Historical Markers and War Memorials in Pendleton County, West Virginia
Franklin is the county seat for Pendleton County
Adjacent to Pendleton County, West Virginia
Grant County(32) ► Hardy County(44) ► Pocahontas County(62) ► Randolph County(103) ► Augusta County, Virginia(67) ► Highland County, Virginia(34) ► Rockingham County, Virginia(96) ►
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61 rods west stood original
round log church upon 3˝
acre plot, deeded Dec.18, 1769,
by John Michael Propst and his
wife, Catherine, “for the congregation of the South Fork of the
Potowmack for five shillings
current money of Virginia.” — — Map (db m123901) HM
The stone cemetery takes its name from Daniel Stone, an early owner,while the
oldest tombstone carries the date 1793. The principal use began in the 1860s at the time of the civil war and the creation of the State of West Virginia by president . . . — — Map (db m123913) HM
Here mountain waters divide into many rivers. Greenbrier, Gauley and Elk start south and west to the Kanawha; the Jackson east to the James; north goes the South Branch to the Potomac, and the Cheat and Tygard to the Monongahela. — — Map (db m124091) HM
Pocahontas County. Formed from Bath, Pendleton
and Randolph in 1821. Named
for Pocahontas, Indian princess, friend of the Jamestown
settlers. Site of Droop Mountain battle, November 6, 1863.
The famous Cranberry Glades
are in this . . . — — Map (db m124088) HM
Spruce Knob (9 miles west), 4,860 feet and the highest point in West Virginia, lies slightly above the crest ridge of Spruce Mountain. The crest lies above 4,500 feet for more than 10 miles and is strewn with fragments of Pottsville Sandstone of the . . . — — Map (db m99532) HM
Dedicated to the memory of the men from Pendleton County, Confederate and Union, who served in the War Between the States
1861 - 1865 — — Map (db m165763) WM
Near this site, in May 1862, following the battle of Mcdowell, General "Stonewall" Jackson received orders to return to the Shenandoah Valley while attending church service with the army. — — Map (db m34530) HM
A key component of gun powder, the saltpeter mined near Franklin was of great importance to the South during the Civil War. On August 19, 1863, during his raid of Pendleton and surrounding counties, Union Gen. William W. Averell destroyed the . . . — — Map (db m155458) HM
The carbonaceous shale exposed in the quarry is the Marcellus brown and black shale of the driller. it yields large amounts of natural gas in southern West Virginia. — — Map (db m34502) HM
Settled, 1769. Named for its founder, Francis Evick. John Van Meter first reached the South Branch, 1725. Roger Dyer and others came in 1745. Site of Federal camp of Gen. John C. Fremont, 1862, on way to attack "Stonewall" Jackson. — — Map (db m34500) HM
Following the Battle of McDowell on May 8th 1862, Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson pursued retreating Union forces under the command of Generals Schenck and Milroy to Franklin. As was his custom, Jackson called for a day of prayer and . . . — — Map (db m180860) HM
Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's unsuccessful attack on Union forces at Kernstown on March 23, 1862, alarmed Federal officials, who assigned additional troops to the Shenandoah Valley to guard against a Confederate assault on . . . — — Map (db m155456) HM
At this site on May 10th, 1862, following the battle of Mcdowell, union soldiers murdered Rev. Ambrose Meadows. A mill and the Meadows home were burned, his wife and three children left homeless. — — Map (db m155457) HM
At this site on May 10th, 1862, Rev. Ambrose Meadows was murdered by Union Troops. Samuel Johnson, a union who was present, wrote the following: "Col. Zigler of my regiment ordered Capt. McCall with Company B out to investigate the the . . . — — Map (db m187217) HM
"By fairy hands their knell is rung by forms unseen their dirge is sung" Dedicated to these heroes of Pendleton County who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War 1914 - 1918 Killed in action
John Dayton Dove - Riverton
Raymond L. Harman . . . — — Map (db m34501) HM
At this gap defeated Union forces slowed the pursuit of "Stonewall" Jackson following the battle of McDowell in May 1862. The site was used by Confederate forces to make gunpowder from saltpeter secured in nearby cave. — — Map (db m34531) HM
The Trout Rock Fort was one in the chain of forts that the Virginia House of Burgesses in March 1756 directed Washington to erect for the defense of settlers in the South Branch Valley. It also marks the end of Gen. Stonewall Jackson's pursuit of . . . — — Map (db m34533) HM
West Virginia (Pendleton County)
"The Mountain State" - western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. Settled by the Germans and Scotch-Irish. It became a line of defense between the English and French . . . — — Map (db m34536) HM
Fort Seybert, strong frontier post with blockhouse, cabins, and stockade, surrendered to the Indians after three-day siege in 1758. Twenty of the prisoners were massacred and the others were carried into captivity. (Site 2 Mi. North) — — Map (db m34461) HM
At this site, Confederate infantry along with two units of cavalry engaged Union forces numbering close forty. In the skirmish that resulted, Union troops rallied: forcing the Confederates from the field. Two local, Perry Bland and Thomas Powers . . . — — Map (db m92895) HM
In Germany Valley is the site of Hinkle's Fort built in 1761–1762. It was the only defense of the South Branch after Fort Upper Tract and Fort Seybert were destroyed by Shawnee Indians under Killbuck, April 27–28, 1758. — — Map (db m23303) HM
Nearby is grave of John Dolly (Dahle, 1749-1847), a Hessian mercenary in the Revolutionary War and an early settler in Germany Valley. Naming of Dolly Sods attributed to his surname and large tracks of grass sod lands found here. — — Map (db m164077) HM
On the evening of January 13, 1865, Union Maj. Elias S. Troxel, 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, was leading a two-hundred-man scouting expedition south from New Creek in present-day Mineral County. After passing through Petersburg, he joined Capt. John . . . — — Map (db m45040) HM
The massive sandstone across the road is the Oriskany of the driller and geologist. The "Oriskany Sand", an important gas sand, has produced in excess of a trillion cubic feet of gas in West Virginia. — — Map (db m80414) HM
At this site on March 2nd, 1862, Union forces numbering forty were attacked by local Confederate infantry and two units of cavalry. In the skirmish that resulted, Union troops rallied forcing the Confederates from the field. Two local men, Perry . . . — — Map (db m49696) HM
The massive vertical sandstone forming Judy Rocks is the Tuscarora of the driller and geologist. The "Tuscarora (Clinton) Sand" yields some gas although it is largely untested in West Virginia. — — Map (db m80415) HM
On this site on 2 June 1788 in a building owned by Seriah Stratton and formerly the property Col. Benjamin Wilson. Pendleton County was organized by justices commissioned by Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph from portions of Augusta, Rockingham and . . . — — Map (db m125118) HM
The American frontier was one of the world's most effective architectural mixing pots. This typical Appalachian home started as a German Blockbau style log house. Hewn (squared) logs with V-notched corner joints, spaced apart with stone and . . . — — Map (db m167995) HM
The garden before you reflects some of the crops grown by our ancestors, the hardy pioneers who settled these valleys a few centuries ago.
Do you see any familiar plants that are still grown in our gardens today? Which crops do you find . . . — — Map (db m124112) HM
Prior to the Civil War, a Lutheran
log church built on the North Fork
housed a growing congregation. The
building, renamed Camp Luther, was
used by soldiers from both sides
during the war. On March 1, 1862, a Union force under Col. . . . — — Map (db m164089) HM
Near Champe Rocks is the home and grave of Sergeant John Champe who was sent by General Washington and Major Lee to kidnap Benedict Arnold, the traitor, from within the British lines. The daring plot almost succeeded. — — Map (db m9264) HM
The first recorded ascent of Seneca Rocks was in 1939. Since then, climbers have explored a maze of more than four-hundred routes across its face. Some routes lead to the summit; others meet dead-ends. Climbers from around the world come to test . . . — — Map (db m23257) HM
Seneca Rocks, an outstanding natural formation of Tuscarora Sandstone of the Silurian Age, rises over 900 feet above the North Fork of the South Branch. This almost perpendicular rock mass overlooks junction of Seneca Trail and Shawnee Trail, or . . . — — Map (db m45033) HM
Originally constructed around 1830 by Jacob Sites, this homestead started as a single room log cabin. William Sites, one of his two sons, expanded it into a two story frame structure in the late 1850's using locally available materials and skilled . . . — — Map (db m23232) HM
The vertical resistant sandstone forming Seneca Rocks is the Tucarora of the driller and geologist. The “Tuscarora Sand” yields some gas altough it is largely untested in West Virginia — — Map (db m124111) HM
“The Wilfong Church.” Four acres of land for church and
cemetery were purchased for one
shilling on October 1, 1794 from
German immigrant couple, Michael
and Sophia Wilfong. Historically and
locally known as “The . . . — — Map (db m123921) HM
Named for William Eagle, a Revolutionary War soldier who lived nearby. Enlisting at age fifteen, 12-24-1776, he served in the 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 12th Va. Rgts., Continental Line, at Valley Forge and Yorktown. Died, 1848, and is buried here. — — Map (db m85457) HM
Site of Fort Upper Tract, one of the forts erected under Washington's orders to guard the settlements. In 1758, Indians captured and burned it. Captain James Dunlap and 21 others were killed. No one escaped. — — Map (db m50401) HM
Oldest log church building in Pendleton Co. Built in 1848 of hewn white pine logs cut nearby. Served as Methodist Episcopal Church until 1910 when abandoned. Used as community center since rededication in 1936. — — Map (db m50400) HM
The Smoke Hole, a rugged canyon of 1421 feet elevation, made by the South Branch of he Potomac River, extends eighteen miles to the junction with the North Fork. In Coeymans Limestone of Devonian Age, the river has carved out various formations and . . . — — Map (db m94117) HM
Smoke Hole, a rugged canyon formed by the
South Branch of the Potomac River, extends
eighteen miles south to U.S. 220. Early explorers
reported that heavy mists rising from the canyon
looked like smoke coming from a deep hole.
The canyon . . . — — Map (db m95513) HM
On Smoke Hole Knob (300 yards west), overlooking this site, is Smoke Hole Cave with its circular chamber, forty feet high and fifteen feet in diameter, resembling an inverted hornet’s nest, tapering to a natural chimney or “smoke hole.” Its use by . . . — — Map (db m99521) HM
Built about 1850 as Methodist Episcopal Meeting House and known as Palestine Church. First trustees: Alfred Kimble, Jacob L. Kimble, J.H. Lantz, Abraham Kile, and Isaac Ault. Bought by Espiscopal Church, 1831; rededicated 1966. — — Map (db m99525) HM
