The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-01-03
i LOCAL CoNUNDRU Uni.
Is IL "n"cUioM," i1csi'gYsrillc" or
UicaR0n."

1t has long been a matter lre,
qucnily discussed by our local
historians, as to how our town Oh,
tanned lis rrcsont mama. It has
certainly been known by three
different names, to-wit: "Prcston,'
"Flcsherayillc," and "Weston" last
Of al, as will appear b. what fol-
lows herein. II is q singular fact
that while the town is designated
by each of these names III the Or
der books Of our Courts, yot there
does not appear that it has eve!
been changed hy authority: nor is
there any authentic tradition Of
how the namo waa changed. The
county Of Lewis WIS formed By an
act Of the Legislature Of the old
state, passed on the 18th day o!
December, 1916; and. the first
place used as q "sCat Of Justice for
the new county was at WcsttiGld-
tho Court making an allowance, on
tho 18Th day of June, 1877, so
Mrs. Newton, for the Use of house
to hold Court III, ( courts, SEQ
BY the net of the Legislature aiore-
said, Lewis Maxwell, Elias Lowtier,
and John Mccoy were appointed
Commissioners to select Il suitable
site for "a scat Of justice" and in
April, 1871, tl'cyreportcd that "the
most suitable place for the purpose
aforesaid is on tho farm of Henry
E'lesher, lying and being on tho
West Fork Of tho Monongahulia
River, above the mouth of Stone
Crack, OH the est side OF said riyor,
and that tho particular spot of
ground on said farm agreed upon
by us is on the rising ground cast
Of said Ileshcr's dwelling house,
near tho tlircshing floor Of said
Fleshor, whcrO lis stacks now
stand"
1t was then ordered tint thcrcaf.
ter the Courts should be held at
.'pHEsroy,' until another place
therefor was selected by competent
authority; and what is now yves
tom became tho "seat Of justice
for Lewis county. The Hon. James
!. Preston was then Governor o
Virginia; and inasmuch.as he az
pgoTcd tho bill creating ti!c new
county, it may be that the count!
sQat derived liz name as mattol
Of compliment 10 him. At any
rate. that was tie only namc hy
which the town was known in tho
order hooks until 1919, when "Lu'
cy.' n s'ave belonging to Thomas
II. Eatten, was sentenced to be
hanged for The murder Of a child
In Che Judgment rendorad in that
case, the CoUrt deereed that "shc
Ii" aaiG Lucy, be, by tho SHERIFF.
this county. hanged by the neck Oh
the 18th day Of February next, al
the town Of FlEsnEIsv!.Lr, he
tween the hours Of l. and i o'clock
until she ho dead" The next or,
der thut can he iound by which Tho
name was again changed, is an or.
| der entered on the liIh day Of ip'
Ri, 1870, directing certain persons,
in said order mentioned, to lot ont
by contract the construction OF the
first brick Court Iieuse tho county
ever had, which vas 10 be built "on
tho public square in the town OF
WEsToY.'
From TINT tim" up to the present
the town has been known only by
its present name; and it 10 now so
well fastened upon it that, as Il
matter Of course, il will never be
changed again, unless for moro mo-
n!cnt0uG causcs than can now Rp.
pear. Tho question is, though,Nnd
is the conundrum desired to be an
swcrcd, how did tho town get its
triune nomenclature, and how was
10 changed? Let some of our local
historians answer.