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July 10, 1889: Historian Boyd Stutler Born in Gilmer County

Boyd Stutler
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Historian Boyd Stutler was born in Gilmer County on July 10, 1889. At 18, he became the owner, editor, and publisher of the Grantsville News in neighboring Calhoun County. Three years later, Stutler was elected mayor of Grantsville.

During World War I, he rose to the rank of sergeant. Throughout his life, Stutler remained active in veterans’ affairs. He served as managing editor of the American Legion magazine for 18 years. And, as a war correspondent in the Pacific, he witnessed the official Japanese surrender ending World War II.

After returning from Europe after the First World War, Stutler became chief clerk to the West Virginia superintendent of public printing. He wrote several publications, was managing editor of the West Virginia Review magazine, and served as associate editor of the 1929 West Virginia Encyclopedia. Stutler cowrote a West Virginia history textbook and authored a book about West Virginia in the Civil War.

He also compiled one of the finest collections relating to abolitionist John Brown. His collection is now housed in the West Virginia State Archives.

Boyd Stutler died in 1970 at age 80.