Valley Furnace in Barbour County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Valley Furnace

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

1. Valley Furnace Marker

Inscription. Iron ore was discovered here, 1835, by John Johnson. The Old Iron Furnace, built, 1848, was operated for six years by C.W. Bryant and Isaac Marsh. In 1850, a steam engine replaced the water power used to run fan air blast. Charcoal was fuel used. About 9,000 pounds of iron were produced daily. The iron was hauled by mule team 50 miles to the Monogahela River near Fairmont for shipment by boat to down-river markets.

Erected 1965 by West Virginia Historic Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 39° 11.77′ N, 79° 52.017′ W. Marker is in Valley Furnace, West Virginia, in Barbour County. It is on State Highway 38, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moatsville WV 26405, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Preston County / Barbour County (approx. 6.8 miles away); Jonathan Minear (approx. 7½ miles away); Randolph County / Tucker County (approx. 8½ miles away); Seneca Trail

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(approx. 8.8 miles away); Capture of St. George / Imboden’s Expedition (approx. 9 miles away); St. George (approx. 9 miles away); Saint George Academy (approx. 9.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 9½ miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. First County Seat / Fort Minear (was approx. 9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Antebellum Iron Works in Western Virginia. Photo of the furnace ruins in better days, plus a detailed look at the iron industry in the state. (Submitted on August 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. Felix Ryan is missing from the sign
Felix Ryan was born in Randolph County, Virginia in 1805. His grandfather was an Irish immigrant who settled on land along Licking Creek where it meets the Cheat River, which in 1751 was Augusta County, VA. By the time Felix got together with Isaac Marsh to buy Valley Furnace, he was living along Teter Creek near Nestorville. I believe he and Isaac were cousins. As noted in the history, Valley Furnace became economically untenable in the early 1850s. Felix moved west to Iowa with his wife Leah (Frushour) and family in 1853. Felix was my great-great grandfather and it always pained my Dad that his name never found its way onto the marker. Not

Valley Furnace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2022

2. Valley Furnace

that I expect that to change, but I thought I’d set the record straight.

The full story of Valley Furnace can be found here, courtesy of the Barbour County Historical Museum. That matches what we have in our genealogical database.

— Submitted July 24, 2025, by Keith Ryan of Long Valley, New Jersey.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2022

3. Valley Furnace Marker

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

4. Valley Furnace Marker

Furnace Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

5. Furnace Ruins

Water Power for Furnace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 24, 2010

6. Water Power for Furnace

Originally water was diverted from a nearby stream to power air blast machines at the furnace.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,778 times since then and 99 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.