Near Bramwell in Mercer County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Jordan Nelson’s Coal Bank

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 16, 2015

1. Jordan Nelson’s Coal Bank Marker

Inscription. Jordan Nelson, blacksmith, dug coal from bank to fuel forge, and made 1st commercial use by selling for 1 cent a bushel in 1870s. In 1873 I. A. Welch surveyed Pocahontas Coalfield for J. Hotchkiss who induced F. J. Kimball, later President of N&W Railroad, to visit site May 1881. Southwest Virginia Improvement Company bought land and opened Pocahontas Mine and shipped coal over N&W’s New River Line built to open coalfield.

Erected 1983 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1881.

Location. 37° 18.756′ N, 81° 19.958′ W. Marker is near Bramwell, West Virginia, in Mercer County. Marker is on Bramwell-Pocahontas Road (County Route 120), on the right when traveling west. It it closer to Pocahontas, Virginia, but is in West Virginia just before the Virginia state line, where Mercer County Route 120 becomes Tazewell County Route 644 on its way to Pocahontas. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bramwell WV 24715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the

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crow flies. Pocahontas Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away in Virginia); Pocahontas (approx. ¼ mile away in Virginia); Abb’s Valley (approx. ¼ mile away in Virginia); Town of Pocahontas Commercial District (approx. 0.7 miles away in Virginia); Bramwell (approx. ¾ mile away); Mill Creek Coal & Coke Co. (approx. ¾ mile away); Pocahontas Mine No. 1 (approx. 0.8 miles away in Virginia); The Coal Barons (approx. 1.4 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Pocahontas No. 3 Coal Seam. Article by C. Stuart McGehee in the West Virginia Encyclopedia. Excerpt: “Covering some 900 square miles in Mercer, Wyoming, and McDowell counties in West Virginia, and neighboring Tazewell County, Virginia, the rich Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam was first mined by Jordan Nelson, whose backyard coalbank eventually attracted serious interest from the Philadelphia founders of the Norfolk & Western Railway. The N&W completed its line to the Pocahontas, Virginia, location of Nelson’s coalbank in March 1883 and began the rapid industrialization of the region.” (Submitted on November 14, 2015.)

2. Blacksmith - Jordan Nelson Story. (Submitted on February 24, 2019, by William A. Petty of Amissville, Virginia.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 16, 2015

2. Jordan Nelson’s Coal Bank Marker

Jordan Nelson Grave Stone. image. Click for full size.

circa August 15, 2012

3. Jordan Nelson Grave Stone.

Jordan Nelson is buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery on Hancock Street in Bluefield, WV.

Blacksmith & Coal Pioneer Jordan Nelson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William A. Petty

4. Blacksmith & Coal Pioneer Jordan Nelson

Jordan Nelson’s Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William A. Petty

5. Jordan Nelson’s Cabin

Jordan Nelson's cabin was located in Powell's Bottom, now Pocahontas,VA., near Bramwell,WV.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 693 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on February 24, 2019, by William A. Petty of Amissville, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 4, 2019. 4, 5. submitted on February 23, 2019, by William A. Petty of Amissville, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.