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| Mineral County |
| Tuesday, 15 May 2007 00:00 | |||
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Situated in a hilly region that was a strategic stronghold in the Civil War, Keyser is the center of government for Mineral County. The site of the town was originally granted to Patrick McCarthy by Abram Inskeep in 1802, and it was then called Paddy's Town. By 1852 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was built through the region. A post office was opened under the name New Creek. The present name of Keyser is in honor of William Keyser, vice president of the railroad at the time the town was incorporated in 1874. During the Civil War Keyser was a supply point and a battle ground for both the North and the South. Between 1861 and 1865 the town was captured and recaptured 14 times. In November of 1864, Confederate Gen. T.L. Rosser surprised the Union troops and captured most of them along with large stores of munitions. The Confederates burned the store houses, which sent most of the business section up in flames, and destroyed miles of railroad tracks. It wasn't long and the Union forces were back under Gen. Kelly, who then remained in the area to protect the railroad. In 1902, Keyser Preparatory Branch of the University of West Virginia was established, and in 1919 it became the Potomac State School of the University of West Virginia. Mineral County is located in the Eastern Panhandle. COntributing to the economy are timber, coal, livestock, dairy products, and fruit farms. Mineral County was established in 1866. Mineral County was named, not surprisingly, for the mineral resources that were discovered in the 330 square miles of land that comprise this county. The mother of President Abraham Lincoln, Miss Nancy Hanks, was born at Mike's Run, which was located near Keyser. Fort Ashby, which was built in 1775 near Frankfort, is the only Indian fort built in West Virginia that is still standing.
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