Rewritten: 1850-1863

 

1850

• Wyoming County formed, named for the Wyoming tribe of Indians.
• Raleigh County formed, named for Sir Walter Raleigh.
• Early cannel coal operations started about this time at Peytona, Boone County.
• Population figures reach 302,313.

1851

• Bollman bridge, one of the famous bridges of the United States, begun at Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County (scene of John Brown episode; destroyed by Stonewall Jackson during Civil War).
• Harpers Ferry incorporated.
• Saint Marys, Pleasants County, established as a town.
• Upshur County formed, named for Abel P. Upshur, Virginia statesman.
• Pleasants County formed, named for James Pleasants, Virginia Governor.
• Third constitution of Virginia ratified. Gives universal white manhood suffrage. For the first time, western Virginia has a majority in the House of Delegates.

1852

• Several educational institutions are incorporated: The Fairmont Academy in Marion County; Wheeling Female Academy in Ohio County; and West Union Academy in Doddridge County.
• Flood waters in the Ohio River reach a stage of 44 feet at Parkersburg, Wood County.
• A number of towns are incorporated: Buckhannon in Upshur County; Harrisville in Ritchie County; Moundsville in Marshall County; Ravenswood in Jackson County; Ripley in Jackson County; and Shinnston in Harrison County.
• Bridge erected at Philippi, Barbour County, spanning Tygarts River.
• Last spike driven in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Baltimore and Wheeling are joined.

1853

• First through train from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ohio River reaches Wheeling, via Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
• Kingwood, Preston County, incorporated.
• Benwood, Marshall County, incorporated.
• Town of Aracoma, Logan County, is incorporated (later Logan).
• Kingwood, Preston County, incorporated.
• Bethany, Brooke County, incorporated.

1854

• Moorefield, Hardy County, incorporated.
• Hedgesville, Berkeley County, incorporated.
• Construction of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, which is now the Norfolk and Western Railroad.
• The first iron furnace and coke works on New River established by The Quinnimont Company.

1856

• Tucker County formed from Randolph County.
• Roane County formed from Kanawha and Jackson counties.

1857

• Completion of the Northwestern Railroad from Grafton to Parkersburg.
• Incorporation of Weston College, Weston.

1858

• Formation of McDowell County from Tazewell County.
• Formation of Clay County from Braxton and Nicholas counties.
• Establishment of asylum at Weston.

1859

• Discovery of petroleum on Little Kanawha by Rathbone Brothers.
• Slave insurrection led by John Brown at Harpers Ferry. John Brown executed.
• Formation of Webster County from Nicholas, Braxton, and Randolph counties.
• First real oil well in the state established at Burning Springs, Wirt County.

1860

1861

• Fall of Fort Sumter begins Civil War.
• Federal troops evacuate Harpers Ferry.
• Convention of delegates from 26 counties held in Wheeling May 13, opposed secession and starts movement towards a new state government.
• Virginia ratifies Secession Ordinance with western Virginia counties voting 40,000 to 4,000 against it.
• Second Wheeling convention June 11, declared Ordinance of Secession void and likewise declared offices of State of Virginia vacant; formed "Re-organized Government of Virginia" with Francis H. Pierpont as Governor.
• "Re-organized" Legislature elected John S. Carlile and Waitman T. Willey as U. S. Senators.
• Convention at Wheeling in November forms constitution for new state, submits it to voters.
• War activities feature defeat of Confederates at Philippi, Rich Mountain, and Corrick's Ford. Other engagements at Carnifex Ferry, Cheat Mountain, Cross Lanes, Gauley Bridge, and Kanawha Gap recorded.

1862

• Constitution of West Virginia ratified.
• "Restored" Government of Virginia gives consent and asks that Congress admit new state to Union.
• Congress consents.
• Jackson captures Harpers Ferry.
• First gas well drilled in West Virginia, at New Cumberland.

1863

• Confederates repulsed at Rowlesburg attempting to damage the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
• Governor Pierpont's library burned by the Confederates at Fairmont.
• Boreman elected governor of the new state.
• On June 20th, West