Clay in Clay County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Benjamin L. Stephenson
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 14, 2019
1. Benjamin L. Stephenson Marker
Inscription.
Benjamin L. Stephenson. . Born on December 10, 1826, he was one of the first school teachers in Nicholas County. He moved to Clay County before the Civil War and was a delegate to the first constitutional convention for West Virginia, 1861-1863. In 1863, he organized a company of militia and served as captain. Elected to the House of Delegates in 1865, he served until his death on April 7, 1871.
Born on December 10, 1826, he was
one of the first school teachers
in Nicholas County. He moved to
Clay County before the Civil War
and was a delegate to the first
constitutional convention for West Virginia,
1861-1863. In 1863, he organized a
company of militia and served as
captain. Elected to the House of
Delegates in 1865, he served until
his death on April 7, 1871.
Erected 2016 by West Virginia Archives and History.
Location. 38° 27.601′ N, 81° 5.016′ W. Marker is in Clay, West Virginia, in Clay County. Marker is on Main Street (West Virginia Route 16) east of Locust Street, on the right when traveling east. It is at the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clay WV 25043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The Old Clay County Courthouse in Clay, West Virginia was designed by Frank L. Packard and built in 1902. The Beaux-Arts building was located on a hill overlooking the county seat. The courthouse was the site of three notable trials: the Sarah Ann Legg trial of 1905, the first trial of a woman in Clay County for murder; the Booger Hole trial of 1917, in which citizens nearly lynched the defendants; and the Oscar Bail trial of 1953, in which Bail was convicted of killing a mine guard in the Great Widen Coal Strike. —Wikipedia
This historical marker is out of frame on the left, near the west staircase. The Clay marker is out of frame to the right, near the east staircase.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.