ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA MEMORIES
This site has photographs and genealogical information about southern West Virginia families including the Vest family of White Oak MountainSmith family of Abraham in Richmond District, the Gadd and Cochran families, and the Biars family of West Virginia and Ohio. A whole bunch of cousins contributed to this site. Thank you! The aerial photo above, taken in 1985, is my childhood home, the Earl and Golda Smith farm on Route 3, Hinton Road, White Oak Mountain, Raleigh County, W.Va. The yellow house was built by my grandparents, Leonard H. Vest and Stella Gadd Vest. 

Redirect to page with new domain name: wvamemories.com

West Virginia Vital Research Records links. West Virginia Vital Research Records recently changed its site. Most links here won’t work (I am trying to switch over) but you can still access the information by going directly to the Vital Records page. 

Giving credit where credit is due 
If you've shared a photo or information and I haven't given you credit, please e-mail me and I'll add your name. If you use photos or information from West Virginia Memories, please make note and include this site address: http://wva.homestead.com I want more cousins to find their way here. If you have photos or information to share or corrections/suggestions or if you just want to say hello, I am always glad to get e-mail

MYSTERY PHOTOS
Added in 2021: Vest Photo Collection.

STORIES AND SHORT BIOGRAPHIES
Including: West Virginians Go West; William Jackson HallThe Disappearing Bride: Rachel Carter; Mintie and Pearl Richmond; Diphtheria: The Strangling Angel; Dear Santa: 1929 - Letters from Summers County kids; The Death of Jane Graham of Monroe CountyOrval Elijah Brown of Clay County, W.Va., The Original Hippie; Virgil Frederick Miller of Beckley & Virgil's Newsstand; and Billy E. Richmond: Richmond District Historian. Recently added: tales of Supernatural West VirginiaThe Irish in West VirginiaWest Virginians Who Died on D-DayThe Cabin Creek Flood of 1916The Via Twins - Jacob and IsaacTerry and Vincent;and Native American Mothers: Granny Radford, Misniah Canaday Underwood & Jane Hubbard Rakes.

IN MEMORY 
A page with links to obituaries of those with a connection to the families on West Virginia Memories. Most recent: Walter Wayne Vest.

QUOTATIONS
In addition to West Virginia Talk, I have put together a page of Random Quotations, selected just because I like them. There is a separate page for Quotes about Lies, Half Truths and Truth.

CHURCH/SCHOOL PAGE
Recently added: Shady Spring High School: 1924 to 1939. Newsclips and photos.
Smith Farm on White Oak Mountain, W.Va.