Are any members interested in the great state of West Virginia? [closed]

+18 votes
796 views

We have added West Virginia to the US History project. We really need help adding to the West Virginia county pages. All the county pages are now added to Wikitree. If you  have family who came  from West Virginia, members who live in West Virginia  or  members who are just interested in this great state we would really love to hear from you. 

It would be a great way to learn about the history of West Virginia. If any one would like me to add them as manager of any of the county pages let me know. We really, really, really, really  need help adding to the county pages.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:West_Virginia

WikiTree profile: Space:West_Virginia
closed with the note: Thread is not being actively monitored. To join the United States Project (parent of West Virginia) see the relevant thread.
in Requests for Project Volunteers by Terry Wright G2G6 Pilot (190k points)
closed by Ellen Smith
Oooh! You'll have quite a challenge. There was a LOT of county changes as one county "gave birth" to another. Not to mention that people started settling WV when it was still part of Virginia! I may have some maps for you that talk about the county changes.
Thank you Jillaine that would be wonderful. I really don't know much about your states, I am learning as I go:)
I believe when we did Henry Louis Gates recently, that a great deal of his family was from the West Virginia area. My guess is that you'll encounter those profiles as well if you hunt around a little.
Thank you Scott I will have a look
I have a whole bushel full of ancestors who lived and died in Harrison County in particular, near Bridgeport and Shinnston. They migrated to Harrison County from Culpeper County (in original flavor Virginia.) I'd love to help out with this project, as any information that benefits my search (for Goldens/Goldings) would also benefits those of other families: Carders in particular, but also Rileys, Ryans, Cropps, and many more.

Born, raised and reside in Preston County West Virginia. Have lived in Tucker and Taylor as well.  I am willing to help.  Just ask  smiley  

Hello:  Please add me to the West Virginia Project.  I was born West Virginia and I still have relatives there now and a lot of them came and settled there from Virginia

Thank you  Linda
I have added this Space page concerning Calhoun County.  It has many names of early pioneers to this area.  I've bolded the named but have made only three names into links.  Feel free, yes, please do add links to other names who have profiles.  And add a link back to this historical page from the individual profiles so that one can see 'who links here'.  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Calhoun_County%2C_WV%2C_Historial_Names_and_Stories#categories

I've put Calhoun County, WV as a category.  Is there any other category I should use for this page?

I don't remember if I've joined the West Virginia Project or not.  Is there a list of members somewhere?  When I try to find such a list I get a list of members of U. S. History Project instead.  If there is a separate list, there needs to be some clarity.

The West Virginia Project is a sub-project of Project: United States. Unfortunately, there are no separate badge lists for the various states, nor for sub-projects such as the African-American project, but there are standard templates that imply that such lists exists.

To obtain a badge for the United States project, please answer the question https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/639280/your-family-history-please-here-join-united-states-project and indicate your areas of interest within the broad scope of United States. smiley

18 Answers

+10 votes
My mum's family was from West Virginia. Daw , Donaldson , Grant , Parke, Custis , Baker , Norris , Ray ,Cooper And Hatfield.. How would using these pages help me find family. I took a look.
by Anonymous Roach G2G6 Pilot (197k points)
Hello Trudy the  purpose of the project is to coordinate all West Virginia related projects and resources and combine that information into one place. You can add what you want to the County pages, a link to your profiles, family stories you might know, places you are interested in. The info already added to the county pages is just a guide to help you on your way. We want members to make those pages their own.

Plus I think the places our Great Grandma etc came from is really important, what they did in their every day life, the stories they pass down, brings them to life. It makes our family history much more interesting. Knowing where our ancestors came from is a big part of knowing our family and their history. Hopefully other members researching the county you are interested in will see the infomation you have added and who knows what you might find out.
Hey Terry ,  Thanks. So something like the Baker Bi-Centennial Farm that has been owned by the same family for 400 years  (  I know bi  is two , but the government only recognizes 200 years.)  Could go in the county pages. The farm is in Cheat Neck. There is an article some where about the how the farm may not continue. Because there may be no family to run it.
Yes adding that to the county pages would be great Trudy. The little that's on the pages can be removed and members can add what they would like.
+8 votes
I have a number of interests in WV.  First I went to college at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buchanan.  Second my twin brothers Richard and Robert went to Marshall University on a football scholarship.  Robert got married after 2-3 years which under the rules of the time lost him his scholarship.  They changed the rules the next year and so Richard got married.  Unfortunately that fall he was killed in the crash of a chartered plane as it was trying to land.  I think this crash is still the largest loss of life in a sports crash, at least in the US.Genealogically speaking, there was a line of Dardingers in WV (I'ts now daughtered out.  They came from Switzerland in the 1840s but I haven't connected them to the Dardingers in Ohio who came in 1858.  (both were Darendingers in the old country.)
by Dave Dardinger G2G6 Pilot (438k points)
That is so sad Dave I am so sorry about your brother. That must of been so hard for your family.

It's interesting how family names change from one country to another.
Well, it's been 45 years so I don't think about it very often.  Mostly when I'm talking family.
Even after so much time it is a sad story

Being Australian I know very little about your states. Can you tell me a little about West Virginia ? I have read about the state but I more interested in hearing from people who have lived there
Terry , there is a song by John Denver   " Country Roads " it about says it all. " Life is old there , older that the trees, younger than the mountains , blowin like a breeze."
I know the song so that is exactly what West Virginia is like ? Sounds lovely
+9 votes
Hi Terry -

I have a fairly deep knowledge of West Virginia history and geography. As Jillaine Smith said in May 2016, it can get rather complicated as county lines frequently changed in the 1800s.

What does being a county manager entail? The counties I know best (as in, I've lived there or have ancestors there) would be: Kanawha, Cabell, Wayne, Logan, Wood, Ritchie, Pleasants, Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas,  Summers, Mingo, and Lincoln.

I don't want to take on too much, but I'd be happy to collaborate with others who need/want to know more.

The main thing to remember is "June 20th 1863" --- that's when West Virginia got her independence. You can frequently see in the 1870 census where children under age 7 are listed as having been born in "West Virginia" -- and everyone older than age 7 is listed as being born in "Virginia" --- and this is in families where people had lived in the same plot of land for generations. How people list their birth location post 1870 is kind of a crapshoot.
by Diane Kenaston G2G1 (1.6k points)
+7 votes
Well,yes, I am.  I was born in WV (barely, Bluefeld, and both of my parents were Virginians. But my father's paternal line (Prickett) were in present-day WV from early on -- migrated from NJ to present-day Berkeley County in the 1740s, then to the Monongahela in the 1760s and 1770s -- there's been a Prickett's Fort State Park c12 mi south of Morgantown & a few miles north of Fairmont in present-day Marion County since 1976 -- the original Prickett]s Fort on my 4x grgrandfather's  (Prickett-2) land was built in 1774, the same year his 17-year-old son, Isaiah (Prickett-149), was killed & scalped by Indians.  Pricketts and Morgans were early settlers on the Monongahela and intermarried a lot. Then the Pricketts moved west beginning in the 1790s -- to Kentucky, Brown County, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, & points west. My Prickett ancestors were real sure-enough pioneers and I am fascinated by their life-style. For a free-space profile in re Prickett's Fort, go here: .https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Prickett,s_Fort .
by Living Prickett G2G6 Mach 9 (95.6k points)
edited by Living Prickett
+7 votes
May I become a member of the West Virginia project?  Both maternal & paternal sides of my family are from there and particular areas adjacent to Pennsylvania and Maryland interest me the most.

Thanks, Cindy
by Cindy Lesure G2G6 Pilot (126k points)
+9 votes
I'm not sure how I didn't run into this post before, but I'm very interested in helping with this project!!!  I have MANY ancestors who settled in West Virginia (most near Ohio).
by Lynne Modranski G2G1 (1.5k points)
Hi cousin (uncertain) Lynne! Thanks for bringing this post to my attention, I was born in WV, lots of family lived there because of the Weirton Steel company.

Sorry that I missed your reply for so long, Lynne. Welcome to the United States Project and the West Virginia sub-project. smiley

And C, are you interested in joining this project?
+8 votes
Hi, I'm in WV if you still need help.
by Amanda Doss-Connolly G2G1 (1.5k points)
Thanks for offering, Amanda. You are already a member of the parent "United States Project," and you are welcome to jump into West Virginia, too!
+8 votes
I have long West Virginia roots. I live in Nicholas County , West Virginia. I am a history teacher. Nutter, Hypes, Legg and Summers are my main lines I am working on now I want to help with my state in any way historically.
by Denise Freeman G2G2 (2.9k points)
+8 votes
I'm interested in joining this project. My parents are from West Virginia and my family migrated from Virginia to what is today Monroe county, West Virginia. Specifically the Greenville, Monroe, West Virginia area.
by Steve Ballard G2G4 (4.0k points)
+7 votes
I have several families on my paternal line in West Virginia. They came from Buckingham, Campbell, Cumberland and other Virginia counties to Cabell, Kanawha, Mason and Putnam counties in what was to become West Virginia. One of my lines (Ford) is a big problem (brickwalls) as far as documenting, graves, etc.

Would love to join the team.
by MaryAnn Thomas G2G6 Mach 2 (29.4k points)
+8 votes
I would like to join the team.
by MaryAnn Thomas G2G6 Mach 2 (29.4k points)

Thanks, MaryAnn. I've verified that you already have the United States Project badge. smiley

+8 votes
I'd be willing to join.  My ancestors have a long history here and most of us still live here.  I'm from Harrison, live in Braxton and work in Kanawha.  My family roots are generally in the central part of the state.  Calhoun, Upshur, Harrison, Lewis, and Doddridge. Let me know who I can help best.
by Lorie Brown G2G3 (3.3k points)
Thanks for volunteering, Lorie! You now have the United States project badge (which covers West Virginia).

See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:West_Virginia for information about what's going on and what's needed. And if you send notes to the other members who've posted in this thread, I predict that you'll find some new friends.
+9 votes
I live in the Clarksburg/Bridgeport area and would be happy to help those researching in this area.
by Rhonda Smith-Payne G2G3 (3.9k points)

What a wonderful offer, Rhonda! Add [[Category: West Virginia Research Assistance]] to your member profile to make your availability known to people who check that category.

And since you've volunteered, I'm giving you the United States Project badge. smiley

Thank You!
+6 votes
I love wild, wonderful West Virginia.  I may not have occasion to go back after the deaths of my uncle last June and only aunt last August, but still have cousins living there.

I would be happy to help in my spare time [ha!] - family roots in Braxton County, Morgantown in Monongalia and a couple others so will do what I can.
by Sheryl Moore G2G6 Pilot (208k points)
+7 votes
I have Lowthers, Stouts, Hardmans, McWhorters, Bowyers (Boyers), Grimes, Berrys.  Will add the category to them.

Sharon
by Sharon West G2G6 Mach 2 (21.5k points)
+6 votes
good morning,

I have a lot of relatives on my husbands side from Jackson County, West Virginia. Let me know how to connect to your projec
by
+7 votes
Hello:  I'd love to join the West Virginia Project.  I was born in West Virginia and I still have a lot of family there.  

Thank you Linda
by Linda Johnson G2G6 (8.9k points)
+6 votes
Yes, I'd love to join the West Virginia Project.  I was born there and have lots of ancestors buried there.
by Janie Kimble G2G6 Mach 2 (27.7k points)

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