Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Creating West Virginia
Parkersburg's Wartime Politicians
Much of the political life of the city took place in nearby venues such as the U.S. Hotel, which stood just southeast of here, the courthouse that stood on the site of the present structure a block farther southeast, and the Swann House, which was located on “The Point” three blocks southwest. Wartime visitors to the Swann House, the most prominent hotel in the city, included Union Gens. George B. McClellan, Jacob D. Cox, Ambrose E. Burnside, and David Hunter, and Union Cols. Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield.
Prominent Parkersburg residents were motivated to keep northwestern Virginia in the Union and to help protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the oilfield at Burning Springs (Oiltown). Peter G. Van Winkle contributed importantly to drafting the first constitution for the new state of West Virginia and served as one of its first two U.S. senators. Local attorney Arthur I. Boreman became the state’s first governor. William E. Stevenson served in the first state constitutional convention and then became the state’s third governor. Physician John W. Moss presided over the First Wheeling Convention and later
(lower left) Congressman Peter G. Van Winkle Courtesy Library of Congress; Governor Arthur I. Boreman Courtesy of Library of Congress; Governor William E. Stevenson West Virginia Archives and History
(upper right) Central Parkersburg, M. Wood White's County and District Map of the State of West Virginia (1873)
Erected by West Virignia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 39° 15.936′ N, 81° 33.816′ W. Marker is in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in Wood County. Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Street and Juliana Street (West Virginia Route 68), on the right when traveling north on 3rd Street. Touch for map. This marker is on the grounds of the Oil & Gas Museum. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119 3rd Street, Parkersburg WV 26101, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jacob Beeson Blair (here, next to this W.H. Smith Hardward Co (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood County Court House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); West Virginia's First Governor / Parkersburg Governors (about 500 feet away); George Rogers Clark (about 600 feet away); Escape to Freedom (about 600 feet away); Historic Blennerhassett Hotel (about 700 feet away); Vital Transportation Center (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parkersburg.
Categories. • Politics • War, US Civil •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 261 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.