West Virginia: Its Farms and Forests, Mines and Oil-Wells: with a Glimpse of its Scenery, a Photograph of its Population, and an Exhibit of its Industrial Statistics

by Jacob Richards Dodge

Jacob Richards Dodge was born on September 28, 1823 in New Boston, New Hampshire. His family traced their arrival to the United States in 1638 from England. Dodge enjoyed the benefits of childhood education in both traditional academic and technical components, which gave him a firm foundation for the rest of his life.

Dodge went on to teach in Mississippi from 1845-9, then later returned to the northeast US as an editor from 1850 up until around the start of the Civil War. Afterwards, be began working for the US Department of Agriculture. He focused on rural economics, edited innumerable reports and handled foreign commissions, and took a special interest in West Virginia as this classic demonstrates. On October 1, 1902 he passed away in Woburn, Massachusetts, and was buried in the Universalist Church Cemetery in Nashua, New Hampshire.

This edition is dedicated to Vernon Smith of American Public University, astute appreciator and energetic contributor to modern West Virginia and its role in modern education.