HISTORY OF MILTON

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From 1861 to 1865, the Civil War
brought trying times to the area where
families were divided in support of the

North and South. In 1871, C&O Railway
opened to provide a new means of
transportation and in 1873, service was
officially opened for the railroad from
Huntington, WV to Richmond, VA.
The Railroad service allowed Milton to
become a convenient location for
shipping lumber, ties, tobacco, etc... as
well as receiving goods and materials
needed by communities as far away as
Mason County.

Lots were surveyed and sold along the
railroad in 1873 and 1874 when the post
office at Mud Bridge was closed and the

postmaster, known to most as Milton
Reese, opened the new “Milton” post
office. Families came from miles around
to have their grain ground at the 2 grist
mills and to have their wool carded. The
area prospered and brought merchants,
sawmills, planning mills, hotels as well as
the controversial saloon.

The lower covered bridge was built in
1875 and was a long needed, welcome
site. In 1876, with a “staggering”
population of 86, the village applied to
Cabell County Court for a Certificate of
Incorporation and the town of Milton was
born on September 16, 1876.