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

Monongalia County was one of three counties created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in October 1776 from the District of West Augusta (Virginia). The others were Ohio and Yohogania counties. Monongalia County was named in honor of the Monongahela River, named by the Algonquin (Delaware) Indians. The river's name means "river of crumbling banks" or "high banks fall down." When the bill creating the county was being prepared the spelling was changed to Monongalia. It is not known if the spelling was changed on purpose or was an error.

Monongalia County is known as the mother county for northern West Virginia because many other counties were created from its original territory. The precise number is difficult to determine because the original county's boundaries fell along watersheds which shifted over time. However, at least thirteen West Virginia counties were created in whole, and perhaps as many as eighteen West Virginia counties were created either in whole or in part, from Monongalia County. Moreover, parts of Greene, Fayette and Washington counties in Pennsylvania also were created from the county. The Pennsylvania counties were carved from Monongalia County when the Mason-Dixon line was accepted as defining the borders of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. That approval process began in 1779, and was officially agreed to by the three states in 1784.

County Seat - Michael Kerns's grist mill was Morgantown's first commercial enterprise. It was established around 1772. Zackquill Morgan opened the town's first tavern in 1783. Thomas Laidley opened the town's first general store in 1783 and by 1790 there were two tanneries and several iron furnaces in operation. By 1800, Morgan's Town comprised about forty homes and five taverns. Among the first ordinances created by the town's trustees in 1810 was one creating a fine for galloping horses in the streets and another regulating the hours of the Market House, which was the only place in town allowed to sell meat.

Morgantown was incorporated as the Borough of Morgantown, governed by a Board of Trustees, by the Virginia General Assembly on February 3, 1838. At that time, Morgantown's population was growing only slowly, primarily because the residents, fearing the corrupting influence of outsiders, initially opposed linking the city to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1876, Morgantown had about 700 residents. After rejecting previous overtures, the city's residents finally gave in and approved the extension of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (which already had a line running to Fairmont) to Morgantown. The first locomotive arrived in the city on February 14, 1886.

The railroad opened the area for economic development. Four smaller rail lines were soon in operation, extending from the main railroad terminal in Morgantown out into the surrounding coal fields. The opening of the coal fields encouraged people to move to Morgantown.

In 1900, Morgantown's population reached nearly 2,000, with another 3,500 or so residing in the surrounding area. In 1901, after a local election was held, Morgantown merged with the surrounding communities of Durbannah (South Morgantown), Seneca, and Greenmount. The expansion increased Morgantown's boundaries three-fold and increased its population to 5,000. In 1905, East Morgantown was also annexed into the city (also joined in 1949 by Suncrest and Sabraton), and the Borough of Morgantown was granted a charter by the state legislature incorporating it as a city.

Morgantown's annexations, and the economic growth provided by the arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, resulted in Morgantown's population reaching 9,000 in 1910 and 13,000 in 1920.

See also Extended History for more historical details.

Areas adjacent to Monongalia County are Greene County, Pennsylvania (north), Fayette County, Pennsylvania (northeast), Preston County (east), Taylor County (southeast), Marion County (south), Wetzel County (west). Monongalia County Cities and Towns Include Liberty, Blacksville, Booth, Cassville, Core, Dellslow, Everettville, Granville, Little Falls, Maidsville, Morgantown, Osage, Pentress, Pursglove, Star City, Wadestown, Wana, Westover

• Official County Government/ Community Website
• Monongalia 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....

Monongalia 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.

Monongalia County Clerk has Land Records from 1776, Marriage Records from 1796, Probate Records from 1774 and Birth & Death Records from 1853 -Present and is located at the Courthouse, 243 High Street, Morgantown, WV  26505; 304-291-7230, Fax: 304-291-7233 .

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.

Monongalia County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1774 and is located at the Courthouse, 243 High Street, Morgantown, WV  26505-5427; 304-291-7240, Fax: 304-291-7273 .

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.

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

• Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
• West Virginia Marriage Records, 1863-1900
• Monongalia 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.

Monongalia 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:

---

• 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.

---

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 Monongalia County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Monongalia 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
• Monongalia 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.

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County, West Virginia are (See Virginia Censuses 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 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 Monongalia County, West Virginia are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. (NOTE: For the years 1850 & 1860, Monongalia County was located in Virginia)

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

• USGenWeb Archives Census Project
• Monongalia 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.

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Maps. Email us with websites containing Monongalia County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
• Monongalia 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.

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Monongalia 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.
• Monongalia 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.

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Monongalia County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

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

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Monongalia County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Monongalia Historical Society, P. O. Box 127, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Morgantown Public Library, 373 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505; Phone: (304) 291-7425
• 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

Monongalia 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 Monongalia County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Monongalia 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
• Monongalia County, West Virginia Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Monongalia 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: [ Monongalia 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.
• Monongalia County, West Virginia Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

The First Settlers

The first native settlers in present-day North-Central West Virginia (Barbour, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor counties) were the Mound Builders, also known as the Adena people. Remnants of the Mound Builders' civilization have been found throughout northern West Virginia, with a high concentration of artifacts located at Moundsville, West Virginia, in West Virginia's northern panhandle (in Marshall County). The Grave Creek Indian Mound, located in the center of Moundsville, is one of West Virginia's most famous historic landmarks. More than 2,000 years old, it stands 69 feet high and 295 feet in diameter.

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 into Lord 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.

Monongalia County's European Pioneers and Settlers

Dr. Samuel Eckerlin and his two brothers (probably Gabriel and Israel) were the first Europeans known to visit present-day Monongalia County with the intent of establishing a settlement. They left eastern Pennsylvania in 1751 or 1752 and arrived near present-day Morgantown. After exploring the area, they finally settled in present-day Preston County.

During the fall of 1758, Thomas Decker established the first settlement in present-day Monongalia County. He led a group of settlers to Decker's Creek, in present-day Morgantown. The settlement was destroyed the following spring by a party of Delaware and Mingo Indians. All but one of the original settlers, including Thomas Decker, were killed or captured in the attack.

Most historians believe that David Morgan and his younger brother Zackquill Morgan were the next Europeans to attempt a permanent settlement in Monongalia County. They left Delaware and reached present-day Morgantown in 1766 or 1767. Zackquill decided to build his home near Decker's Creek. David continued down the Monongahela River and settled in present-day Marion County. Other accounts suggest that Brice Worley and his brother, Nathan, arrived in the county the year before the Morgans arrived.

Most historians credit Zackquill Morgan as Monongalia County's second permanent settler, citing as evidence Colonel William Crawford's sworn deposition. Colonel Crawford indicated that Zackquill Morgan, James Chew, and Jacob Prickett moved into present-day north-central West Virginia in 1766, and that he personally visited Morgan's farm, near Decker's Creek.

Zackquill Morgan, son of Morgan Morgan, served in both the French and Indian War and in the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of Colonel. He received a legal certificate for 400 acres of land in the Morgantown area in 1781. In October 1785, at Colonel Morgan's request, the Virginia General Assembly specified that 50 acres of his land was to be laid out in lots of a half acre each, and a town, named Morgans-Town, established on the site. The lots were to auctioned off and the proceeds given to Colonel Morgan. Initially, the land deeds required purchasers to build a house of at least 18 square feet on the lot within four years, but because of Indian hostilities the four-year time limit was extended in 1789 by the Virginia General Assembly an additional five years.

Important Events in Monongalia County during the 1700s

Monongalia County government's first organizational meeting took place at Jonathan Coburn's home on December 8, 1776. His home was located about two miles east of present-day Morgantown. Captain John Dent was named the county's sheriff. Because the new county's population was concentrated in the county's northern portion, it was decided to hold the county court meetings at Theophilus Phillips' plantation, Phillips' Choice, a few miles from New Geneva, in present-day Springhill Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

In 1782, after the extension of the Mason-Dixon line made his home a part of Pennsylvania, the county seat was moved south, first to Colonel John Evans' home and ultimately to Zackquill Morgan's home in present-day Morgantown. The county court was held in Morgan's home while a courthouse was constructed in the public square in what was then called Morgan's Town. The wooden court house was completed sometime between 1782 and 1785 at a cost of $250. It was at about this time (1784) that George Washington visited the area.

In 1790, when the first national census was taken, Monongalia County had the sixth largest population (4,768) of the nine counties that were then in existence in present-day West Virginia. Berkeley County had the largest population (19,713) and Randolph County had the smallest population (951). Overall, in 1790, there were 55,873 people living in present-day West Virginia.

In 1793, the Pittsburgh Gazette began delivering its newspaper to Morgantown and opened a road to the town. The road's opening encouraged more people to move to the town and helped the local economy to grow, especially during the early 1800s as many pioneers heading west stopped in Morgantown for supplies.

Important Events in Monongalia County during the 1800s

In 1804, Morgantown's Monongalia Gazette and Morgantown Advertiser became the first newspaper published west of the Alleghenies.

During the 1700s, most economic activity in north-central West Virginia was conducted through barter (trade). Occasionally, tobacco was used as currency. That changed during the early 1800s. The opening of the road to Pittsburgh during the 1790s allowed monetary transactions to take place in present-day Monongalia County using Pittsburgh banks. In 1809, using money for economic transactions became a little easier when a bank opened in Washington, Pennsylvania, and in 1812, when one opened in Uniontown. In 1814, the first bank in Monongalia County opened for business. It operated out of Captain W. N. Jarrett's home in Morgantown and continued in operation until 1840.

In 1814, the Monongalia Academy began operations in Morgantown. It was joined in 1858 by the Woodburn Female Seminary. In 1867, both institutions were donated to the state to form the Agricultural College of West Virginia, after Moundsville turned down the opportunity to host the college in 1866, opting instead to host the state penitentiary. The new college was renamed West Virginia University in 1868. It began operations with six professors and six students. By 1885, West Virginia University had three buildings for 107 students and twelve professors.