Mt. Wood History

-excerpt from "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens, by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer (1902) 

"The crowded condition of what is now known as the Hempfield cemetery, together with the imminent prospect of its removal on account of the construction of the Hempfield Railroad, moved a number of the prominent citizens of that day to look about for another place of interment, and finally Mount Wood was selected as the site, with the following named gentlemen as members of the company and who also signed the application for an incorporation: Thomas Sweeney, Moses C. Good, Henry Moore, Neil McNaughten, Mor­gan Nelson, Alfred Caldwell and J. M. Bush­field. A meeting was held soon after for the purpose of organization,—at this meeting John McLure, Sr., presided, while F. W. Bassett acted as secretary. These gentlemen became permanent officers and John R. Morrow was elected treasurer. Mr. McLure was afterward succeeded as president by John Goshorn and he by John Bishop, Esq., who held the office until the time of his death, when Robert Camp­bell, Esq., was elected, and he is still the presi­dent. F. W. Bassett was the first secretary and continued in that office until 1871, when I. H. Williams was elected. The first directors were John McLure, S. P. Hullihen, James E. Wharton, John R. Morrow, M. Ed­wards, Henry K. List, William McCoy, Philip Sutton and F. W. Bassett.

The grounds, we are informed, at first comprised over 20 acres, and were laid out by Robert Woods, Esq., in beautiful style. Mount Wood cemetery, from its naturally beautiful and attractive situation, at once became the popular cemetery not only of the city of Wheel­ing, but lots were purchased by residents of the country round about. It is situated on an eminence immediately east of North Wheel­ing, and from it an unobstructed view of the country in all directions for miles and miles is obtained. . ."
▶ read entire Cranmer entry on Mt. Wood

 
In 2013, Mt. Wood Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination form was completed by Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation (WHNAC). 

▶ View Mt. Wood's National Register Nomination Form (pdf - WV Division of Culture and History site)

 Location

 ▶ On Mt Wood Road, just beyond the intersection of Mt. Wood Road and National Road at the top of Wheeling Hill.  

Images of Mt. Wood Cemetery

Noted interments in Mt. Wood Cemetery