Sectional differences between western and eastern Virginia fueled resentment and political division before the Civil War, and those divisions became irrevocable after the Richmond convention voted on April 17, 1861, for Virginia to secede and join the Confederacy. In June, delegates from Virginia's western counties convened in Wheeling, where they reorganized and restored the loyal government of Virginia and then decided to create a new, loyal state from the western counties. During the conflict, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill creating West Virginia, and on June 20, 1863, it became the only state born of the Civil War. Wheeling became the state capitol, but in 1870 the seat of government moved to Charleston after former Confederates regained the right to vote. Lawmakers later considered Charleston isolated and provincial, so the capitol returned to Wheeling, but a statewide referendum eventually settled the issue and Charleston became the permanent capital in 1885. Salt industry pioneer Daniel Ruffner built the house behind you in 1815 as a tavern or house of private entertainment on the James River and Kanawha Turnpike, and by the Civil War this area, including the present capitol complex, was part of his estate called Holly Grove.