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Germans
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1748
Moravian missionary reported the amount of Germans in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties Other events that happened on or around 1748 Fairfax established an office to sell land Washington surveying team noted one of the earliest schools in Moorefield area Reported 200 people were living at Pearsall's Flats Levi Shinn was born George Washington described the Trough on the South Branch in his journal Thomas Walker explored Virginia's New River Valley Thomas Beall was born
Dec 23, 1762
Germans incorporated the city of Mecklenburg (Shepherdstown) Other events that happened on or around December 23, 1762 Romney and Shepherdstown were both chartered, West Virginia's oldest cities
1772
The John Wetzel family settled along Wheeling Creek in the Northern Panhandle 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 Wilson-Woodrow-Mytinger House was built in Romney Nutter's Fort was built on Elk Creek in Harrison County 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
1781
Johann Dahle settled in Pendleton County Other events that happened on or around 1781 John Alderson Jr. began Baptist work in southern West Virginia Meshach Browning was born in Damascus, Maryland Captain Bull was killed by white fighters Fort Schuyler was destroyed by flood and fire Virginia confiscated Lord Fairfax's lands after his death An Indian raid occurred in Pendleton County. Settlers were established in the area of Point Pleasant. Hampshire County Loyalists led by John Claypool began to resist imposition of taxes and a military draft by the Virginia Assembly Samuel Washington died Mad Anthony Wayne served under Nathaniel Greene in Georgia
1848
German immigration increased from desire to escape persecution during European Revolutions Other events that happened on or around 1848 Report of Salt Rock petroglyphs included in Smithsonian Institution's "Contributions to Knowledge" Bids authorized on the Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike Rebecca Davis graduated from the Washington (Pennsylvania) Female Seminary William Eagle died First county and circuit courts of Wirt County met in "Old Red Brick" The Giles, Fayette and Kanawha Turnpike was completed John Floyd was elected governor The first German newspaper was established in Wheeling The Giles, Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike was completed Joseph H. Gill surveyed the Guyandotte River from its mouth to Gilbert Creek The Ellicott Brothers business failed C. P. Huntington went to California with the gold rush to sell supplies to miners A Catholic Church was established at Sand Fork John Jay Jackson Jr. served as prosecuting attorney of Wirt County Daniel Lamb became the cashier of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia at Wheeling A single lock and dam was built on the Elk River Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis published Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy was founded Francis Pierpont began an association with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. A massive fire and flood doomed Creel's village to an early death Samuel Price was reelected to the House of Delegates Bancroft was settled Henry Ruffner resigned as president of Washington College (Washington and Lee University) James Stephenson left the House of Delegates Henry St. George Tucker, Sr. died Cabell, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties provided infantry regiments for service in the Mexican-American War
1860
Another German newspaper was established in Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1860 Psi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi was established Archibald Campbell's paper The Intelligencer only paper in Virginia to endorse Abraham Lincoln's presidency Archibald Campbell's paper The Intelligencer was the only paper in Virginia to endorse Abraham Lincoln's presidency 25 independent coal companies were organized Bethany College was the only institution of higher education in Western Virginia Allegheny College opened in Blue Sulphur Springs Stephen Elkins graduated from University of Missouri Daniel Farnsworth was elected to abortive term in House of Delegates of General Assembly Fayette County population at 5,997 John Hale became the owner of a large salt works Hancock County reported only 2 slaves in population of 4,445 First railroad in Hancock County received its charter Nancy Hart and family moved to Roane County Morris Harvey left his service as Fayette County sheriff The Ices Ferry Ironworks closed due to lack of adequate transportation and the depletion of iron ore and fuel resources Reported 28 charcoal iron furnaces had been constructed in West Virginia Reported four Wheeling ironworks produced cut nails John Jacob left the University of Missouri to study and practice law Four short stone piers were placed under Jefferson Rock to stabilize it Joseph Johnson served as a member of the electoral college George Latham opened his practice in Grafton McDowell County had a population of 1,533 The Monongalia Academy, Morgantown Female Academy and Woodburn Female Seminary educated white students Summersville was incorporated The Rathbone Well, West Virginia's first major oil well, was drilled. Reported 174 baptisms at St. John's Chapel, Monroe County Rezin Davis Shepherd built a building for Shepherdstown's use Traveller took top prizes at the Lewisburg fair Census counted 1,428 residents in Tucker County Virginia chartered six new western turnpikes Webster County population was 1,555 The first permanent settler of Webster Springs was Polly Arthur Wheeling had 14,083 people Samuel D. Karnes leased an acre from the Rathbones
1864
Joseph Diss Debar was named the first West Virginia commissioner of immigration Other events that happened on or around 1864 Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan removed Averell from command for performance during Shenandoah Valley Campaign Old Virginia banks transformed into national banks under federal banking legislation First National Bank of Parkersburg became first national bank in West Virginia Union troops burned down the resort buildings at Blue Sulphur Springs Arthur Boreman married Laurane Tanner Bullock Alexander Boteler's house burned on orders of Union Gen. David Hunter Belle Boyd married Samuel Wylde Hardinge Jr. Nathan Brackett graduated from Dartmouth College Battle of Summit Point Battle of Charles Town John Dickinson was captured and kept prisoner at Fort Delaware Joseph Diss Debar began serving in the legislature from Doddridge County Construction of the Easton Roller Mill began Allegheny College was burned by Union troops William Ryland White was named first state superintendent of free schools Stephen Elkins was admitted to the Missouri bar Fort Moore was built for Capt. W. T. Wiant's home guards Natural gas was used to produce carbon black for printing ink John Imboden contracted typhoid fever and was relieved of command Jacob Jackson returned to Parkersburg Mudwall Jackson was promoted to brigadier general to command the forces at the Battle of Droop Mountain The Logan Wildcats were active in the Shenandoah Valley campaign The Richardson's map was the first map of the new state of West Virginia The Morgantown Weekly Post was established by Henry M. Morgan and Nimrod Nelson Hoffman Governor Boreman ordered convicted felons in West Virginia be imprisoned in the Ohio County Jail Bazel Childers developed a system for fracturing the oil bearing rock to increase production. Henry Ragland was captured by Union troops near Lurray, Virginia. The first newspaper in Ripley, the Jackson Democrat was established Volcano became an oil boom town The Volcanic Oil & Gas Company was formed Kellian Whaley was a delegate to the Republican National Convention Laura Jackson Arnold wrote to Abraham Lincoln strongly expressing her support of the Union
1865
Joseph Diss Debar appointed an agent in southern Germany Other events that happened on or around 1865 Virginia legislature repealed laws consenting to the admission of Berkeley and Jefferson counties to West Virginia Storer College in Harpers Ferry, begun by the Freewill Baptist Church, to educate black teachers Ratification of 13th Amendment by West Virginia John Appleton moved to Kanawha County 13 Banks had become national banks The Baptist General Association of West Virginia (West Virginia Baptist Convention) formed Rosser's Raid occurred on Beverly Belle Boyd wrote Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison in London Waitman T. Willey senate term as first West Virginia senator ended Provision included in Constitution of 1851 calling for the General Assembly to reapportion representation in both houses John Dickinson came to Kanawha County Anne Dudley arrived in West Virginia to teach freed blacks Fairmont State University was formed as West Virginia's first private normal school Aretas Fleming married Carrie M. Watson Nathan Goff married Laura E. Despard Grafton National Cemetery was established for Civil War dead The Easton Roller Mill replaced overshot water wheel Reckart's Mill was built in Preston county Visitor stated about Harpers Ferry, "all about the town are rubbish, filth, and stench." Chester Hubbard began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives John Jacob returned to Romney George Latham served as congressman for the Second District of West Virginia Joseph Lightburn returned to duty after being wounded in Sherman's advance on Atlanta The Logan Wildcats were active in the Shenandoah Valley campaign The city of Boone Court House changed its name to Madison Booker T. Washington arrived in Malden with his family to work in the salt industry and local coal mines Two additional dams were built on the Monongahela River The army recruiting and training center at Camp Carlisle ceased The Campbell's Creek Coal Company began shipping coal down the Kanawha River from Port Amherst Samuel Price was appointed circuit judge in Lewisburg but declined to take office A narrow-gauge railroad was built to Ritchie Mines Ritchie Mines was bought Union authorities moved Jefferson County seat from Charles Town to Shepherdstown The Wheeling interurban system began operation The National Banking Act was amended to allow state banks to become national banks Jim Vance was suspected in the murder of Harmon McCoy The formal organizing of Webster County took place The state superintendent called a state convention of teachers to meet in Fairmont, founding the West Virginia Education Association
1870
German immigration increased during the Franco-Prussian War Other events that happened on or around 1870 Celebration staged in Parkersburg after ratification of the 15th Amendment Railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington located the western terminus of Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in present Huntington Cheat River declared a public highway Claymont Court mansion (Jefferson County) was advertised for sale by Bushrod Corbin Washington's grandson Henry Gassaway Davis helped lead the Democrats in for their control over the state Marmaduke Dent received B.A from WVU Joseph Diss Debar produced The West Virginia Hand-Book and Immigrant's Guide Alexander Donaghho came to Parkersburg Fayetteville population jumped to 6,647 Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler began his map-making trips Camp Straton United Confederate Veterans began controlling Logan County polices John Hale started the first steam ferry at Charleston John Hale was a leader in having the state capital moved to Charleston Literary Hall was built in Romney The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind was established in Romney John Henry began working as a steel driver during the construction of the Big Bend (Great Bend) Tunnel The state was reported to have 2,270 schools Investment in manufacturing began increasing Immigrants from Switzerland settled in the area of Holly River George Imboden moved to Fayette County Jacob Jackson became Wood County's prosecuting attorney A proposed waterway between Tidewater Virginia and Rocky Mountains was proposed to Congress by Waitman T. Willey The capital was moved from Wheeling to Charleston Henry Clay Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank James Kay arrived in Charleston John Kenna was admitted to the bar Crosscut saws replaced the ax as the preferred tool for felling trees Marshall College added a new brick addition at the west end of the existing building John Nuttall bought coal lands on New River The Flick Amendment was introduced Petersburg became the county seat of Grant County Henry Ragland moved to Wayne County. Alexander Reynolds began serving in Egypt Literary Hall was built by the Literary Society in Romney Cecil Clay of Philadelphia began timber purchases in Greenbrier Valley William Stevenson was defeated for second term as governor There were 178 tanneries in West Virginia The Daily Sentinel became the Taylor County newspaper The town of Volcano was founded Wayne County population was at 7,852 WesBanco was founded as German Bank Legislature voted for additional buildings at Weston State Hospital The Potomac River flooded The Shenandoah River flooded
1917
Study of German in schools dropped due to the entrance of America in WWI Other events that happened on or around 1917 Charles Ambler's last year teaching history and political science at Randolph-Macon College Hotel built by Harvey Ghiz in Logan West Virginia Folklore Society became inactive Louis Bennett Jr. graduated from Yale First book of poetry, Green Fruit,was published by John Bishop Florence Blanchfield enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps Pearl Sydenstricker married John Lossing Buck Louis Watson Chappell received his B.A. from Wake Forest William Edwin Chilton completed his term as U.S. Senate and became publisher U.S. government hired DuPont Company to build new nitrocellulose plant 89.4 million tons of coal produced in West Virginia The Shenandoah (George Washington) National Forest was created U.S. Supreme Court supported Alston Dayton's "yellow dog" contracts ruling Legislature established the West Virginia State Colored Tuberculosis Sanitarium Diamond Shoe and Garment Co. received full department store status Natural gas peaked at 309 billion cubic feet Marion County in the Making was published Henry Hatfield entered the army medical corps as Captain West Virginia launched a series of highway improvements with creation of the State Road Commission The State Road Bureau was replaced by the State Road Commission The U.S. Supreme Court sustained the lower court ruling prohibiting UMWA from seeking to influence workers from breaking yellowdog contracts The House of Delegates grew to 94 delegates Itmann began mining the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam in Wyoming County Billy Moore was born in Parkersburg Fanny Johnson and Vincent Costello moved back to Charleston Fanny Johnson's story "The Strange Looking Man" was included in a best short stories collection Mother Jones returned to West Virginia to hold meetings and seek union recognition in the Fairmont and Winding Gulf coalfield Frank Keeney became president of UMWA District 17 Harley Kilgore was commissioned a second lieutenant The town of Nitro was established by the U.S. War Department for the manufacture of munitions for WWI Fred Mooney became secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 Regents began to abolish high school courses in normal schools The U.S. government acquired the majority of land on Otter Creek for Monongahela National Forest The Owens Bottle Company opened a plant in the upper end of Kanawha City William Nelson Page moved to Washington. Pruntytown Correctional Center, near Grafton, offered eight years of education, providing a full grade-school education Denmar Sanitarium for black tuberculosis patients was established in Pocahontas County. The Division of Vital Statistics was established by the West Virginia Legislature. Short lines, including the Coal & Coke Railway, became part of the B&O. The Reymann Memorial Farm was donated to WVU as two separate farms Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Samuel Craig Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo Capt. Thomas J. Reynolds built his first real showboat and named it America Five companies merged to form the Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation The USS Huntington was equipped for early experiments in naval aviation Commercial mining had started in Webster County The Montgomery Preparatory School was renamed the West Virginia Trades School (now WVU Institute of Technology) Lenna Yost became the president of the West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association Mordecai Johnson became pastor of Charleston’s First Baptist Church View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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