Photo believed to be in public domain
This may not be new information for you, but researchers who are descendants of Southern West Virginia settlers would do well to be familiar with the websites mentioned below. We’ve all seen “research” that turned out to be largely inaccurate; it’s always a big letdown and, frankly, infuriating. I don’t claim to be the best, but I do strive for accuracy and appropriate documentation. I always appreciate being informed of errors. The researchers I have included below have done work that you can trust.
My own AmericanTapestry.net is not specifically about Southern West Virginia, but there are a few WV-related articles - most of which I have already included in my Substack. My American Tapestry site deals with some early Virginia families that did not extend into West Virginia, but I do include the Southern West Virginia Settlers surnamed Wood, Skaggs, Vandal, McVey, and others.
Dave Fridley’s website is a treasure for those with deep roots in Southern West Virginia. Dave has posted photos, as well as family genealogies, among them Burdett, Bibb, Withrow, and Sims. If you are an Alderson, I doubt you’ll find better information anywhere else.
Cathy Meder-Dempsey’s meticulous work is appreciated by everyone. You will be hard-pressed to find a more thorough researcher. Her work can be found on Facebook and on her WordPress site Opening Doors in Brick Walls. She includes many of the families of Southern West Virginia: Roop, Dempsey, Sims, Lively, Ingram, and more. She explains her work here.
Julie McGraw-Ayres provides unique insights, careful research, and witty comments on her website Gendeavour. I consider her a Boone expert, and with ancestors named Van Bibber, Withrow, Harmon, and McGraw, she has an impressive early settler pedigree. You will appreciate what she has done.
Brian Miller’s site Your Ancestors Demystified has been especially helpful to me due to his research on early German immigrants like the Ensmingers, Muellers (Millers), etc. Most recently, he has posted some helpful background and sources on Palatine immigrants. Many of these families were in Pennsylvania before moving to Southern West Virginia. Brian’s work is always attractive and well documented.
Years ago, I corresponded with Kim Torp. I can’t remember what it was about, but I haven’t forgotten the name. If he/she has a personal website, I am not aware of it, but I admire the work Kim has done as nation-wide manager of Genealogy Trails. Kim also manages the Greenbrier County and Kanawha County portions of Genealogy Trails. Camilla Post is listed as the manager of the Summers County section, but it looks like they might need volunteer managers for Fayette, Monroe, Nicholas, and Raleigh Counties.
I would like to know of other reliable sites, especially personal blogs/sites similar to #1-5 above. Please help us all by informing us about other helpful blogs. Spread the word. The hard work of all these researchers needs to be appreciated.
Coming soon: more surveys of Greenbrier county memorials at Find-a-Grave.
Thank you, Kitty, for the mention.