JC4134
100_8685
Woodlawn Cemetery Company 335 Maple Ave Fairmont, WV 26554
Woodlawn Cemetery, located in Fairmont, West Virginia is an example of the rural cemetery. It was laid out by Tell W. Nicolet of the firm of Morris and Knowles of Pittsburgh, PA. It is a National Historic District. Today, the cemetery covers 42 acres (170,000 m2) and has over 15,000 burials.
The cemetery was established in the early Spring of 1875. Joseph R. Hamilton was climbing the fence between his father's farm and that of Norval Barns. The loaded rifle he was carrying accidentally discharged, killing him. His father's decision to "bury him where he lay" led to the families establishing a small burying ground. They opened the fence line between their properties and enclosed about a quarter of an acre to use for family burials.
Ten years later, in December 1885, the Woodlawn Cemetery Company was incorporated and plots were offered for sale to the larger community. 5 acres (20,000 m2) were purchased from each of the land owners, Elmus Hamilton and Norval Barns. Many of the early leaders of the Fairmont community were laid to rest here. Among them is Francis Harrison Pierpont, the Governor of the Restored State of Virginia from 1861-1868, his wife Julia and three of their four children.
Boaz Fleming, the founder of Fairmont, is here with his wife, Elizabeth. Other members of his family are here as well, including Clarissa Fleming Hamilton, his grandson Elmus Hamilton,owner of the Hamilton farm, and great-grandson, Joseph R. Hamilton. Another descendant is Aretas B. Fleming, eighth governor of West Virginia. A lawyer, Mr. Fleming was among the men who created the Fairmont Development Company and worked to develop Fairmont, West Virginia.
James Otis Watson is considered the father of the bituminous coal industry in north central West Virginia. He and Pierpont owned the first coal mine to be commercially viable following the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad linking Fairmont with the eastern seaboard markets. One of his daughters married Aretas B. Fleming. His sons, James Edwin Watson, Sylvanus Lamb Watson and Clarence Wayland Watson are also buried here.
Historical figures buried at Woodlawn
Times West Virginian
The following is a list of the historical figures buried at Woodlawn Cemetery and their contribution to the history of Fairmont, Marion County and West Virginia.
This list was compiled from the application made to the U.S. Department of the Interior in order for the cemetery to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places and does not reflect a complete list of all persons of note buried at the cemetery.
Francis H. Pierpont (1814-1899) — The “Father of West Virginia.” Pierpont was chosen as Provisional Governor of Restored Virginia in 1861 during a Union convention. He was later elected to that position from 1863-68 and was instrumental in the creation of the state of West Virginia in 1863.
Julia Augusta Robertson Pierpont (1828-1886) — The wife of Gov. Pierpont. She is credited by many historians as the founder of Decoration Day (Memorial Day) in 1866.
Boaz Fleming (1758-1830) — The founding father of Fairmont. He cleared a section of land he own and sold individual lots to create Fairmont, the county seat of Marion, which was created from pieces of Monongalia and Harrison counties.
James Otis Watson (1815-1902) — Father of the Coal Industry West of the Alleghenies. He opened his first mine in 1852 with his friend, Francis Pierpont. Later the Watson Coal Co. and Hutchinson Coal Co. combined to form the Consolidated Coal Co.
Clyde E. Hutchinson (1861-1926) — Founder of Hutchinson Coal Co., one of the predecessors of Consolidated Coal Co.
A. Brooks Fleming (1839-1923) — Governor of West Virginia from 1890-1893. He also served as county prosecuting attorney, the West Virginia House of Delegates and judge of the 2nd District Judicial Circuit.
Matthew Mansfield Neely (1874-1958) — Governor of West Virginia from 1940-44. Also served as mayor of Fairmont, delegate, congressman and U.S. senator.
The Rev. William Ryland White (1820-93) — The first state superintendent of West Virginia public schools from 1863-69, resigning to become president of the new Fairmont State Normal School (Fairmont State University).
Bernard Butcher (1853-1918) — Elected as state superintendent of schools in 1880 and was instrumental in legislation for the education of black teachers and the creation of Arbor Day. He also organized the Marion County Historical Society in 1908.
Thomas C. Miller (1844-1926) — Educator who also served as state superintendent of schools (1900-09), principal of West Virginia University (1893) and Shepherd Normal School.
Victims of Newburg Mine explosion — While they are not marked individually, six victims of the 1886 Preston County explosion are buried there under a single monument, including a father, son, three stepsons and another relative.
George Albert Dunnington (1858-1928) — Editor of the Fairmont Index.
Judge Harry Evans Watkins (1898-1963) — U.S. Federal District Judge Frank C. Haymond (1887-1972) — Longtime justice of the Supreme Court of West Virginia.
100_8685
Woodlawn Cemetery Company 335 Maple Ave Fairmont, WV 26554
Woodlawn Cemetery, located in Fairmont, West Virginia is an example of the rural cemetery. It was laid out by Tell W. Nicolet of the firm of Morris and Knowles of Pittsburgh, PA. It is a National Historic District. Today, the cemetery covers 42 acres (170,000 m2) and has over 15,000 burials.
The cemetery was established in the early Spring of 1875. Joseph R. Hamilton was climbing the fence between his father's farm and that of Norval Barns. The loaded rifle he was carrying accidentally discharged, killing him. His father's decision to "bury him where he lay" led to the families establishing a small burying ground. They opened the fence line between their properties and enclosed about a quarter of an acre to use for family burials.
Ten years later, in December 1885, the Woodlawn Cemetery Company was incorporated and plots were offered for sale to the larger community. 5 acres (20,000 m2) were purchased from each of the land owners, Elmus Hamilton and Norval Barns. Many of the early leaders of the Fairmont community were laid to rest here. Among them is Francis Harrison Pierpont, the Governor of the Restored State of Virginia from 1861-1868, his wife Julia and three of their four children.
Boaz Fleming, the founder of Fairmont, is here with his wife, Elizabeth. Other members of his family are here as well, including Clarissa Fleming Hamilton, his grandson Elmus Hamilton,owner of the Hamilton farm, and great-grandson, Joseph R. Hamilton. Another descendant is Aretas B. Fleming, eighth governor of West Virginia. A lawyer, Mr. Fleming was among the men who created the Fairmont Development Company and worked to develop Fairmont, West Virginia.
James Otis Watson is considered the father of the bituminous coal industry in north central West Virginia. He and Pierpont owned the first coal mine to be commercially viable following the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad linking Fairmont with the eastern seaboard markets. One of his daughters married Aretas B. Fleming. His sons, James Edwin Watson, Sylvanus Lamb Watson and Clarence Wayland Watson are also buried here.
Historical figures buried at Woodlawn
Times West Virginian
The following is a list of the historical figures buried at Woodlawn Cemetery and their contribution to the history of Fairmont, Marion County and West Virginia.
This list was compiled from the application made to the U.S. Department of the Interior in order for the cemetery to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places and does not reflect a complete list of all persons of note buried at the cemetery.
Francis H. Pierpont (1814-1899) — The “Father of West Virginia.” Pierpont was chosen as Provisional Governor of Restored Virginia in 1861 during a Union convention. He was later elected to that position from 1863-68 and was instrumental in the creation of the state of West Virginia in 1863.
Julia Augusta Robertson Pierpont (1828-1886) — The wife of Gov. Pierpont. She is credited by many historians as the founder of Decoration Day (Memorial Day) in 1866.
Boaz Fleming (1758-1830) — The founding father of Fairmont. He cleared a section of land he own and sold individual lots to create Fairmont, the county seat of Marion, which was created from pieces of Monongalia and Harrison counties.
James Otis Watson (1815-1902) — Father of the Coal Industry West of the Alleghenies. He opened his first mine in 1852 with his friend, Francis Pierpont. Later the Watson Coal Co. and Hutchinson Coal Co. combined to form the Consolidated Coal Co.
Clyde E. Hutchinson (1861-1926) — Founder of Hutchinson Coal Co., one of the predecessors of Consolidated Coal Co.
A. Brooks Fleming (1839-1923) — Governor of West Virginia from 1890-1893. He also served as county prosecuting attorney, the West Virginia House of Delegates and judge of the 2nd District Judicial Circuit.
Matthew Mansfield Neely (1874-1958) — Governor of West Virginia from 1940-44. Also served as mayor of Fairmont, delegate, congressman and U.S. senator.
The Rev. William Ryland White (1820-93) — The first state superintendent of West Virginia public schools from 1863-69, resigning to become president of the new Fairmont State Normal School (Fairmont State University).
Bernard Butcher (1853-1918) — Elected as state superintendent of schools in 1880 and was instrumental in legislation for the education of black teachers and the creation of Arbor Day. He also organized the Marion County Historical Society in 1908.
Thomas C. Miller (1844-1926) — Educator who also served as state superintendent of schools (1900-09), principal of West Virginia University (1893) and Shepherd Normal School.
Victims of Newburg Mine explosion — While they are not marked individually, six victims of the 1886 Preston County explosion are buried there under a single monument, including a father, son, three stepsons and another relative.
George Albert Dunnington (1858-1928) — Editor of the Fairmont Index.
Judge Harry Evans Watkins (1898-1963) — U.S. Federal District Judge Frank C. Haymond (1887-1972) — Longtime justice of the Supreme Court of West Virginia.