Lincoln County, West Virginia    HISTORY: The First Circuit Court of Lincoln County

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The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, Supplement Vol. 7, Hardesty's
Lincoln County, Published by Jim Comstock, Richwood, WV 1974

    The first circuit court ever held in the county convened on the 1st day 
of April, 1867, the Hon. William L. Hindman, judge of the 8th judicial 
circuit of West Virginia, presiding. Previously, on the 18th day of March, 
1867, he had appointed Benjamin F. Curry clerk of the court.
    W. H. Tomlinson, James H. Ferguson, T. B. Kline, W. H. Enochs, A. Vance 
and L. A. Martin, attorney's of this State, were, on their own motion, 
granted a license to practice in the courts of this county.
    Judge Hindman then appointed L. A. Martin to prosecute in behalf of the 
State; he took the several oaths prescribed by law, and then, on his motion, 
James H. Ferguson was appointed his assistant.
    It was at this time that the first grand jury that ever sat as a jury of 
inquest for the body of Lincoln County was impaneled. It was composed as 
follows: E. F. Harmon, foreman; Anderson Bias, B. B. Wilkinson, D. M. F. 
Keenan, James Johnson, Henderson Drake, Henry Peyton, J. D. Smith, Hiram 
Adkins, Goldsberry Adkins, Andrew Adkins, Mathias Plumley, William Cooper, 
Anderson Adkins, Adam Cummings, Joseph A. Griffith, Zachariah Priestey, 
William A. Pauley, Peter L. Holstein, Silas Elkins, and Henry B. Griffith. 
After receiving their instructions they retired to "consider of their 
presentments." Soon, however, they returned and reported two true bills of 
indictment, one of which was against R. M. Lusher for obstructing the highway 
leading from Barboursville to Logan Court House. There being no further 
business, the court adjourned, and Lincoln County, with her governmental 
machinery in complete working order, entered upon her career as one of the 
component factors of the "Little Mountain State."