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2020 SESSION

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20109171D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 151 Offered March 2, 2020 Commemorating the life and legacy of Boaz Fleming. ----------
Patrons-- Robinson, Adams, L.R., Austin, Avoli, Batten, Bell, Bloxom, Brewer, Byron, Campbell, J.L., Campbell, R.R., Cole, M.L., Collins, Cox, Coyner, Davis, Edmunds, Fariss, Fowler, Freitas, Gilbert, Head, Hodges, Kilgore, Knight, LaRock, Leftwich, Marshall, McGuire, McNamara, Miyares, Morefield, O'Quinn, Orrock, Poindexter, Ransone, Runion, Rush, Walker, Wampler, Ware, Webert, Wilt, Wright and Wyatt
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WHEREAS, in 1787, Boaz Fleming, who was born on January 3, 1758, in Delaware and was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, led a group of pioneers westward from Delaware, across the Allegheny Mountains and hundreds of miles of wilderness to the area near Paw Paw Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela River; and

WHEREAS, Boaz Fleming purchased 254 acres of land in the area, which was then part of Monongalia County, Virginia, from Thomas Barns and made his home there for many years; and

WHEREAS, in 1808, while making his annual journey to pay taxes in Clarksburg, Boaz Fleming met Dolley Madison at a social function and discussed the idea of creating a new county to better serve his community; and

WHEREAS, while the petition to create a county was initially unsuccessful, Boaz Fleming and his sons in 1817 began to clear land for a new town on the western bank of the Monongahela River; and

WHEREAS, the new town was laid out in 1819 and officially established in 1820 under a trustee form of government by the Virginia General Assembly; the town was named Middletown, as it was halfway between Clarksburg and Morgantown and facilitated easy access to both; and

WHEREAS, while Boaz Fleming died on March 20, 1830, his goal to create a new locality was finally realized in 1842, after Marion County, named for the Revolutionary War officer Brigadier General Francis Marion, was formed from parts of Monongalia County and Harrison County, with Middletown as the county seat; and

WHEREAS, the following year, Middletown was renamed as Fairmont for its beautiful overlook of the Monongahela River, and the community continued to grow; in 1861, Marion County and Fairmont became part of the newly formed state of West Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Boaz Fleming had moved away from the area in later life, but ultimately returned to Fairmont, where he was laid to rest at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery along with his first wife, Elizabeth; his daughter, Clarissa; and numerous other family members; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the life and legacy of Boaz Fleming hereby be commemorated, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Middletown, Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Kenneth “Brad” Merrifield, mayor of the City of Fairmont, West Virginia, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ appreciation for the town’s storied history.