The western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863, West Virginia was settled by Germans and Scotch-Irish and became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763. Monroe County was formed in 1799 from Greenbrier and was named for President James Monroe. In this county lived Col. Andrew S. Rowan, who in 1898 carried news of American intervention to General Y Iniguez Garcia, leader of the Cubans.