Early Settlement of Pocahontas County, West Virginia

 

Early Settlement of Pocahontas County, West Virginia

In 1749, Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell became the first European settlers in the region that would later become Pocahontas County, West Virginia. They built a cabin where Marlin Run met Knapp's Creek, near present-day Marlinton.

This area was reserved by the Iroquois Confederacy as a hunting ground, and the American Indians resisted European encroachment. A treaty of 1758 confirmed the land west of the Allegheny Mountains to the Indians, but white settlers continued to encroach, leading to raids and massacres between the two groups.

After the American Revolution, the Indian squabbles quieted and the settlers' land claims were secured.

Pocahontas County During the Civil War

During the Civil War, Pocahontas County voted to secede from the United States and supported the Confederate government. The county provided nearly 700 men to the Confederate army, and farming and harvesting crops became difficult due to enlistments and the flight of many of the county's enslaved population.

The battles of Cheat Mountain and Camp Allegheny took place in the county in 1861, and in 1863 the battle of Droop Mountain occurred, resulting in a Union victory.

Conclusion

The early settlement of Pocahontas County, West Virginia was marked by conflict between European settlers and American Indians. During the Civil War, the county supported the Confederacy. Despite these challenges, Pocahontas County has grown and thrived, and is now a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.