Historical figures buried at Woodlawn
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 19:00) Written by Administrator Friday, 09 October 2009 20:13
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.
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