This district is covered with low hills, having gradual slopes and a fine blue grass soil. 
Limestone is found in veins from five to seven feet thick, and a five-foot vein of fine iron ore underlies the whole district. An excellent quality of coal is found in veins, seven, eleven, and thirteen feet thick, and there is no gravel beds in the district. Valuable white sand exists in some parts, and a fine quality of potters clay supplies the Shinnston Pottery with a material for manufacture. 
   A branch of Booths creek heads in the southwestern part of the district, flows north- ward, and empties into the main creek where Taylor, Harrison, and Marion Counties join. Sugar Camp run heads in the eastern part of the district, and flows west into Booths creek. Coons run heads in the southwest, flows northeast, and empties into West Fork River. Homers Run and Shinns Run are other small streams in the district. 

   The date of the first school taught is uncertain, but in 1813 Rev. Asa Shinn taught in a small log cabin located at Shinnston. There are now thirteen good school houses in the district, all well ventilated and lighted; they are all one story, and arranged to accommodate forty or fifty scholars, excepting that at Shinnston, which is two stories high and will seat 120. 
   The enrollment of scholars in the different subdistricts is as follows: No. 1, Strum school- house, 25; No. 2, Bingamon Creek, 41; No. 3, Lincoln, 52; No. 4, Shinnston Grade School, 110; No. 5, Mud lick, 36; No. 6, Enterprise, 39, No. 7, Adamsville, 53; No. 8 Homers Run, 30; No. 9, Slocum, 38; No. 10 Saltwell, 47; No. 11, Long Run, 56; No. 12, Johnson 23; No. 13, Buck, 21; colored school in No. 3, made up of scholars from different subdistricts, 20. 

    The Shinnston Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1800, by Revs. Levi and Asa Shinn. The society now occupies a good frame building, which was built in 1850.  Membership, 40; Rev. D. L. Ash, pastor; Alison Robinson, class teacher.
   Shinnston Methodist Protestant church was organized in 1841, by Rev. Asa Shinn; constituent members, M. F. Fleming and wife, J. M. Foutney and wife, Silas Nay and wife, and Sarah Martin; M. F. Fleming first class leader. The society now occupies a frame building which was built in 1852. Present membership, 45; Rev. D. C. Wees pastor; J. W. Carder, class leader. 
  Coons Run Baptist Church was organized May 5, 1805, with Rev. John Denham, pastor; first members, Margaret East, William Wood, Sarah Martin, Thomas Jenkins, Mary Campbell, Elizabeth Pindell, Margaret Boyles and Thomas Martin.The society occupies a frame church building in the village of Adamsville, which was built in 1853, at a cost of $800. Present membership, 144; Rev. Henry Langford, pastor.       
   The Shinnston Baptist Church was organized in 1873, with Rev. George W. Bailey, pastor. The society occupies a church erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,500. Present membership, 47; G. W. Bailey, pastor. 
   The Laurel Point Union Church is composed of a union of the Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran and United Brethern societies. The former society was organized in 1851 by Revs. Aaron Vincent and Gooseman; Rev. Tichnor was P. E., and George Long first class leader. The building is a frame one, erected a few years ago at a cost of $650. 

West Fork river, eleven miles from Clarksburg. The site is a level plat of land, with a gradual slope to the  surrounding hills. 
It was laid out in 1818, by Asa Shinn. The first house on the site was built by Rev. Levi Shinn in 1802, and is still standing, although frequently repaired; it is at present occupied by William Delbridge. The land on which the village stands was first patented by the three brothers, Clement, Jonathan and Levi Shinn, who came to this vicinity in 1775; the first child born in the new settlement was Asa J. Shinn. 
   The town became incorporated in 1853, under the old state, and the following were the first officers: S. S. Fleming, mayor; B. Tyson Harmer,  R. K. Shinn, Col. J. W. Janes, council; Richard Jackson, sergeant. During the late war the charter was allowed to lapse, and the present one was issued June 11, 1877. The following is a list of present officers:  James P. Stout, mayor; M. C. Jarrett, recorder; T. C. Bryan, sargeant; A. W. Shinn, B.T. Harman, Sr.,B. F. Lough, B. F. Anderson, B. A. Reeder council. 
   Shinnston is a town of 557 inhabitants, well laid out and pleasantly located, and contains some fine private residences and other build- ings. 
   The two story frame school building was erected in 1860, at a cost $1,600, and originally used as a Town Hall; it was purchased in 1864 by the school board, who fitted it up for school purposes. The Shinnston grade school that now occupies this building, has one principal and two as- sistant teachers, and an enrollment of 120 sholars. 
   The town has two churches previously mentioned, of the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant denominations. 
    Manufacturing is re- presented by two steam flour mills, with a saw mill attached to one of them, one planing mill, one pottery establish- ment and a wagon shop. The mercantile business is represented by several stores and shops. 
   This was the first post office in the district; the others are Adamsville and Enterprise. 

   One of the institutions of the town was organized January 23, 1877, with M. C. Jarrett, as leader. The present member- ship is as follows: M. C. Jarrett, 1st E-Flat cornet; A. L. Jarrett, 2nd E-flat; G. T. Harrison, 1st B- flat cornet; M. J. Jarrett, 2nd B flat; H. T. Shinn, solo alto; Emory Stichler, 1st alto; W. T. Reeder, 2nd alto; John Knox, 1st tenor; Albert Knox, 2d tenor; George Haught, baritone; Dorsey Shore, tuber; S. Long, bass drum and cymbals; Hugh Shinn, snare- drummer. 

   Received its charter November 11, 1868, and the following were chosen first officers: Van B. Hall, W. M.; David E. Foreman, S. W.; Lemuel D. Jarvis, J. W. Present officers: David M. Shinn, W. M.; John W. Carder, S. W.; William E. Swiger, J. W. Present membership, 41; regular meetings the second and foutth Saturdays of each month. The order has recently purchased a fine piece of land fourteen miles southwest of Shinnston, on the Clarksburg and Fairmont pike, to be used as a masonic cemetery. 

   Was organized January 7, 1880, as No. 10. Its object is the "social, intellectual and moral improvement of the youth;" they prohibit the use of intoxicating liquors, and are guided by their motto, "Love, Union and Virtue." The present officers are as follows:  W. T. Reeder M.K.; W. A. Davis, V. M. K.; W. A. Knox, secretery; H. W. Harmer, treasurer; M. J. Jarrett, instructor; J. H. Everson, mar.; A. E. Davisson, stew.; D. B. Shore, sen.; W. J. S. Harmon, chap. and P. M. S. Long, pro.; C. W. Sehon, L. S. to M. K.; G. M. Haught, L. S. Present membership, 26. 

   Was organized October 23, 1854, by Thomas G. Steele, Dep. G. M., under dispensation from the grand lodge of Virginia, and a charter was granted in 1855. The following were the first officers: P. K. Shinn, N. G.; Leonard Clark, V.G.; C. Ross secretary; Bart Clark, treasurer; B. Tyson Harmer, chaplin; D. S. Ebert, warden; A. W. Shinn, con.; John H. Ogden, R.S. to V. G.; S. J. Ogden, L. S. to V. G.; Wm. Robinson, I. G.; T. C. Wamsley, O.G. After the organization of the state, the lodges were renumbered, and this became No. 16. The present officers are as follows: Alison Robinson, N. G.; Wm. J. S. Harmer, V. G.; B. A. Reeder, treasurer; M. J. Jarrett, secretary; Present membership, 40; the order has a surplus fund of over $600.