West Virginia Cemetery Preservation Association: Riffle Chapel Cemetery, Mason Co.

Cemetery Reading

Cemetery Name:	Riffle Chapel Cemetery	Click images to enlarge
County:	Mason
USGS Quad:	Robertsburg
Coordinates:	38.7480ºN -81.9140ºW
Maintained by:	unknown
Land owner:	unknown
Date added to WVCPA register:	October 2003
Condition of cemetery**:	Fair (October 2003)
Accessibility:	Located off State Route 62, down the Waterloo Road (CR 31) south of Leon. Follow CR 31 turning left onto CR 44. Take first right onto CR 44-5. Easily accessible in dry weather - last stretch of road narrow and fairly rutted. Good space off road for parking by old Riffle Church. Cemetery is located on top of the hill behind (southwest side) of the church building. A somewhat steep walk for some, perhaps, but a short one.
Condition of cemetery as observed on the given date - may not be representative of care at other times of the year Scale: Excellent - Good - Fair - Poor - Abandoned**

Last Name:	First Name:	Born:	Died:	Inscription:	Photo:	Source:
Baker	Earnest J.	1 March 1901	8 October 1918	“Son of C.J. & N.B. Baker” "We lay our burdens down at Jesus' feet and rest for ever more"
Baker	Nancy B.	2 February 1878	20 November 1947	“Sweetly sleeping” [Husband & wife - shared stone]
Baker	Charles "Jasper", Jr.	14 March 1876	3 October 1970	“Sweetly sleeping” [Husband & wife - shared stone]
Bosworth	Maybel Riffle	9 May 1904	27 October 1968	“Mother”
Bradshaw	Ruba	1899	1973	"Granny"
Buckalew	Robert E.	25 April 1935	15 May 1935	“Baby" "Son of B.W. & L.L. Buckalew” "Darling, we miss thee"
Burdette	Nellie B. Hanson	4 July 1880	8 October 1916	“Daughter of H. & Sarah Hanson” [Wife of Clarkson Burdette]
Cain	Estell Jane	1922	1922	“At rest”
Cain	Lucy J. Workman	8 February 1905	9 September 1922	“Jesus saves”
Carter	Norman, Jr.	1 January 1922	13 October 1933	[Son of Homer Carter and Ruth Riffle]
Cleek	Monroe	1875	1917
Elliot	Susie Ardella	1901	1931
Gray	Velda	2 December 1907	1 January 1908	[Dau of John Gray and Emeline E. Riffle]
Greenlee	Angela Sue	1951	1951
Greenlee	Charles L.	1867	1935
Greenlee	Cordelia C.	3 September 1863	20 March 1917	[Dau of William B. Jenkins & Frances Smith, married in Mason Co. Nov. 30, 1882 to Neely Greenlee] [Son of Wm. Greenlee and Sophia Aleshire]
Greenlee	Neely L.	20 October 1854	7 May 1917
Greenlee	Dora B.	6 July 1887	7 December 1900	"At rest" [Dau of Henry W. and Sarah E. Riffle Greenlee]
Greenlee	Emeline Matilda Smith	1857	1933	“His wife” [Son of Wm. & Sophia Aleshire Greenlee, married Emeline Smith, the daughter of James Smith and Ann Sayre]
Greenlee	Perry M.	1851	1899
Greenlee	Enid	1901	1928	[Alga was her given name]
Greenlee	Gideon Albert	1860	1934	[Son of William Greenlee and Sophia Aleshire] [Dau of George W. Riffle and Harriet Smith, married Gideon Greenlee July 23, 1882]
Greenlee	Mary Belle	1866	1947
Greenlee	Infant Son	7 July 1924	7 July 1924	“Infant son of E.T. & Alga Greenlee" "Our Darling”
Greenlee	Laverna	1872	1950
Greenlee	Mary R.	1887	1890	[Sisters - shared stone] "Children of P.M. & E.M. Greenlee"
Greenlee	Sarah F.	1885	1890	[Sisters - shared stone] "Children of P.M. & E.M. Greenlee"
Greenlee	Millard A.	9 October 1883	26 February 1964	"At rest" [Son of Gideon A. & Mary Belle Riffle Greenlee] [Husband & wife - shared stone] "Gone home"
Greenlee	Pearl M.	12 March 1889	22 August 1974
Greenlee	Sallie L.	1898	1935	[Dau of Gideon A. & Mary Belle Greenlee]
Greenlee	William Henry	8 January 1898	6 March 1954	“WEST VIRGINIA SGT CO D 18 INF WORLD WAR I” “S.S.”
Hanson	Hugh H.	1851	1928	“Father" "He has gone to the mansion of rest” [Husband & wife - shared stone] [Dau of Samuel Wheeler & Abagail Lewis] “Mother" ”She has gone to the mansion of rest"
Hanson	Sarah E.	1854	1927
Keefer	B.F.	4 August 1862	29 July 1911	[Son of Benjamin F. and Delilah Jeffers Keefer]
Keefer	Pearl Workman	23 August 1912	11 January 1936	“Jesus Saves” [Wife of Raymond]
Keefer	Zelpha C.	8 May 1869	12 August 1945	[Wife of B.F. Keefer, dau of Merida & Vieletta Stewart Buck]
Krebs	Ethel Greenlee	1891	1926	[Wife of Harry Krebs, the son of Valentine Krebs & Lula Stutler]
Krebs	Minnie J.	14 February 1881	30 August 1918	“Wife of D.W. Krebs”
Matheny	Charlotte Eilene		1947
Matheny	Daniel H.	23 June 1879	15 July 1957	“CO B 2 REGT W VA INF SP AM WAR”
Matheny	Emily	1865	1927	“Mother”
Matheny	Mary Margaret		1937
McKeever	Allen J.	17 September 1917	25 January 1958	“WEST VIRGINIA PFC 94 ORD MTR MAINT CO WORLD WAR II BSM” [Married Verda Bailes]
McKeever	Andrew	1855	1923	[Husband & wife - shared stone]
McKeever	Caroline	1853	1938	[Husband & wife - shared stone]
McKeever	Dicie	1885	1938	[Dau of William & Nancy Smith, wife of Yancy McKeever]
McKeever	Yancey	1880	1957	[Dau of William & Nancy Smith, wife of Yancy McKeever]
Miller	Evelyn Workman	15 June 1919	24 March 1938	“Jesus Saves”
Mitchell	Emma Lee Riffle	19 May 1901	14 July 1926
Newell	James	1930	1930
Parsons	Jemima	1895	1966	[Dau of Maryland & Cora Thornton] [Husband & wife - shared stone]
Parsons	Orville	1894	1974
Parsons	M.A.	1 June 1938	21 September 1938	[Dau of Orville and Jemima]
Parsons	Rebacah	3 January 1919	21 September 1926
Riffle	Alfred C.	15 May 1881	6 August 1881	“Son of L. E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 2mo 21da”
Riffle	Rev. Andrew Summers	4 March 1849	10 August 1926	"Father" [Son of Wm. & Jane Eckard Riffle, married to Sarah] “Dear moments tho' we miss you much, we know you rest with God" "Mother" “His Wife” [Dau of Wm. Greenlee & Sophia Aleshire]
Riffle	Sarah M. Greenlee	18 January 1850
Riffle	Catharine	17 June 1782	18 April 1878	“She passed through... may gate And walked in paradise”
Riffle	Charles	18 June 1837	24 June 1919	[Co F 13th W.Va. Inf., son of Wm. & Jane E. Riffle] [Dau of Wm. & Mary Parsons Stewart, married December 29, 1861 to Charles Riffle at the home of William Stewart]
Riffle	Elizabeth	11 October 1842	5 July 1915
Riffle	Charles H.	21 March 1872	31 July 1896	“Son of G.W. & Harriet Riffle” "Resting till the resurrection morn"
Riffle	Cora M.	3 May 1871	4 September 1891	“Dau of L. E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 20yr 4mo 1da”
Riffle	Elizabeth	29 April 1879	16 July 1880	“Dau of L. E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 1yr 2mo 17da”
Riffle	Granville G.	22 October 1880	10 May 1910	“Son of I.N. & L.E. Riffle”
Riffle	George W.	1838	1925	[Son of Wm. & Jane Eckard Riffle, married Harriet Smith March 5, 1861] “His wife” [Dau of James Smith & Ann Sayre]
Riffle	Harriet Smith	1843	1926
Riffle	Hannah J.	31 October 1855	16 January 1889	"To meet...Thy God has claimed thee as his own” [Dau of Wm. and Jane Riffle]
Riffle	Hattie A.G.	5 December 1892	10 December 1911	“Dau of L. E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 18yr 11mo 25da”
Riffle	Henry	6 August 1868	6 August 1868	"A bright... that shines in Heaven"
Riffle	H.J.			"CO E 7 W.VA. CAV."
Riffle	Henry	20 November 1840	10 September 1911	“CORPL. CO E 7 W.VA. CAV.” [Husband & wife - shared stone] "Gone But Not Forgotten"
Riffle	Emeline	1848	1915
Riffle	Isaac N. "Ike"	5 December 1853	8 May 1924	“Father” “To him that overcometh, A crown of life shall be” "Mother" [Dau of Granville Worrell]
Riffle	Louisa	29 February 1860	20 November 1926
Riffle	James Otis	1880	1881	“Son of G.W. & Harriet Riffle”
Riffle	Jane	6 September 1816	18 October 1895	“Wife of W. Riffle” [Dau of George W. & Hannah (Edwards) Eckard]
Riffle	Jane Ann	1861	1862	“Dau of G.W. & Harriet Riffle”
Riffle	John C.	1869	1947	[Son of Lewis E. & Sarepta J. (Smith) Riffle] [Husband & wife - shared stone] [Dau of David G. Decker & Mary F. Sealey]
Riffle	Minnie M.	1874	1953
Riffle	Lewis E.	11 September 1843	19 August 1939	“Father" “Co. F 13th W.VA. Infantry” [Son of Wm. & Jane E. Riffle, married Sarepta on August 4, 1868] "Gone Home" “Mother” [Dau of James & Ann Sayre Smith]
Riffle	Sarepta Jane	2 October 1849	31 March 1926
Riffle	Mary	26 July 1896	22 January 1907	[Dau of W.H. & Ora McKinley Riffle]
Riffle	Nathan H.	1904	1952	"Bought by Mother"
Riffle	Nathaniel Junius	1841	1874	[Co E 7th W.Va. Cav.]
Riffle	Ora McKinley	24 June 1873	7 August 1956	[Dau of Philip & Mary Smith McKinley, wife of William] [Son of Henry Riffle & Emeline Hyatt]
Riffle	William H.	27 April 1867	7 March 1945
Riffle	Orville J.	1 November 1894	29 June 1918	“Father”
Riffle	Thomas B.	3 February 1873	20 January 1874	“Son of L.E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 11mo 17da”
Riffle	William	28 December 1810	25 February 1900	[Son of Mathias & Mary C. Riffle, married Jane Eckard in Mason Co., September 25, 1836]
Riffle	William	2 February 1862	26 April 1862	“Son of Wm. & J. Riffle” "Dying is but going home"
Riffle	William A.	29 January 1897	7 February 1897	“Son of J.C. & M.M. Riffle" "Gone so soon”
Riffle	William G.	22 December 1869	28 April 1870	“Son of L. E. & S.J. Riffle” “Age 4mo 6da”
Rollins	Infant Daughter	March 1920	March 1920	“Infant Daughter of C.J. & S.M. Rollins" "Gone to be an angel"
Smith	Henry F.	19 Feb 1852	16 Oct 1934	“Father” [Son of Wyatt & Lucinda Oldham Smith, married Rhoda Virginia Hill, dau of Jarrett & Mary Greenlee Hill, married 2nd Rosa Stewart]
Smith	Infant Daughter			“Infant Dau of H.F. & Rosa Smith lies here”
Smith	Rosa Stewart	1867		[Dau of John Polk Stewart and Roena Buck]
Stewart	Addie	1884	1957
Stewart	Cardar	1875	1951	[Son of Elisha Stewart]
Stewart	Burwell S.	30 September 1867	15 August 1952	[Son of Charles and Pauline C. Smith Stewart] [Married September 3, 1893] [Dau of Henry Riffle and Emeline Hyatt] “67 yrs 11 mos 20 days”
Stewart	Flora C.	15 July 1873	25 June 1941
Stewart	Randall Harter	29 June 1906	27 February 1924	“Son of E.C. & A.L. Stewart” "At rest"
Stone	Lula A.	2 March 1897	30 June 1923	“Wife of O. B. Stone” [Wife of Oren B. Stone, dau of B.F. Keefer & Zelpha Buck]
Thornton	Cora Anderson	4 July 1870	1957
Thornton	Maryland	1871	1958	“Father”
Upton	Alpheus Hilery	9 February 1914	5 March 1914	“Son of W. E. & Lizzie Upton”
Upton	Lizzie M.	1892	22 May 1970	[Dau of Benjamin F. Keefer and Zelpha Buck Keefer] [Husband & wife - shared stone]
Upton	Watson E.	1886	1981
Workman	Carry	15 September 1899	7 July 1903
Workman	Infant	1915	1915	“In Heaven”
Workman	Lonnie	4 January 1902	30 October 1918
Workman	Nancy A.	1877	1959	“Gone Home” “Mother” [Dau of Laban Hill & Lizzie Clemens, wife of T.R.] “Praise God” “Father”
Workman	T. R.	1869	1963
Buried here in unmarked graves, according to family historians:
Boles	George Bradford	31 August 1901	14 June 1906	[Son of Robert & Linna Hill Boles, grave unmarked on west side of cemetery]
Boles	John Ray	18 November 1903	21 February 1904	[Son of Robert & Linna Hill Boles, grave unmarked, beside his brother Bradford]
Unidentified or illegible stones - can you identify these for us?:
Infant grave [located between Enid Greenlee & her infant's graves]
Fieldstone marker [located near Lonnie Workman and Baker graves]

Comments:

Dates in Red above are not inscribed on the tombstone and have either been calculated based on death date or are as a result of research on the individual.

The cemetery was in fairly good condition when we visited it in October 2003, though in need of a grass-clipping. Most stones were in good condition, considering their age, with only a couple being broken or weather-worn beyond legibility. The driveway surrounding the cemetery was not in the best of condition, with a few sizeable limbs and holes here and there to be filled. This could be a relatively easy cemetery to 'bring back to its prime' with a good Spring workday effort with a few shovels, mowers, and hand clippers to trim around the stones. Inquiries would need to be made as to the who the landowner is for permission to help with such care. Any interested volunteers?

The condition of the church, on the other hand, was a sad sight to see. The building appeared to be in fair shape considering its age - windows and doors intact, and roof appeared to be doing its job. However, seeing such a fine old house of worship being used as a storage shed is pretty sad, no matter how practical it may be. We have a few photos of the church, and as soon as we have completed a web page relating the history and photos of it, we will provide a link here and on WVCPA's Historic Churches page.

This cemetery was read by family historians Bev Craig and Vada Riffle Turley in 2002, and their work was very helpful in preparing the text for this page (click here to see the USGenWeb page for this cemetery, along with Bev & Vada's research commentary (more complete names, dates and relationships) and photos, maintained by Suzie Crump, web author of the Mason Co. USGenWeb). Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to them for their dedicated efforts to preserve the history of the families of this cemetery and others in Mason County. "Mason County W.Va. Cemetery Inscriptions", Vol. III, compiled by Juanita Burdette, was also used as a reference for confirming the reading of these stones. Most of the additional name and date information not present on the stones that has been recorded here is taken from Juanita's reading of the cemetery in 1969. Additional photos have been provided by family researcher Tracy Cain.

Updated: 07 September 2012