Famous People from
West Virginia
The Mountaneer State
Many important people have
come from West Virginia. The people include scientists, historical
figures, explorers, politicians, athletes and entertainers. Read
this page to find out about some of the most important people
who came from West Virginia!
Daniel Boone (1734-1820)
Boone was an explorer and
scout who lived at Clendenin's Settlement which became present
day Charleston. He served in the county militia and opened up
the west to other settlers by establishing the Wilderness Road
through the Appalachian Mountains.
Thomas "Stonewall"
Jackson ( 1824-1863)
Jackson was born in Clarksburg,
West Virginia. He was a Confederate general and won at the First
Battle of Bull Run during the Civil War. He was accidentally killed
by one of his own men at Chancellorsville.
Anna Jarvis (1864-1948)
Jarvis was born in Grafton,
West Virginia. She was a promoter who worked to make Mother's
Day a nationally celebrated holiday.
Morgan Morgan (1688-1766)
Morgan was a pioneer and the
first white settler in West Virginia. He built a log cabin near
Bunker Hill.
Mary Lou Retton (1968- )
Retton was born in Fairmont,
West Virginia, and
was a gymnast. She won the gold medal for the best all-around
gymnastics performance in the 1984 Olympics and was the first
American gymnast to win a medal since 1948.
Cyrus Vance (1917- )
Vance was born in Clarksburg,
West Virginia, and was a diplomat. He represented President Johnson
in Panama, Cyprus and in urban riot centers. He negotiated the
release of the USS Pueblo and its crew. Vance was the United States
secretary of state from 1977-1981.
Booker T. Washington ( 1856-1915)
Washington grew up in Malden,
West Virginia, and
was and educator and reformer. He thought that blacks should work
for education and employment instead of fighting for social equality
with whites. He founded the Tuskegee Institute and the National
Negro Business League. He wrote a book called Up
From Slavery in 1915.
Jerry West ( 1938- )
West was born in Cabin-Creek,
West Virginia. He was a professional basketball player and won
all-American honors at West Virginia University. He played many
years for the Los Angeles Lakers and was the first player to score
more than 4,000 playoff points. He was named to the NBA's all-time
all-star team in 1981.
Chuck Yeager (1923- )
Yeager was born in Myra, West
Virginia. He was an air force officer and the first pilot to break
the sound barrier. He did so in 1947 in a plane nicknamed "Glamorous
Glennis".
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