.....There is an interest in the art of tracing tombstone inscriptions from older and more interesting stones.

.....Information from cemeteries has long been a primary resource for people tracing family histories via birthdates and family relationships.

.....The first public cemetery in Wellsburg was located on the northwest corner of 12th and Main Streets and laid out about 1814. This cemetery was abandoned in 1876 at which time the graves were moved to the present Brooke County Cemetery located on Pleasant Avenue in Wellsburg.

.....Land for the BROOKE COUNTY CEMETERY was purchased from George COX in 1857, incorporated and laid out in lots.

.....In this cemetery may be found the graves of Captain Oliver BROWN, a Revolutionary War Hero, and Patrick GASS, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

.....The Rev. Doctor Joseph DODDRIDGE of early church and historical writing fame is also buried here. His monument reads: "Rev. Doctor Joseph DODDRIDGE, the first minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Western Virginia and Ohio. Born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1769, died in Wellsburgh, November 9, 1826."

.....Another very early cemetery is located on top of the hill immediately south of Wellsburg overlooking the Ohio River. Members of the COX family are buried there. Dates and names are now virtually illegible but some of the stones are dated in the early 1800's.

.....The MARSHALL cemetery is located on Bethany Pike near the old MARSHALL home. James MARSHALL, active during the Whiskey Rebellion and other members of the MARSHALL family are buried there.

.....A cemetery was laid out on the CROSS CREEK road as early as 1804. Among pioneer Brooke County families buried there are the SANDERS, FOWLERS, HINDMANS, HEADINGTONS, STEWARTS and PFISTER. It is often refered to as the PFISTER or CROSS CREEK CEMETERY.

.....The LOWER BUFFALO CEMETERY was established in 1795 close to the BEALL's Ridge Road and the Pennsylvania State Line.

.....Among pioneer families buried there are the BEALLS, BUCHANANS, BOYDS, CARTERS, COXES, GRIMES, HARVEYS, LIGGETTS, MARKS, MARSHALLS, MOORES, MULHOLLANDS, McGUIRES, PARKINSONS, PATTERSONS, RALSTONS, SCOTTS, STEVENSONS, WAUGHS, WELLS, WHITES, and WILSONS.

.....An other cemetery was laid out close to ST. JOHN's EPISCOPAL CHURCH on what is now known as Eldersville Road. This burial ground was established in the late 1790's.

.....Among families represented in this cemetery are the WELLS, MEEKS, ALLISONS, ATKINSONS, APPLEGATES, BAXTERS, BILBYS, BILDERBACKS, BOSLEYS, BROWNS, BROWNINGS, CAMPLBELLS, CARTERS, CRAIGS, DONOVANS, ELLIOTTS, Elsons, Finleys, Fowlers, Freshwaters, Hanlin, Hardy, Hendricks, Hunters, Latimers, Magees, Mahans, MARSHALLS, McCOYS, McCREADYS, McGUIRES, MECHLINGS, MILLERS, MORETONS, MORROWS, MURCHLANDS, OWINGS, PATTERSONS, STRAINS, WALKERS and WHEELERS.

....Another cemetery is located on TENT CHURCH ROAD. This small cemetery was established in the early 1800's. Buried here are the: ARCHERS, COXES, BROWNS, CRALLS, CREWELLS, DIVITTS, FRESHWATERS, FERGUSONS, HINDMANS, HUNTERS, HALLS, HAYS, HANLINS, KLENIS, MURCHLANDS, McCARROLLS, McDONALDS, MILLERS, MORES, PUGHS, POOLES, RAYLANDS, STRAINS and WILLIAMSONS.

....A very early cemetery was established on what is now THREE SPRINGS DRIVE in Weirton. Some of the families buried here are RALSTONS, BREENS, BELLS, EWINGS, HAMMONDS, SANDERS, BRIDGES, HUDSONS, WILCOXES, FRESHWATERS, SWEARINGENS, COCHRANS, LOGANS, WELCHS, BROWNS, COLWELLS, MORTONS, MARKS, HINDMANS, McGLUMPHYS, MILLERS, BEALLS, HOODS, MORROWS, TRUAXES, ORRS, HENDERSONS, GRIFFITHS, CRAIGS, McMILLERS, OWINGS, CAMPBELLS, CAROTHERS, BAXTERS, McKITRICKS, VAN BAKERS, TARRS, HOOKERS, BILDERBACKS, TRUSHELS, FRESHWATERS, CLAYPOOLS, HUNTERS and PURDYS. An earlier church and cemetery were located on Pennsylvania Avenue where all evidence is now missing with the exception of the historical marker.

....Another large and well kept cemetery in OAK GROVE, located at the top of Allegheny Street, Follansbee. This is a relatively new cemetery, compared to the ones described above.

....There are numerous small private cemeteries located on farms throughout the county. We even know of one located on the old Mc KIM farm as well as the McGUIRE CEMETERY located on the grounds of the Highland Hills Golf Course.