Weston in Lewis County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Seizure of Weston Bank Funds

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 11, 2021

1. Seizure of Weston Bank Funds Marker

Inscription. Early on June 30, 1861, John List of Wheeling, under commission from Gov. Pierpont and with the help of the 7th Ohio Infantry, took charge of about $30,000 in gold held at the Weston branch of the Exchange Bank of VA. Pierpont feared that the Richmond government would use the money, allocated for building the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, to fill the Confederate war chest.

Erected 2016 by West Virginia Archives & History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 30, 1861.

Location. 39° 2.215′ N, 80° 27.591′ W. Marker is in Weston, West Virginia, in Lewis County. Marker is on East 3rd Street (U.S. 33) just north of Brown Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Weston WV 26452, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Louis Bennett Library (approx. 0.3 miles away); Weston Colored School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Military Order of the Purple Heart Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Korea (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lewis County Casualties (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial and Gary St. Clair (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weston.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It is a marker about the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

Also see . . . Seizure of Weston Bank Funds Highway Historical Marker. 2020 article by Cody Brown and Francis Curran in Clio: Your Guide to History. Excerpt:

Construction on the building—officially named the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum—began in 1858. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War in the spring of 1861, however, the Virginia legislature ordered a halt to construction and demanded that the remaining funds for the project, which were held in the town’s branch of the Exchange Bank of Virginia, be returned to Richmond to aid the state in its preparations for war. To prevent the funds from being used in support of the rebellion, Francis H. Pierpont, Governor of the Restored Government of Virginia, the unionist government of Virginia that remained loyal to the United States throughout the Civil War, informed Union General George B. McClellan of the situation. General McClellan then ordered the Seventh Ohio
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 11, 2021

2. Seizure of Weston Bank Funds Marker
Infantry, under the command of Colonel E.B. Tyler, stationed at Clarksburg, to march overnight to Weston to secure the funds.

(Submitted on May 24, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

The Exchange Bank of Virginia Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, May 9, 2022

3. The Exchange Bank of Virginia Building

Located at 133 Center Avenue in Weston.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 155 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 24, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on May 9, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.