Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
February 22, 1864

A Bill converting the Ohio county jail into a State Penitentiary was passed by the House of Delegates yesterday. The act authorizes the Governor to convey to the jail all persons convicted of felonies, and there confine them until otherwise provided by law. The Governor shall also have power to make such arrangements with the board of supervisors of this county as may be found necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act; he shall have power also to make all needful provisions and regulations for the safe keeping, employment and discipline of convicts, and may if his judgment expedient, appoint a Superintendent and a board of directors of the penitentiary, which board shall consist of not more than three persons; he shall prescribe the duties of said directors and superintendents, and shall have authority to pay them, as a compensation for their services, a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars per annum on thousand dollars per annum for the Superintendent.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: February 1864