JOHN STEPHENSON GRAVEYARD
Wood Co. WV

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

Lost in the midst of the City of Parkersburg, tucked away among
the buildings and paraphanalia of the Standard Oil Company, is
a little plot of ground that was, a few years ago, a quiet country
graveyard, the family burying ground of John Stephenson.  It is
kept in good repair by the company, is seven by nine panels in
size, and enclosed by a substantial iron fence on the north and
east, with a bank on the others.  There were, until a few years ago,
three magnificent locust trees, each three feet or more in diameter,
standing two in the southeast part, but they were cut for posts
when the plot was fenced.  A third tree stood in the northwest
quarter.

There are several headstones in the graveyard, though many of
these are so crumbled and decayed, the names are not readable.

John Stephenson, the founder of the home, is buried here, but his
grave is without a marker, doubtless it is by the side of his wife,
whose crumbled headstone reads -

Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, wife of John Stephenson, died
November 20th, 182-, aged fifty-eight.  (One figure has disappeared,
perhaps it was a 1".)

By one of the trees is a slab marked -
"In memory of David Stephenson who departed this life".  The date
and latter part of memorial verse are crumbled away, and as if never
graven on the rock.

He was in the war of 1812, was Commissioner of Revenue of Wood
County, in 1821, and died about 1821 or 1822.

By his side is the grave of his wife, whose marker (both are sandstones
slabs lying flat over the top of the graves) is in better repair than
that
of her husband.

Jane, consort of D. Stephenson, who departed this life September 11th,
1823, aged twenty-seven years.  "Blessed are they that mourn, For they
shall be comforted".  (E. T.)
She was a daughter of Jacob Beeson, Jr.

Another stone reads - Octavius, daughter of J. and S. Stephenson, died
February 17th, 1847, aged twelve years, two months.  It is a marble slab
lying on the ground.

In memory of David, son of John and Sarah Stephenson, died July 31st,
--29, in the third year of his age.

There are several children's graves in the southwest part of the grounds.

John Stephenson married Sarah, daughter of Robert Edelen, March 4th,
1821.  He was for many years prominent in the business matters of the
city and county.  In 1853 (March), with all his family then living,
except
one son, he migrated to Freeland, near Portland, Oregon, where he lived
until his death, which occurred October 15th, 1871.

The wife, Sarah Edelen Stephenson, is probably buried by her children,
as John Stephenson was married the second time, on December, 1843,
to a Miss Ann Steger.