All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

This Week in West Virginia History: Feb. 13-19

Homer Hickam
Homer Hickam

Charleston, W.Va. – The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

Feb. 13, 1800: General John Jay Jackson was born near Parkersburg. He served in the Seminole War as a member of Gen. Andrew Jackson’s staff.

Feb. 13, 1913. Mother Jones was arrested in Charleston after helping union miners on Paint Creek and Cabin Creek. 

Feb. 14, 1866: Grant County was created and named for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who later became the nation’s 18th president.

Feb. 15, 1898: Musician John Homer “Uncle Homer” Walker was born in Mercer County. Among the last in a tradition of black Appalachian banjo players, he played the five-string banjo in the clawhammer style.

Feb. 15, 1975: Elizabeth Kee, the state’s first female member of Congress, died in Bluefield. Kee was elected to Congress in 1951 after the death of her husband, John. She retired in 1964 and was replaced by her son, James.

Feb. 16, 1821: Morris Harvey was born near Prosperity in Raleigh County. Harvey’s gifts to the Barboursville Seminary led to its name being changed to Morris Harvey College in 1901. The institution is now known as the University of Charleston.

Feb. 16, 1951: Second Lieutenant Darwin Keith Kyle died during an intense exchange against Chinese forces in Korea. He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Feb. 17, 1735: Morgan Morgan was commissioned a captain of militia in the 201st Field Artillery, which is considered the oldest military unit in the United States.

Feb. 18, 1843: Ritchie County was created from portions of Wood, Lewis, and Harrison counties. The county was named for Virginia journalist and politician Thomas Ritchie.

Feb. 18, 1890: Ellison Mounts, a cousin to the Hatfield family, was hanged for murder, ending the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.

Feb. 18, 1969: Hundreds of miners in Raleigh County went on strike over the issue of black lung. Within days, the walkout spread throughout southern West Virginia.

Feb. 19, 1872: The Glenville Branch of the State Normal School was established by an act of the legislature. The first session of the college opened on January 14, 1873, in the old Gilmer County courthouse.

Feb. 19, 1908: Orval Elijah Brown was born near Lizemores in Clay County. Brown, a free-spirited individual, gained notoriety as the ‘‘Clay County Wild Man’’ during the Great Depression for his untamed physical appearance that included a flowing beard and the wearing of little more than a self-made loincloth.

Feb. 19, 1943: Author Homer Hickam was born in Coalwood, McDowell County. Hickam’s second book, Rocket Boys: A Memoir, was published in 1998 and became a runaway bestseller.

e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council.  For more information, contact the West Virginia Humanities Council, 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301; (304) 346-8500; or visit e-WV at www.wvencyclopedia.org.

Share this story:

RECENT Stories

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for May 16, 2025

From joyful moments at the hospital with Strawberry Festival royalty to soil science projects, yard sale plans and community aid drives, Buckhannon is buzzing with local happenings and opportunities to get involved this week.

City of Buckhannon accepting bids for on-call skilled construction services

The City of Buckhannon is seeking bids for on-call skilled construction services, with bid documents available at City Hall and submissions accepted until 1:30 pm on June 16, 2025.

City of Buckhannon accepting bids for paving services

The City of Buckhannon is seeking bids for paving services until June 16, with bid details available at City Hall..

City of Buckhannon accepting bids for yard reclamation services

The City of Buckhannon is accepting bids for yard reclamation services until June 16, with bid details available at City Hall.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for May 15, 2025

It’s a busy week in Buckhannon, with the West Virginia Strawberry Festival in town all weekend!

Webb Grubb Day pays tribute to longtime Buckhannon law enforcement leader Virgil Miller

The eighth annual Webb Grubb Day honored the late Virgil Miller, former Buckhannon Police Chief and five-term Upshur County Sheriff, for his decades of dedicated law enforcement service to the community.

Klie Law Offices marks 20 years of fierce advocacy across West Virginia and Ohio

Klie Law Offices celebrated its 20th anniversary, highlighting its growth from a small rural firm to a four-city legal advocate known for aggressive, client-focused representation in West Virginia and Ohio.

City of Buckhannon prohibits smoking and vaping at West Virginia Strawberry Festival

The City of Buckhannon has banned smoking, vaping and all tobacco use in public areas during the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, with violators subject to fines.

Buckhannon reactivates emergency siren system, issues guidelines for use

The Buckhannon Fire Department, in partnership with local police and emergency management, has reactivated its fire siren system to warn downtown residents and visitors of emergencies such as severe weather or life-threatening incidents.

Denver Junior Carpenter

Denver Junior Carpenter, 80, a retired State Road worker and longtime Buckhannon resident known for his love of auctions and the outdoors, died May 14 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, survived by his wife and family.

Baseball Bucs shake off loss to Wheeling Park to stay alive in regional tournament with 5-4 win over John Marshall

The Buckhannon-Upshur baseball team survived elimination in the Region I tournament with a 5-4 win over John Marshall, overcoming a late rally and advancing to another must-win game against Wheeling Park.

Eight B-UMS track athletes headed to the “Best of the Best: WV Middle School State Meet”

Eight Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School track athletes qualified for the inaugural Best of the Best: WV Middle School State Meet in Huntington after standout performances and school record-breaking achievements during a successful season.