Braxton County was formed in 1836 from Lewis, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties and was named for Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Washington planned to establish an important point in a project for western communication in this county. Gilmer County was formed in 1845 from Kanawha and Lewis counties and was named for Thomas Walker Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy in Tyler's cabinet, who was killed in an accident on a war vessel. Farming is important there, particularly sheep and cattle raising.