there were graves here long before that date, however. I noted the names: T. J. Cook, born January 3rd, 1811, died June 8th, 1871, aged seventy years, five months. Celia, wife of T. J. Cook, January 7th, 1815 - July 1st, 1891, aged seventy-five years, five months. George - their son - died when two years old. This Tillinghast was a son of John Cook, and nephew of T. A. Cook. Abraham Samuels, died June 21st, 1852, aged sixty-five years (born April 1st, 1787). Hannah, wife of Abraham Samuels, died July 14th, 1874, aged seventy-six years, one month (born June 1st, 1797). Joseph Cook, October 20th, 1826 - November 18th, 1881, aged sixty-six. John Cook, November 16th, 1819 - June 4th, 1881. A Joseph Cook married Aurelia Guthrie in 1849. This Joseph and John were probably both sons of John Cook. Joseph S. Cook, born April 20th, 1853, died December 25th, 1901. Amelia Lester, wife of J. S. Cook, August 11th, 1881, aged twenty-four years, seven months. William H. Neale was born May 2nd, 1812. (An account of family gives it May 12th, 1813.) "He was named by Gen. Harrison, who was at that time stationed at the Point" -- says his son, Joseph Neale. His father is Thomas Neale, then lived at the present corner of Ann and First Streets, but later at Neale's Island. William H. Neale married Mary Catharine, daughter of Henry Dils, in 1833. Mary Catharine Dils, born November 4th, 1817 - died October 9th, 1897. Emma J. Neale, a daughter died in 1870, aged seventeen. H. C. Neale, 1836 - 1907. Leo Carrie, his wife, 1843 - 1903. They lived north of the road near graveyard, in 1884. In the same group: Sallie S., wife of L. N. Tavenner, died January 24th, 1877., aged twenty years, ten months. William H. Neale, same row, 1879, aged twenty years, six months. Rev. James M. Heitt, son of Presley and Hannah Hiett, died April 1st, 1880, in his twenty-third year. Hannah, wife of D. W. Hiett, died in 1885, in her fifty-second year. In the same row is grave of Edward Anderson, 1889, age not given. Joseph A., son of J. B. and M. C. West, 1862 - 1870. West lived near Wesley Chapel. Rev. S. T. Mallory, 1822 - 1905. He was formerly Presiding Elder of Parkersburg District, Southern Methodist Church. Lucy H., his wife, born 1836 - died 1868, aged fifty-nine years, three months. B. F. Meeks, 1838 - 1894. Frank, son of William and Elizabeth Meeks, 1875 - 1900. Joseph Meeks, 1881 - 1910. Elizabeth Meeks, February 6th, 1841 - July 29th, 1914. William Meeks, 1838 - 1919. Andrew Taylor, 1874 - 1923. Sarah A., wife of William McAtee, 1853 - 1923. Jessie, wife of Sylvester Snyder, 1884 - 1917. Two Goudy children. Bessie M. Chancellor, a five year old child. Sarah A. Chancellor, aged sixty-five - no dates. John Dye died September 22nd, 1875 (born June 16th, 1810). Amelia, his wife, May 22nd, 1810 - October 18th, 1894. John Dye married Milla Leach in 1832. Nearby is the grave of Terissa Nelson, an "aged Christian Lady", 1875. Lee Hall, 1876 - 1920. Margaret J. Smith, wife of A. J. Hugus, 1841 - 1868. Two children's grave in same row. George W. Williams, 1874 - 1922. Nettie Williams, 1878 - date not cut. Thelma A. Miller, 1912 - 1922. In the southeast corner are two graves with no stones, but one has a marker of the American Legion, and a flag. Emily Lavina, daughter Hardin and Elizabeth Neal, and wife of James Tavenner, died April 27th, 1873, aged twenty-four years, six months. Nearby is the grave of Edward Mallory Neal, 1896. Loring Florence, Co. D., 14th W. Va., 1838 - 1907. Elizabeth, his wife, died 1887, aged fifty-five. Henry Feldner, 1842 - 1901. Jacob Deem, Co. H., 6th W. Va. (no dates) Lydia May, wife of Walter Bunch, 1884 - 1913. William T. Price, June 21st, 1819 - July 11th, 1895. Susan T., his wife, December 4th, 1824 - August 8, 1881. Charles B., their son, March 24, 1854 - July 10th, 1872. George M., another son, 1859 - 1879. Delos C., son of Robert and Deliah Grier, born in Monroe County, Ohio, 1839 - 1903. Sarah Isabelle, wife of Delasco Grier, 1848 - 1906. Ida Virginia, daughter of above, 1880 - 1898. Dudley B., son of above, 1886 - 1914. Prather Grier, born in Tyler County, Virginia, March 9th, 1832 - died March, 1884. Sarah J., his wife, a daughter of J. B. and Mary A. West, died 1885, aged fifty-two years, five months. Frank Carrol Grier, son, 1882, aged twenty years, three months. Robert Grier of Fayette County, Pa., son of John and Rhoda, died January 24th, 1854, aged sixty-four years, four months (born September 17th, 1789). Delila, his wife, born June 16th, 1795 - died January 25th, 1869. Mary Grier, wife of Frank Clark, October 10th, 1865 - 1904. James H. Davisson, 1833 - 1912. Melissa A. Davisson, 1834 - --. William McHugh, July 5th, 1846 - 1908. Kate McHugh, his wife, born 1852. Mary McHugh Edlen, 1883 - 1909. Thomas J. Woofter, Co. E., 6th W. Va. Inf., 1846 - 1911. Elijah Pickens, Co. K., 92nd O. V. I.