Jackson County, West Virginia Genealogy

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History
From "Early Settlers of Jackson County by O. J. Morrison":

William Hannamon, Benjamin Cox, and James McDade were the first known English settlers in Jackson County, moving into the Mill Creek area in May 1796. The first two built homes and took up permanent residence in the county. McDade served as an Indian scout, traveling the banks of the Ohio River, with his only companion, a faithful dog, at his side. It was said that his sole ambition in life was to alert some poor traveler of the presence of Indians and preventing them from becoming a victim of what he viewed were murderous savages.

In the month of May, 1796, William Hannamon, Benjamin Cox and James McDade reared their cabins within the present limits of Union District, and were thus the first to establish civilized homes in what is now Jackson County. The first two became actual settlers and began to fell the forest and cultivate the soil. McDade, who was a soldier in the service of Virginia, selected a site for his future home, but continued to discharge the duties assigned him-that of Indian scout-and many days and nights did he spend in the dreary wilderness between the mouths of the Great and Little Kanawha Rivers, watching to catch a glimpse of the savage foe on the shore of the Old Northwest Territory beyond the Ohio. Jackson County was created in 1831, from parts of Mason, Kanawha and Wood, in compliance with an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed March 1st of that year, and named in honor of the hero of New Orleans, who was at that time President of the United States. The present area of the county is 400 square miles.

From "Hardesty's History of Jackson County", Page 2:

Wayne's treaty with the Indians in 1795, forever put an end to savage warfare in the Ohio valley. The storm had spent its force and died away, and hundreds of pioneers now found homes on the banks of the Ohio. Among those who sought a dwelling place within the present limits of Jackson county were Samuel McDade, and John Hannamon, both of whom came in 1796. Then followed Charles Parsons, Samuel Tanner, John Greathouse, Elijah Staats, Jacob Starcher, Isaac McKown, John McKown, Joel Buffington, who settled on Buffington's island; John Ingles, Joshua Freehart and Joel Dewey, who built the block-house at the mouth of Pond Creek; John Coleman, who was killed by Indians near where the town of Cottageville now stands; Joseph Hall, James Hydes, Isaac Hydes, George Hydes, John Brown, Benjamin Wright, and A. W. Alkire.

From the formation of Mason county in 1804 to the year 1831. Jackson was a part of Mason and Wood, but in the latter year the old pioneers, wearied with long jaunts to court at Point Pleasant or Parkersburg, court circulated which was numerously signed and sent to Richmond, where it was laid before the general assembly, then in session in that city. The prayer was heard with favor, and in 1831 Jackson county named in honor of Andrew Jackson, then president of the United States-was checkered upon the map of Virginia.

The county is named after President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).

Parent County
1831--Jackson County was created 1 March 1831 from Kanawha, Wood and Mason Counties. County seat: Ripley

Boundary Changes
See an interactive map of Jackson County boundary changes.

Cities:
Ravenswood | Ripley

Other places:
Advent | Cottageville | Evans | Flatwoods | Gay | Given | Independence | Kenna |  Kentuck | LeRoy | Millwood | Mount Alto | Murraysville | Rock Castle | Sandyville | Sherman

Neighboring Counties

 * Kanawha
 * Mason
 * Meigs County, Ohio
 * Putnam
 * Roane
 * Wirt
 * Wood

Cemeteries

 * Interment.net

Military
Revolutionary War


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Western District, Jackson County on pages 134-135.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.