The Cemetery Committee still needs your continual donations and support for
the upkeep and repairs
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Blockhouse Hill Historical
Cemetery
by Earl
Daugherty...
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Blockhouse Hill Historical Cemetery is an
historical landmark. It stands as an impressive and everlasting symbol
of our country's history (not just West Union's).
On Blockhouse Hill lived the early settlers; it was
our first town (Lewisport); it had the first church; the first cemetery.
In a sense, there are three cemeteries in one.
In 1824, Joseph Davis (a brother of Nathan, who once owned 20,000 acres
here) deeded the lot for a church and cemetery (on lower point). Peggy
Etheburt was the first person buried in the section. Then, in 1853,
Ephraim Bee deeded to Bishop Richard of Wheeling the section for the
Catholic Cemetery (middle). Next, in 1899, L.L. Davis (who is buried
in the cemetery) laid the next section off into lots. Harry Ringer was
the first person buried in this section. This
beautiful spot can have an enduring appeal for all future generations.
It is a legacy of great value and meaning to our country. It will help
preserve the bond between the past and the present. We will be a
stronger community by having cared for this memorial honor to our ancestors.
(A relatively small number of the gravesites are being taken care of by
relatives or by persons paid by relatives. I imagine these people
would want to continue doing this and I hope that they can. But many
people lying on this hill have no living relatives; no provision has been
made to care for their burial sites.) |
What a wealth of interesting information this old
cemetery contains. Not all of the inscriptions on the tombstones can
be read, but with care, they can be deciphered, I believe.
Many of the people buried here came to help in the
building of the Old Northwestern Turnpike (completed 1838); or the building
of the railroad (01850's); or to wok in the glass factories (after 1900).
Then they remained and built their homes here. From the inscriptions,
you can see that the homelands of many were from Germany and Ireland.
Donations can be made -
First National Bank
c/o Blockhouse Hill Cemetery
West Union, WV 26456 Blockhouse Hill
Cemetery Committee
P.O. Box 294
West Union, WV 26456 Pauline Hall,
President
Nellie Daughtery, Secretary / Treasurer
Terry McConnell
Eleanor Ireland
Jo Lambert |
