Notable Families

 

Family Name	Patriarch/Progenitor	Primary Settlement Location	Notable Descendants	Occupations/Civil Roles	Military Service/Affiliations	Historical Impact or Legacy	Source
Arbogast	Adam Arbogast	Arbovale; Greenbrier River and Deer Creek flats	A. Arbogast, James C. Arbogast, C.P. Arbogast, Evelyn S. Arbogast	Postmaster (community namesake), farmers, landholders	Captain James C. Arbogast (Confederate, 31st Virginia Infantry, Co. G); presence of guerrilla activity during Civil War	Gave name to Arbovale; namesake of Arbovale Post Office; involved in major land title wars (1897); holders of large agricultural tracts	[1-4]
Baxter	John William Baxter	Little Levels District; Edray District; Little Back Creek	Colonel John Morgan Baxter, William Baxter, Sr., Joseph M. Baxter, George Baxter, Pearl S. Buck	Colonel Commandant of Militia, original Justice (1822), Member of VA House of Delegates, County Surveyor, educator, county schoolmaster	Colonel Commandant (John Morgan); Joseph M. Baxter (Union, Kanawha Valley); George Baxter (Confederate, died as POW at Elmira)	Helped found Pocahontas County (1821); amassed the county's largest library; primary agents of governance and education; intermarried with Moores and Poages	[5, 6]
Hamilton	Andrew Hamilton, Sr. (Immigrant); Major William J. Hamilton (Frontier)	Muddy Creek (Blue Sulphur Springs area) and Back Creek	Major William J. Hamilton, John Hamilton, Davis Hamilton, Adam G. Hamilton, Thomas Bird Hamilton	High Sheriff, land scouts, militia leaders, agricultural innovators, hotel/saloon operator, attorney	Battle of Point Pleasant (1774), Defense of Fort Donnally (1778), Captain of Indian Spies, 25th Virginia Infantry (Confederate)	Major Hamilton planted the first corn crop in the county; developed 'Hamilton Hill' in Marlinton; original owners of the farm where Robert E. Lee's horse Traveller was foaled	[7]
Ervine / Irvine	Edward Ervine	Back Creek (at the mouth of the Long Draft) and Green Bank District	Benjamin Franklin Ervine, Edward Harris Irvine Sr., L.S. Ervine, Dolan Irvine, Alfred C. and Louise M. Ervine	Magistrate (Edward Ervine), educator, silversmith, County Commissioner, landowners	Confederate Army (Benjamin Franklin Ervine), 27th Virginia Infantry 'Shriver Greys' (Edward Ervin), 'Revolutionary sire' ancestry	Edward Ervine was a founding member of the first County Court in 1821; family defined early legal and administrative norms; long-term leadership spanning to 21st century	[8, 9]
Herold	Christopher Herold (German origin)	Dougharts Creek (Douthard’s Creek); Elk River headwaters	Henry Herold, Christopher Herold, Jr., Andrew Herold, Winston Herold	Dominant economic force on Dougharts Creek; milling operations (sawmills and grist mills), builders	Displaced/suffered losses during the Civil War	Accumulated immense landed estates; Winston Herold built the Allegheny Lodge (1915); legacy tied to the timber and resort eras of Minnehaha Springs	[6]
Jackson	John Jackson and Elizabeth Cummins	Jackson River Settlements and Buckhannon	George Jackson, Edward Jackson, William Lowther 'Mudwall' Jackson, Jacob Beeson Jackson, Ryan Jackson	Governor of West Virginia, U.S. Congressmen, U.S. District Court Judge, Circuit Judge, Assistant Prosecutor	Brigadier General in Confederate Cavalry (William Lowther Jackson), Virginia Militia, units in Jones-Imboden Raid	Architectural pillar of the trans-Allegheny region; deep geographic connection through the naming of the Jackson River; pioneers in railroads, timbering, and banking	[10]
Taylor	William Taylor / Oldham Taylor	Dunmore, Green Bank Area; Hillsboro, Mill Point; Swago	Daniel Taylor, J. Alfred Taylor, William Taylor (Mayor of Lewisburg), Rachel Taylor	Ferry operators, farmers, Speaker of WV House, U.S. House of Reps, Mayor, feed dealer	Daniel Taylor (Dunmore's War/Revolution); 31st Virginia Infantry members; WWI Veterans	Transformed 'wilderness paradise' into structured society; leading voice in Democratic Party (J. Alfred); active in modern sustainable agriculture	[3]
Bennett	Joseph Bennett (c. 1740–1810)	Green Bank and Huntersville Districts	Patrick Henry Bennett (1877–1945), Peter Bennett (1856–1919), Jonathan M. Bennett	Literate and valued education, agriculture, Auditor of Virginia (Jonathan M. Bennett)	Progenitor's father served with General Braddock; descendants divided in Civil War (18th and 19th VA Cavalries or Union sympathies)	Helped define the region's genealogy through intermarriage with families like the Arbogasts and Mullenaxes; part of the agricultural fabric of northern Pocahontas	[11]
Burr	Frederick Burr and Sarah Tribbett	Burr Valley (now Watoga State Park)	John Burr, William Burr, Henry Silas Burr, Paul Burr	Millers, farmers, woodsmen, and teachers	Confederate service: Frederick, George, and William Burr (Co. I, 25th VA Infantry); J. Austin Burr (Co. A, 14th VA Cavalry)	Established community infrastructure through milling (John Burr rebuilt water-powered mill in 1830); historical naming of Burr Valley and Burr Cemetery	[12]
Kinnison	Charles, Jacob, and James Kinnison	Little Levels	Amos Kinnison, John Barlow Kinnison, Davis Kinnison, Doctor Morgan Kinnison	Woodworkers, blacksmiths, magistrates, physicians, Indian Spies	Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War (Jacob Kinnison), Civil War (K. Davis Kinnison, William Kinnison, John Ariel Kinnison)	Naming of Kennison Mountain; construction of defensive structures and original cabins in the Little Levels	[13]
Sharp	William Sharp Sr.	Frost vicinity, Douthards Creek, Edray District, and Brown's Mountain	William Sharp Jr., Ellen Sharp, Fred Sharp, Susan Sharp	Agriculture, pioneer farmers	Marched in communal units during the Civil War alongside the Ervines	Formed a social and political bloc through intermarriage with the Ervine and Burr families; Fred Sharp is the subject of the Marlinton Post Office mural	[8, 12, 14, 15]
Wilfong	George Michael Wilfong and Elizabeth	South Fork Valley (and Pendleton County)	Major George Wilfong, John Wilfong, Vardry Pinkney Wilfong	Soldiers, landowners, surveyors, sheriffs, school superintendents	Revolutionary War (Major George Wilfong - 2nd Rowan County Regiment, John Wilfong)	Stewardship of land near Simpson Bridge; founding the free school system in Catawba region; participants in the Battle of Kings Mountain	[16]
Gibson	David Gibson the Pioneer	Gibson's Knob (near Hillsboro) and Elk River	David Gibson Jr., Dr. David Gibson, Colonel James Gibson, Forest Gibson	Farmers, physicians, surgeons, distinguished military leaders	Confederate Army (Colonel James Gibson - 20th Virginia Cavalry), Union Army (relative branches)	Founding of Mary's Chapel; establishing a major religious and social center on the Upper Elk River	[17]
Schoolcraft	James Schoolcraft (formerly Calcraft)	Huntersville; Buckeye; Knapps Creek	John Schoolcraft Jr., Edward Johnson Schoolcraft, Todd Schoolcraft, James Schoolcraft (Buckeye)	Indian Spies, farmers, landscape architect (Todd Schoolcraft)	Revolutionary War Spies (John Jr.); Lord Dunmore's War (John, James, Matthias); Militia service	Survived the 1779 Fink's Run Massacre; modern legacy in Marlinton infrastructure (Discovery Junction); hybrid British/Palatine heritage	[18]
Ewing	James Ewing	Knapps Creek (formerly Ewing's Creek); Swago Run; Williams River headwaters	William 'Swago Bill' Ewing	Pioneer settlers, land speculators	William Ewing (Revolutionary War Veteran)	William was the first white child born in the county (1756); namesake of the Williams River	[19]
Alderman	Ezekiel Alderman Sr.	Douthards Creek and Minnehaha Springs	Timothy Alderman, Daniel Alderman, Solomon Alderman, Lessie Alderman	Agriculture, craftsmanship, woodworking, smithing, hospitality waystation providers	Ezekiel Alderman Jr. served in War of 1812; family navigated Civil War partitions	Pioneer generation in the Allegheny Mountains; established the 'Home Place' near limestone springs; descendants integrated into the Richwood timber boomtown	[14]
Burgess	John Burgess, Senior	Little Levels	Nancy Burgess Mayse, Nathan Burgess, David M. Burgess, William Downey Burgess	Weavers, gunsmiths, blacksmiths, delegate to the 1872 WV Constitutional Convention, magistrates	War of 1812 (William Young), Civil War (Captain William Mayse, Cornelius Burgess, James Burgess)	Participants in the 1872 West Virginia Constitutional Convention; transitioning from artisanal labor to state-wide leadership	[20]
Sheets	John Sheets	Green Bank and Arbovale	Jacob Sheets, Henry E. Sheets, Jacob Asbury Sheets, Bob Sheets	Gunsmiths, farmers, educators, historical preservationists	Virginia Militia, Civil War gunsmith mobilization (Jacob Sheets), modern military service (Lewis Wayne Sheets)	Preservation of Fort Warwick; conversion of flintlock rifles for Civil War defense; leadership in local cemetery associations	[21]
Moore	Moses Moore (hunter and scout)	Greenbrier River (above Marlinton)	Aaron Moore, Catherine Jane Moore, John Moore, James Moore, Samuel Moore, Thomas Moore, Henry Moore, William D. Moore, George C. Moore, Eliza Moore, Melinda Moore	Rail splitters, farmers, and timber family connections	Not in source	Cleared more than a thousand acres of wilderness land; established a vast kinship network connecting early families like Baxter and McNeill	[12]
Stulting	Cornelius Stulting ('Mynheer')	Dutch Bottom (Williams River); Hillsboro (Little Levels)	Pearl S. Buck (Great-granddaughter)	Religious refugees/community leaders, farmers	Not in source	Established a Dutch utopian enclave in 1847; built the historic twelve-room Stulting house in Hillsboro	[19]
Beard	John Beard (Settler); Josiah Beard (Pocahontas Progenitor)	Beard Heights and Locust Creek	Josiah Beard, James Henry Moffet Beard	First Clerk of Pocahontas County, land management	Not in source	Josiah Beard established family tradition of civil service; built the Richard Beard House (1890); Beard Heights now serves as the county's healthcare center	[15]
Hull	Not in source	Arbovale; Deer Creek valley; Gum's Mountain	J.R. Hull, Felix H. Hull	Agricultural backbone, supporters of local academies, timber rights litigants	Captain Felix H. Hull (Confederate, 31st VA Infantry, Co. E)	Instrumental in defining property lines of Green Bank District; often disputed timber rights during 1890s boom	[1-3]
Yeager	Not in source	Green Bank District; Traveler's Repose (Bartow)	John Yeager	Massive landholders, political and business power, surveyor (John Yeager)	Traveler's Repose served as a Civil War site	Managed famous Traveler's Repose stagecoach stop; utilized intermarriage strategy to maintain land bloc; central to 1897 timber land disputes	[1, 2]
McLaughlin	Not in source	Deer Creek hollows; High ground around Arbovale	David McLaughlin	Defensive farmers, social leadership in churches, SWA Board Member (modern)	Not in source	Known for longevity on the land (150+ years); lived in tight 'census clusters' to share labor/equipment	[1, 2, 22]
Daugherty / Douthard	Michael Daugherty (Ireland origin)	Dougharts Creek valley; Minnehaha Springs	Not in source	Pioneer settlers, land patent holders	Not in source	Namesake of Dougharts Creek (Douthat/Douthard Creek); among the first permanent settlers with VA patents	[6]
Hammons	Not in source	Williams River (mouth of Little Laurel Creek)	Edden Hammons, Burl Hammons, Maggie Hammons Parker	Fiddlers, banjo players, carriers of archaic Appalachian oral tradition	Not in source	Primary subjects of ethnographic study (Library of Congress); preserved unique musical styles and folklore of the wilderness	[19]
Meck	Not in source	Green Bank/Arbovale corridor	Jacob Meck, Malinda Meck	Private developers, owners of JacMal Properties LLC and Allegheny Disposal	Not in source	Involved in industrial/storage land expansions and the 2026 solid waste transfer station development	[4, 23, 24]
Cutlip	David Cutlip (the Gottlieb ancestor)	Little Levels	Henry Cutlip, George William Cutlip, Johnsey Remus Cutlip, Lola Cutlip	Farmers (yeomanry), laborers, miners	Union Army (William Cutlip), Confederate Army (Jackson Cutlip, Henry T. Cutlip, Benjamin Cutlip)	Stewardship of the Little Levels; preservation of traditional music and dance in West Virginia	[25]
Adkisson	Daniel Adkisson	Spruce Flats and Swago (headwaters)	Abel Adkisson	Subsistence and small-scale farming	Not in source	Among the first white pioneers of Scotch-Irish descent to establish an agricultural footprint on high-altitude meadows	[26]
Burns	John M. "Jack" Burns	Green Bank	Mary Alice Burns	Craftsman, businessman, principal developer of property commercial utility	Not in source	Established a woodworking shop and foundational infrastructure for the Green Bank Storage units	[4]
Slaven	Not in source	Marlinton area	Not in source	Operators of Slaven's Tin Shop	Not in source	Historic fixtures in Marlinton contributing to early 20th-century character; property became part of modern waste management infrastructure

Truck-to-Truck?

 

Based on the provided sources, comparing the East Fork Industrial Park to the current site options proposed for the transfer station reveals stark differences in regulatory compliance, public health risks, and logistical limitations:

Current Proposed Sites (Dunmore Landfill & Green Bank Meck Property) The current proposals center around building the transfer station either at the existing Dunmore landfill or on Jacob Meck's property in Green Bank. Both of these sites face severe legal and public health hazards due to strict state setbacks:

• Dunmore Landfill Site: The "Option 4" agreement proposes placing the transfer station at the current landfill site. However, this location presents a significant "compliance gap" because the facility would likely fall within the 2,000-foot prohibited zone of Pocahontas County High School.
• Green Bank Meck Property: This site is located at 4645 Potomac Highlands Trail, a mere 776 feet from the Community Care medical clinic, Green Bank Dental, and the Green Bank Senior Citizens Center. This blatant violation of the 2,000-foot institutional setback would require a highly scrutinized discretionary waiver from the WVDEP Secretary, which is difficult to obtain due to the high nuisance risk.

The East Fork Industrial Park Alternative (Frank, WV) Relocating the transfer station to the East Fork Industrial Park is presented as a legally sound and practical alternative.

• Benefits: The East Fork site has a proven history of being used for timber processing and industrial activity. Most importantly, it is located several miles away from the nearest school (in Green Bank), meaning it successfully avoids the 2,000-foot institutional exclusionary zone mandated by West Virginia's solid waste and composting rules (33CSR3 Section 3.2.a.5).
• Limitations and Requirements: While it avoids institutional setbacks, the East Fork site still has environmental hurdles to clear. The site would need to undergo comprehensive topographical and hydrological surveys to guarantee it maintains a strict 300-foot regulatory buffer from the East Fork of the Greenbrier River and a 500-foot setback from any adjacent residential dwellings.

In summary, while the current options in Dunmore and Green Bank are mired in institutional setback violations near vulnerable populations, the East Fork Industrial Park offers an established industrial footprint that safely clears the 2,000-foot institutional hurdle, provided it can satisfy standard river and residential buffers.

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While the East Fork Industrial Park safely avoids the 2,000-foot institutional exclusionary zones that disqualify other proposed sites, it still faces specific environmental and regulatory hurdles to ensure full compliance with West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) rules.

To utilize this location for the new transfer station, developers must conduct rigorous topographical and hydrological surveys to guarantee the following setbacks:

• A strict 300-foot hydrological buffer must be maintained from the East Fork of the Greenbrier River to prevent potential surface water or groundwater contamination.
• A 500-foot residential setback must be established and maintained from any adjacent occupied residential dwellings.

Additionally, state solid waste management regulations (such as those under 33CSR1 and 33CSR3) mandate that facilities be placed on relatively flat terrain. Specifically, they prohibit the construction of facilities on land where the topography exceeds a 6 percent grade, meaning surveyors would also need to ensure the chosen plot within the industrial park is flat enough to safely manage runoff and heavy industrial operations.

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According to the sources, a "truck-to-truck" transfer station provides several key benefits over traditional models, particularly in areas like Pocahontas County:

• Cleaner Operations and Reduced Odor: The truck-to-truck model avoids the "tipping-floor" style, where garbage is typically piled on a concrete floor and left to ferment before being moved. By dumping waste directly from smaller collection trucks into large, sealed tractor-trailers, the trash's exposure to open air is minimized, which significantly reduces the facility's odor footprint.
• Lower Start-Up Costs: Constructing this type of station is notably cheaper than a tipping-floor facility, with equipment start-up costs estimated at approximately $575,000.
• Reduced Need for Heavy Machinery: Because the waste is transferred directly between trucks, the facility does not require expensive heavy equipment like loaders or excavators. Instead, it uses an electric garbage crane to sort oversized items and move them into the trailers.
• Faster and Tailored Efficiency: The direct transfer of waste is a faster process overall. It was specifically selected by developers because it is more efficient for handling the lower volume of trash typically generated in rural areas like Pocahontas County before exporting it to out-of-county landfills.

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The proposed "truck-to-truck" transfer station requires a specific inventory of machinery to efficiently consolidate and load waste for long-distance transport without relying on a traditional tipping floor. Based on the sources, the necessary equipment includes:

• An electric garbage crane: Specifically, a Grizzly brand model 215 SW (or equivalent) trash crane. This crane is essential for lifting waste and sorting out oversized items directly into the trailers.
• A skid steer: Specifically, a Bobcat S570 skid steer loader.
• Walking-floor trailers: Three reinforced "walking-floor" trailers. The Solid Waste Authority purchased these specialized trailers at a cost of $109,383 each (totaling $328,149) because they are designed to unload waste without having to tip the trailer upward, making them ideal for the restricted spaces of regional transfer hubs.
• Tractor trucks: To pull the heavy transfer trailers to out-of-county landfills, the operation requires one or two long-haul tractor trucks. These trucks are estimated to cost approximately $500,000 each, though the county has debated whether to purchase them directly or contract this hauling work out to a private company to avoid the massive capital outlay.

In total, the initial equipment start-up costs for the truck-to-truck station are estimated at approximately $575,000. When combined with the facility's construction, the total cost to build and equip the station is estimated at slightly under $1 million.

 

 

 

The County's First Resort

 

The Herold family was a foundational and dominant force in the socio-economic evolution of Dougharts Creek, shaping the region from its pioneer settlement days through its 20th-century resort era. Their influence can be categorized into several key areas:

Land Acquisition and Economic Dominance The family's presence began around 1825 when Christopher Herold, a settler of "pure German parentage," migrated to Dougharts Creek from Highland County, Virginia. Despite being unable to read English, his "business sagacity" enabled him and his sons to acquire thousands of acres—purchasing large tracts from prominent figures like Colonel John Baxter. This immense landed estate made the Herolds the dominant economic force along the creek. Other family members, such as Benjamin Herold, also owned significant tracts of land that extended to the public road at nearby Minnehaha Springs.

Industrial Milling Operations The Herolds were instrumental in the early industrialization of the creek. Christopher Herold maintained substantial milling operations on his estate, utilizing the water power of Dougharts Creek to run both grist mills and "up-and-down" sawmills. This infrastructure was essential for processing the community's grain and lumber, facilitating the transition from log cabins to frame houses.

Community Resilience and Hardship The Herold family's history is deeply woven into the local lore of Appalachian survival. During one particularly severe winter, Andrew Herold was isolated by deep snow while driving cattle to the mountains to keep them from starving. During this same storm, his brother Peter died at home; the weather was so harsh that neighbors had to shout the news of Peter's death from a distant high point because travel was impossible. Later, during the Civil War, the family suffered further hardships, seeing their livestock and grain supplies seized by passing armies traversing the contested borderland.

Pioneering the Resort Era As the region's timber resources depleted in the early 20th century, the Herold family helped pivot Dougharts Creek toward a new economic model based on recreation. In 1915, Winston Herold—a descendant of Christopher—completed the construction of the Allegheny Club (also known as the Allegheny Lodge) at a cost of $20,000. Overlooking the confluence of Douthards and Knapps Creek valleys, this lodge became a prominent high-society resort that hosted midnight dances, protected wild deer, and even featured a herd of imported Yellowstone elk.

Through their massive landholdings, essential milling operations, and eventual investments in the hospitality industry, the Herold family effectively guided Dougharts Creek through a century of Appalachian transformation.

Checklist for Implementation?

 

Phase 1: Relocation and Site Preparation

• [ ] Relocate the proposed facility: Move the publicly-owned transfer station to the East Fork Industrial Park in Frank, WV, which has a history of industrial use.
• [ ] Verify exclusionary zones: Ensure the site safely avoids the 33CSR3 Section 3.2.a.5 mandate by maintaining a 2,000-foot institutional exclusionary zone away from schools, the Community Care medical clinic, and the Green Bank Senior Center.
• [ ] Conduct necessary site surveys: Perform topographical and hydrological surveys to guarantee a strict 300-foot regulatory buffer from the East Fork of the Greenbrier River and a 500-foot setback from any adjacent residential dwellings.

Phase 2: Legal and Procurement Compliance

• [ ] Abandon the current lease: Formally terminate the unconstitutional "Option 4" Letter of Intent (LOI) with JacMal Properties LLC.
• [ ] Initiate competitive bidding: Issue a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) managed by an independent criteria developer to comply with the West Virginia Fairness in Competitive Bidding Act.
• [ ] Protect state funding: Use this legally sound bidding process to safeguard the $1.9 million in state grant funding the county currently holds in escrow.

Phase 3: Permitting and Contingency Planning

• [ ] Secure state permits: Navigate the extensive permitting process to obtain a mandatory Certificate of Need (CON) from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and facility permits from the WVDEP.
• [ ] Implement a temporary stopgap: Prepare to use interim direct-hauling to out-of-county landfills if the new transfer station is not fully permitted and built before the current landfill closes in December 2026.
• [ ] Build a truck-to-truck station: Construct a $575,000 truck-to-truck transfer station system, which is cheaper and cleaner than a tipping-floor style station.

Phase 4: Funding and Financial Restructuring

• [ ] Apply for federal and state grants: Secure a USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Grant (covering up to 75% of costs) and a 1% low-interest loan through the WV Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB).
• [ ] Divert PILT funds: Have the County Commission formally dedicate 20% (approximately $200,000) of its annual federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) directly to the Solid Waste Authority’s capital improvement fund.
• [ ] Offload post-closure liabilities: Integrate the closing Dunmore landfill into the WVDEP’s Landfill Closure Assistance Program (LCAP) to shift the $75,000 annual 30-year groundwater monitoring liability from the county to the state.

Phase 5: Fee Implementation and Environmental Protection

• [ ] Establish a multi-tiered fee structure: Use the PILT subsidy to freeze the "Green Box" fee at $135 for seniors and low-income residents, implement a moderate $185 tier for standard households, and create a higher tier for commercial resort entities like Snowshoe.
• [ ] Maintain the monthly "Free Day": Keep the free disposal day open for bulky household items to remove the financial incentive for illegal "midnight dumping" in local ravines and rivers.
• [ ] Grant a geographic exemption: Allow northern towns like Durbin to legally bypass Flow Control mandates and haul their trash directly to the closer Dailey facility in Randolph County for a small administrative fee, which will improve regional logistical efficiency and reduce heavy-truck emissions.