SHARPE GRAVEYARD
Wood Co. WV

Some Pioneer Graveyards of Wood Co. by John A. House

'Tis weary watching wave by wave,
And yet the tide heaves onward;
We climb, like corals, grave by grave, --
********
And where the vanguard camps to-day,
The rear shall rest tomorrow.
--Gerald Massey.

One Sunday in the fall of 1922, I visited the graveyard on the ridge
back of Waverly, near the head of a branch of Carpenter's Run,
and of  Big Run.  It lies on a northern or eastern slope, and is roughly
rectangular in shape, with the old tile brick Presbyterian Church at
one end, and the St. Mary's Pike running along one side, and a tract of
woods on the other.

The old graveyard is over the hill, by the woods, and the top of the
hill has been added to it later.

It looks odd that the old families built their church out here, and made
their graveyard a mile back from the river.

It is still in use, as is attested by several new-looking graves.

In the new part, the names Hunter, Ingraham and Sharp are prominent.

I noted:
William Rolston (Ralston), born in Rockingham County, Virginia, 1757,
removed to Wood County, 1801, died August, 1807, aged fifty.
Mary Hopkins (his wife) born 1755, died 1823, aged sixty-eight.
His wife, Sarah Harness, was born in Hardy County, March 17th, 1799,
died in 1864.
It is quite possible the older graves were moved from a graveyard near
the river.
Rebecca, wife of William Bell, died in 1852.
William Rolston was in the force that was used to suppress the
Whiskey Insurrection.  He died, says one authority, July 13th, 1807.
In the newer grounds, I noted:
J. P. Sharp, 1813 (or 1831?) - 1919.
H. M. Sharp, 1832 - 1882.
M. J. Sharp, 1843 - 1905.
Probably all brothers.
John Sharp, was a son of Spencer Sharp, who was a soldier of the
Revolution.  He married Zidarra Prince, daughter of Hubbard, once
of Carpenter's Mill Run, near Cedar Grove.  The Sharps are said to be
from Fauquier County, Virginia.  J. P. was a member of the House of
Delegates in 1880.
Noah Ogden, 1834 - 1888.
Elizabeth (his wife) 1841, 1913.
They laved at the Ogden homestead, mouth of Big Run.  She was a
Pollock, daughter of Robert S.  His father, Noah, Sr., born in 1788,
died 1848, is the one owning the Big Run farm.
He was a child when Ignatius Ogden, his father, came from Graves
Creek to the mouth of Big Run.
Lucy A., wife of George Vanwye, 1844 - 1892.
David Gault, March 5th, 1862 - age fifty-five (1807).
Elizabeth (his wife) January 9th, 1863 - aged forty-eight (1815).
John A. Griffin, August 1868, aged thirty-two.
Sarah A., wife Fulton Eckles, 1864.
William McKibben, died 1855, in seventy-second year.
Susannah Drake, January 12th, 1802 - February 1st, 1875.
Alexander Arbuckle, September, 1856 - aged seventy.
Matilda (his wife) 1854, aged fifty-nine.
John Bowen, 1864, aged twenty-nine.
James Bowen.
Harriet, wife William Bowen.