Kanawha County, West Virginia Genealogy

United States West Virginia  Kanawha County

County Courthouse


Kanawha County 409 Virginia Street East Charleston, WV 25301 304-372-2011


 * County Clerk has Birth, Death Records 1853
 * Marriage Records 1831
 * Probate Records 1831
 * Land Records 1786

Parent County
Kanawha Valley History

1788--Kanawha County was created 14 November 1788 from Greenbrier and Montgomery (Virginia) Counties. County seat: Charleston

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Boone
 * Clay
 * Fayette
 * Jackson
 * Lincoln
 * Nicholas
 * Putnam
 * Raleigh
 * Roane

Bible Records

 * Family bible records, 1711-1955, of residents (1956) of Kanawha Co
 * Bible Records Kanawha County: 1833 - 1931
 * Cemeteries
 * Kanawha County Cemetery Records West Virginia

Kanawha County WV Obituaries

Census
Kanawha County, West Virginia Census Records

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Charleston

DNA
DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Kanawha County, (West) Virginia residents. Attempts have not been made to verify the lineages of those tested.


 * [Fletcher] Descendant of William Fletcher, b. England, resident of Kanawha and Monroe Counties, Virginia. Y-DNA 12 Marker Test, FTDNA. Genetic signature available online (labelled William Fletcher of Accomac County, Virginia/James Fletcher of Brunswick County, Virginia), courtesy: The Fletcher DNA Project.

Genealogy
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]
 * Kanawha CountyBiography Library
 * West Virginia Biographies Project - Kanawha County

Local Histories
Ambler, Charles Henry. "Poor Relief Education: Kanawha County, Virginia, 1818-1847." West Virginia History, Charleston, West Virginia, 1941-42. Arc 1. 4:3.

Andre, Richard A. Bullets and Steel: the Fight for the Great Kanawha Valley 1861-1865. Charleston, West Virginia, Pictorial Histories, 1995. 975.438 A555.

Atkinson, George Wesley. History of Kanawha County. Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia Journal, 1876. Reprint West Virginia Genealogical Society, 1994. 975.437 A875.

Atkinson, Rama Casdorph, Bratt, Helen Jenkins, Haynes, Helen Young. Our Heritage: Brookside Centennial Paper, West Virginia Centennial 1863-1963. s.l., n.p., 1963. 975.437 O93 Pam.

Bailey, H. R. History of the Liberty Mountaineers. St. Albans, West Virginia, Harless Printing, 1979. 785.067 B154 Pam.

Belle West Virginia Women's Club. Historic Belle Area Bi-Centennial, 1773-1976. Charleston, West Virginia, Capitol Printing and Supply, 1976. 975.437 B438.

Broyles, Bettye J. The St. Albans Archeological Site, Kanawha County, West Virginia: Preservation or Destruction. Morgantown, West Virginia, n.p., 1974. 913.75437 B885.

Burford, Herschel W. "Steam Packets on the Kanawha River." Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia History, 1965-66. Arc 1. 4:27.

Coal River Railroad Company. Prospectus of the Coal River Railroad Company, West Virginia. Cincinnati, Ohio, Applegate, Pounsford and Company, 1872. 333.8 C652 1872 Pam.

Cohen, Stan. Kanawha County Images: A Bicentennial History, 1788-1988. Charleston, West Virginia, Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1987. 975.437 C678.

Cole, John L. On Fitzwaters. 1791-.Notes on Fitzwaters Family, Mostly Isaac Fitzwater and His Early Struggles With Indians and Exploration in the Kanawha, Fayette and Nicholas County Area. MS 80-25.

Comstock. Jim. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. Richwood, West Virginia, Jim Comstock, 1973. 975.4003 H259 v.4.

Conley, Philip Mallory. Early Coal Development in the Kanawha Valley, West Virginia History, Charleston, West Virginia, 1946-47. Arc 1. 4:8.

Cook, Roy Bird. The Annals of Fort Lee. Charleston, West Virginia. West Virginia Review Press, 1935. 975.438 C771.

Damewood, Elizabeth Rhodes. Kanawha County's Great Textbook Controversy: Regional Heritage, National History and Public Education, 1974-1975. n.p., 1990. 379.156 D157.

Dayton, Ruth. Pioneers and Their Homes on Upper Kanawha. Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia Publishing Company, 1947. 975.43 D276.

DeGruyter, Julius Allen. The Kanawha Spectator, Charleston, West Virginia, n.p., 1953-1976. 975.437 D321.

East Bank, Celebrating 100 Years, 1889-1989. s.l., n.p., 1989. 975.437 El3.

Elk-Blue Creek Historical Society. Elk River Communities in Kanawha County, A Continuing History. Cleveland, Ohio, Typemasters, Inc., 1993. 975.437 E43.

Farley, Bob. Carbon Fuel Reunion, 1998. s.l., n.p., 1998. 975.437 C264.

FMC Corporation. Chemical Divisions. The Salt Industry in the Kanawha Valley. n.p., 197_. 338.47664 F648.

Galbraith, Julia. History of the Cross Lanes Area. s.l., n.p., 1976. 975.437 G148.

Gibbons, J. The Kanawha Valley, 1872 Resources, Developments and Special Business Directory of Charleston and Other Cities. Gibbons, Atkinson and Company Printers, 1872. 917.543 G441.

Hale, John Peter. History of the Great Kanawha Valley. Madison, Wisconsin, Brant, Fuller and Company, 1891. 975.43 H162 closed stacks.

_____________. History and Mystery of the Kanawha Valley. Charleston, West Virginia, West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society, 1897. 913.7543 H162.

_____________. List of Delegates to the Virginia Assembly From Kanawha County 1789-1863. Trans Allegheny Pioneers, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Graphics, 1886. 975.402 H162.

_____________. Some Local Archaeology: a Paper Read Before the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society, January 18th, 1898. Charleston, West Virginia, Gazette Publishing Company, 1898. 913.75437 H162s Pam.

Hanson, Todd. Campbell's Creek: A Portrait of a Coal Mining Community. Charleston, West Virginia, Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1989. 975.437 H251c.

Harmon, Dale Lynn. Kanawha County, West Virginia, Bruen Property Land Purchases From 47,000 Acre Sheba Tract 1850-1908. Durham, North Carolina, Harmon, 1984. 333.3 H288.

Harris, V.B. Great Kanawha...An Historical Outline. Charleston, West Virginia, Jarrett Printing Company, 1976. 975.43 H316.

Hereford, C.D. Early History of St. Albans. St. Albans, West Virginia: b s.n.\c 1950. 975.437 S133h.

Humphreys, Milton Wylie. Incidents Related Concerning Mercer Academy and Other Kanawha County Schools. n.p. n.d. B H927 Pam.

___________. Kanawha's Black Gold and the Miners' Rebellion. Ann Arbor, Michigan, Braun- Brumfield, 1987. 331.881 H316.

Hunt, Doris J. Index of Names to the History of Kanawha County by George W. Atkinson. Charleston, West Virginia, Department of Culture and History, Archives and History Division, 1981. 975.437 A875i.

Jones, James A. Diaries, James A. Ward, West Virginia, 1878-1930. MS 79-43.

Kanawha County Court House, Account Book, Charleston, Virginia, 1843. MS 79-24.

Kanawha County Court House, Account Book, Charleston, Virginia, 1849. MS 79-34.

Kanawha County Election, April 1, 1835. Book for a Precinct Election Held at the House of John Jones, Kanawha County to Choose Delegate to Virginia Assembly, April, 1835. MS 80-202.

Kanawha Valley Airport, s.l., n.p, n.d. 629.136 K16k.

Kanawha Salt Company. Cincinnati, Ohio, Moore, Wilstach and Baldwin Printers, 1864. 338.47664 K16 Pam.

Kanawha Salt Company, Account Book, 1820-1842. MS 79-61.

Laidley, William Sydney. History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens. Chicago. Illinois, Richmond Arnold Publishing Company, 1911. 975.437 L185.

Lawrentz, Jeff. Endangered Homes on the Upper Kanawha. s.l., n.p, 1986. 917.5437 L242 Pam.

Memorial of the Manufacturers of Salt in Kanawha County, Virginia...Addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives of the U.S. Kanawha County Court House, Virginia, Office of the Kanawha Banner, 1830. 338.47664 U58m Pam.

Minute Book, Directors of Kanawha Board of James River and Kanawha Company, June 14 to 1858 to July 8 1861. Gift of Alexander Laidley, 1895. MS 79-58.

Moore, E.T. Description of a Tract of Land Embracing About 5,000 Acres on Davis Creek, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Charleston, West Virginia, E.T. Moore, Printer, 1875. 333.8 D449 Pam.

Moving Mountains to Build Kanawha Airport, Charleston, West Virginia, Kanawha County. s.l, n.p., n.d. 629.136 K16.

National Education Association of the United States. Inquiry Report, Kanawha County, West Virginia: A Textbook Study in Cultural Conflict. Washington DC, National Education Association, Teachers Rights Division, 1975. 379.156 N277.

Parker, Franklin. The Battle of the Books: Kanawha County. Bloomington, Indiana, Phi Delata Kappa Educational Foundation, 1975. 379.156 P239 Pam.

Pease, Louise McNeill. The Great Kanawha in the Old South, 1671-1861. Morgantown, West Virginia, 1959. 975.43 P363.

Proceedings, Resolutions, etc. of a Mass Meeting of the Citizens of Kanawha County, April 29 and May 13, 1865. Charleston, West Virginia, Journal Office, 1865. 973.781 P963 Pam.

Quarrier, Alexander. Indictment of Alexander C. Quarrier and His Response Regarding Charges of Falsely Entering Information in Account of Joint Stock Company. @ 1871. MS 79-157.

Rice, Otis K. Charleston and the Kanawha Valley, an Illustrated History. Woodland Hills, California, Windsor Publications, Inc., 1981. 975.438 R497.

Shaler, Nathaniel Southgate. Black Band Iron and Coal Company. Cambridge, Wheeler, Printer, 1881. 557.5437 S528 Pam.

Simmons, Pat. Winifrede, West Virginia, First Reunion. Winifrede, West Virginia, the Author, 1998. 975.437 W772.

Sissonville Historical Awareness Committee. Sissonville, A Time to Remember. s.l., n.p., 1988. 975.437 S623.

Slack, Greenbury. Greenbury Slack Letters, Account Books Justice of Peace, 1865-1868. MS 80-122.

Souvenir Program, Kanawha County History and The 35th Star. Charleston, s.l., n.p., 1963. 975.437 S279.

Stealey, John Edmund. The Salt Industry of the Great Kanawha Valley of Virginia: A Study in Ante-Bellum Internal Commerce. Ann Arbor, Michigan, University Microfilms, 1977. 338.47664 S799.

Stuber, Gary Lee. Blue Creek West Virginia Coloring Book. Blue Creek, West Virginia, Larry Maynor, 1977. 975.437 S932 Pam.

Tompkins, C. Report to the Board of Directors and Stockholders of the Paint Creek Coal and Iron Mining and Manufacturing Company, Kanawha County, Virginia. Richmond, Virginia, Dispatch Steam Printing Office, 1856. 333.8 T662 Pam.

United States Congress. Memorial of the Citizens of Kanawha County, Virginia, Against the Measures of the Executive and Praying for Relief. Washington, DC, 1834. 975.43 W52 Pam.

Upper Falls of Coal, Daybook, 1851-1853. MS 80-273.

Ward Reunion Committee. History of Ward, West Virginia. Smithers, West Virginia, Rod-Jack Printers, Inc., 1984. 975.437 W256w.

_____________________.Ward News. Smithers, West Virginia, Ward Reunion Committee, 1981-1986. 975.437 W256wa.

_____________________. Ward Reunion Souvenir, To Honor Old Friends. Smithers, West Virginia, Rod-Jack Printers, Inc., 1984. 975.437 W256s.

West Virginia Genealogical Society. Index for W.S. Laidley's History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia. Elkview, West Virginia, West Virginia Genealogical Society, 1994. 975.437 L185 Index.

Wiseman, Eloise. Tornado Remembers...Upper Falls of Coal River, 1788-1988. n.p., n.d. 975.437 W814.

Maps
Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia

Military
West Virginia Military Records

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: . [See Virginia, Western District, Kanawha County on page 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." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]

Civil War
West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865

Naturalization
West Virginia, Naturalization Records, 1814-1991

Newspapers
The Charleston Gazette

Obituaries of West Virginia Newspapers

Occupations

 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (Together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. . [Includes a section on Charleston silversmiths.]

Probate
Kanawha County, West Virginia Will Books 1820-1967

West Virginia Will Books

.Index cards to court records, Kanawha County, West Virginia : 1754-1933

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1792] Indexed images of the 1792 Personal Property Tax List of Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia) are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1802] Images of the 1802 Personal Property Tax List of Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia) are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. . [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Kanawha County is included in Vol. 6.]

Vital Records
Kanawha County Birth Records Kanawha County Marriage Records Kanawha County Death Records

West Virginia Health Statistics Center

Genealogical Society

 * Kanawha Valley Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8555 South Charleston, WV 25303


 * WV Midland Trail Genealogical Society 2614 Furlong Avenue St Albans, WV 25177
 * West Virginia Genealogical Society, Inc
 * West Virginia University - Genealogy Resources

Archives
Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia 1608 Virginia Street East Charleston, WV 25311 304-344-3597 Fax 304-343-3295

Libraries
Archives and History Library Division of Culture and History The Cultural Center Capital Complex Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0300 304-558-0220 fax 304-558-2779


 * Vital Registration Office; State Capitol Complex No 3, Run 516 Charleson, WV 25305 304-558-2931; Fax 304-558-1051

Family History Centers

 * Charleston West Virginia Family History Center

 

Websites

 * Kanawha County, West Virginia USGENWEB
 * CYNDI'S List West Virginia
 * Kanawha County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
 * Kanawha County, Bible Records
 * Kanawha County, Bible Records

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