Ferrellsburg, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferrellsburg, West Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
 Ferrellsburg, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Ferrellsburg, West Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Lincoln |
| Post Office | December 27, 1904 |
| Elevation | 636 ft (194 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1538940 |
Ferrellsburg is a small community in southern Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. It is part of the larger Harts area.
Contents
Exploring Ferrellsburg: Location and Landscape
Ferrellsburg is located right along the Guyandotte River. This river is a major waterway in the area. Several smaller streams also flow through Ferrellsburg. These include Fowler Branch, Walker Branch, Douglas Branch, and Swift Shoals Branch.
A Look Back: The History of Ferrellsburg
Early Visitors: Captain Farley's Journey
One of the first known European-American visitors to the Ferrellsburg area was Captain Henry Farley. He was a soldier from the Revolutionary War. In June 1792, Captain Farley came through this area. He was chasing a group of Native Americans. They had raided settlements in Virginia. Farley followed them all the way to the mouth of the Guyandotte River. Then he returned home.
First Settlers: The Adkins Family Farm
The first known settler in what is now Ferrellsburg was Elias Adkins. This happened in the 1820s. Elias and his family moved here from Wayne County, West Virginia. They settled near a stream then called Adkins Branch. Elias lived in a large, two-story log home. This home was close to where the CSX Railroad tracks are today.
Over time, the Adkins family owned a lot of land. In 1873, Elias's youngest son, Hezekiah "Carr" Adkins, took over most of the family property. Elias Adkins likely passed away around 1877. Later, in 1882, John P. Fowler bought 150 acres of the Adkins farm. He was Elias's son-in-law. The next year, he gave the land to his wife, Lettie Belle. She owned it until 1918. During this time, Adkins Branch was renamed Fowler Branch.
Building a Community: G.W. Ferrell & Company
In the late 1890s, Keenan and Arena Ferrell bought the Adkins family home and more land. They lived in a two-story log home. They also opened a general store called G.W. Ferrell & Company. They named it after their adopted son, George W. Ferrell. George was very involved in the store. He was even listed as its owner in a business directory.
George W. Ferrell was also a composer and musician. He wrote songs about local events. These included "The Lincoln County Crew" and "The Murder of John Brumfield."
In September 1904, a big change came to Ferrellsburg. The first train passed through the community. This was the C&O line connecting Huntington and Logan.
Ferrellsburg officially became a community on December 27, 1904. George W. Ferrell became the first postmaster. He served until 1906 when he became ill. His mother, Arena Ferrell, took over as postmaster. Sadly, George W. died of tuberculosis in August 1906. By 1906, Ferrellsburg had about 200 people. It even had a telephone connection at the Ferrell store. Fisher B. Adkins, a popular schoolteacher, was postmaster from 1909 to 1914.
Over time, Keenan and Arena Ferrell started spending less time in Ferrellsburg. They began buying property in Huntington. In 1913, the Ferrells sold their store property to Hansford Adkins. He was a merchant from Ranger. The Ferrells then moved to Green Shoal and later to Cabell County.
New Businesses: Walt Stowers and Hansford Adkins
In 1908, Joseph Walt Stowers bought a piece of land with F.E. "Ene" Adkins. They opened a store together called Stowers & Adkins. By 1910, their business was doing very well. Walt Stowers was a busy man. He was even thinking about going to medical school. In 1914, he became the sole owner of Stowers & Adkins. He also became the postmaster of Ferrellsburg. Walt Stowers was the main businessman in Ferrellsburg for many years. He was also the longest-serving postmaster. He held the position until his death in 1934. After him, his wife Georgia served as postmistress for a few years.
By November 1913, Hansford Adkins had bought the Ferrell property and store. He built a new home and started a business called "Hansford Adkins & Sons." He later transferred the property to General and Ira J. Adkins. The Adkins brothers ran a store there until 1920.
