Morgan Morgan, a native of Wales, and his wife Catherine Garretson made the first settlement within the present boundaries of West Virginia in 1726 on a tract of 1000 acres about 2 miles west of here, granted to him by colonial Virginia patent. He was regarded as the founder of that community, and he and his family were recognized for their sterling character and for being largely useful through their efforts and example, with great influence for good upon the early history of the territory now constituting the state. His grave is nearby, adjacent Christ’s Episcopal Church, formerly called Morgan’s Chapel, the oldest church in the state, which he helped organize and build.