History of Sutton

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Sutton, West Virginia, was first settled in 1792 by Adam O'Brien from Bath County, Virginia. Other settlers followed O'Brien, and in 1809, John D. Sutton settled at the confluence of Granny's Creek and the Elk River, within the current boundaries of the downtown. His nephew Felix and other individuals, including Gustavius Taylor and Andrew Skidmore, also came to the settlement.

The village of Suttonville, later known as Newville, was laid out in 1835 and named after John D. Sutton. Braxton County was established in 1836 and named after Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The first court in the county was held in the home of John D. Sutton.

Sutton's strategic location at the confluence of major transportation routes, with the Elk River being navigable to Charleston at times, contributed to its growth. The construction of the Weston to Gauley Bridge Turnpike in 1848, connecting the Staunton to Parkersburg Turnpike in the center of the state to the Kanawha River Valley and the Kanawha James River Road, further enhanced its importance. A wire suspension bridge was built across the Elk River on the Turnpike 

in 1853.

During the Civil War, Sutton was embroiled in the conflict due to its location along a major north-south turnpike through the center of West(ern) Virginia. On September 5, 1861, the town was occupied by 5,000 troops, and later that year, General Rosencrans bivouacked 10,000 troops there, including future President William McKinley. In December 1861, Confederate soldiers burned most of the downtown, leaving only six structures intact.

Despite the destruction, Sutton slowly rebuilt after the Civil War, and its growth was further fueled by the development of the timber industry in the region, establishing Sutton as a commercial center. Many historic buildings in Sutton, including banks, hotels, and shops, date back to the 1890 to 1920 period. The town experienced another period of slow development during the Great Depression in line with the overall economy of the nation.

Sutton slowly rebuilt from the Civil War, but remained a small county seat until the timber industry in the region developed and Sutton became a commercial center. Many of the banks, hotels, shops and other historic buildings in Sutton date from this 1890 to 1920 time period. After this, Sutton once again slowed its development in step with the overall economy of the nation during the great depression.