Beverly in Randolph County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Beverly

Original County Seat

Photographed by Craig Swain, October 11, 2009

1. Beverly Marker

Inscription. Nearly two decades after the ill-fated attempt of the Foyles (Files) and Taggert (Tygart) families to pioneer the area in 1754, the Tygarts Valley was finally settled by a group of families in 1772. One of this group, Jacob Westfall Sr., built a fort near the Files home site where Files Creek empties into the Tygarts Valley River. Several log homes built by these early pioneers still survive within existing buildings in the area.

When Randolph County was established in 1787, plans were made for a county seat, to be called Edmundton in honor of the governor, Edmund Jennings Randolph. In 1790, the town was laid out in one-half acre lots on the lands of James Westfall and renamed Beverly, for the new governor, Beverly Randolph.

Beverly developed as the county seat and commercial center of a rich farming valley. With the completion of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike in 1845, the community prospered, boasting a wide range of products and services. The Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike was completed in 1852, giving access to the new railroad that reached Grafton the same year.

Troops occupied Beverly throughout the Civil War, serving as a staging area for Confederate troops before Rich Mountain, and headquarters for Federal troops afterwards. The town was raided several times during the war, and a number of buildings were destroyed.

After

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the War, Beverly again prospered, adding many new homes and buildings. Its prosperity was eclipsed by the new railroad boomtown of Elkins in the 1890s, however, and the County Seat was moved to Elkins in 1900.

Erected by Staunton Parkersburg Turnpike and Historic Beverly, W.Va.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1754.

Location. 38° 50.462′ N, 79° 52.522′ W. Marker is in Beverly, West Virginia, in Randolph County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 219) north of Court Street, on the right when traveling south. Located next to the Randolph County Museum and Historical Society. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 728 Main Street, Beverly WV 26253, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands.

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 walking distance of this marker: Occupied Beverly (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Beverly (here, next to this marker); The First Campaign (here, next to this marker); Blackman-Bosworth Store (a few steps from this marker); 1813 Randolph County Jail (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Beverly (a few steps from this

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 4, 2025

2. Beverly Marker

Marker is located at the far right.

marker); Robert Foyles & Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Beverly Public Square (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beverly.

Other markers no longer nearby. Occupied Beverly (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Randolph Co Jail - 1813 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. On the right is a photo of Main Street Beverly. The initial plans for the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike called for the route to cross the mountain near Huttonsville, about 12 miles south of Beverly. The citizens of Beverly raised $3,200.00 for the construction of the road in order to get the route through Beverly. The turnpike, a major east-west corridor, reached Beverly in September of 1841. Beverly resident Lemuel Chenoweth constructed many of the covered bridges on the turnpike, including the one in Beverly.

Also see . . . Historic Beverly. Short history of the town from the Historic Beverly web site. (Submitted on November 15, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

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Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,282 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 15, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on February 5, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.