Casto Cemetery at Fairplain - Jackson County, WV






Directions: From Ripley, take I-77 south to the Fairplain exit. Turn south on SR 21 and drive about a mile. The cemetery is on a hill on the left side of the road, and is easy to miss as there is no sign at road level. There is a paved road up to the cemetery and a large sign at the entrance but it is not easily seen unless you are looking up the hill for it.

It is fenced and well tended and someone has placed wooden crosses on a number of the graves that have no other markers. The rows are not well defined and some pictures may be included in the wrong one, but they are close. I've listed the graves from left to right, and from the front to back. There is a list of graves on the back side of the sign. It is illegible now but I took a picture of it in 1998, and have tried to match up the names as best I can read them with the markers that are there now. I believe 4 of the wooden crosses are identified on this list as Kathryn Southall, Nancy J Brown and John and Glori Pfost Crites. There are markers that are so eroded that almost nothing is left on them and there are no names on the list that seem to correspond to them.

My brother, Marvin Robie, and I visited the cemetery and photographed all the markers on May 11, 2006. Photos were taken of all markers and are provided by Betty Briggs

Click on the to view photo/s of marker.

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I am very grateful to the Jackson County Historical Society (JCHS) for the transcription of this cemetery in a much earlier time when the stones were not so eroded. My comments are in brackets [ ] and include information from my own database, available at West Virginia Pioneers .

dh - double headstone      sh - single headstone      fs - footstone      mm - military marker      fhm - funeral home marker

  • Row 1
  • Casto, Virginia Francis Oct 8, 1923 [sh]
  • Casto, Beverly (Stought) 1944 [dh]
        Casto, Richard D. 1942 [dh]
  • Casto, Lillian M. 1894 - 1930
        Her Son Richard O. 1930 [sh][Richard Oliver, born 1/26/1930 to H.O. & Lillian (Deys) Casto JCBR]
  • Casto, Donald O. Ohio PFC 111 Infantry Regt World War II BSM Oct 13, 1918 - Jan 8, 1955 [mm]
  • Casto, Otmer R. -Ohio- Pvt US Army September 11, 1930 [mm]
  • Southall, Lloyd Ray PFC US Army World War II Feb 21, 1916 - Sep 3, 1973
  • Three Wooden Crosses - no names - one may be Kathryn Southall
  • Fisher, Lona 1876 - 1947
        Fisher, Abrham F. 1869 - 1937
  • Row 2
  • Moore, James Edward Jan 22, 1946 [dh]
        Moore, Connie J. Casto Aug 14, 1947 [dh]
  • Casto, Mary M. Nov 7, 1840 - Jan 13, 1924 Mother [dh]
        Casto, Benjamin F. Dec 23, 1830 - Feb 28, 1920 Father [dh]
  • Winter, Mary Sept 24, 1852 - Aug 9, 1941 [dh]
        Winter, David W. July 22, 1850 - Oct 6, 1927 [dh]
  • Austin, Robert H. 1873 - 1934 [sh]
  • Austin, Addie E. 1880 - 1955 [sh]
  • Southall, Harvey A. 1869 - 1935 [dh]
        Southall, Dora 1878 - 1937 [dh]
  • Fisher, Mary A. Wife of Martin Fisher Born July 5, 1840 Died Oct 3, 1900 [sh]
  • Fisher, Martin Co. A 7 W.VA. INF [mm]
  • Wooden Cross
  • Row 3
  • Casto, Harlow L. 1864 - 1945 [sh]
  • Casto, F.W., M.D. Nov 27, 1866 - Dec 27, 1902 [sh]
  • Casto, Jonathan J, Son of Jacob & Celia B Born Feb 23, 1876 Died Mar 27, 1899 [s]    
  • Casto, Jacob Mar 12, 1828 - Mar 30, 1905 [dh]
        Casto, Celia B His Wife June 27, 1830 - Jan 21, 1910 [dh]
  • Casto, Sarah M. Jan 26, 1869 - Oct 2, 1920 [sh]
  • Casto, Barbara Ann 1931 - 1940 [sh]
  • Casto, Lide Cowen 1859 - 1946 [sh]
  • Casto, Hiram J 1862 - 1949 [sh]
  • Casto, Clara B. Wife of H J Casto Died Aug 24, 1895 Aged 27 Y 5 M 13 D [sh][Hard to read, dates confirmed from JCHS reading]    
  • Three wooden crosses
  • Green, Phebe Wife of L. Greene Died Feb 26, 1928 Aged 46 Y 6 M 9D [Very hard to read] [sh]         P G [fs]
  • Brown, Infant Dau of P & N Born Nov 28, 18?? [sh]
        Nancy J Brown is probably buried next, but there is no marker.
  • Row 4
  • Casto, Anna E. 1868 - 1950 [dh]
        Casto, Isadore C. 1871 - 1960 [dh]
  • Irene 1906 -1907 [sh][Casto according to the list of burials on the back side of the sign]
  • Winter, Elizabeth Oct 16, 1841 - June 6, 1923 [sh]
  • Walton, Evealine nee Winter Jan 6, 1834 - Oct 22, 1916  Age 82 Yrs 9 Mos 16 Das [sh]    
  • Adams, Martha 1835 - 1883 [sh]
  • Winter, William May 8, 1829 - Oct 18, 1881  Age 52 Yrs 5 Mo 4 Das[sh]    
  • Winter, James L Aug 13, 1801 - Mar 22, 1883 Age 81 Yrs 7 Mos 5 Das [dh]
        Winter, Sarah Wife of James L Apr 19, 1810 - May 11, 1877 Age 67 Yrs 22 Das [dh]
       There is a small headstone to the right of their stone and almost touching it. It is too eroded to read, but it is possibly their child
  • Adams, Mary V. Nov 7, 1879 - Apr 15, 1974 [dh]
        Adams, John A. Feb 15, 1873 - May 7, 1939 [dh]
  • Adams, Harriet A. 1857 - 1876 [sh]
  • Green, Charles, Son of L. & P. Green Died Oct 24, 1869 in His 21 Yr [sh]
  • Small Stone    
  • Small stone some writing still shows    
  • Jeffers, Samuel Died Dec 13, 1869 Aged 71 y 4 M [dh]
        Jeffers, Elizabeth Wife of Samuel Jeffers Died Feb 9, 1862 Aged 60 (66?) ys 3 ms 4 ds [dh]
  • Small stone, very badly eroded, Looks like Va___    
  • Row 5
  • Smith, M.A. 1855 - 1937 Father [sh]
  • Daniel, Virginia Estella Dec 18, 1912 - June 1, 1919? [sh]
  • Daniel, Estella Aug 6, 1889 - May 12, 1916 [sh]    
  • Greene, Smith Jan 12, 1842 - Sep 19, 1928 [dh]
        Greene, Rigolette, his wife, Dec 12, 1845 - Dec 16, 1908 [dh]
  • Smith, Ida M Wife of M.A, Died July 8, 1898 Aged 32Y 9M [sh]
  • Greene, Essie Born June 18, 1877 Died Dec 22, 1898 [sh]
  • Greene, Orville H. Born Aug 24, 1879 Died Aug 29, 1901 [sh]
  • Greene, Sadie A. Wife of Perry C, Apr 17, 1867 - Oct 20, 1894 [sh]
  • Greene, Oda Dec 17(?), 1892 - Fb 3, 1893 [sh]
  • Green, Mary Dau of S & R Green Died July 14, 1887 Aged 1yr10mo17ds [hard to read][sh]
  • Simmons, Two Infant Daughters of Mr & Mrs Charles Simmons [sh]
  • Simmons, Charles 1834 - 1911 [dh]
        Simmons, Angeline 1830 - 1860 [dh]
        Erected by son U.S. Simmons
  • Greene, Edward H, Died Dec 18, 1895 Aged 95 Years [Inscription: H. . H. Mines(?) Racine, O.]
  • Green, Sarah Wife of Edward H. Green Died Apr 26, 1874 in her 62 Yr [inscription] [sh]
  • Wooden Cross with flag attached
  • Row 6
  • Casto, Zeppie C. 1860 - 1902 [dh]
        Casto, Leonard C. 1857 - 1934 [dh]
  • Casto, Children, H.N. - Son Died Oct 2, 1898 Aged 1y 3M 10D - Infant Dau - Infant Son [sh]
  • Green, Walter Son of B.C. & S.A. Green Died Jan 15, 1892 Aged 2 Days [sh]
  • Crane, James A Son of G.N. & E.M. Crane Died Dec 30, 1878 Aged 2Y 10M 20D[sh]
  • Casto, Leotus M. Son of A.B. & M.A. Casto Died Apr 4, 1890 Aged 2Y 2M 21 DS [sh]
  • Casto, Jane Wife of Albert Casto Died May 20, 1879 Aged 22 Ys 9 Ms 7 Ds {sh]    JC [fs]
  • Casto, Rudie H., Son of L/A(?) & J/S Casto Died Oct 29, 1876 Aged 3 Ys 4 Ds [sh]    R.H.C.[fs]
  • D.B.C. [fs] [This small stone is in line with the other footstones on either side, perhaps child of Rebecca and Abraham G Casto?]
  • Casto, Rebecca, Wife of A.G. Casto Nov 14, 1829 - Apr 22, 1895 [dh]
        Casto, Dora Bell Dec 14, 1867 - Oct 5, 1877 [dh]     R.C. [fs]
  • There is a small child sized stone that isn't really in line with this row or the next. There is no name left on it, and it positioned in front of and more or less between the stones of Ella Casto and Ottmer Casto.
  • Row 7
  • Staats, Romeo C 1910 - 1978 [dh]
        Staats, Leola M 1914 - 1969 [dh]
  • Crane, Pleasant S. 1860 - 1938 [sh]
  • Hayes, Josephine 1862 - 1941 [dh]
        Hayes, George W. 1864 - 1896 [dh]
  • Casto, Martha A. Wife of A.B. Casto Apr 19, 1852 - June 26, 1915 [sh]         Casto, Martha A 1852 - 1915 [fs]
        Casto, A.B. 1849 - 1932 [fs]
  • Casto, Ottmar L. [The stone is so eroded that most of it cannot be read, although it looks as if it indicates "son of", part of what can be read is: Died, Aged and part of the parents' names. The transcription by JCHS shows: Son of B.E. & M.M. Casto, Died Mary 10, 1869, Aged 3Y 1M 10D. Other records indicate he was born Mar 1861 and died May 1963.]
  • Casto, Ella Born Aug 13, 1877 Died Sept 28, 1877 [sh] [d/o Benjamin F. & Mary Matilda]
  • Price, Temperance Wife of Hiram Price Died June 10, 1887 Aged 74 Ys? [dh]    
        Price, Hiram Died 1853 Aged 40 Ys [dh]    
  • Casto, Magdalene June 13, 1895 - Jan 1, 1886 [dh]
        Casto, Jonathan Dec 30, 1794 - Oct 21, 1851 [dh]    
        Casto, Jonathan PVT 5 VA Mil War of 1812 October 21, 1851 [mm]        
  • Casto, Isaac J. Co B. 22 VA Inf C.S.A. [mm]
  • Row 8
  • Lockard, Columbia Staats 1914 - 1981 [sh]
        Lockard, Columbia S CSK US Navy World War II 1914 - 1981 [fs - mm] [8141]
  • Staats, Columbus L. 1882 - 1949 [dh]
        Staats, Eva L. 1883 - 1963 [dh]
  • 4 Wooden crosses with American Flags
  • Row91
  • Chancey, Urada S 1908 - 1976 [dh]
        Chancey, Moody M. 1908 - 1973 [dh]
  • Coleman, Catharine Wife of B.F. Coleman, Died Feb 6, 1883 Aged ?
  • Coleman, Margaret Dau of ?? Died July 10?, 1883 Aged ?? 11d [Stone is very weathered, JCHS transcription shows 3y 11d, d/o B.F. Coleman [sh]
  • 2 Wooden Crosses
  • Staats, Nancy Ann May 21, 1940 [s]
  • Wooden Cross
  • Crites, Abraham Feb 20, 1814 - July 11, 1904 [dh]
        Crites, Magdelena Mar 9, 1821 - Sept 18, 1905 [dh]
  • Row 10
  • Crane, Urah Inez Jan 14, 1911 - Apr 25, 1911   Daughter of A.M. & Tennie Crites [s]
  • Wooden Cross
  • Elliott, Palina 1850 - 1875 [s]
  • 4 Wooden Crosses. Probably two of these mark the graves of John Crites and his wife Glori Pfost Crites
  • Row 11
  • Wooden Cross
  • Whetherholt, Nancy E. 1844 - 1916 [sh]
  • Crites, Benjamin F. Dec 29, 1859 - Feb 8, 1938 Father [sh]
  • Crites, Cora L Nov 28, 1867 - Mar 11, 1897 [sh]
        Crites, Bryan L, March 1, 1897 - Aug 30, 1897 [wife and son of B.F. Crites] [the stone is very eroded but there are flowers there, and this data is from the JCHS transcription, which agrees with the list on the back side of the sign]
  • Crites, Minnie H. 1868 - 1945 [s]
  • Wooden Cross
  • Fisher, G.W. Co A 7th W.VA Cav. [mm]
  • Crites, Martin June 6, 1811 - Apr 1, 1870 [d]
        Crites, Elizabeth Aug 20, 1818 - Apr 7, 1899 [d]
        MC [fs]
        There is another footstone about the same size but with no writing on it.
  • 4 Wooden Crosses.
  • Row 12
  • Harpold, Felice S. 1912 - 2001 [dh]
        Harpold, Rev. W. Arthur 1894 - 1974 [dh]    
  • Whetherholt, A.J. October 1, 1874 - November 4, 1943 Father [s]
  • Thin slab of brown rock with initials and date scratched in by hand - C.W.?. died Sep 23, 18?5
  • Wolf, Elizabeth, Wife of George B. Wolf Died Mar 1, 1874 Aged 64 ys 6 M 14D [the 14 D is half buried] [s]
  • Row 13
  • Casto, Telitha J. 1909 - 1998 [d]
        Casto, Otis K. 1908 - 1997 [d]
  • Casto, Hattie 1872 - 1954 [d]
        Casto, Everett 1869 - 1946 [d]        
  • Kessell, Flossie G. 1892 - 1957 [d]
        Kessell, Leffie A. 1892 - 19__ [d]
  • McKown, Velma Lewis Jan 31, 1908 - Dec 7, 1995 [s]
  • McKown, Woodford T. Pvt US Army World War II Mar 29, 1909 - Sep 4, 1977 [fs mm ]
  • Crane, Michael Scott 1986 - 1986 [s]
  • Crane, SC
        Crane, BC [Small metal bits on the ground]
  • Crane, Chloe Hilands Oct 13 - Oct 30, 1996 [s]
  • Row 14
  • Barnett, Alvia L. May 29, 1942 [d]
        Wed July 8, 1969 "AB JB"
        Barnett, Joyce E. Dec 20, 1949 [d]
  • Monday, Carroll D. July 26, 1932 [d]
        Wed Jan 15, 1982 "CM BM"
        Monday, Betty J. Dec 21, 1946 [d]
  • Crane, Joan Corbin Oct 12, 1932 [d]
        Crane, James C. "Cam" Nov 4, 19226 [d]
  • Crane, Orva O. Mar 6, 1890 - July 24, 1967 [d]
        Crane, Ebb Jan 20, 1886 - July 20, 1967 [d]    
  • Smith, Margaret Crane Sept 16, 1920[d]
        Smith, James W. July 2, 1925 [d]        
  • Johnson, Doris Crane July 10, 1912 - May 4, 1992 [d]
        Johnson, Howard D. Jan 27, 1916 - July 2, 1975 [d]
  • Staats, Ebbie Lee 1887 - 1970 Mother [d]
        Staats, J. Kenneth 1883 - 1874 Father [d]
  • Staats, Kenneth Paul Nov 9, 1923 - May 5, 1946 V.F.W. [s]
  • Staats, James Ralph June 30, 1911 - Jan 15, 1974 [s]
        Staats, Ralph J. - West Virginia - PFC US Army World War II Jun 30, 1911 - Jan 15, 1974 [fs mm]
  • Row 15
  • White, Ethel M. 1923 - 1991 [d]
        Wed Oct 24, 1940
        White, James A. 1920 - 1991 [d]
  • White, David W. May 28, 1944 - Aug 25, 1988 [s]
  • Ranson, Deloris K. 1928 'Katy' [d]
        Ranson, Carroll S. 1927 - 1973 'Kayo' [d]
  • Whetherholt, Jacob W. Nov 29, 1878 - Apr 7, 1964 [d]
        Whetherholt, Delia V. Crane Mar 31, 1880 - Jan 1, 1959 [d]
  • Crane, Hubert July 8, 1896 - July 1, 1956 [s]
  • Crane, George N. 1857 - 1917 [d]
        Crane, Elizabeth M. 1855 - 1933 [d]    'Father and Mother'
  • Crane, Mander A. 1882 - 1942 [d]
        His Wife
        Tennie E. Crites 1887 - 1979 [d]
  • Crane, Kathy Lou Oct 17, 1951 - Nov 20, 1951 [d]
        Crane, Cheryl Ann May 21, 1958 - June 17, 1958 [d]
        Daughters of George & Luella
  • Crane, Luella M. 1919 - 1998 [d]
        Crane, George W. 1920 - 1983 [d]
  • Row 16
  • Utt, Dortha M. Beloved Wife Feb 13, 1940 [fs]
  • Crane, Wilmer W. 1902 - 1953 "In Memory of" [s]
  • Crane, Nancy E. 1879 - 1952 [s]
  • Crane, Opha S. 1877 - 1940 [s]
  • Gandee Infant Borned 1936 [fhm mounted on wooden cross]
  • Gandee, Mary Lee Borned 1936 [fhm mounted on wooden cross]
  • Gandee, Fred Borned 1921 [fhm mounted on wooden cross]
  • Gandee Infant 1926 - 1926 [fhm mounted on wooden cross]
  • Gandee, V. Mae 1904 - 1950 Mother [d] Gandee, Foster 1900 - 1951 Father [d]
  • Gandee, O. Marshall 1917 - 1972 [s]
  • Row 17
  • Hite, Josephine E. 1928 - 1989 Mother [d]
        Hite, Thomas E. 1927 - 1979 Father [d]
  • Crane, Joseph C 1890 - 1965 [d]
        Crane, Lula L. 1892 - 1964 [d]
  • Staats, Clarence E 1886 - 1971 [d]
        Staats, Plusha Mae 1888 - 1965 [d]
  • Kuhn, James J. 1927 [d]
        Kuhn, Docha F. 1927 [d]
  • Row 18
  • Hutton, Robert S 1936 - 1991
        Hutton, Betty L 1938 -
  • Anderson, Nathan S. Son of Rudy & Lura Anderson 1970 [s]
  • Anderson, Omer R 1908 - 1985 [d]
        Anderson, Faith P. 1915 [d]


    The following is my transcription of the list on the back of the sign at the entrance to the cemetery, taken from two 4"x 6" photographs taken in 1998. I had to use a magnifying glass to decipher the writting and I am not 100% sure that it is correct, but in most places it agrees with what is on the stones. The names are numbered from 1 to 200.

    Abraham Fisher
    Lona Fisher
    Martin Fisher
    Mary Fisher
    Kathyn Southall
    [2 blank lines]
    Lloyd Southall
    Otmer Casto
    Donald Casto
    Lillian Casto
    Richard Casto
    Nancy J Brown
    Inf __ P & N Brown
    Phebe Green
    Harvey Southall
    Dora Southall
    Addie Austin
    Robert Austin
    David W Winter
    Mary Winter
    Ben F Casto
    Mary M Casto
    [blank line]
    Elizabeth Jeffers
    Samuel Jeffers
    [2 blank lines]
    Charles Green
    Harriet Adams
    [3 blank lines]
    John Adams
    Mary Adams
    [3 blank lines]
    Clara B Casto
    Hiram J Casto
    Lida Casto
    Barbara Casto
    Sarah Casto
    Jacob Casto
    Celia Casto
    Jonathan J Casto
    F W Casto
    Harlow Casto
    [ blank lines]
    Sarah Winter
    James Winter
    Wm Winter
    Martha Adams
    Evaline Walton
    Elizabeth Winter
    [blank line]
    Irene Casto
    Isadore Casto
    Anna Casto
    [2 blank lines]
    Sarah Greene
    Edward H Green
    Angeline Simmons
    Charles Simmons
    Dau Simmons
    Dau Simmons
    Mary Green
    ?? Green
    Walter Green
    Sadie Green
    Orville Green
    Essie Green
    Ida Smith
    Smith Green
    Rigolette Green
    Isaac J Casto
    Jonathan Casto
    Magdalene Casto
    Hiram Price
    Temperance Price
    Ella Casto
    [blank line]
    Rebecca Casto
    Dora Belle Casto
    Rudie Casto
    Jane Hayes Casto
    Leotus Casto
    James Crane
    Dau of
    son of
    Zeppie Casto
    Leonard Casto
    ?
    ?
    Estelle Daniel
    Virginia E Daniel
    MA Smith
    Magdalene Crites
    Abraham Crites
    [blank line]
    Martha Casto
    AB Casto
    George Hayes
    Josephine Hayes
    Pleasant Crane
    [2 blank lines]
    Nancy Ann Staats
    [3 blank lines]
    Romeo Staats
    Leola M Staats
    John Crites
    Glori Pfost Crites

    [2 blank lines]
    Dortha M Utt
    2 blank lines
    Margaret Coleman
    Catharine Coleman
    Colum S Lockard
    Columbus Staats
    Eva Staats
    3 blank lines
    Elizabeth Crites
    Martin Crites
    G W Fisher
    blank line
    Minnie ? Crites
    Urah Inez Crites
    Urada Chancey
    Moody Chncey
    Elizabeth Wolf
    Carol Crites
    Bryan Crites
    Ben F Crites
    Nancy Whetherholt
    AJ Whetherholt
    James Ralph Staats
    KenPaul Staats
    J Kenneth Staats
    Ebbie Lee Staats
    Howard Johnson
    Doris Johnson
    Michael Scott Crane
    Chloe Crane
    WoodardMcKown
    Velma McKown
    Leffie Kessell
    Flossie Kessell
    Everett Casto
    Hattie Casto
    Otis Casto
    Talitha Casto
    Arthur Harpold
    Felice Harpold
    Ebb Crane
    James W Smith
    Marg Crane Smith
    Orva Crane ??
    James 'Cam' Crane
    Joan Crane
    George Crane
    Luella Crane
    Cheryl Crane
    Kathy Crane
    Mander Crane
    Tennie Crane
    Elizabeth Crane
    George Crane
    Hubert Crane
    Delia Whetherholt
    Jacob W Whetherholt
    2 blank lines
    Carroll Ranson
    Deloris Ranson
    David White
    James White
    Ethel White
    O Marshall Gandee
    Foster Gandee
    V Mae Gandee
    Fred Gandee
    Inf Gandee
    Mary Gandee
    Inf Gandee
    Opha Crane
    Nancy Crane
    Wilmer Crane
    Clarence Staats
    Plusha Staats
    Joseph Crites
    Lulu Crites
    Thomas Hite
    Josephine Hite
    Omer Anderson
    Faith Anderson
    Nathan Anderson
    Robert Hutton
    Betty Hutton






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