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Harrison County
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1772
Nutter's Fort was built on Elk Creek in Harrison County Other events that happened on or around 1772 Joseph Tomlinson discovered the Grave Creek Mound The massacre of Captain Bull's band of Delaware Indians by frontiersmen at Bulltown Historic Area Murder of Adam Stroud's family Raid on Bull's village Earliest white settlement made by Dunkards near Kingwood William Crawford surveyed and registered land in present West Virginia for George Washington Lord Dunmore was named governor of Virginia Isaac Cox built a log house in the Follansbee area The Tygart Valley was resettled Horatio Gates returned to America The John Wetzel family settled along Wheeling Creek in the Northern Panhandle Wilson-Woodrow-Mytinger House was built in Romney Jesse Hughes discovered a major tributary to the Little Kanawha River Wellsburg was settled Settlers had claimed most of the prime valley lands in Randolph County. The first white explored the Wirt County area
1773
Daniel Davisson claimed land through settlement in Harrison County Other events that happened on or around 1773 Buckongahelas' son Mahonegon was killed by Capt. William White Burning Springs discovered by Capt. Matthew Arbuckle George Fairfax stopped working as Lord Fairfax's agent Horatio Gates built his home, Traveller's Rest, in Berkeley County Walter Kelly was credited as the first settlement despite being killed after a year Charles Lee returned to America Martinsburg was laid out by Gen. Adam Stephens Edward Dulin was the first white settler in New Martinsville Robert Thornton claimed 400 acres in Parkersburg. Horatio Gate purchased property in present Jefferson County Vienna was first settled
1780
Settlers built their adjoining houses in a rectangle in Harrison County two miles west of Nutter's Fort Other events that happened on or around 1780 Matthew Arbuckle became first settler in Lewisburg Boling Baker led band of Shawnees to steal horses from Bluestone River area Aracoma and her husband Boling Baker were killed by white men Settlement in present Barbour County began Fleming Cobb, pioneer scout, planted at least two pear trees that survived. Castle Rock formation in Pineville reported Horatio Gates was defeated by Cornwallis at Camden, SC Charles Washington came to present Jefferson County Charles Washington built Happy Retreat, at Charles Town Congress dismissed Charles Lee from the army after insulting letters to Congress Chief Logan was killed, allegedly by a nephew Methodists establish the earliest class on the Greenbrier Circuit in Union John Stuart was name clerk of Greenbrier County Henry St. George Tucker Sr was born Thomas Walker surveyed the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina Governor Thomas Jefferson granted 250 acres at Burning Springs in Kanawha County jointly to Washington and Andrew Lewis Ostenaco died in eastern Tennessee
1787
Virginia legislature chartered Randolph Academy in Clarksburg Other events that happened on or around 1787 Col. George Clendenin purchased 1,030 acres from Judge Cuthbert Bullitt at the Mouth of Elk, present Charleston Francis Asbury broke with the English Methodists established the Methodist Episcopal Church in America Beverly became the first county seat of Randolph County Construction began on the first courthouse in Clarksburg George Clendenin purchased land from Judge Cuthbert Bullitt in Kanawha James Caldwell patented 20,000 acres in Doddridge County The Kinnan family moved to Randolph County St. Paul's in Aurora was established Boaz Fleming led a part from Milford, Delaware, to present Fairmont James Rumsey successfully demonstrated a steamboat on the Potomac River in Shepherdstown James Rumsey tested the steamboat at Shepherdstown James Swan moved to France John Augustine Washington died Rebecca Tomlinson Martin Williams and Isaac Williams permanently settled in Williamstown
1796
George Towers arrived from England to teach at Randolph Academy
1819
Clarksburg chosen as site of first federal court west of Alleghenies Other events that happened on or around 1819 Gov. Cabell bought 4,400 acres of land inCabell County Romney's Literary Society was founded President James Monroe appointed John George Jackson a federal judge The first steamboat tried to get up over Red House Shoals Western commerce was crushed by the Panic The Lewis County seat became Weston Henry Ruffner organized two Presbyterian congregations from which came Kanawha Salines in Malden and the Kanawha Church of Charleston Oil was produced by George Lemon in Wirt County Jonas Smith recorded the first plat of the town The Robert Thompson was the first steamboat to attempt to get to Charleston The Literary Society was founded Henry Ruffner began teaching ancient languages at Washington College (Washington and Lee University) Richard Henry Lee Washington died Thomas Beall died Weston became the permanent name of the town
1836
The Virginia Geological Report noted the county's rich coal deposits Other events that happened on or around 1836 John D. Sutton gave one acre of ground for a public square in Sutton Monroe County discontinued the system Rebecca Davis family moved to Wheeling The Winchester & Potomac Railroad opened line to Virginius Island at Harpers Ferry Henry Clay Furnace was built on Clay Run The Henry Clay Furnace was built to supply pig iron to Ices Ferry Ironworks The city of Ravenswood was laid out Benjamin Kelley moved to Wheeling Joseph Martin produced the only gazetteer of Virginia before the state split Alexander Martin moved to Jefferson County, Ohio The first courthouse in Elizabethtown (present Moundsville) was built The first public building, a jail, was completed in present Moundsville A new building was authorized to be built in Wheeling for the Ohio County courthouse The C&O canal company began to carve through Sorrel Ridge Samuel Price moved to Wheeling and became prosecuting attorney for Braxton County. Anne Royall began publishing The Huntress newspaper Henry Ruffner became president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) William Chapman acquired a small steamboat to tow the Floating Theater upstream Braxton County was formed The United Brethren Virginia Conference sent Michael Moses to New Haven Wheeling was incorporated as a city The rear wing of Henderson Hall was built
1838
Northwestern Virginia Turnpike was completed to Parkersburg Other events that happened on or around 1838 Beckley was established as a town Grave Creek Tablet found at Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville Claymont burned to the brick walls James Warren and T. W. Morzani patented the Warren double-intersection truss Palatine was surveyed Construction began on the Giles, Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike Robert E. Lee became captain Claudius Crozet recommended that 10 locks and dams be constructed to permit navigation of the Little Kanawha The Monongahela Navigation Company of Pennsylvania built a series of locks and dams from Pittsburgh to the West Virginia border The General Assembly granted Morgantown its first charter Martinsville was incorporated The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad arrived in Paw Paw Samuel Price moved to Lewisburg The Princeton post office opened Alexander Reynolds graduated from West Point The Shannondale Springs resort was incorporated The James River & Kanawha Turnpike was extended to Parkersburg The first class of West Liberty State College met in the home of Nathan Shotwell Dr. John J. Moorman began doctoring the crowds at White Sulphur Springs
1841
The Northwestern Academy was established Other events that happened on or around 1841 The first class at Bethany College included international students William Tompkins struck large flow of gas while drilling a salt well a short distance above Burning Springs Henry Ruffner gathered with other western Virginians at a convention in Clarksburg and allied for a system of free public schools Alexander Campbell argued for public education at the education convention in Clarksburg Scarcity of deer first noted in present West Virginia John Hale attended Mercer Academy in Charleston Work commenced on the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike The Jackson family gristmill was constructed at Jackson's Mill Nathaniel Kuykendall operated a stagecoach and mail delivery service on the Northwestern Virginia Turnpike Robert Simmons settled in Parkersburg The Staunton Turnpike was placed under control of the Board of Public Works Portion of the Staunton Turnpike were open to wagon travel George Summers was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives Elizabeth Tomlinson died Charles Ward was born John Thornton Augustine Washington died James O. Watson married Matilda Lamb Charles Ellet Jr was appointed chief engineer of the Fairmont Bridge Richard Whelan was consecrated as the second bishop of the Diocese of Richmond Waitman Willey was elected clerk of the Monongalia County Court
1857
B&O Railroad improved transportation in Harrison County Other events that happened on or around 1857 The town of Ceredo founded by Northern abolitionist, Eli Thayer John Floyd was appointed U.S. Secretary of War The Northwestern Virginia Railroad opened from Grafton to Parkersburg Albert Jenkins became a U.S. Congressman Henry Mathews began practicing law in Lewisburg John McCausland graduated from Virginia Military Institute The Northwestern Virginia Railroad built a station where Oil Spring Run flows into Goose Creek The Ceredo Crescent was established George Summers and wife purchased the Glenwood estate in Charleston A large building and five cottages were built at Sweet Springs Traveller was born The Virginia Conference approved he creation of the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference Peter Van Winkle served as the president of the Northwestern Virginia Railroad Academy Hall was built for West Liberty The Gauley Bridge opened for traffic The old Grafton House was built
Apr 22, 1861
Unionist leaders rallied in Clarksburg Other events that happened on or around April 22, 1861 John Carlile led a preliminary convention held in Clarksburg
1863
Harrison County was first in West Virginia in the production of beef cattle Other events that happened on or around 1863 The first West Virginia legislature proposed to educate "free colored children," the proposal was left unfunded. The decision to have Attorney General elected by popular vote was made B&O Railroad's management influenced people to support West Virginia statehood Union troops shelled the town of Beckley, killing a little girl Virginia's land and water boundaries given to West Virginia Civil War skirmish at Bulltown Historic Area River pirate John Lockwood arrest and tried for murder Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley were commissioned first lieutenants at Camp Piatt Melodrama East Lynne written West Virginia experimented with New England modified township system West Virginia constitution established public free school system William Edwards opened mines at Coalburg West Virginia's first election was conducted Stephen Elkins left the army Constitution stated that the "executive department shall consist of a governor, secretary of state, superintendent of free schools, auditor, treasurer and attorney general." Construction of Fort Boreman began Frederick County citizens voted not to become part of West Virginia John Hale organized the Bank of the West Devil Anse Hatfield deserted the regular Virginia infantry in the Civil War The state constitution stated that Delegates of the House of Delegates served one-year terms Chester Hubbard became a member of the first West Virginia senate John Jay Jackson Sr supported the move for the creation of a separate state but opposed the abolition of slavery Mudwall Jackson led troops against Union Gen. Thomas Harris The presence of the B&O influenced the decision to include Jefferson County in the new state The state constitution adopted Virginia common law and statutes as the law of West Virginia Daniel Lamb was a member of the first West Virginia legislature West Virginia state government resumed the project for Weston Hospital The Marshall College property was sold at public auction to Salina Hite Mason The Methodist Church claimed the largest number of congregation in West Virginia Reported 250 newspapers had been established Editors changed their mastheads to reflect the name of the new state Hiram Clay first settled in what is know Pineville. Samuel Price was elected lieutenant governor of Confederate Virginia. Beckley was bombarded by federal artillery. The first period of Republican dominance began Mrs. Henry Woods wrote East Lynne The first free school opened in Ripley Lewis Ruffner was appointed a major general of militia for West Virginia Nathan Scott enlisted in the Union army in Ohio The Supreme Court of Appeals sat at Wheeling with three justices Thurmond's Rangers became 44th Virginia Cavalry Battalion Campbell Tarr became West Virginia's first state treasurer The repayment to the state of Virginia was included in the West Virginia constitution Legislature gave official sanction to teachers organization All turnpikes in West Virginia were turned over to the counties through which they ran The name was changed to West Virginia Hospital for the Insane Kellian Whaley was reelected to Congress from West Virginia Confederate forces reoccupied Lewisburg Waitman Willey began serving as U.S. Senator from West Virginia Wirt County was divided into 7 districts Fort Boreman was constructed in Wood County
1867
The Clarksburg Independent School District was established Other events that happened on or around 1867 Only 490,000 tons of coal were produced in West Virginia Dr. James Dye was born in Chloe Delta Tau Delta revived its Bethany Chapter Marmaduke Dent enrolled in classes at WVU Sisters established a benevolent school for poor children in Parkersburg Joseph Diss Debar involved West Virginia in the Paris Exposition Easton Roller Mill began operation Stephen Elkins served as New Mexico's attorney general Palatine was incorporated Work on Grafton National Cemetery began Grantsville was named for Ulysses S. Grant Hamlin was chosen as county seat of Lincoln County Thomas Harris served in the House of Delegates Mother Jones's husband, George, and their four children died in the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis George Latham became U.S. Consul to Australia Joseph Lightburn became a Baptist preacher The Little Kanawha Navigation Company let contracts for the first four locks and dams The initial railroad map of West Virginia was published by the B&O Railroad Henry Hyannis purchased the old Nadenbousch distillery in Martinsburg John McCausland returned to Mason County after fleeing the country at the end of the Civil War Dr. James Edmund Reeves and 32 colleagues established the West Virginia State Medical Association, orginally the Medical Society of West Virginia The West Virginia Penitentiary opened A monument commemorating the Confederate dead was erected at Romney Indian Mound Cemetery Trustees of West Liberty sold the school to the state I. C. White became one of the first 6 students to enter the Agricultural College of West Virginia (WVU) William Wilson graduated from Columbian College West Virginia legislature authorized the establishment of normal schools to train teachers Uncle Dyke Garrett married Sallie "Aunt Sallie" Smith
1888
Salem College was founded Other events that happened on or around 1888 Waitman Barbe wrote "The Song of the Centuries," his first important poem Arthur Boreman was elected to a circuit judgeship again Bramwell was incorporated as a town Sheltering Arms Hospital opened Kanawha Gazette began regular daily publication Danske Dandridge wrote Joy and Other Poems Henry Gassaway Davis supported Benjamin Harrison for president Fayette County became West Virginia leading coal producing county Devil Anse Hatfield moved his family from Tug Valley to Main Island Creek Hamilton Hatter received a bachelor's degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine Frank Hereford served as presidential elector The town of Hurricane was incorporated John Jacob left circuit judge to return to practicing law Harriet Jones became assistant superintendent of the state hospital in Weston Kanawha County became the state's second largest coal producer The Logan Banner was founded by Henry Clay Ragland Roger Saad became the first Lebanese immigrant to settle in Wheeling The Martinsburg & Potomac railroad was extended to Frederick County, Virginia The Kanawha & Ohio Railway completed a line from Charleston to Point Pleasant The Elkhorn Tunnel through Flat Top Mountain was completed Oakhurst Links was the home of the first regularly played golf tournament in the U.S. The Fetterman Mill was destroyed by a flood. Christopher Payne became first African American elected to represent West Virginia at the Republican national convention. Graham Hamrick preserved two female corpses as Phillipi mummies Livia Poffenbarger demanded the right to speak in support of a candidate at the state Democratic convention. Electricity generate from natural gas brought streetlights to Parkersburg Nathan Scott became a member of the Republican National Committee Senate president Robert Carr tried to assert the right to become governor after a disputed election Thomas J. Reynolds was born at Point Pleasant Callie Leach French became the first woman to obtain a pilot's license The Monongahela River flooded William Luke founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company, later Westvaco H. C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the Wheeling News H.C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the News Albert White served as president of the National Editorial Association Mountain State Business College was established William H. Davis was nominated as an independent candidate for governor
1900
Harrison County held a population of 27,690 Other events that happened on or around 1900 West Virginia had 100,000 farms on 8.9 million acres Charles Ambler served as sheriff of Pleasants County for two years B&O added the Monongahela River Railroad (Fairmont to Clarksburg) There were 600 Baptist churches in West Virginia Raleigh County Republicans launched the Raleigh Herald Berkeley County population was 19,469 First women on the Bethany College board of trustees Jesse Bloch entered the family Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Alonzo Brooks completed a business course at West Virginia Wesleyan College Capon Springs developer William H. Sale died Cass was founded by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company West Virginia Pulp & Paper built paper mill at Covington, Virginia The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) completed its Greenbrier Division into Pocahontas County to harvest red spruce on Cheat and Back Allegheny mountains Moses Donnally sold the Charleston Gazette Davis Child Shelter, an orphanage, was established in Charleston First sewer lines were installed in Clarksburg Coal production had doubled Little evidence of the Coal River locks and dams remained West Virginia chapter of the Colonial Dames of America was organized Only remnant populations of deer and turkey were noted West Virginia's median age was below national average at 20.3 Doddridge County population was 13,689 William Edwards wrote a book on the authorship of Shakespeare's plays Fairmont Times was first published by Gen. C. L. Smith and O. S. McKinney Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia Garnet High School was founded with a class of 12 black students Howard Gore graduated from WVU with a degree in agriculture Nancy Hart and husband Joshua Douglas settled in Webster County Morris Harvey founded the Fayette National Bank William "Coin" Harvey moved to Arkansas to begin building a retreat and vacation resort The population of Helvetia reached 500 people The first time the word "hillbilly" was used in print, in a New York newspaper Reported 1,062 native Hungarians in West Virginia Water power began being used for the production of electricity in West Virginia, at Kanawha Falls Census reported 2,458 Indians living in West Virginia There were 18 farms of the settlers on the Irish Tract Jackson County's population rose to 19,000 Don Redman was born in Piedmont The Kanawha Falls were augmented by a low dam Oil and natural gas in high quantities was found in Lewis County Cousin Abe Lilly received a law degree from the Southern Normal University, Tennessee Railroad replaces streams as the chief means of transporting logs to sawmills The Benwood Ironworks grew into a large steel mills James Miller ceased to be Summers County prosecuting attorney James Miller ran unsuccessfully for state auditor Steam and electric fans made larger mines possible The completion of the C&O Railway's Greenbrier Division to Marlinton put the Minnehaha Springs within reach of travelers Fairmont's first electric streetcar line built Morgantown population was at 1,895 The Morgantown Glass Works began production A developer began selling oceanfront lots for $25 in Myrtle Beach The anticlinal theory of oil and gas was applied along Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha The Toledo & Ohio Central gained control of the Kanawha & Michigan and the Kanawha & West Virginia Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad began purchasing the N&W stock E.M. Carney purchased the Pence Springs property Kanawha County had the largest population with 54,696 residents. The largest city in the state was Wheeling with a population of 38,878. The Lilly family began ownership of the Ruffner Hotel St. Joseph's Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue Samuel and Violet Bryant got their first jobs on showboats James H. Brown's obelisk was erected at Spring Hill Cemetery Interurban railway operations began in Huntington Tyler County's oil and gas boom peaked Wayne County population was at 23,619 Wings were added to Woodburn Hall at WVU Weston had municipal water plant, sanitary and storm sewer systems and brick paved streets West Virginia Pulp & Paper began constructing a sawmill in Cass A nursing school was founded at Wheeling Hospital The Collins Colliery company store burned Matthew Whittico moved to Keystone Buffalo, elk, gray wolf and passenger pigeon had all disappeared from West Virginia The second courthouse at Winfield was built Wirt County's population peaked at 10,284 Carter G. Woodson became principal of Douglass High School The first record of the ballad "The Wreck on the C&O" came out
1903
Harrison County was fourth in the state in total tons of coal produced Other events that happened on or around 1903 Barger Springs property purchased by company of 30 investors Ambrose Bierce returned to Randolph and Pocahontas counties to revisit locations where he had served in the Civil War The town of Bretz and the mining plant were built by West Virginia Coal Company Camden Park was established Col. E. G. Via became park manager Annex was built across from State Capitol Construction on the new section of the Coal & Coke Railway began Grover Lewis was born in Alabama John Harrington Cox received appointment in English Department of WVU Legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law William Edwards produced a book of Edwards family genealogy Fairmont Coal Company was absorbed into Consolidation Coal Company of Maryland William Glasscock was admitted to the bar The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. A junction was made at Durbin with the C&O and the Coal & Iron railroads Capt. Greene built the side-wheel packet Greenland A compulsory attendance law was enacted The Homer Laughlin Company traded factories with the National China Company The House of Delegates grew to 86 delegates Teddy Weatherford was born in Bluefield Herman Kump attended the University of Virginia law school Carnegie library was established in Huntington Reported 63% of McKendree Hospital's patients were miners Local businessmen bought the Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant The Morgantown Glass Works employed more than 400 people Oak Hill was incorporated The Owens bottle-making machine was invented by Michael Owens President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Christopher Payne as consul general to the Danish West Indies The Barbour County courthouse was constructed at Philippi Melville Davisson Post married Ann Bloomfield Gamble Schoolfield The West Virginia death rate from smallpox was reported as being from 12 to 20 percent of reported cases A new wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital John G. Knutti became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement The Parkersburg & Marrietta Interurban was built An interurban railway line was built from Sistersville to New Martinsville The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway was built T. C. Townsend opened a law office in Fayettesville The USS Huntington was constructed at Newport News The West Virginia State Federation of Labor was founded Carter Woodson accepted an administrative and teaching assignment in the Philippines Zane Grey wrote Betty Zane Paul Wissmach and Joseph Reininger began to manufacture stained glass as the Empire Glass Company in Paden City T. G. Nutter opened a law office in Charleston
1904
The National Carbon Company began operating a graphite plant in Anmore Other events that happened on or around 1904 Charles Ambler received an A.B. in social sciences J. G. Bradley came to West Virginia Sturdevant and Johnson constructed new buildings Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad was built Name changed from Thomas Hospital to Charleston General Hospital Barber Sanatorium constructed by Dr. Timothy L. Barber Sr. Railroad from Greenbrier Valley to Bartow completed Roy Bird Cook graduated from high school John Cornwell was Democratic nominee for governor Davis & Elkins College founded by Southern Presbyterians Rebecca Davis wrote autobiography Bits of Gossip William M. O. Dawson ceased to be chairman of West Virginia Republicans John Dickinson became the first director of the Kanawha Coal Operators Association Chestnut blight introduced to America Fairmont West Virginian became daily Millard Giesey and Frederic Faris designed the West Virginia Building at the St. Louis World's Fair Pennsylvania investors opened a second glass sand plant on the east side of Warm Springs Ridge The Glenville Democrat was first published Capt. Greene acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Big Sandy & Pomeroy Packet Co. Railroads reached the Guyandotte River area The Huntington Dispatch began Frankie Masters was born in Pleasants County Cousin Abe Lilly was elected prosecuting attorney of Raleigh County The C&O Railroad was constructed from Huntington to city of Logan The Logan County coal industry began its boom Gannett's gazetteer was the first to be devoted exclusively to West Virginia place names and locations Wheeling Metal and Manufacturing Company opened in Glen Dale Sandy Mason moved back to Charleston to start the Mason School of Music and Fine Arts John McGraw became chairman of state Democratic party Thomas Gaylord McKell died John McWhorter became a judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit James Miller was elected as a judge of the Circuit Court of the Ninth West Virginia Circuit A fifteenth dam was built on the Monongahela The daily edition Morgantown Evening Post stopped publication The Morgantown Chronicle was founded by Hu Maxwell The Mount St. George mansion was completed John Nugent was elected president of UMWA District 17 Herschel Ogden purchased the Wheeling Intelligencer Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly spearheaded a drive that defeated a proposal to built a Carnegie Library in Wheeling Pence Springs water was presented the highest award in its class. Benjamin Rosenbloom was admitted to the West Virginia bar Henry Schmulbach built the Schmulbach Building in Wheeling Official addressed the question of a flag for the West Virginia building at the St. Louis World's Fair John Swint was ordained to the priesthood William P. Tams went to work for Samuel Dixon in the New River coalfield Henry Gassaway Davis built the Coal & Coke Railway Sam Vinson died John T. McGraw expanded the Webster Springs Hotel A president who was not the state superintendent of school was elected to head of the West Virginia Education Association Charles Frederick Tucker Brooke was elected to be in the first group of Rhodes Scholars Matthew Whittico renamed his paper the McDowell Times J. G. Bradley came to Clay County Hurry-up Yost's University of Michigan team defeated WVU 130-0 Romeo Freer returned to Ritchie County and was appointed Harrisville postmaster Paul Wissmach reorganized his company as Ohio Valley Glass Company
1920
Harrison County population rose to 74,783 Other events that happened on or around 1920 Women received the right to vote State apple-packing plant in Inwood was established Walter Barnes wrote Types of Children's Literature 14 West Virginia cities and towns had professional baseball Braxton's population peaked at 23,973 Alonzo Brooks published West Virginia Trees Izetta Brown was first woman to second a presidential nominee, John W. Davis Chauncey H. Browning graduated from Logan High School City Hospital was moved to Camden mansion on Garfield Avenue in Parkersburg Don Chafin was reelected as sheriff Louis Watson Chappell received his M.A. from University of Virginia The Union Carbide Company bought small refinery near Clendenin Matthew Wesley Clair, Sr. was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church Fayette County population jumped to 60,377 Caroline Gentry released The Key to Power, a movie The Glen Ferris Inn was sold to a subsidiary of Union Carbide Voters approved the Good Roads amendment Grafton reached its peak population of 8,517 H. B. Moore and his brothers purchased the school and reorganized it as the Greenbrier Military School Sid Hatfield assisted a United Mine Workers campaign to organize Tug Fork miners The Clarksburg factory of the Hazel Atlas Glass Company had 15 acres of floor space, employed 1,200 people and shipped all over the world Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly Census reported 6,260 Hungarians in West Virginia Union organizing led to confrontations at Matewan and Blair Mountain La Belle Ironworks merged with Wheeling Iron and Steel and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation Ann Johnson Gates became the first woman member of the West Virginia legislature The legislator salary was set at $500 High school at Walkersville was constructed John L. Lewis became the president of the UMWA Big Bill Lias started a career in the illegal sale and distribution of liquor Minnie Lowther moved to Washington Jacob Marcus attained his rabbinical ordination William Marsh stopped serving as president of the M. Marsh and Son company Marshall became a four-year college The name was changed from Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal to Martinsburg Journal McDowell was the third most populous county in the state Willow Glen mansion, known in the Wheeling area as McKinley's Palace, was completed James Miller ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state James Miller left as judge Additional land for Monongahela National Forest was purchased The B&O leased the Morgantown & Kingwood The National Bank of Commerce moved to Charleston and was renamed the State Street Bank The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel ceased publication. Monongahela National Forest was created. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem Academy. The buildings at Red Sulphur Springs were dismantled and the resort ceased operation. Red Ribble moved to Mount Hope The third courthouse at Ripley was built There were 398 sawmills operating in West Virginia The United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans decided to erect a memorial to Heyward Shepherd W. H. S White became president of Shepherd College Matthew Holt was the Socialist candidate for governor James Weldon Johnson was responsible for publishing Anne Spencer's " Before the Feast at Shushan" P. D. Strausbaugh received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Howard Sutherland made a bid for presidency of United States Union Carbide purchased a small refinery at Clendenin C. W. Ferguson III was born Webster County population was 11,000 Weirton population was at 8,000 Welch population was at 3,232 West Liberty's first dorms were built Riley Wilson ran unsuccessfully for Congress Carter G. Woodson left Howard University Carter G. Woodson began Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institution (now West Virginia State University)
1923
Lost Creek was the largest cattle shipping point on the B&O system Other events that happened on or around 1923 Evangelist Billy Sunday stayed at Aracoma Hotel Shepherd Field, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, opened Walter Barnes wrote New Democracy in the Teaching of English The Beckley Register began publishing a Sunday issue Son William H. and wife joined William J. Blenko in Milton at his first factory Maurice Brooks graduated from WVU with a B.A. West Virginia's first commercial radio station WRVC began broadcasting in the Huntington area Thomas Carr retired from Carr China Company First baccalaureate degrees were awarded at Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) Phil Conley founded the West Virginia Publishing Company The last Democratic majority until 1930 The beaver was extirpated for its fur John Harrington Cox received his Ph.D. from Harvard Julia Davis married William McMillan Adams Rev. Robert Edward Lee Strider was consecrated bishop coadjutor of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Wheeling Fairmont State was authorized for four-year program but must confine to training teachers Cooperative agricultural marketing law was passed U.S. Coal Commission report awarded Gary 90 out of 100 points for cleanliness, urban amenities and safety consideration The current courthouse was completed in Glenville School name was changed from Lewisburg Seminary to Greenbrier College for Women The present Ritchie County courthouse was completed Homer Holt received a law degree from Washington and Lee University Construction of the large Itmann Company Store began Ella Mae Turner published compilation Stories and Verses of West Virginia Herman Kump left office as mayor of Elkins The State Hospital for the Colored Insane and the State Industrial School for Colored boys were established in Lakin Hu Maxwell wrote A Tree History of the United States Margaret Montague published Deep Channel Herbert Chester became publisher of the Morgantown Post Huntington First (Church of the Nazarene) was established in the Charleston-Huntington corridor and is the oldest congregation in that area Henry Ford built the world's largest incline tipple Herschel Ogden bought the Martinsburg Journal Okey Patteson married Lee Hawse. Maceo Pinkard helped set up Duke Ellington's first recording session. The first land for the Monongahala National Forest in Pocahontas County was acquired Jennings Randolph was elected to Salem College's board of trustees. The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company acquired the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal and Coal company Walton High School was established Thomas Reynolds built the Majestic showboat Weirton Steel added another sheet plant P. D. Strausbaugh became head of the department of botany at WVU Festus Summers earned an A.B. at WVU Howard Sutherland's term in the U.S. Senate ended Clint Thomas began a stint with the Philadelphia Hillsdale Giants baseball team W. W. Trent became editor of the West Virginia School Journal The West Virginia State Wildlife Center was established at French Creek Ralph Weinberg married Ida Effron Wheeling Bank & Trust Company acquired the Bank of the Ohio Valley The Northern Teachers' Association ended The Game and Fish Commission purchased property in Upshur County The West Virginian Hotel was built in Bluefield Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Corcoran Gallery School of Art in Washington, DC Lenna Yost represented the U.S. at international congresses against alcoholism in Denmark Hack Wilson began playing for the New York Giants
1924
John W. Davis Democratic candidate for president Other events that happened on or around 1924 Elementary school and junior high schools numbered 453 for African-American students and teachers Mary Atkeson wrote The Woman on the Farm The number of banks in West Virginia peaked at 225 state banks and 125 national banks Walter Barnes wrote The Children's Poets The Evening Post, Beckley's first daily newspaper, was established UMWA President Keeney and Secretary Treasurer Mooney were forced to retire Izetta Brown seconded Davis again for nomination Izetta Brown again defeated for U.S. Senate, this time by William Edwin Chilton Chauncey H. Browning graduated from WVU Matthew Wesley Clair Sr. returned to Washington for a visit Association changed its name to West Virginia Council of Churches and Christian Education Democratic presidential candidate John W. Davis failed to carry home state West Virginia Huntington's Frederick Douglass Junior and Senior High School was built Patrick Gainer recorded folk songs and lore of West Virginia's people Construction of the Governor's Mansion began Major flood brought devastation Record floods hit Hardy County Another school was built in Harrisville The Concord College He-Man Club began as picnic to honor retiring college president Christopher Columbus Rossey The hemlock wooly adelgid was first reported in the Western United States Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt The Huntington Post-Herald became a daily newspaper Homer Holt married Isabel Wood of Charlottesville, Virginia Rush Holt graduated from Salem College Cheat Lake construction began, created primarily for the production of electricity Carmine Pelligrino of Rosemont held record of mining 66 tons of coal in 24 hours The Jackson's Mill property was donated to the state of West Virginia Ray Wetzel was born in Parkersburg Mother Jones called on Governor Morgan for pardons for miners imprisoned after the Logan March Out-of-state KKK publication carried reports from several West Virginia location The Ku Klux Klan marched through Hinton Howard B. Lee left office as Mercer County prosecuting attorney Carnegie library was established in Hinton Howard M. Gore became assistant secretary of agriculture Mountain lions were declared extinct Walter Martens designed the Science and Liberal Arts halls of Davis & Elkins College Clarence Cameron White was named director of music at West Virginia State College The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg had 52 separate construction teams in the field The Metropolitan Theater in downtown Morgantown opened Fred Mooney left as secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 The first Mountaineer Field opened The Clarke-McNary law was passed by Congress authorizing the purchase of forested, cut-over, or denuded lands for the production of timber in addition to the flow regulation of navigable streams Records of chicken production began. The West Virginia Public Health Association was organized. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College. Walter Reuther began work as apprentice tool and die maker at Wheeling Steel Leonard Riggleman accepted a pastorate in Milton William Ritter made headline for sharing $3 million in company stock with his employees Money from the John B. Crowley estate paid for a new addition to St. Francis Hospital A second wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital The state built a fire tower in Seneca State Forest A merger agreement between Sheltering Arms Hospital and Charleston General Hospital fell through Ada "Bricktop" Smith performed in Paris West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Navy, Syracuse, Kentucky in football The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference began Seneca State Forest became the first state forest in West Virginia P. D. Strausbaugh and colleagues collected, mounted and filed the nucleus of a new plant collection for WVU The Blackwater Boom & Lumber Company closed All lumber operations in Tucker County closed due to depletion of original forest Membership in the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference was 10,337 Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney resigned from the UMWA Ward Engineering built the Greenbrier, a sternweel towboat
1950
The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Other events that happened on or around 1950 More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system 123rd Fighter Group called to duty in Korean War and moved to Goodman Air Force Base Pastor Richard E. Shearer assumed presidency of Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) Ernest Bavely died The National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement was approved Sigus Olafson began publishing articles on petroglyphs, the painted trees, Gabriel Arthur and more A caretaker for Audra State Park was hired Walter Barnes helped revive the Folklore Society with help from Ruth Ann Musick Bear Rock Lakes area was opened to fishing Clair Bee wrote Hoop Crazy Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations About 25,000 people lived in Bluefield Everett Lilly appeared on classic bluegrass recordings Betsy Byars graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC Governor Patteson gave state funds to improve Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Walter Eli Clark died Phil Conley ended his term as president of the West Virginia Publishing Company and founded West Virginia Education Foundation Name was shortened to West Virginia Council of Churches Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor was hired to be on NBC's Broadway Open House Julius DeGruyter wrote West Virginia: Its Charters and Municipal Affairs West Virginia's median age was below national average at 26.3 years Joanne Dru appeared in Wagon Master Ellis Dungan returned to Hollywood Fairmont population peaked at 29,346 Fayette County population peaked at 82,443 Floodwall in Parkersburg was completed Patrick Gainer organized the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville Fostoria manufactured 8 million pieces of glass West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 Dave Gideon died Mechanization and automation in coal mining reduced the number of miners and a decline in UMWA membership The gates to the Home for the Incurables (now Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital) were removed The Cedar Lakes Conference Center was established as a state FFA-FHA camp Keystone's population was at 2,500 The National Labor Relation board recognized the Employees Security League as the legitimate bargaining agent for Weirton employees The Linger chair factory moved to Rock Cave The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers recorded for Cozy Records Louis Wohinc died Catherine Marshall published Mr. Jones, Meet The Master A new science building was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice became editor of the Charleston Daily Mail A fourth of McDowell population was black McDowell population peaked at 98,887 Mine mechanization led to widespread job loss Major coal companies formed the Bituminous Coal Operators Association The UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed that the union would not resist mechanization in exchange for a share of the proceeds Birth rate in West Virginia declined and pace of out-migration accelerated Traditional coal miners' vacation became formalized with the establishment of Bituminous Coal Operators Association Mingo County population peaked at 47,409 The National Hillbilly News switched to a smaller format Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis gave up show business to serve the Lord Port Amherst Ltd. was acquired by the Amherst Fuel Company Jack Rollins wrote "Frosty the Snow Man" Charleston's St. Francis Hospital had 130 beds Soupy Sales left Huntington The West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists consisted of 2,000 members Shepherd College was accredited by the North Central Association Jim Sprouse studied international law at the University of Bordeaux The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law West Virginia steelworkers numbered 22,596 Joe Stydahar was named head coach of the L.A. Rams Leon Sullivan began ministry at Zion Baptist church in Philadelphia Hinton's population was 5,780 West Virginia tobacco production was at 4,000,000 pounds Richard Talbott stopped serving as state treasurer Riggleman Hall was constructed at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Welch population peaked at 6,603 Walter Barnes, Patrick Gainer and Ruth Ann Musick revived the West Virginia Folklore Society Helen Thompson became the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's first full-time executive secretary Weston's population peaked at 8,945 An outpatient department was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wildlife biologist tried trapping wild turkeys in the eastern mountains and moving them into other counties Williamson population peaked at 8,624 Wyoming County population was 37,540 Mullens had a population of 3,544 Hurry-up Yost was inducted to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Morgantown obtained the Tibbs Run Reservoir President Eisenhower appointed Helen Holt to a new program in the Federal Housing Administration
1960
The United Hospital Center was erected Other events that happened on or around 1960 Chauncey H. Browning's unexpired term in the Supreme Court ended The Conference of Appalachian Governors was formed The President's Appalachian Regional Commission, PARC created, led by FDR Jr. The position of state archeologist was created by state legislature Tony Boyle became vice president of the UMWA Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Clay County was producing 900,000 tons of coal Jack Fleming became general manager of WAJR radio in Morgantown Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began. Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began Greer Lime Company was formed The Greer Lime Company began production at Key The Glen Rogers Mine was closed by the Old Ben Coal Corporation Partner D. Ray Hall sold Gravely Motor Plow and Cultivator Company to Studebaker Weirton had highest population in Hancock County at 28,201 Vera Andrews Harvey replaced Roy Lee Harmon as poet laureate The campus of Storer College was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The state population fell to 1,860,421 Frank Hutchison's "Alabama" became a major county hit for Cowboy Copas Storer College buildings were added to the Harpers Ferry National Park Kanawha County peak population at 252,925 Governor Smith was the Democratic state chairman Tom Kromer returned to Huntington from Albuquerque John L. Lewis retired as the president of the UMWA Arden Cogar Sr. started the Webster County Wood Chopping Festival D. K. Shroyer became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University The City-County Building in Ohio County was dedicated Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area purchased by the West Virginia Conservation Commission The N&W operated its last steam equipment The Chesapeake & Ohio and the Baltimore & Ohio began a gradual consolidation that eventually included Western Maryland Otis Rice received a Ph.D. in history at Univ. of Kentucky Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company was sold to the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Jay Rockefeller returned from the International Christian University in Tokyo Rocket boys Homer Hickam, Roy Lee Cooke, Willie Rose, Jim O'Dell Carroll, Quentin Wilson and Sherman Siers won top prize at the National Science Fair for their exhibit "A Study of Amateur Rocketry Techniques" Reported 110,000 Catholics in West Virginia St. Marys population peaked at 2,442 Fred Schaus left as basketball coach at WVU Mary Lee Settle wrote Know Nothing The Preston Railroad line was abandoned South Charleston's population peaked at 19,180 Weirton population peaked at 28,201 Jerry West was unanimous choice for first-team All-American Jerry West co-captained the undefeated U.S. Olympic team West Liberty State College enrollment exceeded 1,000 for the first time The West Virginia Music Educators Association began the movement to adopt "The West Virginia Hills" as the state song Wheeling Steel plants stretched for 30 miles along the Ohio River Henry Aaron was appointed conductor of the Wheeling Symphony There were 1,000 students enrolled at West Virginia Institute of Technology Patrice Harris was born in Bluefield John McKay became head coach at University of Southern California
1989
Salem College was bought by Japanese interests and became Salem-Teikyo University (later Salem International University) Other events that happened on or around 1989 West Virginia Folk Art Apprenticeship Program established by Augusta Clerk Darrell E. Holmes took over the as editor of the Blue Book Buffalo Historical Society was formed Construction began on a surgery suite addition at Cabell Huntington Hospital Gale Catlett named Coach of the Year by Eastern Basketball magazine Pine Run School moved to Cedar Creek State Park Cheat Mountain salamander placed on the federal threatened species list Stephen Coonts wrote The Minotaur Ellis Dungan received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the West Virginia International Film Festival The School Building Authority was created Robert Atkinson took semi-retirement as bishop of the Episcopal Church Mark Samels released Forks of Cheat The Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) was created Homer Hickam published his first book, Torpedo Junction View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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