STAGG GRAVEYARD
Wood Co. WV


Some Pioneer Cemeteries of Parkersburg and Wood County
By John A. House


The Old Stagg Graveyard is out on a point, at the back of an old
field, a short distance from the original Clare - Dils eastern line,
being once the Griffin Survey.

The field north of it has all been cleared, and cultivated, many years
ago, and my impression is that that part of the land lying south has
at one time been cleared.

These woods, as now grown up, are pine on top of the hill, with some
hickory, sassafras, scrub oak, etc., with blackberry briers, green brier,
catbrier, wild roses and weeds, where there are openings among the
brush for them to grow.  There is an old road from the fields on the top
of the ridge at the Core Road, around to the graveyard, largely through
what is now (1924) a pine thicket.

Another old road came up from the run south of this ridge, around the
point to the top of the hill, northwest of the graveyard.

The trees in and around the graveyard are large, and may belong to
the original forest.  There are ten trees inside the graveyard lot.

I noted among the graves in the northeast corner, under the pine trees:
Sarah Polk, 1818 - 1905.
Alcinda Crews, March 1885 - 1897.
Clara E. Atkinson, 1878 - 1906.
Gladys Atkinson, 1904 - 1920.
The Stagg family, who first opened the graveyard, occupy the central
part.
At an old broken down slab south of an oak tree, is the grave of
Susan, daughter of J. R. Stagg, died April 27th, 1855, aged thirty-six
years.
Edmond D., son of J. R. Stagg, died June 30th, 1841, aged four years,
one months.  (May 29th, 1837).
Lodena, daughter of J. W. and S. Stagg, died April 23rd, 1853, aged
fifteen years, two months.  (February 22nd, 1838.)
William M., son J. W. and S. Stagg, May 21st, 1853, a child aged ten
months and eleven days.
These are in the second row from the east end.  Next is a vigorous
catalpa tree standing at the head of the unmarked grave of some grown
person.  By the side of this is a more recent mound, and two children's
graves at their head, all in good repair.
There are two old time graves in the southeast corner, near a large
hickory tree.
John W. Stagg married Susan Mann, 1837.
Elizabeth Stagg married William R. Prince, 1837.
Other inscriptions are:
William, son of W. M. and Elizabeth Stagg, in his fifth year.  (Date not
copied).
Elizabeth Stagg, died 1854, aged twenty-seven.
Isaiah, son of William and C. Stagg, died 1851.  (Perhaps meant for son
of William and Catharine.)
Elizabeth Stagg, wife of William B. Prince,died 1855, aged thirty-seven
years, six months.
These are all old graves and covered over with wild grape vines and with
blue myrtle, and a cluster of yucca has been set nearby.
There are two new headstones at graves, under a pine tree, two rows west
of the gate.  One bears the names -
Charles H. Sovell, 1845 - 1912, and has a U. S. Flag.
Isabell, wife of Charles H. Sovell, 1846 - 1910.
The other, Albert Morrison, 1904 - 1907.
At the next row to the west are nine unmarked graves, four of grown
persons, one of middle size, and three children.
Then next, the western fence a row with unmarked graves, as are other
parts of rows.

I visited this burying ground again on November 2nd, 1933.  The land all
around had been cleared, and the trees in the cemetery all removed,
except
the catalpa.  On the stump of the largest, which was twenty-five to
thirty
inches in diameter, I counted one hundred thirty-six rings.  It was a
post oak.