Derek Coleman: Who was the first white settler in what became West Virginia?
As you all probably know, West Virginia has only been a separate state since June 20, 1863, after President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring it to be so. I guess you could say the history of the state starts from that date, but the story of human settlement in the area goes back a lot further. Prior to achieving statehood, the land we love was considered to be part of the Commonwealth of Virginia and, even before that it was home to a variety of cultures of Native Americans. They were in the area for a long time and there is evidence that human beings were living here as much a...
Source: herald-dispatch.com