James A. Shingleton (1827-1924), a veteran of the Civil War, and his wife Margaret (1847-1925). Both are interred in Pickering cemetery near Kanawha Station. (Photo provided by Kyra Scadden)

The month of May is Remember a Rural Cemetery Month. It is safe to say that many families residing in Wood County have ancestry interred in a Wood County cemetery. If their family member passed within the last 100 years, their remains are possibly in a perpetual-care cemetery, or perhaps a cemetery that is maintained by a church. But, for those family members, especially in rural areas whose deaths occurred in the early, mid, or late 1800s, their remains were probably placed in a rural cemetery.

I recently re-visited an early burial site high above the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike, just beyond Walker Creek. Situated in an open wood, are the graves of six and possibly seven very early settlers, perhaps all members of the same family. The graves are neatly arranged in three rows, complete with footstones. There are no names on these stones for they are merely fieldstone, probably from the early 1800s. It is doubtful that the identity of these persons will ever be known. Still, they were painstakingly marked as a memorial to loved ones.

Leaving that cemetery and returning toward Parkersburg, I opted to visit the Robinson Cemetery. Situated on a ridge just east of Kanawha and overlooking what was once known as Kanawha Station, it is accessed by a long, up-hill walk from the Pike. Unfortunately, this cemetery is a perfect example of what has happened to many rural burial grounds. The first burial was probably of its namesake, John W. Robinson who passed in 1895. His burial site is on the highest part of the narrow ridge and enclosed by an iron fence. I have been told that years ago, his remains were disturbed by grave-robbers or members of an occult group. There are remains of several others’ stones on either side of the steep ridge. Unfortunately, as a result of time and gravity, there is but one small obelisk stone still standing. Fortunately, someone is maintaining this small cemetery. To whoever this someone is, THANK YOU!

On the Pike again, I detoured to travel what was part of the original Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike, taking me through “Kanawha Station,” a narrow portion of the Turnpike situated between the railroad and the Little Kanawha River. Just a short distance before reaching the current Rt. 47, still on the original turnpike, is another old burial ground known as the Pickering Cemetery. Four or five burials had been found on two small flats of the hillside. The stones of William Pickering, his second wife Margaret, and a son, Charles are down but legible. At one time William Pickering owned this property and was proprietor of the hotel at Kanawha Station.

The only stone standing is that of Civil War veteran James Shingleton, related through marriage with the Pickerings. Overtaken by brush and briers, this burial ground was recently cleaned by a local, concerned resident. She hopes to continue maintaining this burial ground.

Returning toward Parkersburg on the Pike and just west of Kanawha, is the Kanawha U.M. Church and cemetery. This is a great example of a church that continues its responsibility of maintaining the ground where many of its early congregation now repose.

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.