Clay County, West Virginia
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Clay County was created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on March 29, 1858. It was created from parts of Braxton and Nicholas Counties.

The Clay County Seat - The act creating Clay County declared that the county seat was to be located on the McCalgin (or McOlgin) farm, near the mouth of Buffalo Creek. The area was then known as Marshall. The earliest settlers in the area were Colonel W. E. R. Byrne, A. J. Stephenson, Ellis Myer, Clabourne Pierson, and T.B. Stephenson. The local citizens generally referred to the town as Clay Court House, because the courthouse was the town's main reason for existing, and was the town's primary source of social and economic interaction. On October 10, 1863, the state legislature changed the town's name to Henry, honoring Henry Clay. In 1927, the town's name was changed to Clay.

The first county court was held at the residence of Justice William G. Fitzwaters on July 12, 1858. Mr. Fitzwalters, Jonathon Riffle, Josah Hamrick, Norval Shannon, John Jones, John Sands, William Ewing, Levi Rogers and Charles Duffield were named Justices of the Peace. After setting the dates for electing the county government's officials and future court meetings, the county court adjourned. The first public elections were held on the fourth Tuesday of May in 1859. At that time, there were 293 registered voters in the county. Jacob Salisbury was elected county clerk, Clayburn Pierson was elected county surveyor, and Christopher Campbell was elected sheriff. Norval Shannon was later also named superintendent of schools.

Clay county was named in honor of Senator Henry Clay (1777-1852). Born in Hanover County, Virginia on April 12, 1777, his parents moved him to Kentucky as a young boy. He was later lead the Whig political party, and represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate for many years (1806-1807, 1810-1811, 1831-1842, 1849-1852), and in the U.S. House of Representatives (1811-1821, 1823-1825). He was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1811 and served in that capacity until 1814, and again in 1815-1820, and in 1823-1825. He also served as U.S. Secretary of State from 1825-1829, authored the famous "Compromise of 1850," which sought to avoid the Civil War, ran unsuccessfully for President three times (1824, 1832 and 1844), and is widely regarded as one of the greatest legislators in American political history. He advocated funding for internal improvements, including the extension of the National Road to Wheeling. When that road was completed in 1818, Wheeling became a major trading center and rest stop for pioneers heading west. He died on June 29, 1852. See also Extended History for more historical details.

Areas adjacent to Clay County are Calhoun County (north), Braxton County (northeast), Nicholas County (southeast), Kanawha County (west), Roane County (northwest).. Clay County Cities and Towns Include Bentree, Bickmore, Big Otter, Bomont, Clay, Dille, Duck, Fola, Glen, Harrison, Indore, Ivydale, Lizemores, Maysel, Nebo, Ovapa, Pigeon, Procious, Valley Fork, Wallback, Widen

• Official County Government/ Community Website
• Clay County, West Virginia History Books at Amazon.com
• Search for Local West Virginia Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local West Virginia Researcher!
• Search Historical Newspapers from West Virginia (1808 - 1904) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
• Search West Virginia Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Clay County Court Records

See Also West Virginia Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Clay County Clerk has Land Records from 1858, Marriage Records from 1858, Probate Records from 1858 and Birth & Death Records from 1858 -Present and is located at the Courthouse, 207 Main Street, P. O. Box 190, Clay, WV  25043; 304-587-4259 ,Fax: 304-587-7329 .

The County Clerk's many duties include some of the following: the issuance of marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, record births, marriages and deaths in the county, serve as the recorder of all documents, prepare and send to all heirs a Notice to Redeem and take care of publications, redemptions or recording deeds with regard to delinquent property, issue military service discharge records and probate wills and assist in administration of estates.

Clay County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1858 and is located at the Courthouse, P. O. Box 129, Clay, WV  25043-0129; 304-587-4256, Fax: 304-587-7329 .

The County Clerk of the Circuit Court's many duties include some of the following: Serve as the Clerk to the Circuit and Family Court, Issue mesne (during the progress of a case) process, Issue final process to enforce and execute judgements, Appoint guardian ad litem where required, Responsible for all papers filed in the office; serve as registrar, recorder and custodian for all pleadings, documents and funds pertaining to cases filed in circuit court and family court, Responsible for the administration and management of the petit and grand jury systems in the county

Since West Virginia was part of Virginia prior to 1863, see Virginia State Site for all information before that date.

Built in 1902, the Clay County Courthouse exhibits an early 20th century eclecticism, reflected in the structure’s combination of classical elements of style. Although the lines of the building are simple, the presence of the Beaux Arts-style domed cupola and Doric-columned portico add grace to the somewhat utilitarian facade. This stone structure was built to replace log buildings that once served as working space for both county court and clerk. Local legend holds that, during quarrying for the new courthouse, loose stones from the quarry fell and demolished the old log structure. Designed by local architect Frank L. Packard and virtually unchanged since its dedication, the Clay County Courthouse retains both its integrity and its place as focal point of the Clay community.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
• West Virginia Marriage Records, 1863-1900
• Clay County, West Virginia Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

Clay County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in West Virginia

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! In terms of obtaining vital records from the State Vital Records Office, West Virginia is not an "open record" state. Access to certified copies of birth certificates is restricted to persons with a legal right to the certificate, i.e: The registrant, Mother or father, Legal guardian, Registrant's spouse, Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., of the registrant, Brother or sister of the registrant, Mother-in-law / father-in-law of registrant, Son-in-law / daughter-in-law of registrant or Grandparents and great-grandparents of the registrant.

Vital Records, 350 Capitol St, Rm 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701, Please allow up to approximately 2-3 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

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• Birth & Death Certificates: Birth & Death records are maintained by West Virginia State Vital Records Office since Jan 1917 through the present. For earlier records, write to the Clerk of County Court in the county where the birth occurred. Fees vary.
  • Cost: There is a non refundable $10.00 search fee, which entitles the applicant to one certified copy of the birth certificate. The search fee covers a three year search that consists of the year specified, the year before, and the year after the year specified. Additional copies are also $10.00 each. If no record is found, a "No Record" letter will be mailed to the applicant informing them that no record is on file for the requested certificate. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Processing Time: 2-3 weeks when ordered by mail (Birth / Death) or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage Verifications since 1921 and Divorce Verifications since 1968. Certified copies of marriage licenses or divorce decrees are only available from the county clerk in the county in which the event occurred.
  • Cost: Fees vary
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
• Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office.   If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Eastern Time except for official holidays. The West Virginia Vital Records Office is located at Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701; Phone: 304-558-9100. Map 1, Map 2
• Order By Mail:  Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Registration " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Registration, Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

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Since West Virginia was part of Virginia prior to 1863, see Virginia State Site for all information before that date.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical West Virginia newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• West Virginia Archives and History Birth, Death and Marriage Records Search (limited dates & Places)
• West Virginia Marriage Records, 1863-1900
• Clay County, West Virginia Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Clay County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for West Virginia

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Clay County, West Virginia are (See Virginia Censuses 1860) 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Clay County, West Virginia are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. (NOTE: For the years 1860, Clay County was located in Virginia)

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• USGenWeb Archives Census Project
• Clay County, West Virginia Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

Clay County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for West Virginia and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for West Virginia showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for West Virginia showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The West Virginia Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Maps. Email us with websites containing Clay County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
• Clay County, West Virginia Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Clay County Military Records

See Also Military Records in West Virginia

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• West Virginia Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• West Virginia Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of West Virginia (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of West Virginia (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the CSA(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of Virginia (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War from the State of Virginia (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of Virginia (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Clay County, West Virginia Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

Clay County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

While people were taxed in Virginia prior to 1782, not many tax lists for that early period have survived, and the originals that have survived are at the Virginia State Library. Colonial period taxes were imposed on the personal property of males who were twenty-one and older, and called "tithables." While there is no comprehensive list or collection of early tax lists, many fragments are printed throughout Virginia genealogical literature

West Virginia has one of the most complete sets of old tax records in existence. Land tax records dating from 1782 to 1936 for all counties, with some through 1959, are available at the Archives and History Library in Charleston. Most county clerks have duplicate copies in their offices. As noted in the section on Virginia, the Virginia State Library has the original unindexed personal property tax records from 1782 to 1863.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Clay County, West Virginia Tax Books at Amazon.com

Clay County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other West Virginia Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Clay County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• The Clay County Landmarks Commission and Historical Society, P. O. Box 670, Clay, WV 25043
• West Virginia Archives and History, The Cultural Center; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.; Charleston, WV 25305-0300. Read here before requesting research
  Publication: West Virginia History. This facility consists of the library, archives, and a museum containing materials from 1760 to present.
• West Virginia Genealogical Society, Post Office Box 249, Elkview, West Virginia 25071
• West Virginia Historical Society, PO Box 5220, Charleston, WV 25361
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• West Virginia Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Clay County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in West Virginia

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Clay County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Clay County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Many religious groups have deposited their records at the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. Church record inventories compiled as part of the Historical Records Survey are available there and at the FHL. For a complete discussion of early church records, see Virginia-Church Records.

The most extensive collection of West Virginia tombstone inscriptions was compiled by the Historical Records Survey. Available at the West Virginia and Regional History Collection and on microfilm at the FHL, the collection includes inscriptions through 1939-40. The DAR and others have published volumes of cemetery records.

Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Clay County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of West Virginia obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a West Virginia newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from West Virginia.
• West Virginia Cemetery Readings, 1941
• Clay County, West Virginia Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Clay County, West Virginia Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Clay County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Clay County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Clay County ] [ West Virginia ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The West Virginia Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Clay County, West Virginia Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

The First Settlers

The first native settlers in central West Virginia (Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Roane, Upshur, and Webster counties) were the Mound Builders, also known as the Adena people. Remnants of their civilization have been found throughout northern West Virginia, with many artifacts found in the Northern Panhandle, especially in Marshall County.

The following is a brief history overview :

• Several thousand Hurons occupied present-day West Virginia during the late 1500s and early 1600s.
• During the 1600s, the Iroquois Confederacy (then consisting of the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca tribes) drove the Hurons from the state and used it primarily as a hunting ground.
• During the early 1700s, the Shawnee, Mingo, Delaware, and other Indian tribes also used present-day West Virginia as a hunting ground. West Virginia's Potomac Highlands was inhabited by the Tuscarora. They eventually migrated northward to New York and, in 1712, became the sixth nation to formally be admitted to the Iroquois Confederacy. The Cherokee Nation claimed southern West Virginia.
• In 1744, Virginia officials purchased the Iroquois title of ownership to West Virginia in the Treaty of Lancaster.
• The Delaware, Mingo, and Shawnee sided with the French during the French and Indian War (1755-1763). The Iroquois Confederacy officially remained neutral, but many in the Iroquois Confederacy allied with the French.
• When the French and Indian War was over, England's King George III feared that more tension between Native Americans and settlers was inevitable. In an attempt to avert further bloodshed, he issued the Proclamation of 1763, prohibiting settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. The Proclamation was, for the most part, ignored.
• During the summer of 1763, Ottawa Chief Pontiac led raids on key British forts in the Great Lakes region. Shawnee Chief Keigh-tugh-qua, also known as Cornstalk, led similar raids on western Virginia settlements. The uprisings ended on August 6, 1763 when British forces, under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet, defeated Delaware and Shawnee forces at Bushy Run in western Pennsylvania.
• In 1768, the Iroquois Confederacy (often called the Six Nations) and the Cherokee signed the Treaty of Hard Labour and the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, relinquishing their claims on the territory between the Ohio River and the Alleghenies to the British.
• In April 1774, the Yellow Creek Massacre took place near Wheeling. Among the dead were Mingo Chief Logan's brother and pregnant sister. Violence then escalated intoLord Dunmore's War.
• On October 10, 1774, Colonel Andrew Lewis and approximately 800 men defeated 1,200 Indian warriors led by Shawnee Chief Cornstalk at the Battle of Point Pleasant, ending Lord Dunmore's War.
• The Mingo and Shawnee allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War (1776-1783). One of the more notable battles occurred in 1777 when a war party of 350 Wyandot, Shawnee, and Mingo warriors, armed by the British, attacked Fort Henry, near present-day Wheeling. Nearly half of the Americans manning the fort were killed in the three-day assault. Following the war, the Mingo and Shawnee, once again allied with the losing side, returned to their homes in Ohio. As the number of settlers in the region grew, both the Mingo and the Shawnee move further inland, leaving western Virginia to the white settlers.

Clay County's European Pioneers and Settlers

Philip Hammond is believed to be the first European to set foot in present-day Clay County. He was a courier sent from Point Pleasant (in Mason County) to Fort Donaldson (in Greenbrier County) after the decisive Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. That battle led to the end of Lord Dunmore's War with the Shawnee Indians, led by Chief Cornstalk.

Adam O'Brien was another early Englishman to roam the Clay County area. He reportedly had two wives, one in present-day Braxton County and the other in present-day Clay County. Another early visitor was William Strange. A renowned hunter of fox, buffalo, and bear, he reportedly became lost, or disabled, in the forest, and died at the foot of a large beech tree in 1792 or 1793. Several years later his skeleton, gun, and other personal remains were found. Carved on the tree was the passage "Strange is my name and strange the ground, and strange that I cannot be found." Strange Creek, West Virginia was named in his honor.

Sinnett Triplett may have been the first permanent English settler in the county. He arrived around 1812 or 1813 and camped near present-day Clay. He was soon joined by David McCalgin (or McOlgin). The two men became life-long friends. A few years later, Triplett married and moved away, but, a few years after that, returned to the area.

Jacob Summers built a cabin along the Elk River in 1813. A veteran of the War of 1812, he married a Miss Davis and they had fourteen children. He then had another seven children with his second wife, Eleanor Conrad. Most of Jacob Summers' progeny remained in the county, and, for many years, the Summers' name was the most common name in Clay County.

Important Events in Clay County during the 1800s

The county's first newspaper, the Clay County Star, began publishing in 1883. William D. Gould was the editor, and it was printed at the Clay County Court House.

The opening of the Charleston, Clendenin, Clay and Sutton Railway in 1895 opened up Clay County for further economic development. Until then, the primary means of transportation in the county was rafting along the Elk River. After the railroad opened, the number of rafts traveling the Elk River fell dramatically. However, rafts were still being used to transport people and goods on the Elk River as late as 1927.

The Elk River Coal and Lumber Company was organized in 1904 and soon became the county's largest employer. In June 1919,
the first cars made their way to Calhoun County. The owners were entrepreneurs who visited remote areas and charged local residents ten cents a ride (soon increased to twenty-five cents a ride). They reportedly made $126 in two nights and a day before heading south towards Charleston.