Source:Lewis, Virgil A. History of West Virginia (2002 compilation)

Description from web site:

Early days in Mason County and Putnam County, WV, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 65 page booklet comprised of excerpts four rare vintage books: Historical Collections of Virginia by Henry Howe (1845); West Virginia in History, Life, Literature and Industry by Morris Purdy Shawkey (1928); History of West Virginia by Virgil A. Lewis (1889); and Virginia, a Guide to the Mountain State, a WPA publication (1941).

The booklet is printed on 60# opaque paper, with the print size enlarged as needed to fit the 8 1/2 x 11 size. The front cover is a parchtex card stock, protected with a vinyl sheet. Communities currently listed for this area by the National Association of Counties include (those underlined are mentioned in the booklet): Putnam County -- Bancroft, Buffalo, Eleanor, Fraziers Bottom, Hometown, Hurricane, Lanham, Liberty, Nitro (part), Pliny, Poca, Red House, Scott Depot, Teays, Winfield (County Seat). Also mentioned in the text: Raymond City, Black Betsey. Mason County -- Apple Grove, Arbuckle, Ashton, Clifton, Gallipolis Ferry, Glenwood, Grimms Landing, Hartford, Hartford City, Henderson, Lakin, Leon, Letart, Mason, New Haven, Point Pleasant (County Seat), Robertsburg, Southside, West Columbia. Among the many subjects included are: Physical features; formation of the county; the famous 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant, "the bloodiest battle ever fought with the Indians in Virginia" (several accounts); Murder of the Shawanee Chief, Cornstalk; Recollections of an aged pioneer, Jesse Van Bebber; George Mason; First Courts and officials; Washington at Point Pleasant; Eulin's Leap; John Hall, president of the convention that framed the first constitution of WV; Major John Cantrell, Early Putnam pioneers; Teays' Valley; Horrible Death of Two Pioneers; Tackett's Pine; John Bowyer, Dr. Sydenham Hereford, and James H. Hoge; Monument at Point Pleasant; Anne Royal, writer; Virgil Anson Lewis, historian and writer; State Industrial School for Colored Boys; Winfield Dam; Red House Farms; William Hope "Coin" Harvey; Tu-Endie-Wei-Park; and other bits of history and trivia. Attention Genealogists: This booklet contains relatively detailed biographies of many county residents of yesteryear. They frequently include ancestors, siblings, children, in-laws, affiliations, war records, and business activities, in the course of which they often shed light on the businesses, churches, professions and institutions, and on the events of the day. They include: Elmer L. Stone, Benjamin H. Blagg, Howard S. Johnson, Ulysses G. Arnett, Bertha S. Filson (first woman elected to public office in Mason Co.), Robert L. Hogg, Robert E. Bills, Rev. Gill I. Wilson, Albert Rockenstein, John Lamar Whitten, Marion G. Tyler, John McCausland, the Blessing family, Lee Barrows, Carl Nelson Hand, Frank M. Lintzmeyer, Lewis N. Tavener, Rev. Parran E. Thornburg, Dr. Charles Benton Marshall, Luigi Lemma, Robert F. Forth. Bookseller Inventory # 000249