The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-18
Marion County Formed
1912 From Parts OF Mon.
ongalia and Harrison.

459+5s& 4 gS "
How many counties in West Viz
gfnfa? Can you tell when they
were formed and how they traced
their Individual origins? Do you
4 know the early history OF Marion
County?
When buffalo were brought down
by TIE hunter. when the black
bear was common and Its flesh
staple food and elk we're slaughter
ed II IN large numbers when shoals
pike, salmon, yellow and blue
sscatfish, white perch and black bass
were found in the streams, and the
ssbobwhite, duck and loon mingled
their call with that of the cardinal
the knocking bird and the native
sSsparTows, this country was stu
d Hpuhg and chaste ana its natural
Akbeartxs called alluringly to the new
assett1 err TIL en- undimmed by the
soar Of factories, the waters in the
sestreams swept swiftly on, calling
..sBsSs;sssIns 1819 little band OF settlers
made their way up the Mononga-
ahe1a and settled on the farm OF
sBoaz Fleming, on the west bank OF
tho river, calling the settlement
:lMtddletown as 1t was half way be-
ESTMeen Clarks burg and Morgantown.
II sSsss In II anuary, 1912, House Bill NO
s., which had been introduced by
ssSWf1l.am S. Morgan. was passed
ITproviGing for new county to be
sformed from parts OF Monongalia
and Harrison counties. The new
county was named Marion, after
sFrancis Marion, the fam Gus Revolu-
stionary leader MiddIetown, tho
Hlargest settlement, was made the
Ncounty seat and the following year
Its name wes changed to Fairmont,
Il owing to the fact that there was
sSa, Mi ddletown in Frederick County.
the little settlement
AgrewH an dthe bobwhite and cardi-
xdaI are heard no more and the call
& of#the Monongahela is drowned by
the roar Of the city. Il
Amusements Different.
with the coming Of industries
Al and the growth OF the settleme nt
fashioned husking-bees log-rollings
land cuttings have given place 70
gEol ft bridge and dancing. What ii.
sthose: days were termed amuse-
sIments was often the hardest kind
ii$$ofs work. The first party in the
tall of the year was a." fax pull.
TIL e guests Assem- bled In. the
Scar7y$ morning and worked all day.
1.-THE boys and girls working as
"A Partners, and after the work was.
tSfinished there were dancing ant
u games until morning. When the
N Orchards began to bear apple cut
r, oil n r hor
sIV eref the corn snuckings and the
spelling bees. We'd
Ssdfngs often lasted two days, the
e guests staying over night ana
4 Mach N erry-making being had.
The early settlers observed only
three holidays, Christmas, Easter
u and tn Fourth OF July. Then the
W celebration of Thanksgiving was
and Santa Claus was I'M
n heard OF IA
Names Explained.
James Heating OF Cumberland,
sMd ecently colnDiied the follow
SSNirginia counties:
MI Barb formed 1913; named
ohm Barbour, governor OF
u Virginia, 1912.
sss from N or barne Berkeley, Baron de
a#Botetourt, governor under George
76S.
Boone, formed 1s47; named from
DAME. Boone, pioneer OF Kentucky.
Braxton, formed 1886; named
from Carter Braxton, one of Vir-
SSs Einia's signers Of \ the Declaration
VI ofaIndependence.
ss Robert Brooke, governor Of Viz
S85S$.
SCabell, formed 1909; named. from
EsWIlliam H. Cabell, governor Of vir-
kEi1ia, 1906.
SCaihoun,s formed 1855. named
IRON John c. Calhoun, the Am eri'
kcan statesman.
Is cd bridge formed 1916; named
from; Philip Doddridge, member
,,tss$$of Congress from Virginia.
Fayette. formed 1881; named
sgf ON General Lafayette
ssasE5. sam er, sformed 1915; named
gfsTetary of the Navy. who was killed
M On board the Steamer Princeton
ia IS44. at Mt Vernon, Va
Grant. named from General y. s.
Greenbrier, formed 1777:- named
SsIssror1s its PRINCIPAL river
sysS Harrison, formed 1854; named
I. from Benjamin Harrison. governor
55aSsSof Virginia.
The Oldest County.
81 Hampshire, formed 1854; named
from Hampshire County. England
Ia is the Oldest county in the state
81. All ssH ancock, formed 1S4S; named
Eppl John Hancock. president OF
tide Continental Congress-
Hardy, formed 1856; named iron,
Samuel Hardy, an early nembe:
OF Congress from Virgin ia.
Jackson, formed 1881; named
from Andrew Jackson, President OF
the United States. 5i
Kanawha, formed 1883: named
from Thomas Jefferson President
8of the United States.
- rybo for~od 1000 N q NJ, m