History of Harrison County, West Virginia By Henry Haymond 1910 480 pages, illustrated Bonus – Virginia Counties & Cities Timeline (Details below) ******************************************************************** Digital Book CD Requires Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to View ********************************************************************** $11.99 + $1.99 shipping and handling http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200310578773 In 1744, Virginia officials purchased the Iroquois title of ownership to West Virginia in the Treaty of Lancaster. Harrison County was created in 1784, formed from Monongalia County and named for Benjamin Harrison V, a Virginian who was the father of William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States and great-grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third president. The 1790 census, taken shortly after Harrison County was formed, indicated that the new county had next to the smallest population (2,080) of the nine counties that were, at that time, within present- day West Virginia. Berkeley County had the largest population (19,713) and Randolph County had the smallest (951). There were 55,873 people living within the present state's boundaries at the time. John Simpson, a trapper and fur trader, is believed to be the first European settler in present-day Harrison County. He explored the Clarksburg area during the early 1760s. Thomas Nutter was another early Harrison County settler. He received a land grant for 1,400 acres of land along Elk Creek, close to present-day Clarksburg. He arrived in the county with his brothers Matthew and Christopher around 1772. Shortly thereafter, Obadiah and Daniel Davisson also settled in the Clarksburg area. Together, they constructed Nutter's Fort, one of the strongest forts south of Fort Pitt. Levi, Clement, and Jonathan Shinn arrived in the county shortly after Thomas Nutter. Originally from New Jersey, Levi Shinn and his brother, David, visited the county in 1772 or 1773 to establish "tomahawk" rights (claiming territory by marking trees with notches). Contents Early Discoveries 1 The Aboriginees 3 Settlement of Virginia 6 The French and Indian Wars 9 Early Settlements West of the Mountains 16 Indian Tribes 64 Early Indian Troubles and Dunmore's War 65 Indian Wars 58 Incidents Connected With Indian Wars 140 The Revolution 146 Formation of Counties 157 Land Laws 162 Cession of the North West Territory 163 The Mason and Dlxon Line 164 The Great Woods 166 Native Animals and Birds 168 Life of the Settlers, Houses, Weddings, Amusements and Diseases 171 Climate and Natural Phenomena. .184 Courts 188 United States Courts 192 County Courts 193 The Board of Supervisors 233 Criminal Court .234 Court Houses 235 Jails 242 Constitutions 244 Conventions and Legislatures 248 Roads 251 Clarksburg 254 Census of the County 274 County Districts and Townships. .278 Churches 379 Schools 286 Newspapers 295 Slavery 302 The War of 1812 306 The Mexican War 312 Civil War 315 The Spanish War 331 New State 332 Incorporated Towns 340 Governors and Officials 349 William Haymond's Letters 352 Sketches of Pioneers 369 Indian Cave 396 Fourth of July Celebration 399 Banks 403 Whiskey Insurrection 406 Elections 409 Adjutant General's Report 413 Miscellaneous 426 Bonus – Virginia Counties & Cities Timeline Summarized from “Virginia Counties – Those Resulting from Virginia Legislation” Published 1916 This is a 21 page chart summarizing, in date order, the formation of all 180 Virginia counties now located in the present day states of Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. Also includes information on the 90 independent cities of Virginia. Begins in 1634 with the eight original shires, continues through 1776 with the first county in present day Kentucky, and 1779 with the first county in present day West Virginia. Dickenson was the last new Virginia county, formed 1880. In 1920 Alexandria County was renamed Arlington County.