 Among the newspaper 's proprietors was Alexander W. Monroe , a prominent Romney lawyer who had previously served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates ( 1850 – 1851 ) . Monroe and co @-@ owner Job N. Cookus left the newspaper to serve in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War . Following the war , Monroe represented Hampshire County in the West Virginia House of Delegates ( 1875 – 1877 and 1879 – 1883 ) . During the 1875 – 1877 legislative session , he was the Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates . 
