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. 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.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1871.

Location. 38° 27.601′ N, 81° 5.016′ W. Marker is in Clay, West Virginia, in Clay County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Charleston Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clay (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Clay County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Clay County Viet Nam Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Clay County WWI & WWII Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Clay County Korean Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Floyd T. Sargent (within shouting distance of this marker); Dundon, West Virginia (approx. 0.9 miles away); Union Militias (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clay.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 14, 2019

2. Benjamin L. Stephenson Marker

Old Clay County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 14, 2019

3. Old Clay County Courthouse

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 December 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 724 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.