Livia Simpson Poffenbarger
Encyclopedia
Olivia Nye Simpson Poffenbarger (known as Livia) (born Pomeroy
, Ohio
, March 1, 1862; died Charleston
, West Virginia
October 27, 1937) was a newspaper owner/editor, historian, social activist, civic leader, and Republican politician in West Virginia. Her family moved to Point Pleasant
, West Virginia when she was a young girl. In 1888 she purchased the struggling State Gazette newspaper in that town and ran it successfully until selling it in 1913.
She served the Republican party as an advisor working on the 1912 convention, was on a national Republican advisory committee from 1920-24, and was an elector in 1924. She was the state director for the women's suffrage campaign in West Virginia. She chaired an advisory committee on a bond issue to improve state roads, speaking statewide for its adoption.
Having organized the Mason County
chapter of the American Red Cross
, she directed relief efforts during a flood in 1913. During World War I she chaired three statewide Liberty Loan
drives, with techniques that were adopted nationwide. In 1919 she received an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University
.
She frequently wrote about the Battle of Point Pleasant
, arguing that it should be regarded as the first battle of the American Revolution
. Her view has received little support from historians, but her efforts led to the creation of Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
and the erection of a monument on the battle site. She wrote a number of other books and pamphlets on West Virginia history.
In 1894 she married George Poffenbarger
, a prominent lawyer who later served many years on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals; they had two sons, Nathan and Perry. Her brother, John Simpson, was a dean of the West Virginia University medical school.
Pomeroy, Ohio
Pomeroy is a village in and the county seat of Meigs County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,966 at the 2000 census. During the late 19th century, Pomeroy was an important producer of coal and salt...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, March 1, 1862; died Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
October 27, 1937) was a newspaper owner/editor, historian, social activist, civic leader, and Republican politician in West Virginia. Her family moved to Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
, West Virginia when she was a young girl. In 1888 she purchased the struggling State Gazette newspaper in that town and ran it successfully until selling it in 1913.
She served the Republican party as an advisor working on the 1912 convention, was on a national Republican advisory committee from 1920-24, and was an elector in 1924. She was the state director for the women's suffrage campaign in West Virginia. She chaired an advisory committee on a bond issue to improve state roads, speaking statewide for its adoption.
Having organized the Mason County
Mason County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, she directed relief efforts during a flood in 1913. During World War I she chaired three statewide Liberty Loan
Liberty bond
A Liberty Bond was a war bond that was sold in the United States to support the allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time. The Act of Congress which...
drives, with techniques that were adopted nationwide. In 1919 she received an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
.
She frequently wrote about the Battle of Point Pleasant
Battle of Point Pleasant
The Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
, arguing that it should be regarded as the first battle of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Her view has received little support from historians, but her efforts led to the creation of Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Tu-Endie-Wei State Park is located at the confluence of the Kanawha River and the Ohio River in downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The park commemorates the Battle of Point Pleasant, fought between the settler militia of Virginia and the forces of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk on October 10, 1774...
and the erection of a monument on the battle site. She wrote a number of other books and pamphlets on West Virginia history.
In 1894 she married George Poffenbarger
George Poffenbarger
George Poffenbarger was a lawyer and long-time justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He attended Rio Grande College in Rio Grande, Ohio and then taught school for seven years. After studying law under John W. English, a future West Virginia Supreme Court justice, he was admitted...
, a prominent lawyer who later served many years on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals; they had two sons, Nathan and Perry. Her brother, John Simpson, was a dean of the West Virginia University medical school.