This land would be used to build a new courthouse.

 

John T. McGraw's Offer to Pocahontas County

Colonel John T. McGraw, representing the Pocahontas Development Company, offered the Pocahontas County Court 2.5 acres of land and $5,000 to help build a new courthouse and jail in 1891. This offer was contingent on county voters approving the relocation of the county seat from Huntersville to a new town called Marlinton, which was to be built at a place called “Martin’s Bottom” on the east bank of the Greenbrier River.

A group of Pocahontas County voters had petitioned the county court on October 6th, 1891, requesting that a special election be held to determine if the county seat should be moved from Huntersville to Marlinton. The court agreed to hold this election on December 8th, 1891.

As part of their proposal to relocate the county seat, the Pocahontas Development Company:

• Offered to give the County Court of Pocahontas County “a good and sufficient deed” to 2.5 acres of land located in the new town of Marlinton. This land would be used to build a new courthouse. The deed was filed with the court as an escrow, meaning that the land would only be transferred to the county if voters approved moving the county seat.
• Filed a bond for $5,000 with the county court. This bond was a guarantee that the company would pay the county $5,000 in cash if the county seat was relocated to Marlinton. The bond was signed by the company’s president and secretary.

The sources do not state whether the county court accepted the company’s offer, but they do note that the court appointed three commissioners to oversee the election at each voting precinct in the county.

It is worth noting that the sources do not state whether the special election was held, nor do they indicate its outcome.