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The Brake Cemetery is located approximately 4.5 miles east of Hacker Valley on County Road 3-8 at the top of Brake Mountain. Its most well known resident is probably Leonard J. Brake, son of Jacob B. Brake and Rachel Jackson. According to the family bible of Jacob and Rachel, Leonard was killed by federal cavalry during the Civil War (1862) "with four balls entering his body." Family tradition says he was about to eat breakfast when the federal troops arrived, stood him beside a large tree in the yard, and shot him in the presence of his wife and family.
There are stone markers on only eight of the graves, and markings on most of them are not legible. Several have been marked with funeral home markers. The cemetery is on a dirt road that can be negotiated by most cars during good weather. County Road 3-8 is gravel to the point where the dirt road begins, making the cemetery readily accessible during all but the worst winter weather. See the map above prepared by Sherri Brake-Recco, daughter Sage, and Buzz Brake following an August 2005 visit to the cemetery. The cemetery is relatively well-maintained (see photo below).
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The Brake Cemetery was inventoried in September 2002 by Terry and Zelma Fisher as follows:
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Brake, Cora, b. 1887, d. 1891 (daughter of M. O. Brake) See photo.
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Brake, Jerethew, b. 1819, d. 1897 See photo.
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Brake, Jerome L., (CO. L. 1 WVa Cav.) See photo.
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Brake, Olive (Ollie), b. 1892, d. 1899 (daughter of G. W. & M. D. Brake) See photo.
Carpenter, Olive, b. 1852, d. 1937
Carpenter, William, b. 1851, d. 1930 s/w Olive
Cotrill, Samuel, 18--
Fisher, Iva, b. 24 Jan., 1896, d. 15 May 1907
Fisher, Samuel R., b. 1871, d. 1944 s/w Savannah J.,
Fisher, Savannah J., b. 1874, d. 1958
McCord, Price, b. 1835, d. 1906
McCord, Rachel J., b. 1843, d. 1921
Pictures taken and material submitted by Buzz Brake