Greenwood Cemetery – the serene, beautiful burial grounds in Wheeling where many of the area’s most notable citizens are interred or entombed – will be the site of historic tours from noon until 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22.

Members of Friends of Wheeling will portray 14 characters from Wheeling’s history – none of whom has been portrayed in prior tours. The event, which is free and open to the public, is not intended as a “ghost” tour, but rather is a way to highlight Wheeling’s past through the eyes of some of its more prominent residents from years past, organizers said.

Jeanne Finstein, president of Friends of Wheeling, said, “Extensive research has been done to ensure the accuracy of each presentation. Biographies, newspaper archives, city directories, obituaries, death certificates, interviews and various other sources have been used to re-create the lives of those who are included in this year’s tours.”

Two of the earliest men to be featured were both born in 1788. Dr. John Eoff (1788-1859), the son of a Revolutionary War patriot by the same name, served the community as a medical doctor and became well known for his other scientific experiments. Dr. Michael Medovic will portray Eoff. Pete Holloway will portray his great-great-grandfather, William F. Peterson (1788-1866), another son of a Revolutionary War patriot, who moved to Wheeling in 1824 and became a successful businessman here.

The most recent person to be featured is Dr. Gail Hamilton Holliday (1872-1969), long-time biology teacher at Wheeling High School and the first high school teacher in the state to obtain a doctoral degree. Laurie Ruberg will portray Holliday.

Other characters are relatives of those portrayed in prior tours. For example, Dana Hubbard (1845-93), noted newspaper journalist portrayed by Carson Cox, was the son of one of the founders of the state, Chester D. Hubbard. Riverboat captain George Norton (1815-68), portrayed by Roger Micker, was the father of Edward M. Norton, who was represented in last year’s Mount Wood Cemetery tour.

Texana Arndt Wilson (1848-1935), portrayed by Gael Fincham, was the daughter-in-law of the character also portrayed by Fincham in the Mount Wood tour. Elizabeth Beck (1822-93), portrayed by Lola Miller, was the mother-in-law of noted Wheeling brewer Anton Reymann.

Other well-known names on this year’s tour include James Cummins (1852-1944), successful Wheeling businessman, portrayed by Jay Frey; James W. Paxton, one of the founders of the state of West Virginia, portrayed by Jeremy Morris; and Michael Sweeney, renowned glass manufacturer, portrayed by Michael Hires.

Forgotten or neglected history is also uncovered during research for each tour. Judi Hendrickson will portray Edith Lake Wilkinson (1868-1957), a Wheeling native whose artwork from the early 1900s is just now being recognized, decades after her death in a mental institution.

Jeanne Finstein will portray Clara Rogers (1887-1972), whose husband was indicted on charges of embezzling from the estates of Wilkinson and others; Mrs. Rogers, however, rose above the scandal to achieve prominence in her own right.

Research on a character from the Civil War years, Jane McClellan Adams (c. 1830-1906), portrayed by Lindsey Davis, revealed that it was her brother, Mayor Samuel McClellan, who welcomed President Ulysses S. Grant to Wheeling in 1869.

Two, seven-character tours are offered. Each tour involves walking from gravesite to gravesite, with most of the route on the paved roadways of Greenwood Cemetery.

Adults and children may participate and will be led through the tour by guides.

Participants are encouraged to park at Wheeling Park; funeral home limousines will transport them to and from the cemetery.

In addition to Friends of Wheeling, sponsors of the tour include the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp., Greenwood Cemetery, Stages of Wheeling, Kepner Funeral Home, Altmeyer Funeral Home, Grisell Funeral Home and the Wheeling Hampton Inn.

The characters featured in each group are as follows:

Tour A

Dr. Gail Holliday (1872-1969) Long-time Wheeling High biology teacher and the first high school teacher in the state to hold a doctoral degree. She began at Wheeling High in 1901 and soon established a department with six lab tables, microscopes and everything needed for the effective teaching of biology. (Portrayed by Laurie Ruberg)

James Cummins (1852-1944) Member of the large and influential Cummins family; glass manufacturer and owner of a retail glass store known as Cummins and Woods; he was later a partner in a brokerage firm bearing his name. (Portrayed by Jay Frey)

Jane McClellan Adams (c. 1830-1906) Sister of Samuel McClellan, mayor of Wheeling in 1869 and 1870; married her former brother-in-law, George Adams; sister-in-law of James P. Adams, a member of the Shriver Grays. She also was a social activist. Also at the gravesite is a marker for “Sarah, A Faithful Colored Servant.” (Portrayed by Lindsey Davis)

Clara Rogers (1887-1972) Wife of Wheeling attorney George J. Rogers. After his indictment on charges of embezzlement and subsequent bankruptcy, she worked her way up to the position of dean of women at West Liberty State College. Rogers Hall was named in her honor. (Portrayed by Jeanne Finstein)

Dr. John Eoff (1788-1859) Well-known Wheeling physician who also experimented with the manufacture of sugar from sorghum cane, sent Ohio River black bass to the Smithsonian for stocking the Potomac and owned much of the lower half of Wheeling. His father was a Revolutionary War patriot and is buried next to him. (Portrayed by Mike Medovic)

Texana Arndt Wilson (1848-1935) Wife of W.A. Wilson; daughter-in-law of secessionist William Penn Wilson; sister-in-law of George Wilson, a Shriver Gray who was killed at First Manassas, and mother of William Pannell Wilson, for whom Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge is named. (Portrayed by Gael Fincham)

Elizabeth Beck (1822-93) German immigrant and wife of brewer Peter Paul Beck; lost seven children as babies or toddlers. Surviving daughters were Thusnelda (Nellie), who married Anton Reymann; Adelaide, who married businessman Alfred Egerter, and Emma, who married dry goods merchant George E. Stifel. (Portrayed by Lola Miller0

Tour B

William F. Peterson Sr. (1788-1866) New Hampshire native who began a successful insurance business in Wheeling. His two sons were William F. Peterson Jr., who was in the iron roofing business, and B. Walker Peterson, engineer-turned-banker for whom Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital is named. (Portrayed by great-great-grandson Pete Holloway)

Dana L. Hubbard (1845-93) Grandson of Dana Hubbard, founder of a successful sawmill and planing business in Wheeling, and son of Chester D. Hubbard, one of the founders of West Virginia. He was a successful newspaperman, working in Wheeling, Erie and Chicago. (Portrayed by Carson Cox)

James W. Paxton (1821-96) Wealthy businessman and slave owner who was an ardent Union supporter and was heavily involved in the formation of the state. He served as one of the Council of Five appointed to advise Gov. Francis Pierpont during the Civil War. (Portrayed by Jeremy Morris)

Michael Sweeney (c. 1810-75) Glass manufacturer who, with his brother Thomas, created the award-winning Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut lead glass ever made. Three bowls were made; one was part of Michael’s grave marker until it was moved to Oglebay’s Glass Museum. (Portrayed by Michael Hires)

Edgar W. Wells (1850-90) Well-known Wheeling architect who worked with the Klieves Brothers to design and build most of Chapline Street Row, along with other notable homes in Wheeling. He drowned in a riverboat accident at the height of his career. (Virginia Wells will be portrayed by Kate Quinn)

Edith Lake Wilkinson (1868-1957) Little-known Wheeling artist from the early 1900s whose work came to be appreciated only after her death in a mental institution. (Portrayed by Judi Hendrickson)

Capt. George W. Norton (1815-68) Part owner and master of several Ohio River riverboats and father of iron entrepreneurs Thomas, Edward and Frederick Norton. He was killed as a passenger on a riverboat that exploded. (Portrayed by Roger Micker)