Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Creating West Virginia

Parkersburg's Wartime Politicians

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 13, 2014

1. Creating West Virginia Marker

Inscription.

Creating West Virginia. Parkersburg's Wartime Politicians. During the Civil War, several Parkersburg residents played a role in carving the new state of West Virginia from the Old Dominion of Virginia and in representing it at the national level., Much of the political life of the city took place in nearby venues such as the U.S. Hotel, which stood just southeast of here, the courthouse that stood on the site of the present structure a block farther southeast, and the Swann House, which was located on “The Point” three blocks southwest. Wartime visitors to the Swann House, the most prominent hotel in the city, included Union Gens. George B. McClellan, Jacob D. Cox, Ambrose E. Burnside, and David Hunter, and Union Cols. Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield., Prominent Parkersburg residents were motivated to keep northwestern Virginia in the Union and to help protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the oilfield at Burning Springs (Oiltown). Peter G. Van Winkle contributed importantly to drafting the first constitution for the new state of West Virginia and served as one of its first two U.S. senators. Local attorney Arthur I. Boreman became the state’s first governor. William E. Stevenson served in the first state constitutional convention and then became the state’s third governor. Physician John W. Moss presided over the First Wheeling Convention and later served as colonel of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry (US). Gen. John Jay Jackson, as a delegate to Virginia’s secession convention, voted against secession. His son, Judge John Jay Jackson, served as a federal judge and delegate to the First Wheeling Convention., (captions) , (lower left) Congressman Peter G. Van Winkle Courtesy Library of Congress; Governor Arthur I. Boreman Courtesy of Library of Congress; Governor William E. Stevenson West Virginia Archives and History , (upper right) Central Parkersburg, M. Wood White's County and District Map of the State of West Virginia (1873) . This historical marker was erected by West Virignia Civil War Trails. It is in Parkersburg in Wood County West Virginia

During the Civil War, several Parkersburg residents played a role in carving the new state of West Virginia from the Old Dominion of Virginia and in representing it at the national level.

Much of the political life of the city took place in nearby venues such as the U.S. Hotel, which stood just southeast of here, the courthouse that stood on the site of the present structure a block farther southeast, and the Swann House, which was located on “The Point” three blocks southwest. Wartime visitors to the Swann House, the most prominent hotel in the city, included Union Gens. George B. McClellan, Jacob D. Cox, Ambrose E. Burnside, and David Hunter, and Union Cols. Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield.

Prominent Parkersburg residents were motivated to keep northwestern Virginia in the Union and to help protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the oilfield at Burning Springs (Oiltown). Peter G. Van Winkle contributed importantly to drafting the first constitution for the new state of West Virginia and served as one of its first two U.S. senators. Local attorney Arthur I. Boreman became the state’s first governor.

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William E. Stevenson served in the first state constitutional convention and then became the state’s third governor. Physician John W. Moss presided over the First Wheeling Convention and later served as colonel of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry (US). Gen. John Jay Jackson, as a delegate to Virginia’s secession convention, voted against secession. His son, Judge John Jay Jackson, served as a federal judge and delegate to the First Wheeling Convention.

(captions)
(lower left) Congressman Peter G. Van Winkle Courtesy Library of Congress; Governor Arthur I. Boreman Courtesy of Library of Congress; Governor William E. Stevenson West Virginia Archives and History
(upper right) Central Parkersburg, M. Wood White's County and District Map of the State of West Virginia (1873)

Erected by West Virignia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list.

Location. 39° 15.936′ N, 81° 33.816′ W. Marker is in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in Wood County. Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Street and Juliana Street (West Virginia Route

Close up of the map of Parkersburg in the upper right image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 13, 2014

2. Close up of the map of Parkersburg in the upper right

68), on the right when traveling north on 3rd Street. This marker is on the grounds of the Oil & Gas Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119 3rd Street, Parkersburg WV 26101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jacob Beeson Blair (here, next to this marker); W.H. Smith Hardware Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood County Court House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wood County Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); Wood County 911 Memorial (about 300 feet away); George Neale, Jr. House (about 300 feet away); Wetherell's Jewelers Clock (about 500 feet away); West Virginia's First Governor / Parkersburg Governors (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parkersburg.

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 13, 2014

3. Creating West Virginia Marker

Photographed By Don Morfe, April 13, 2014

4. Creating West Virginia Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 457 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.