McDowell County was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1858; two years before the start of the American Civil War. In 1863; the county was one of the 55 that separated from the Old Dominion to form West Virginia; thus earning the nickname "the Free State." Long before this; though; McDowell County was known for its bountiful natural resources; a great geologist; Dr. Thomas Walker; touted these vast "coal lands" after his 1748-1750 exploration. Political leaders like Thomas Jefferson; who knew of the countys mineral wealth; steered Robert Morris; financier of the American Revolution; to obtain all of McDowell County in the land speculation boom of the mid-1790s. After Morris was sent to debtors prison in 1799; however; his land holdings were acquired by Michael Bouvier; a cabinet maker. In the 1920s; the remains of Bouviers holdings were purchased by Henry Ford; the automobile tycoon. Other famous personalities associated with McDowell County include J.P. Morgan and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.
#2284328 in eBooks 2000-08-09 2000-08-09File Name: B00946NMXS
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