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PIONEER  SETTLERS 

OF  GRAYSON  COUNTY 

VIRGINIA 


BY 

B.  F.  NUCKOLLS 
GALAX,  VA. 


1914 

The  Kihg  Printing  Company 

le  roi  press 

bristol,  tennessee 


/ 


Fsss. 


Bebtcatton 


HIS  book  is  dedicated  to  the  mem- 
ory of  my  father  and  mother  ^  Clark 
Nuckolls  and  Rosa  Bourne  Hale 
Nuckolls;  and  also  to  other  kindred 
and  friends,  many  of  whom  have 
gone  before,  and  many  who  are  on 
their  journey  to  the  Mansions  of  Rest,  ^  ff^e 
have  lived  and  labored  and  loved  together, 
and  we  hope  to  meet  at  last  in  the  kingdom  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  who 
will  finally  gather  all  his  faithful  ones  into 
their  Heavenly  Home, 


INTRODUCTION 

It  is  with  unfeigned  pleasure  that  I  write  these  lines 
to  introduce  this  modest  volume  to  the  reading  public. 
I  have  known  the  author  and  the  people  of  whom  he 
writes  for  more  than  a  half  century.  The  author  him- 
self is  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  who,  by  their 
courage  and  stalwart  virtues,  made  Southwestern  Vir- 
gmia  the  garden  spot  of  the  world— "The  land  of  the 
free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave."  He  was  brought  up 
among  them,  and  is  by  blood  akin  to  hundreds  of  them. 
He  writes  what  he  knows,  and  knows  what  he  writes 
is  true.  The  book  is  a  recital  of  facts  with  but  little 
embellishment— a  garner  for  preserving  for  posterity, 
a  history  of  the  brave  doings  of  the  men  and  women 
of  the  generations  gone  by.  This  is  clearly  the  author's 
purpose  in  writing  it,  and  as  such  it  is  worthy  of  the  hearty 
endorsement  of  the  children  of  a  noble  ancestry.  And 
it  will  be  read  by  this  and  coming  generations,  not  only 
in  the  happy  homestead,  the  hills  and  valleys  of  South- 
western Virginia,  but  in  many  other  states,  for  the  sons 
of  this  hill  country  are  spread  far  and  wide  over  the 
South  and  West.  Many  men  and  women  in  the  far  off 
western  plains  will  read  with  thrilling  interest  story 
after  story  of  the  early  days  of  their  fathers  and  grand- 
fathers who  felled  the  forests  and  drove  the  wolves  and 
bears  from  their  lurking  dens,  and  built  their  log  cabins 
by  the  spring.  The  springs  of  laughing  waters  are  still 
there,  but  the  log  cabins  of  the  pioneers  are  gone — and 
beautiful  homesteads,  waving  harvests  and  lowing  herds 
tell  of  the  comfort  and  good  cheer  of  the  country.  The 
ramshackle  school  house,  in  which  the  children  learned 
their  a  b  c's  in  the  years  long  gone,  are  replaced  with 
academies  and  high  schools  of  architectural  taste  and 


viii  Pioneer  Settlers 

adapted  to  educational  purposes.  And  instead  of  the 
log  cabin  or  humble  private  home  of  the  settlers  in  which 
the  "circuit-rider"  used  to  conduct  divine  services,  now 
the  "church-going-bell"  in  every  neighborhood  calls 
the  people  to  worship  in  elegant  houses  of  worship. 

This  book  tells  the  how  of  all  this  change,  and  the 
worthy  author  merits  the  hearty  thanks  of  all  for  putting 
the  story  in  permanent  form  for  preservation.  I  cordi- 
ally commend  it  to  book  lovers  of  the  day. 

Knoxville,  Tenn.  D.  SULLINS. 

October,  1913. 


PREFACE 

The  times,  opportunities,  and  surroundings  have 
changed  so  much  since  the  early  settlement  of  this  country 
that  the  people  of  the  present  generation  do  not  realize 
what  were  the  labors,  privations,  cares,  and  anxieties 
of  their  ancestors.  They  were  such  as  try  the  nerve, 
strength,  and  fortitude  of  mankind. 

History  proves  to  us  beyond  a  doubt  that  our  noble 
ancestors,  by  strenuous  labors  and  perseverance,  changed 
the  face  of  this  country,  which  they  found  wild  and 
uncultivated,  and  that  we  now  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their 
labor,  while  they  "Rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them." 

They  cut  down  the  forests,  built  their  log  cabins  and 
stables,  cleared  up  the  low-lands  and  swamps,  cleaned 
up  the  hills  and  mountain  sides.  Their  cattle,  sheep, 
and  hogs  lived  on  the  range,  but  had  to  be  brought  in 
at  night  near  the  cabm  to  protect  them  from  the  ravenous 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  that  were  plentiful  then. 
Bells  were  put  on  the  cattle  and  sheep  so  that  they 
could  be  found  when  they  strayed  away.  The  rich  weeds 
and  pea-vines  and  other  vegetable  growth  afforded 
feed  for  the  stock,  and  hogs  fed  on  the  mast,  and  foraged 
in  the  woodland.  Pens  were  made,  and  the  stock  was 
driven  into  them  at  night,  and  often  large  log  fires  had  to 
be  built  to  keep  the  wolves  away. 

We  are  not  attempting  in  this  book  to  givs  sketches 
of  all  the  families  that  have  helped  to  make  our  section 
of  the  country  what  it  now  is,  but  will  give  some  items  of 
history  and  tradition  that  we  think  will  be  of  interest 
to  many  and  that  have  not  hitherto  been  recorded. 

We  hope  that  those  who  scan  these  pages  will  not  read 
with  the  eye  of  the  critic  but  with  appreciation  of  the 
facts  and  items  that  have  been  gathered  together. 


INDEX 

AsBURY,  Bishop  Francis 171 

Anderson,  Maj.  James 67 

Anderson,  Orville,  Clerk  of  Court 10 

Bourne,  William,  first  Clerk  of  Grayson 17 

Bourne,  Stephen  G. 17 

Blair,  Thomas,  Sr :  26 

Blair,  John.. 26 

Blair,  Lorenzo  Dow 51 

Bryan,  Francis 163 

Bryan,  Joseph 131 

Bryan,  Lewis  H 132 

Bryan,  Morgan 132 

Canute,  King  of  England 162 

Canute,  William 163 

Canute,  Col.  Eli 163 

Coltrane,  Col.  Ira  B , 123 

Cornett,  Judge  Geo.  Washington 164 

Cooley,  Benjamin. -- 186 

Carico,  Rev.  William 100 

Cox,  John,  of  revolutionary  fame 167 

Dow,  Lorenzo 51 

Dickey,  Mathew 189 

Dickey,  John,  Sr 188 

Dickey,  Dr.  John  R 184 

Dickenson,  Col.  Martin 54 

Dickenson,  John 55 

Davis,  Col.  Alexander  M.._ 56 

Early,  John,  Sr 205 

Early,  James 203 


xii  Pioneer  Setlers 

Early,  John,  Jr —  203 

Felts,  Creed  N 51 

Felts,  Thomas,  Detective 52 

Fulton,  Rev.  Creed 160 

Fulton,  Samuel 160 

Fulton,  Judge  Andrew 16 

Garland,  Landon  Cabell,  LL.  D 143 

Garland,  Charles — .  142 

Garland,  Mary 142 

Garland,  David  S - 144 

Garland,  Samuel 146 

Garland,  Hugh  A. 146 

Garland,  Augustus  H. - 146 

Garland,  Rev.  James  Powell,  D.  D 147 

Garrison,  Isaac 155 

Garrison,  David - 155 

Goodykoontz,  David 193 

Goodykoontz,  Rev.  Alfred  M. 197 

GwYN,  James 58 

Hale,  Lewis,  ancestor  from  Kent,  England 107 

Hale,  Edward,  ancestor  from  Kent,  England 104 

Hale,  Judge  Garland 121 

Hale,  Col.  Stephen,  Sr. 114 

Hale,  Capt.  Lewis,  Jr - 112 

Hale,  Capt.  Peyton  N 113 

Hale,  Capt.  Fielden  Lewis 118 

Hale,  Maj.  Peyton  G 127 

Hale,  Eli  C - 116 

Hale,  Hasten 73 

Hale,  Prof.  W.  Stephen 116 

Hash,  Jane 173 

Hanks,  Joshua  .._ 16 


Pioneer  Settlers  xiii 

Hanks,  "Nancy" 158 

Hanks,  Creed  L 158 

IsoM,  David 118 

Jones,  Admiral  John  Paul 148 

Jones,  Churchill 153 

Jones,  Maj.  Minitree 153 

Jones,  Maj.  Spotswood 153 

Jones,  Maj.  Churchill 153 

Jones,  Maj.  Abner 156 

Jones,  William 155 

Johnston,  Capt.  Robert 61 

Johnston,  James  B _ 69 

Johnston,  Mary 61 

Kyle,  Judge  William 52 

Kenny,  William 205 

Kenny,  Robert 205 

Kenny,  William,  Jr _ 205 

Kenny,  John  A 205 

La  Rowe,  Louis 206 

Lenoir,  Gen.  William..... 58 

LUNDY,  FiELDEN  J.,  Clerk  of  Court 17 

McCamant,  Col.  Samuel..._ 59 

McCamant,  Dr.  Thomas  Jefferson 60 

McCamant,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Jr 60 

Moore,  Col.  Alfred 82 

Moore,  Spotswood  J.._ 157 

Moore,  Churchill  F 157 

McMillan,  Col.  John 173 


I 


xiv  Pioneer  Settlers 

Nuckolls,  John,  James,  William,  York,  Eng 65 

Nuckolls,  Capt.  Robert  G... 72 

Nuckolls,  Charles 66 

Nuckolls,  Nathaniel 90 

Nuckolls,  Garland 71 

Nuckolls,  John,  S.  C.,  Killed  by  Tories,  1780 91 

Nuckolls,  Ezra 84 

Nuckolls,  Stephen  Friel,  Member  of  46th  Congress  86 

Oglesby,  William 89 

Osborne,  Enoch 171 

Osborne,  Solomon 171 

Osborne,  Zachariah.— 171 

Pendleton,  Edmond,  "Jurist" 146 

Perkins,  Timothy 24 

Perkins,  Johnston 48 

PuGH,  Stephen 25 

PuGH,  John 116 

Phipps,  Benjamin 173 

Phipps,  Joseph 173 

Phipps,  Columbus 174 

Phlegar,  Judge  Archer  A. 199 

Piper,  Col.  James 180 

Reeves,  George 176 

Reeves,  John 176 

Swift,  Col.  Flower,  Ancestor  from  England 98 

Smith,  Gen.  Alexander,  of  "Stuarts,"  Eng 180 

Scott,  James,  of  Ireland 126 

Sheffy,  Rev.  Robert  Sawyers 70 

Thomas,  Jonathan 24 


Pioneer  Settlers  xv 

Thomas,  Stephen  B 24 

Thomas,  Dr.  Fleming._ 175 

Vaughn,  Nathaniel 16 

Vaughn,  Rev.  John 16 

Vaughn,  Rev.  Thomas  C 138 

Ward,  Ballard  E. 73 

Worrell,  James 159 

Worrell,  Esaw,  Sr 159 

Worrell,  Capt.  John 160 

Worrell,  Churchill : 160 

Waugh,  Capt.  John  Blair 48 

Young,  Ezekiel._ 50 

Young,  Fielden 175 


INDEX  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Benjamin  Floyd  Nuckolls Frontispiece 

Dr.  David  Sullins vii 

The  Old  Kitchen 1 

The  Old  Nuckolls  Homestead 9 

Frances  Bourne 17 

MastinHale 21 

Nuckolls  Springs 25 

The  Hale  Brick  Residence. 33 

Elizabeth  Blair  Waugh 37 

Cliffside 41 

Residence  of  Captain  John  B.  Waugh 49 

Elizabeth  Thomas._ 53 

Col.  Samuel  McCamant 57 

Matilda  Dickinson  McCamant 65 

Nuckolls  Cemetery 69 

Clark  Nuckolls  and  Wife 73 

Residence  of  B.  F.  Nuckolls 81 

Ballard  E.  Ward  and  Wife 85 

James  Stuart  Ward „ 87 

William  Swift  Nuckolls 89 

Susan  B.  Hale 93 

Margaret  Swift. 99 

Martha  Nuckolls 101 

Hale  Coat  of  Arms.._ 105 

The  Hale  Monument 113 

Eh  C.  Hale 117 

Lucinda  Hale... 121 

Amanda  J.  Hale 125 

Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls 129 

Lucinda  Bourne 133 

Sophia  P.  Hale 135 

Major  Peyton  G.  Hale 137 

Garland  Coat  of  Arms 141 

Landon  C.  Garland,  LL.  D. 145 

The  Garret  Cemetery 147 

Benjamin  F.  Nuckolls  and  Wife _ 195 


Pioneer  Settlers  of  Grayson 
County  J  Virginia 


CHAPTER  I 

The  portion  of  Southwest  Vu-ginia  embraced  in  Gray- 
son and  Carroll  counties,  bounded  by  New  River  and 
Wythe  county  on  the  North,  and  by  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  state  of  North  Carolina  on  the  South,  was  first 
known  as  Botetourt  District,  afterwards,  as  Washing- 
ton and  Montgomery  Districts. 

New  River  was  first  called  Woods  River  and  after- 
wards changed  to  New  River.  A  Mr.  Woods  discovered 
the  river,  and  set  up  claims  on  lands  on  the  waters  of 
Crooked  and  Chestnut  Creeks.  Other  boundaries  were 
secured  by  Buchanan.  Some  of  the  titles  to  land  on  which 
the  town  of  Galax  is  built  run  back  to  the  old  Buchanan 
papers. 

In  1720,  Spottsylvania  was  formed  from  portions  of 
Essex,  King  William,  and  King  and  Queen  counties, 
and  was  named  for  Col.  Alexander  Spottswood,  who  was 
one  of  the  colonial  governors  of  Virginia. 

Orange  was  formed  from  Spottsylvania  in  1734;  Augusta 
from  Orange  in  1738;  Botetourt  from  Augusta  in  1769; 
Fincastle  coimty  was  formed  from  Botetourt  in  1772, 
and  covered  far  more  than  half  of  the  present  state  of 
West  Virginia,  all  of  the  present  state  of  Kentucky,  and 
all  of  what  we  now  know  as  Southwest  Virginia. 

In  1776,  the  county  of  Fincastle  was  abolished,  and 
out  of  its  territory  three  new  counties  were  formed,  to-wit: 
Montgomery,  Washington,  and  Kentucky. 

Montgomery  was  formed  from  Fincastle  in  1776; 
Wythe  from  Montgomery  in  1790;  Grayson  from  Wythe 
in  1792;  Carroll  county  from  Grayson  in  1842. 

When  Wythe  county  was  formed  from  Montgomery 
m  1790  it  included  a  large  boundary  reaching  to  the  North 


2  Pioneer  Settlers 

Carolina  line  on  the  South,  and  embracing  what  is  now 
known  as  Grayson  and  Carroll  counties. 

Evansham  (afterwards  changed  to  Wytheviile)  was 
selected  as  the  place  to  hold  courts  and  elections,  and 
all  free  holders  were  required  to  go  there  to  vote. 

The  early  settlers  had  selected  land  along  New  River 
and  its  tributary  creeks,  as  they  were  most  productive, 
and  were  rich  with  wild  pea-vine  and  other  vegetation 
for  the    stock. 

They  did  not  like  to  have  the  county  seat  so  far  removed 
from  them,  so  they  called  for  a  county  on  the  south 
side.  Flower  Swift  was  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the 
Wythe  court.  He,  with  others,  made  an  effort  to  get 
a  county  cut  off  from  Wythe,  but  was  met  with  violent 
opposition. 

William  Bourne  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature, 
but  was  not  elected  on  account  of  his  known  intention 
to  secure  a  new  county.  When  the  Legislature  met, 
Bourne  was  there  as  a  lobby  member,  and  succeeded  in 
carrying  out  his  wishes.  Mr.  Grayson,  of  Montgomery 
county,  gave  much  help  in  securing  the  new  county, 
and  in  recognition  of  his  services  the  county  was  named 
for  him — "Grayson". 

The  first  court  was  held  in  William  Bourne's  bam  on 
Knob  Fork  of  Elk  Creek.  Flower  Swift,  Minitree  Jones, 
and  Nathaniel  Frisbie  were  appointed  magistrates. 

The  members  of  the  first  court  were  Flower  Swift, 
Enoch  Osboume,  Minitree  Jones,  Nathaniel  Frisbie, 
Philip  Gaines,  William  Bourne,  Nathaniel  Pope,  Matthew 
Dickey,  Lewis  Hale,  and  Moses  Foley.  William  Bourne 
was  appointed  clerk  of  the  court. 

Records  of  the  first  court  held  in  Grayson  county,  in 
William  Bourne's  barn.  May  21st,  1793,  and  partial 
proceedings  of  some  subsequent  courts : 


Grayson  County,  Va.  3 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  21st  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  1793,  at  the  house  of  Willaim  Bourne,  in  the  County  of 
Grayson,  a  Commission  of  the  Governor,  Henry  Lee,  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Virginia,  for  the  County  aforesaid,  directed  to  Flower 
Swift,  Enoch  Osbourne,  Minitre  Jones,  Nathaniel  Frisbie,  Phillip 
Gaines,  William  Bourne,  Nathaniel  Pope,  Mathew  Dickey,  Lewis 
Hale,  and  Moses  Foley,  Gent.,  bearing  date  the  10th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1792,  was  produced  as  being  read,  and  thereupon  Flower 
Swift  took  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the  Commonwealth,  the  Oath 
to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  Oath  of  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  the  Oath  of  a  Justice  of  the  County  Court 
in  Chancery,  which  Oaths  were  administered  to  him  by  Minitree 
Jones  and  Nathaniel  Frisbie,  and  then  the  said  Flower  Swift 
administered  all  the  aforesaid  Oaths  to  the  aforesaid  Enoch  Os- 
bourne, Minitre  Jones,  Nathaniel  Frisbie,  Phillip  Gaines,  William 
Bourne,  Nathaniel  Pope,  Mathew  Dickey,  and  Lewis  Hale,  who 
took  the  same. 

A  Commission  from  His  Excellency,  Henry  Lee,  Governor  of 
the  Commonwealth,  to  Phillip  Gaines  to  be  Sheriff  of  the  County 
of  Grayson  to  take  effect  from  and  after  the  13  day  of  this  instant, 
was  produced  by  the  said  Phillip  Gaines  and  Read,  and  thereupon, 
he,  together  with  William  Bobbitt  and  John  Stone  his  Security, 
and  entered  into  and  acknowledged  their  bond  for  the  said  Phillip 
Gaines  due  performance  of  his  Office,  which  is  Ordered  to  be  recorded 
and  Flower  Swift  and  Enoch  Osbourne  administered  to  the  said 
Phillip  Gaines  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  support  the  Common- 
wealth of  the  United  States,  and  also  the  Oath  of  Sheriff. 

At  a  Court  held  for  Grayson  County  the  27th  day  of  May, 
1793. 

Present: 

Flower  Swift 
Enoch  Osbourne 
Nathaniel  Frisbie 
Nathaniel  Pope 
Mathew  Dickey 
Lewis  Hale 

Gentlemen,  Justices. 

The  Court  proceeded  to  appoint  a  Clerk.  Whereupon  William 
Bourne  was  chosen  to  that  office,  and  thereupon,  he  together  with 
Thomas  Blair,  Jeremiah  Stone,  and  John  Stone,  his  Security, 
entered  into  and  acknowledged  their  bond  according  to  law  for  the 


4  Pioneer  Settlers 

said  Bournes  due  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  said  office,  and 
the  said  William  Bourne  thereupon  took  the  Oath  of  Allegiance, 
the  Oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  Oath  of  the  Clerk  of  a  County  Court. 

Present: 

MiNiTRE  Jones, 

Gent. 

Phillip  Gaines,  Esq.,  is  Nominated  as  Surveyor,  and  it  is  Ordered 
that  the  same  be  certified  to  the  president  and  professors  of  William 
and  Mary  College. 

Alexander  Smyth,  Gent.,  produced  License  Signed  by  Richard 
Carey,  Henry  Taswell,  and  Edmond  Winston,  permitting  him  to 
practice  as  an  Attorney  in  the  Inferior  and  Superior  Courts  within 
this  Commonwealth,  and  having  taken  the  Oath  prescribed  by 
law,  is  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Courts. 

The  Court  adjourned  until  10  o'clock  tomorrow. 

Flower  Swift. 

At  a  Court  continued  and  held  for  the  County  of  Grayson  on 
the  22nd  day  of  May,  1793. 

Present: 

MiNiTRE  Jones, 
Nathaniel  Frisbie, 
Mathew  Dickey, 
Lewis  Hale, 

Gent. 

William  Drope  is  admitted  a  Deputy  Clerk  to  this  Court,  where- 
upon he  took  the  Oath  prescribed  by  law. 

Ordered,  that  for  the  purpose  of  appointing  Commissioners  to 
value  property  taken  by  E,  the  County  be  divided  into  two  Districts, 
that  part  eastward  of  Meadow  Creek  and  New  River  to  form  one 
end,  and  the  residue  of  the  County  the  other. 

William  Bobbitt,  Jacob  Colyar,  and  George  Martin  are  appointed 
Commissioners  to  value  property  in  the  lower  Eastern  District; 
and  Enoch  Osbourne,  David  Cox,  Stephen  Goast,  in  the  upper  or 
Western  District,  and  it  is  ordered  that  they  be  served  with  notice 
to  qualify  according  to  Law. 

Present, 

Flower  Swift, 
Enoch  Osbourne, 
Nathaniel  Pope, 

Gent. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  5 

The  Court  proceeded  to  fix  upon  a  place  of  holding  Courts,  and 
fixed  upon  a  place  known  by  the  name  of  Rose's  Cabins,  cr  within 
one  mile  thereof,  and  appointed  the  house  wherein  Court  now  sits 
as  the  place  of  holding  Courts  until  publick  buildings  shall  be 
erected. 

Minitre  Jones  and  Enoch  Osbourne,  Gent.,  entered  their  dissent 
to  the  order  fixing  the  permanent  place  of  holding  Courts. 

Absent,  Flower  Swift,  Gent. 

Charles  Nuckolls,  Flower  Swift  and  Phillip  Gaines,  Gent.,  in 
Court  agree  that  they  will  Convey  to  trustees  for  the  use  of  the 
Courts,  100  Acres  of  land  at  the  seat  of  the  public  buildings,  one- 
half  thereof  to  be  laid  out  into  Lets  and  Streets,  and  establish  a 
Town;  the  balance  to  be  Common,  Reserving  three  half-acre 
Lotts  at  their  choice  after  the  Lotts  were  laid  off. 

-Minitre  Jones  and  Mathew  Dickey,  Gent.,  are  appointed  Com- 
missioners on  behalf  of  the  Courts  to  fix  on  the  situation  for  the 
publick  Buildings  within  the  District  aforesaid,  to  receive  from  the 
proprietors  of  the  Lands  there  a  conveyance  there  of,  or  an  Obli- 
gation for  the  Same,  and  to  contract  with  an  undertaker  for  the 
erection  of  the  necessary  buildings  according  to  plans  to  be  by  them 
prepared,  and  finally  to  lay  off  a  Town  at  the  place;  provided  that 
the  auction  of  the  buildings  shall  be  let  by  auction  to  the  lowest 
bidder,  on  some  Court  day,  on  public  notice. 

Present, 

Flower  Swift, 

Gent. 

On  motion  of  Phillip  Gaines,  Esq.,  David  Vaughn  is  admitted 
a  Deputy  Sheriff  in  the  County,  whereupon  he  took  the  Oath 
prescribed  by  Law. 

Alexander  Smith  is  appointed  Deputy  Attorney  for  the  Common- 
wealth, in  this  Court,  which  is  ordered  to  be  Certified  to;  And  it 
is  further  ordered  that  he  be  allowed  the  Sum  of  Twenty  pounds 
in  the  levy  the  present  year,  as  a  compensation  for  his  services  for 
one  year  from  this  time. 

The  Court  also  appoints  Minitre  Jones  and  Mathew  Dickey  to 
hold  elections  for  overseer  of  the  poor,  the  election  to  be  held  at 
the  Forge  on  the  12th  day  of  June  next. 

Ordered  that  Shadrack  Greer  and  Tobias  Phipps  be  recommended 
as  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  this  County. 

The  Court  appoints  the  oflicers  for  the  regiment  of  Malitia; 
Ordered  that  Flower  Swift  be  recommended  as  Leut.  Col.,  Minitre 


6  Pioneer  Settlers 

Jones,  Major  of  the  first  Battalion,  Avery  Henick,  Captain  of  Rifle 
Company,  first  Battalion,  John  Wilson,  Leut.,  William  ChaflBn, 
Ensign. 

James  Anderson,  Captain  of  Rifle  Company,  Second  Battalion, 
William  Vaughn,  Lieut.,  and  Geo.  Levesy,  Ensign. 

There  are  3  Companies  for  first  Battalion,  Three  Captains, 
Nathaniel  Pope,  John  McCoy,  John  Pickerell. 

Second  Battalion,  Three  Captains,  Jonathan  Ward,  Abner  Jones, 
George  Howell. 

Court  adjourned  until  Court  in  Course. 

Flower  Swift, 

Gent. 
Court  10th  of  June,  1793: 

A  deed  from  Flower  Swift  and  Mary  his  wife,  to  Mathew  Dickey, 
proven  by  Minitre  Jones,  and  Redmond  Cody. 

Ordered  that  Revd.  Moses  Foley  be  admitted  to  solemnize  the 
rights  of  matrimony,  agreeable  to  the  rules  of  his  church,  so  soon 
as  he  shall  enter  into  bond  according  to  law. 

Ordered,  that  a  road  be  opened  from  Blair  and  Dickey's  furnace 
to  the  county  line.  From  the  Furnace  to  the  ground  where  the 
Courthouse  is  to  be  erected,  thence  to  the  Forge,  thence  to  William 
Jennings,  Joseph  Mill,  Nathaniel  Pope,  James  Cock,  and  William 
Williams  (Wagoner),  views  the  grounds  to  County  line. 

Dennis  Fielder,  Rubin  Cornute,  and  William  Long,  who  were  at 
the  last  Court,  appointed  to  view  Different  ways  petitioned  for 
by  the  Inhabitants  of  Elk  Creek,  upon  their  Oaths  do  say  there 
may  a  waggon  Road  be  made  from  Jeremiah  Stones  to  Hale's 
Meeting  house,  from  thence  to  the  Widow  Roarch  Cabin,  from 
thence  to  Richard  Wrights,  Sen.,  to  Richard  Wrights,  Jun.,  and 
that  the  Survey  of  the  same  keep  it  in  Repair  according  to  Law. 

Ordered  that  John  Nash  be  allowed  for  the  killing  one  Old  Wolfe 
out  of  present  County  Levy. 

Ordered  that  Joseph  Fields  be  allowed  for  the  killing  one  Old 
Wolfe  out  of  present  County  Levy. 

At  a  Court  Continued  for  the  Examination  of  a  Negro  man 
named  Natt,  the  property  of  James  Cox,  on  Suspicion  of  his  Felon- 
iously taking  from  Thomas  Blair  one  Duck  Blanket  to  the  value 
of  fifteen  Shillings. 

The  above  named  Natt  was  led  to  the  Bar,  and  upon  Examination, 
denieth  the  Fact,  Wherewith  he  stands  charged,  upon  which  several 
Witnesses  were  Sworn  and  examined,  and  the  prisoner  heard  in 
his  own  Defence;  On  Consideration  of  which  of  the  Circumstances 


Grayson  County,  Va.  7 

relating  to  the  Crime,  the  Court  are  of  Opinion  that  he  is  guilty 
of  the  fact  wherewith  he  stands  charged,  but  the  things  being  of 
Small  Value,  and  the  prisoner  praying  Corporal  punishment,  it 
is  ordered  that  he  Receive  fifteen  Lashes  at  the  publick  whippin 
post  of  the  County  on  his  bare  back,  well  laid  on,  and  it  is  said  to 
the  Sheriff  that  Execution  thereof  be  immediately  done. 
Ordered  that  this  Court  adjourn  until  Court  in  Course. 

Flower  Swift. 

A  Suit  on  Bond  given  by  Phillip  Gainer. 
Martin  Dickenson Plf. 

V 

Daniel  Sheffy Dft. 

Upon  a  bond  for  the  forthcoming  of  the  property  at  the  day  of 
Sale  upon  an  Execution  obtained  from  Court. 

Robert  Sayers  proved  two  days  attendance  as  on  evidence  in 
the  Suit  Baker  vs.  English,  and  16  miles  traveling  here,  and  the 
same  returning  each  Daj^ . 

Baker  vs.  English  Judy  for  ;^3.  sl5.  6  and  cost. 

The  Court  proceeded  to  Lay  the  County  Levy,  and  find  the 
Claims  for  and  against  the  Same  as  follows,  viz.: 

To  the  Clerk's  Publick  Services  the  present  year 25  Dol. 

The  Sheriff  same 25  Dol. 

To  Clerks  and  Surveyor  Book,  &c, 50  Dol. 

To   Alexander   Smith   Att.   Com 66.67. 

To  Creditors  for  Wolfe  heads 50  D. 

To  Clerks  for  examining  Com.  Books 5  Dol. 

To  account  for  Delinquents 25.33  D. 

Ordered  that  the  Sheriff  Collect  the  Levy  and  give  Bond  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  in  ten  Days. 

The  Court  proceeded  to  fix  the  rates  to  be  observed  by  Ordinary 
keepers: 

(You  will  see  this  Order  on  p.  35  in  the  old  records  of  the  first 
Courts  for  Grayson  County  which  belongs  to  the  Clerk's  Office  at 
Independence,  Va.  William  Bourne,  first  Ordinary  Keeper,  at  his 
house.    B.  F.  N.) 

COURT  RECORDS 
(See  page  35) 

The  Court  proceeded  to  fix  the  rates  to  be  Observed  by  Ordinary 
keepers,  viz.: 


8  Pioneer  Setters 

£  s   d 

A  breakfast  with  Coffee 0  13 

Ditto  Without  Coffee 0  10 

Dinner  Warm,  if  good 0  16 

Cold 0  13 

Lodging  Clean  for  1  in  bed 0  0    6 

2  in  bed 0  0    4 

More  than  2  in  bed 0  0    0 

Stableage  pr  night 0  0     6 

Do  pr  24  hours 0  0     9 

Do.  for  less  than  24  hours 0  0     6 

Pasturage  in  Season  pr  night 0  0     6 

Do.  pr  24  hours 0  0     9 

Corn  pr.  Gallon 0  0     8 

Oats  pr.  Gallon 0  0     6 

Wine  Madera  pr.  quart..._ 0  8    0 

Do.  inferior 0  5     0 

West  India  rum  pr  half-pint..._ 0  10 

Cosbert        Do   per  Do 0  0     6 

Taffia  Do  pr.  Do. 0  0     6 

French  brandy  pr.  Do 0  0     9 

Peach  Do.  per  Do 0  0     6 

Gin  pr.  Do 0  0     8 

Whiskey  pr.  Do 0  0    6 

Good  Cider  pr.  qt.._ 0  0     8 

Good  Beer  pr.  Do.._ 0  0     6 

Small  beer 0  0    4 

At  a  Court  held  for  the  County  of  Grayson  on  the  24th  Day  of 
June,  l'}94. 

Present: 

Flower  Swift, 
Enoch  Osbournb, 
MiNiTRE  Jones, 
Mathew  Dickey, 
Lewis  Hale, 

Gentlemen  Justices. 

Ordered  that  Joshua  Cox  be  allowed  in  the  next  County  Levy 
for  the  Killing  of  five  Young  Wolves." 

"Ordered  that  this  Court  adjourn  from  the  house  of  William 
Bourne  to  the  New  Courthouse,  Court  in  Course".  Last  Court. 
Wm.  B.'s  House. 

Flower  Swift 


Grayson  County,  Va.  9 

First  Court,  N.  C.  House: 

At  a  Court  held  for  the  County  of  Grayson  on  the  22nd  day  of 
July,  1794. 

Present: 

Flower  Swift, 
Nathaniel  Frisbib, 
Nathaniel  Pope, 
Lewis  Hale, 

Gent,  Justices. 

Ordered  that  the  Stock  Mark  of  George  Martin  be  Recorded  a 
half  Crop  off  the  Left  ear,  and  a  half  penny  out  of  the  right  ear, 
viz.:  the  half  Crop  out  of  the  upper  side  of  the  left  and  the  half 
penny  out  of  the  underside  of  the  right. 

A  Deed  from  Mathew  Dickey  and  Rebaca  Dickey  his  wife  to 
Thomas  Blair,  proven  by  the  Oath  of  Greenberry  McKinzie,  and 
ordered  to  be  Certified. 

A  Deed  from  Flower  Swift,  and  Mary  his  wife,  to  Jessie  Williams 
was  proven  by  the  Oaths  of  William  AUin,  John  Williams,  and 
Augustus  Webber,  three  of  the  witnesses  there  to,  and  0.  R. 

On  the  motion  of  George  Ring  and  Richard  Hale,  a  certificate 
is  granted  for  obtaining  letters  of  administrations  on  the  Estate 
of  Martin  Ring,  and  Whereupon  they  entered  into  with  William 
Hale,  Lewis  Hale,  Dudley  Hale,  and  Jacob  Spraker,  their  Securities, 
and  qualified  according  to  law. 

Ordered  that  John  Fielder,  Elisha  Bedsaul,  and  Martin  Dick- 
enson be  appointed  to  appraise  the  personal  property  and  make 
report  there  of  to  Court. 

Ordered  that  Dudley  Hale  be  appointed  Overseer  of  the  road  in 
place  of  Timothy  Roark,  and  that  he,  with  the  usual  hands,  keep 
the  same  in  repair. 

On  motion  of  Robert  Nuckolls,  who,  having  produced  the  receipt 
of  the  Clerk  of  this  Court  for  the  sum  of  Twelve  Dollars  and  fifty 
Cents,  a  license  is  granted  him  to  keep  an  Ordinary  at  his  house 
in  Greenville,  One  year  from  the  first  of  May  last.  Whereupon  he 
entered  into  bond  with  Security  accordingly. 

A  List  of  Insolvent  Tythes  for  the  year  1810  was  produced  in 
Court  and  allowed  by  the  Court,  aud  proved  by  the  Oath  of  Abner 
Jones. 

A  Commission  from  his  Excellency,  James  Wood,  Leutenant 
Governor,  in  the  absence  of  the  Governor,  appointing  Abner  Jones 


10  Pioneer  Settlers 

and  John  Robertson  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Grayson  County  in 
Chancery. 

This  closes  the  copies  from  the  first  Book  of  Record 
for  the  Courts  of  Grayson  county.  Said  book  begins  with 
the  date  of  the  21st  day  of  May,  1793,  and  closes  with 
the  31st  of  May,  1811. 

First  court  held  in  new  courthouse,  on  22nd  of  July, 
1794.  Second  courthouse  built  about  1838.  County 
divided,  and  Carroll  cut  off  of  east  end  of  Grayson, 
in  1842.  (For  record  of  First  Court  for  Carroll,  June, 
1842,  see  F.  L.  Hale's  obituary.)  Independence  was 
chosen  as  the  county  seat  of  Grayson,  in  1850  or  1851. 
Orville  Anderson  was  clerk.  He  moved  to  Independence, 
and  died  there  soon  after  moving. 

The  following,  in  reference  to  the  laying  of  the  comer- 
stone  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Fries,  Virginia,  is  taken  from 
The  Roanoke  Times  of  November  27th  1902: 

NOTABLE  DAY  FOR  FRIES 

"The  gods  have  indeed  been  kind  to  our  infant  city 
on  this  day  of  days  in  her  history.  The  laying  of  the 
corner-stone  of  any  pioneer  church  of  any  settlement  is 
a  vital  event  in  the  history  of  that  place,  and  the  people 
of  Grayson,  Wythe,  Carroll  and  other  counties,  have 
beyond  question  shown  their  appreciation  of  this  fact, 
as  demonstrated  by  their  large  outpouring  today.  The 
occasion  which  gathered  so  many  hundreds  of  noble 
women  and  men  within  the  corporation  of  Fries  today 
was  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South.  The  ceremonies  were  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  and  conducted  in  their 
very  impressive  style,  each  and  every  ofiicer  being  in 
good  voice  and  all  were  men  of  high  intelligence  and  fine 
personal  bearing.  The  Order  of  Rebekah,  with  its  queenly 
membership,  was  in  good  evidence,  and  under  command 


Grayson  County,  Va.  11 

of  its  noble  grand,  Miss  Donna  Fielder.     Marshals  of 
the  day  were  Dr.  Koontz  and  R.  L.  Dickenson. 

"Lodges  were  represented  from  Wytheville,  Crozier, 
Ivanhoe,  Hillsville,  Old  Town,  Independence  and  Pulaski. 
Dixie  Lodge,  of  this  city,  has  for  its  worshipful  master. 
Judge  Padgett,  of  Grayson  county  court.  The  noble 
grand  of  Fries  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  is  J.  D.  Baley. 

"Deposited  in  the  corner-stone  is  a  list  of  Old  Town 
Lodge,  No.  68,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  names  of  charter  members 
and  names  of  members  at  this  time;  a  list  of  members  of 
Dixie  Lodge,  and  time  of  organization;  also  a  list  of  Fries 
Lodge,  No.  39,  L  0.  0.  F.,  with  time  of  organization; 
a  list  of  Fries  Sunday-school;  an  account  of  the  massacre 
of  the  Bartlett  family  and  others  by  four  runaway  negroes 
on  the  11th  of  August,  1851;  list  of  trustees  of  the  chui'ch; 
list  of  members  of  the  church  at  this  place;  paper  giving 
time  of  organization  of  Washington  Mills  and  names  of 
directors,  copies  of  Holston  Conference  Annual,  Methodist 
Discipline,  Holston  Methodist,  Grayson  Gazette,  Grayson 
Journal,  Virginia  Odd  Fellows,  Christian  Advocate, 
Wytheville  Dispatch  and  Roanoke  Times. 

"The  church  building  has  brick  foundation  and  is  to 
be  of  wooden  super-structure,  with  a  seating  capacity 
of  about  800.  It  will  be  completed  by  spring  and  will 
have  practically  no  debt  hanging  over  it,  due  to  the 
liberality  of  Col.  Fries  and  the  public.  The  church  will 
be,  as  it  now  is,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  T.  C.  Vaughan, 
a  man  of  christian  zeal  and  noble  personality. 

"Rev.  E.  F.  Kahle,  presiding  elder  of  this  conference, 
delivered  the  oration  of  the  day.  In  clear,  well  niodulated 
tones  and  classic  style  he  portrayed  the  building  of 
Solomon's  temple,  injecting  the  thought  that,  after  the 
colossal  work  was  done  it  fell  short  of  the  humblest 
meeting  house  of  this  era.  Since  it  never  knew  the  Savior 
of  man.     His  masterful   address   received   the   closest 


12  Pioneer  Settlers 

attention  and  will  be  treasured  a  long  time  by  those 
who  heard  him. 

"Within  a  hundred  feet  of  the  church  stands  the  public 
school,  which,  when  completed,  will  accommodate  500 
children. 

"These  buildings  are  under  the  architectural  guidance 
of  Capt.  R.  P.  Henry,  who  has  charge  of  the  extensive 
and  difficult  building  of  this  city. 

"After  the  ceremonies  matters  were  handed  over  to 
the  tender  care  of  a  committee  of  ladies,  who  undertook, 
with  happy  result,  the  feeding  of  the  vast  multitude, 
serving  a  splendid  dinner  and  supper. 

"  More  anon  from  this  strenuous  little  city. " 


The  first  trial  held  in  the  new  court-house  in  Independ- 
ence was  that  of  the  four  negroes  who  were  engaged  in 
the  fight  of  which  an  account  is  given  below : 

"An  account  of  a  fight  or  massacre  that  occurred 
with  the  Bartlett  family,  John  Clements,  William  B. 
Hale  and  Currin  C.  Hale  and  four  runaway  negroes,  on 
the  grounds  now  occupied  by  the  Fries  Company,  which 
fight  or  massacre  took  place  on  Monday  morning,  about 
10  o'clock,  August  11,  1851. 

"Wilham  Bartlett  and  Elizabeth  Paschel,  his  wife, 
moved  to  New  River,  Grayson  county,  Va.,  in  1834, 
with  their  two  sons  and  one  daughter — Samuel  Bartlett, 
Alfred  G.  Bartlett  and  Matilda  Bartlett,  wife  of  Cyrus 
Wilcox. 

"William  B.  Hale  moved  to  the  adjoining  far-m  east  on 
the  river,  with  his  son,  Currin  C.  Hale,  about  1838. 

"John  Clements  moved  to  the  mill  west  of  Wm.  Bart- 
lett's,  on  the  river,  about  1847. 

"In  the  Year  1849  two  men  came  into  the  county  of 
Grayson  by  the  names  of  Bacon  and  Cook.  These  men 
claimed  to  be  Methodist  preachers  from  Ohio.     They 


Grayson  County,  Va.  13 

traveled  over  the  county  and  preached.  But  it  was  soon 
known  that  they  were  "aboUtionists"  and  that  they 
were  interfering  with  the  negroes,  talking  with  and 
advising  them  to  run  away  and  go  to  Ohio,  and  that  they 
would  help  them  get  through. 

"On  Sunday  night  of  the  10th  of  August,  1851,  four 
negro  men  started  for  Ohio.  Two  of  them,  Simon  and 
Lewis,  belonged  to  John  Reeves,  and  the  other  two, 
Jack  and  Henry,  belonged  to  a  man  named  Cox. 

"These  negroes  got  a  canoe,  armed  themselves  with 
butcher  knives  and  scythe  blades,  and  started  down  the 
river  for  Ohio.  Their  instruction  from  Bacon  was  to 
travel  down  the  river  at  night  and  lay  by  in  the  daytime, 
and  that  he  would  meet  them  at  the  Kanawha  Falls 
and  take  them  across  to  Ohio.  They  reached  the  falls 
near  the  Clements'  mills  about  daylight  Monday  morning, 
August  11,  1851,  tied  up  their  canoe  and  went  up  into 
a  ravine  in  the  woods  and  started  a  fire.  The  smoke  was 
discovered  by  John  Clements,  who  went  into  the  woods 
and  found  the  negroes  in  camp  for  the  day. 

"Mr.  Clements  sent  Calvin  Bobbitt  for  help  to  take 
the  negroes.  Samuel  Bartlett,  Alfred  G.  Bartlett,  Cyrus 
Wilcox,  William  B.  Hale,  Cunin  C.  Hale  and  Leftrick 
Hill  came,  with  guns  and  a  bulldog,  and  demanded  their 
surrender. 

"At  once  two  commenced  the  fight,  the  other  two  run- 
ning for  the  river.  Samuel  Bartlett  was  struck  with  a 
scythe  blade  and  his  head  cut  open.  John  Clements  was 
cut  on  the  head.  Alfred  G.  Bartlett  was  struck  on  the 
head,  cut  on  the  wrist,  and  his  thumb  nearly  cut  off  in 
his  efforts  to  keep  off  the  blows. 

"The  fight  was  then  between  A.  G.  Bartlett,  Cyrus 
Wilcox  and  the  two  stout  negroes.  Wilcox  seized  one  of 
the  negroes  and  threw  him  to  the  ground.  Alfred  shot 
at  the  other,  but  failed  to  hit  him,  and  the  negro  ran  to 


14  Pioneer  Settlers 

Wilcox  and  stuck  the  butcher  knife  through  his  neck, 
just  missing  the  jugular  vein.  Bartlett  struck  the  negro 
Simon  across  the  back  with  his  gun  barrel,  having  broken 
the  breech  of  his  gun  in  the  fight. 

"In  this  severe  and  desperate  struggle  Bartlett  and 
Wilcox  so  disabled  these  two  negi'oes  that  they  surrendered. 
The  other  two  v/ere  pursued  by  W.  B.  and  C.  C.  Hale. 
Several  shots  were  fired  at  them  without  effect.  Currin 
Hale  struck  at  one  with  his  gun  barrel  and  bent  it.  Jack 
threw  a  rock  and  struck  William  Hale  on  the  neck.  The 
other  did  not  attempt  to  fight,  but  ran  into  the  river 
and  was  caught  by  the  bulldog. 

"Thus  the  bloody  struggle  ended  for  the  day.  Sam'l 
Bartlett  lived  about  six  hours.  John  Clements  afterwards 
died  in  Nebraska  of  his  wounds.  Cyrus  Wilcox  recovered ; 
also  Wm.  Hale  and  Alfred  Bartlett.  Only  two  are  now 
living  who  were  in  this  bloody  and  dangerous  fight — ■ 
Alfred  Bartlett  and  Currin  Hale.  Hale  lives  in  Nebraska. 
Bartlett  remained  at  the  old  home  until  he  sold  to  the 
Fries  M'f'g  Co.,  and  now  lives  near-by.  He  has  by  his 
energy  and  enterprise  reared  a  large  and  respectable 
family,  and  amid  his  affliction  and  disabled  condition 
continues  as  one  of  Grayson  county's  best  citizens. 

"Two  of  the  negroes  left  at  the  camp — Simon  and  Lewis 
— revived,  tied  up  their  wounds  and  started  again  for 
Ohio,  but  after  several  days  were  captured  in  Bland 
county — one  in  a  house  stealing  something  to  eat — the 
other  in  a  com  field  stealing  com.  The  other  two — Jack 
and  Henry — went  back  to  their  home.  They  were  all 
brought  to  Independence  and  tried  in  court.  Hemy 
was  released,  as  he  did  not  fight.  Simon,  Lewis  and  Jack 
were  condemned  to  hang,  and  were  executed  on  Friday, 
Nov.  1,  1851,  at  Independence,  Grayson  Co.,  Va. 

"After  this  massacre  the  county  was  in  a  state  of  ex- 
citement and  men  gathered  from  Old  Town,  Elk  Creek, 


Grayson  County,  Va.  15 

Knob  Fork  and  other  places  to  search  for  the  man  Bacon, 
who  had  caused  the  trouble  and  bloodshed,  as  he  had 
told  these  negroes  to  fight  their  way  through.  Bacon 
was  found  at  Amos  Moore's,  but  before  the  men  could 
catch  him  he  ran  to  Iron  Mountain  and  got  away.  If 
he  had  been  caught  he  would  doubtless  have  been  hanged 
at  once.    Cook  had  disappeared  before  this  time. 

"The  foregoing  facts  are  known  to  many  of  us,  but 
have  not  gone  into  history. 

"We  therefore  desire  these  facts  to  be  placed  by  the 
hands  of  Alfred  Bartlett  in  the  corner-stone  of  the  church, 
to  be  laid  at  Fries  on  Nov.  21, 1902,  as  this  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  is  being  built  on  the  former  Bartlett  estate  and 
on  the  ground  where  Sam'l  Bartlett  lived  at  the  time  of 
his  being  killed  in  the  fight. 

"Given  under  my  hand,  and  by  the  assistance  of  Alfred 
G.  Bartlett,  an  eye  witness  and  actor  in  this  distressing 
piece  of  history.    Written  on  the  16th  day  of  Nov.,  1902. 

"BEN  FLOYD  NUCKOLLS, 

"Minister  of  M.  E.  Church,  South." 

Carroll  county  was  named  for  Charles  Carroll,  of 
Carrolton,  Maryland,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
American  Declaration  of  Independence.  He  survived 
all  the  other  signers  by  six  years,  and  had  been  dead  only 
ten  years  when  Carroll  county  was  formed. 

The  following  was  copied  from  the  record  of  Carroll's 
first  court: 

First  order:  "Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  sixth  day 
of  June  1842,  a  commission  of  the  peace  for  the  county 
of  Carroll  from  John  M.  Gregory,  Lieutenant  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  acting  as  Governor, 
under  the  seal  of  the  Commonwealth,  directed  to  Joshua 
Hanks,  John  Blair,  Benjamin  Cooley,  John  Cocke, 
William     Lindsey,    John     B.    Mitchell,    Hugh    Currin, 


16  Pioneer  Settlers 

William  Raines,  William  C.  Hall,  and  John  Vaughn, 
and  bearing  date  March  29th,  1842. 

''Whereupon,  the  several  persons  named  above  appeared 
and  took  the  several  oaths  required  by  law  as  Justices 
of  Carroll  county,  which  said  oaths  were  administered 
to  them  by  Thomas  McCabe,  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Floyd  county." 

The  record  then  recites  that  these  justices  opened  court 
in  the  house  of  James  Stafford,  in  Hillsville,  Virginia. 
Harold  Mathews  was  appointed  clerk  pro.  tem.  of  the 
court.  A.  S.  Fulton,  Benjamin  R.  Floyd,  Richard  T. 
Mathews,  Archabald  Stuart,  Samuel  McCamant,  William 
H.  Cook,  Madison  T.  Carter,  and  Joseph  C.  Spalding 
were  admitted  as  attorneys  to  practice  law  in  the  court. 
William  Lindsey  was  then  elected  clerk  of  the  court, 
and  Harold  Mathews  qualified  as  his  deputy.  James  L. 
Mitchell  was  appointed  county  surveyor,  and  Robert 
Kenny,  coroner.  Nathaniel  W.  Vaughn,  Fianklin 
Clements,  Joshua  Hanks,  Jr.,  Jonathan  R.  Sumner, 
Joshua  G.  Mabey,  Thomas  Dalton,  Lacy  Bobbitt,  William 
Lewis,  and  John  Webb  were  appointed  constables  for 
the  county.  The  court  remained  in  session  for  two  days 
and  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  30th  of  June  (1842) 
at  the  house  of  Parks  Ashworth  in  Hillsville,  Virginia. 


■1^^ 


FRANCES  BOURNE 
Daughter  of  WilUam  Bourne,  Sr.,  and  wife  of  Stephen  Hale,  Sr. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  BOURNE  FAMILY 

From  the  account  given  of  the  formation  and  early 
history  of  Grayson  county,  we  learn  that  William  Bourne 
was  a  man  of  much  force,  and  had  a  large  share  in  devel- 
oping the  county. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  the  family  record  of  William 
Bourne  and  Rosamond  Jones,  his  wife,  in  the  old  Bourne 
Bible,  now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  Lundy, 
widow  of  Fielden  Johnston  Lundy,  and  youngest  daughter 
of  Stephen  Bourne  and  wife,  Patty  Mays:  "Stephen 
Bourne  (Grey)  was  the  son  of  William  Bourne  and  his 
wife,  Rosamond  Jones.  Rosa  Jones,  wife  of  William 
Bourne,  was  a  daughter  of  Minitree  Jones,  Sr.,  who 
married  Miss  Spottswood.  Rosa  Jones  had  three  brothers, 
Minitree,  Jr.,  Spottswood  and  Churchill,  all  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame." 

BIRTHS  AND  DEATHS 

William  Bourne,  born  August  23,  1743. 

Rosamond,  his  wife,  bom  Feburary  14th,  1750. 

Rosamond,  wife  of  William  Bourn,  Sr.,  died  16th 
March,  1821,  age  71  years. 

William  Bourn,  Sr.,  died  June  8th,  1836,  aged  88  years. 

Stephen  Bourn,  G.,  departed  this  life  April  the  29th, 
1849,  on  Sunday,  12  minutes  after  8  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Patsy  Bourn,  his  wife,  departed  this  life,  April  the 
29th,  1849,  on  Sunday,  35  minutes  after  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning.    (Only  1  hour  and  23  minutes  after  her  husband.) 

Children  of  William  Bourn  and  his  wife,  Rosamond 
Jones,  were  seven  daughters  and  two  sons,  as  follows: 


18  Pioneer  Settlers 

First,  Patience,  November  18th,  1770.  Married 
Jonathan  Thomas. 

Second,  Milly,  March  7th,  1773.  Married  Jessie 
McKinney. 

Third,  Charity,  November  7th,  1775.  Married  John 
Blah-. 

First,  Stephen,  February  26th,  1779.  Married  Patsy 
Mays. 

Fourth,  Mary,  January  5th,  1782.  Married  Martin 
Dickinson. 

Fifth,  Elizabeth,  March  20th,  1785.  Married  Capt. 
Lewis  Hale. 

Sixth,  Frances,  June,  5th  1788.  Married  Stephen 
Hale,  Sr. 

Seventh,  Celia,  December  25th,  1790.  Married  Robert 
Johnstone,  Roaring  River,  Wilkes  county,  N.  C. 

Second,  William,  May  4th,  1794.  Married  Mary 
Johnstone,  Roaring  River,  Wilkes  county,  N.  C* 

The  seven  daughters  and  two  sons  lived  to  be  old, 
and  brought  up  large  families;  also  raised  a  number  of 
negroes. 

The  seven  daughters  were  all  widows,  at  the  same  time, 
and  by  their  energy  and  perseverance  managed  their 
estates  well.    None  of  the  family  married  the  second  time. 

The  following  is  copied  from  the  Southwest  Virginia 
Enterprise  of  March,  1912: 

"The  following  paper  was  read  by  Miss  Bertha  Nuckolls 
of  Galax  at  a  meeting  of  the  Women's  Missionary  Society 
held  in  the  Galax  Methodist  Church  March  1st,  1912. 
We  clip  from  the  Post-Herald: 

"The  first  missionary  woman  of  Grayson  county  was 
Rosa  Bourne.  Rosa  Jones  was  a  descendant  of  James 
Jones,  brother  of  Admiral  Paul  Jones  and  lived  on  a 
large  grant  of  land  near  Fredericksburg,  Virginia. 

"About  the  year  of  1765,  Rosa  Jones  was  married  to 


Grayson  County,  Va.  19 

William  Bourne  in  Hanover  county,  Virginia,  near  Rich- 
mond. Soon  after  their  marriage  they  left  the  old 
colonial  home  and  moved  out  into  the  wilderness  of  New- 
River,  which  was  then  Botetourt  and  Washington  district, 
but  now  Grayson  county. 

"On  their  move  they  came  as  far  as  Fort  Chiswell  in 
wagons,  and  from  there  they  packed  their  baggage  on 
horses  across  Iron  Mountain  to  Knob  Fork,  and  settled 
on  the  waters  of  New  River,  and  commenced  to  open 
up  this  country.  At  that  time  there  were  but  eight 
settlers  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

"  They  built  cabins  and  other  temporary  buildings  and 
cleared  out  the  best  portion  of  the  land.  Soon  after  they 
came  here,  they  discovered  iron  ore  and  in  addition  to 
his  other  work,  Wm.  Bourne  began  to  work  the  ore  in  a 
crude  way  and  finally  developed  the  mineral.  He  built 
forges,  and  also  a  furnace  for  moulding  castings  at  the 
fall  of  Peach  Bottom  Creek,  near  what  is  now  Independ- 
ence. There  are  marks  where  the  old  furnace  stood. 
There  is  now  at  this  place  an  electric  plan  t  and  the  elec- 
tricity is  used  to  run  the  mills  and  light  the  town  of 
Independence. 

"When  William  Bourne  and  young  wife  started  their 
married  life  in  the  wilderness  of  S.  W.  Virginia,  they  pos- 
sessed foresight  and  perseverance,  and  prepared  the  way 
for  progress  and  civilization,  and  did  much  to  make  this 
wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  Their  descendants  have 
been  and  are  yet  found  among  the  foremost  men  and 
women  of  this  country.  By  perseverance  and  energy 
they  opened  the  way  for  usefulness  and  prosperity  for 
the  coming  generations. 

"Rosa  Bourne  was  always  kind  to  their  negroes  and 
provided  well  for  them.  She  was  their  doctor  when  sick, 
their  comfort  in  trouble,  a  Christian  woman  and  would 
say  to  the  sick  all  around  about  her,  'You  must  pray 


20  Pioneer  Settlers 

to  the  Lord  for  help,  and  I  will  pray  for  you  and  help  you 
all  I  can. '  She  would  go  to  all  her  friends  and  neighbors 
and  help  them  in  time  of  need. 

"They  had  two  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  married 
and  settled  in  this  country,  reared  large  families,  who 
have  been  representatives  both  in  church  and  state  over 
150  years  past;  in  fact  their  generations  have  settled 
this  part  of  the  country. 

"Rosa  Bourne  was  bom  February  14th,  1750. 

"William  Bourne  and  wife  lived  and  died  on  Knob 
Fork  and  are  buried  where  he  built  his  first  house.  His 
land  estate  was  inherited  by  his  youngest  son,  Wm. 
Bourne,  Jr.,  who,  having  brought  up  his  family  there, 
sold  2700  acres  to  Dr.  Gage.  Since  then  his  home  has 
been  owned  by  some  of  his  descendants,  and  is  now  held 
by  Prof.  F.  R.  Comett,  and  son,  Glenn,  whose  wife,  Agnes 
Phipps,  daughter  of  Columbus  Phipps,  is  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  Patience  Bourne. 

"Rosa  Bourne  died  March  16th,  1821,  age  71  years. 

"William  Bourne  died  June  8th,  1836,  age  88  years. 

"Their  graves  are  marked  with  large  tombstones  made 
by  hand  of  soapstone.  These  tombstones  and  the  in- 
scriptions were  the  works  of  John  Blair  who  married 
Charity  Bourne,  daughter  of  William  and  Rosa  Bourne. " 

The  following  clipping  was  printed  in  a  Marion  paper 
several  years  ago: 

"Ballard  E.  Ward,  Esq.,  who  is  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  farms  in  Grayson  county,  has  an  old 
log  bam  upon  his  farm,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation, 
in  which  the  first  county  court  of  Grayson  county  was 
held  after  the  county  was  formed.  The  old  bam  is  very 
large  and  to  cover  it  requires  36,000  shingles.  On  the  same 
farm  there  is  a  very  old  graveyard,  which  has  been 
abandoned  for  many  years  as  a  burying  ground.   On  one 


MASTIN  HALE 
Eldest  Son  of  Stephen  Hale,  Sr.,  and  wife,    Frances  Bourne,  and  the  First  of 
Thirteen  Children.     He  died  in  his  ninety-eighth  year 


Grayson  County,  Va.  21 

of  the  tombstones  appears  the  following  singular  inscrip- 
tion, which  was  done  about  53  years  ago: 

Here  Rosa  Bourne's  body  laid 
of  whom  in  truth  no  harm  was  said. 
Her  Sovereign  will  was  much  obeyed 
While  here  with  us  on  Earth  she  Stayed 
Because  that  her  deportment  made 
through  perfect  love,  all  feel  afraid. 

the  Man  who  wrote  these  lines  to  tell 
of  her  character  knew  her  well 
He  put  these  lines  upon  the  Stone 
To  make  it  to  the  readers  Known, 
That  they  like  her  may  do  the  same, 
In  order  to  obtain  a  name 
And  to  perpetuate  their  fame. 

Among  the  household  goods  of  William  Bourne  was  a 
"Grandfather  Clock,"  a  sketch  of  which  is  given  below: 

THE  OLD  BOURNE  CLOCK 
This  clock  was  brought  to  what  is  now  Grayson  county, 
about  the  year  1770.  This  was  the  first  clock  that  was 
brought  to  this  upper  part  of  the  New  River  Valley  and 
was  the  property  of  William  Bourne  and  his  wife,  Rosa 
Jones.  After  the  death  of  William  Bourne  and  his  wife 
(1836)  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Stephen  Bourne,  their 
son;  from  him  to  his  son,  Martin  Bourne;  from  him  to 
his  son,  Montgomery  Bourne;  from  him  to  Benj.  Floyd 
Nuckolls,  great  grandson  of  William  Bourne  and  wife, 
and  from  him  to  Ruth  Nuckolls  Johnston,  Cleveland, 
Tenn.  The  clock  is  running  and  keeping  correct  time, 
in  this  the  year  of  1913.  It  is  all  made  of  the  best  material, 
and  the  case  and  works  show  the  ingenuity  and  taste 
of  an  honest  workman. 

The  case  of  the  clock  is  made  of  mahogany,  and  stands 
eight  feet,  three  inches  from  the  floor  to  the  tip  of  the 
central  brass  knob  on  top  of  the  clock.    The  trimmings  are 


22  Pioneer  Settlers 

of  brass,  and  there  are  rows  of  different  colored  blocks 
of  wood  inlaid  around  the  case. 

The  wheels  and  pendulum  are  of  brass,  and  the  weights 
are  cast  iron.  It  is  an  eight-day  clock,  and  is  wound  with 
a  brass  key. 

There  is  no  date  on  the  clock  but  it  was  brought  to 
Grayson  county  about  the  year  1770.  The  following  is 
copied  from  a  card  that  was  tacked  inside  the  case  when 
the  clock  arrived  in  Grayson.: 

Common  House  Clocks,  Table  Spring  Clocks.  Time  Pieces  of 
different  Conftructions. 

Made  By 
AARON  WILLARD 
Boston 
Directions  for  fitting  up  the  clock: 

Firft,  plumb  up  the  cafe  and  hang  on  the  pendulum  and  weights 
obferving  that  the  heavieft  weight  be  put  on  the  pulley  marked 
"S".    Wind  up  the  lines  on  the  barrels,  taking  care  that  they  run 
regularly  in  the  grooves,  then  put  the  pendulum  in  motion. 
To  make  it  go  faster,  screw  the  pendulum  up;  slower,  screw  down. 

On  the  face  of  the  clock  is  the  following: 

Warranted  for 
MR.  BENJN.  STETSON. 

YARON  WILLARD, 
Boston. 

The  clock  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Ruth  Frances 
Nuckolls  Johnston,  who  was  named  "Frances"  for  her 
great-grandmother,  Frances  Bourne. 

She  is  the  fifth  generation  from  William  Bourne  and 
she  says  this  old  clock,  which  must  be  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  old,  is  the  best  time-keeper  in  the  house. 

At  the  time  William  Bourne  settled  here,  there  were 
no  mills  nearer  than  over  the  Blue  Ridge  in  North  Carolina, 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  then  called  "Over  in  the 


Grayson  County,  Va.  23 

Hollow."  The  grain  to  be  ground  for  bread  had  to  be 
carried  in  sacks  on  horses.  There  was  only  a  bridle  path 
across  New  River  and  the  mountain — frequently  on  the 
old  Indian  trails.  Wm.  Bourne  would  make  these  trips  with 
his  negro  men,  each  with  a  sack  of  grain  to  have  ground 
for  bread  (mostly  corn.)  At  one  time,  on  their  return 
from  the  mill,  one  man  caught  his  sack  of  flour  against 
a  limb  near  the  path  on  the  mountain,  tore  the  sack, 
and  spilled  some  flour.  From  that  circumstance,  the  place 
was  called  Flour  Gap.  It  still  bears  that  name.  It  is 
near  the  crossing  of  the  Blue  Ridge  at  Pipers  Gap.  For 
years  the  Flour  Gap  was  the  only  place  for  crossing  the 
Blue  Ridge.  The  first  road  across  that  part  of  the  Ridge 
was  at  this  place;  trimmed  out  in  a  straight  course  up 
and  down  the  mountains. 

These  trips  to  the  mill  had  to  be  made  in  the  fall  of 
the  year;  and,  at  one  time,  when  the  men  had  gone, 
there  fell  a  deep  snow,  and  kept  them  longer  than  usual, 
and  the  family  was  without  something  to  eat.     Rosa 
Bourne  got  up  early  one  morning,  called  a  negro  woman, 
and  said  to  her,  "We  must  hunt  for  something  to  eat." 
They  took  the  rifle  gun  and  butcher  knife,  and  started 
out;  and  soon  found  a  large  deer,  sleeping  in  the  snow 
under  a  fallen  tree  top.    Rosa  raised  her  gun  and  fired; 
the  deer  jumped  up,  struck  its  head  against  a  limb,  and 
broke  its  neck.    She,  with  the  negro  woman,  ran  with  the 
butcher  knife  and  cut  the  deer's  throat,  dragged  him  to 
the  house  on  the  snow,  and  the  family  lived  on  venison 
and  hominy  until  the  men  returned  with  meal  and  flour. 
In  that  day,  all  the  clothing  was  made  out  of  wool,  cot- 
ton and  flax.   Leather  was  tanned  in  a  big  trough,  for  shoes 
and  moccasins;  nails,  hinges,  and  all  tools  were  made  in 
blacksmith  shops.    At  one  time,  William  Bourne,  when  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  Richmond,  went  down 
in  a  wagon  loaded  with  fur  skins  and  sold  them.    A  negro 


24  Pioneer  Settlers 

woman  and  little  girl  were  put  on  the  block  for  sale; 
he  bought  them,  paid  for  them,  and  sent  them  back  home 
in  the  wagon.  The  woman's  name  was  Granny  Beck. 
The  girl's  name  was  Aimy.  I  have  heard  Aimy  say  that 
she  and  her  mother  were  sent  for  one  evening  to  go  and 
stay  all  night  with  a  woman.  Sometime  after  dark, 
someone  came  to  the  door  and  called.  This  woman  told 
her  to  open  the  door;  she  did  so,  and  two  men  came  in 
and  caught  her  and  her  mother,  tied  cloths  over  their 
mouths,  carried  them  off  and  put  them  in  a  ship,  and 
brought  them  over  the  ocean.  They  came  from  Africa 
and  proved  to  be  very  valuable  servants. 

Granny  Beck,  after  she  came  here,  took  charge  of  the 
cattle  and  stock  out  on  the  range;  salted  and  watched 
after  them.  She  could  not  count  the  number,  but  if  one 
of  them  were  missing  she  could  tell  it.  She  would  describe 
its  colour  or  its  size,  etc.,  and  would  hunt  until  she 
found  it. 

Aimy  was  the  house  girl,  waited  on  her  master  and 
mistress  as  long  as  they  lived,  and  was  very  much  attached 
to  all  the  family. 

William  Bourne,  in  his  last  will  stated  that  "Aimy  has 
been  a  faithful,  good  servant,  and  has  raised  for  me  18 
children.  She  is  not  to  be  sold  or  taken  in,  in  the  divide. ' ' 
With  his  children,  she  should  be  free  to  go  where  she 
pleased.  She  came  to  Old  Town  (then  Grayson  C.  H.), 
and  lived  with  Mrs.  Mary  Dickenson.  Mis.  Dickenson 
owned  "Mourning,"  one  of  the  18  children.  After  Mrs. 
Dickenson's  death,  Aimy  went  to  Elk  Creek  to  my  grand- 
mother, Frances  Hale,  who  owned  "Winny",  who  was 
also  one  of  the  18  children.  Aimy  died  there,  and  is 
buried  in  the  Hale  family  cemetery. 

First  daughter.  Patience  Bourne,  married  Johnathan 
Thomas;  First  son,  Stephen,  married  Rebecca  Perkins, 
daughter  of  Timothy  Perkins  and  wife  Miss  Anderson. 


NUCKOLLS  SPRINGS 
fLithiated  !odo-bromo,  Arsenic  Water)  Discovered  by  B.  F.  Nuckolls  in  1886 


Grayson  County,  Va.  26 

Stephen  lived  on  North  Fork  (now  Creston),  Ashe  county, 
N  C.  Second  son,  William  Thomas,  married  Mary 
Pugh;  one  son,  Stephen  lived  on  Wilson  Creek,  aftenvard 
moved  west.  William  Thomas  and  Mary  Pugh  had  live 
daughters: 

Ann,  married  Mr.  Reeves;  Susan,  married  Enoch  Cox; 
Ludema  married  Alexander  Phipps  (See  Phipps  family); 
Amelia  married  Andrew  Young  of  Wilson;  sons: 
Dr  S  E.  Young,  Baywood,  Va.;  Dr.  Robey  Young,  of 
Florida;  Floyd  Young,  of  Wilson;  one  daughter  married 
Mr.  Jones,  of  Ashe  county,  N.  C.  ^    t  u     4-v, 

Randolph  and  Johnathan  were  sons  of  Johnathan 
Thomas  and  wife.  Patience  Bourne.  Randolph  first  settled 
on  Bridle  Creek,  Va.  Johnathan  settled  on  Fox  Creek,  Va., 
married  Miss  Grabill.  The  daughters  of  Johnathan 
Thomas  and  wife.  Patience  Bourne,  were  Mary,  Ehzabeth, 
Rosa.  Mary  married  Robert  Pugh,  lived  on  Wilson; 
had  one  daughter,  Rosa,  who  marred  Calvm  Senter; 
one  daughter  married  Mr.  Reeves.  One  son,  Stephen 
Pugh,  who  lived  on  Wilson. 

Ehzabeth  Thomas  married  Samuel  Cox  and  lived  on 
Bridle  Creek.  (See  Cox  family.)  Rosa  B.  mamed 
Shadrach  Greer;  they  lived  on  Wilson  Creek,  Va., 

Milly  Bourne  married  Jessee  McKinney,  settled  on 
Arrat  River,  near  Mt  Airy,  N.  C.  First  son,  William 
McKinney,  remained  at  the  old  home  near  Buffalo  Shoals, 

Arrat  River,  N.  C. 

Second   son,    Winston,    married    Miss   Fulton;   sons: 

Jessie  and  Cleveland. 

Third  son,  Willis,  married  Miss  Mollie  Hale,  daughter 
of  Eli  C.  Hale  and  wife,  Miss  Frances  Scott,  of  Elk  Creek, 
Va.,  no  issue.  One  daughter,  Miss  Polly  McKinney, 
died  single;  one  daughter,  Ada,  manned. 


^^  Pioneer  Settlers 

BlaiS  Irr'  TT"^  ^'^  ^^^^'  «^^  of  Thomas 
ScoSand  ""  ^"'""^-    «^^  ^--^or.  came  from 

John  Blair  and  his  family  were  quite  prominent  in  thP 
^velopment  and  improvement  of  this%ount.^    ^Mr' 
Blair  was  for  several  years  a  Representative  inThe  V^r 
ginia  legislature.    One  of  his  old  negro  slavl! ,  1h  f 
frequently,  '^Old  Massa  .one  to'^'Il^T :: tile 

tak^n  "[o'oTff:  ^''  ''■'^'''^""  ^h^"  the  vote  was 
Tl    n    ^        f  *^^  ''o^^ty  of  Carroll  from  Gravson 

e^etL^^lerB^^^^^^  TT/''  ""'  ^^^  county,  aX^ 
eiectea  over  Blair.  A  slander  suit  was  brought  by  John 
Carl  or  Carroll,  as  he  claimed  to  be,  and  John  Bl^wrote 
the  following,  which  he  called  an  "Epistle,"  and  hTdt 
printed  as  it  appears  below:  * 

The  Epistle  General-^of  John  Blair 

TntxxT  r>.        ^^d^catory  to  David  McComes,  Esqr. 

in  my  diocess,  "I  magnify" mfoffTee";   T^T'^^  Z'T"'"' 
Esqr.  intended  for  the  benifit  7the  oommunly.  °'"'  '"=°°"^' 

In  Greenville,  in  the  street 

When  there  we  last  did  meet 

How  I  progress'd  in  rhimes  you  enquir'd' 

As  1  then  was  not  well 

And  did  not  stand  to  tell 

These  many  answers,  what  you  then  desired. 

I  rhym'd  as  I  design'd 

And  still  kept  the  same  mind 

Not  to  have  Popery  to  rule  our  nation; 

i  thought  we'd  incur  blame 

If  a  Popish  great  name 

Should  be  vaunted  in  our  generation. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  27 

Charles  Carrol  was  so  great 

With  such  lordly  estate, 

No  title  the  United  States  carried 

That  was  high  enough  styl'd. 

To  match  with  his  grand  child, 

She  was  sent  to  England  to  get  married. 

She  was  handsome  and  young 

And  was  high  fam'd  among 

The  celebrated  belles  of  our  nation; 

But  our  democrat  plan, 

Afforded  not  a  man 

That  was  high  enough  styl'd  for  her  station. 

So  she  yielded  her  hand 

To  a  Lord  in  England; 

The  Lord  Marquis  of  Wellesly  in  splendor ;t 

Third  rank  next  to  the  King, 

Such  high  honors  would  bring 

That  her  heart  she  resolved  to  surrender. 

He  was  ugly  and  old, 

But  high  titles  and  gold 

Does  with  Catholic  cure  all  defection; 

For  so  their  practice  tells. 

Gold  can  save  them  from  hell. 

And  for  heaven  insure  their  election. 

Charles  Carroll's  brother  John, 

Was  to  England  sent  on.* 

He  went  there  for  to  get  consecrated 

Implicit  faith  to  fit 

He  became  Jesuit. 

An  order  democrats  always  hated. 

Carroll's  were  noble  blood 

That  cross'd  the  briney  flood, 

When,  in  England  King  Charles  rul'd  the  nation; 


tSaid  to  be  65  years  old. 

*See  Libera,  Encyclopedia  under  title  Carroll. 


28  Pioneer  Settlers 

He  money  for  to  gain. 

For  to  help  conquer  Spain, 

Sold  to  Papists  Maryland  plantation,  t 

Some  twelve  hundred  came  o'er, 

Under  Lord  Baltimore, 

And  a  Catholic  coloney  planted 

Without  faith  or  hope, 

But  what  came  from  the  Pope. 

In  the  land,  by  King  Charles  to  them  granted. 

Of  whom  Carrolls  came, 

Rais'd  in  opulent  fame. 

Till  the  colonies  form'd  a  new  notion, 

That  a  government  free, 

Uncontroll'd  beyond  sea. 

They  would  have  on  this  side  of  the  ocean. 

Charles  Carroll  for  some  cause, 

Perhaps  to  gain  applause. 

In  government,  to  advance  his  station; 

Or  permanently  fix 

All  rule  by  Catholics, 

In  this  our  North  American  nation. 

A  declaration  sign'd 

Which  shew'd  he  had  a  mind, 

From  the  crown  of  Great  Britain  to  sever; 

But  from  everything  shown. 

Was  it  not  for  his  own 

Roman  Catholic  views  for  to  favor? 

John  a  vicar  was  made. 

Which  was  the  highest  grade 

That  could  be  raised  by  Popish  promotion; 

With  supreme  sovereign  sway. 

In  directing  the  way 

Of  Catholics  this  side  of  the  ocean. 

IThe  early  settlements  of  the  colonies  were  called  plantations. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  29 

The  Pope  and  Cardinals, 

So  general  history  tells, 

Claim  rule  over  all  in  earth  and  heaven; 

What  real  true  democrat, 

Has  faith  to  believe  that, 

Such  despotic  rule  Christ  would  have  given? 

When  Christ  himself  has  said, 
There's  no  superior  grade 
No  Rabbi  to  rule  over  another; 
But  Christ,  master  of  all, 
None  else  is  great  or  small 
But  evry  one  equal  a  brother.* 

Over  bodey  and  soul. 
They  claim  to  have  control 
Assuming  to  themselves  power  given, 
That  for  money  in  their  hand. 
They  have  sovereign  command, 
To  consign  souls  to  hell  or  to  heaven. 

Have  we  not  cause  to  fear, 

From  the  news  far  and  near. 

Of  the  Pope's  power  gaining  assendance? 

May  it  not  as  before. 

So  increase  more  and  more. 

Till  it  overwhelms  all  independence? 

Do  we  not  hear  again 

In  France  like  unto  Spain, 

The  freedom  of  conscience  is  prevented; 

By  that  old  popish  plan, 

Form'd  to  rule  over  man, 

By  the  Devil,  thro'  priestcraft  invented.! 


•Mathew  23rd  and  8th.  .        ,    .         _,   .  .       „   .  d»*«- 

tit  is  not  my  design  to  make  individuos  aspersions  but  as  Chrwt  callea  feter 
Satin,  which  is  an  adversary— the  prince  of  hell,  or  the  devil,  when  he  used  duisim- 
ulation.  Mathew  16  and  23  and  as  he  must  have  been  moved  by  the  devil  when  ho 
swore  a  lie.  Mathew  26  and  72  and  again  when  he  dissembled  and  carried  away  the 
people  from  uprightness  and  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  Gal.  2  and  Uth  to  15th  doM  it 
hot  appear  that  if  Peter  was  the  church's  foundation,  when  the  devil  carried  him  away 
the  church  must  have  fallen  at  least  without  foundation  for  when  ho  carried  away, 
ho  was  not  there,  so  he  must  have  been  gone. 


30  Pioneer  Settlers 

If  the  ratio  holds  on 

As  for  twelve  months  it's  gone, 

Of  the  increase  of  popish  ascendance. 

Here  as  in  France  and  Spain, 

Nothing  free  will  remain 

In  a  century,  but  on  pope  dependance. 

Just  listen  from  New  York, 

How  the  priest  are  at  work. 

And  from  Canada  coming  to  aid  them? 

To  serve  their  subtile  turn, 

All  the  Bibles  they  burn 

The  donations  that  charity  made  them? 

That  time  fault  reached  a  pope 
Proved  an  end  to  their  scope 
Of  infallible  sovereign  dictation, 
And  prov'd  their  scheme  absurd 
Of  pretending  Christ's  word 
Ordained  such  esseatial  to  salvation. 

Else  pope  Gregory  was  right. 

And  pleasing  in  God's  sight. 

When  hearing  King  Charles  tolerated 

Without  any  restraints 

The  destruction  of  Saints, 

Till  Protestants  were  exterminated.* 

When  the  Prodestants  blood, 

Flow'd  on  the  earth  like  a  flood, 

The  Pope's  joy  burst  out  in  acclamation; 

And  to  show  his  joy  more, 

Caused  his  cannons  to  roar. 

And  held  mass  to  invoke  consecration. 

Back  to  Attilla  go,1[ 

General  history  will  show 

As  pace  for  ten  cent'ries  and  longer 

The  popes  tyranic  reign'd 

Absolute,  till  restrained 

By  physical  force  that  was  stronger. 

•Se«  Buck's  Theology  under  title  "Persecution  in  France." 
^AttiUa  the  first  King  crowned  by  the  Pope. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  31 

How  does  rule  absolute 

With  democracy  suit? 

Is  it  not  a  complete  solecism 

To  say  democracy 

Can  with  tyrants  agree 

What  I  a  democratic  despotism  1 

Now  I  cannot  agree 

Acquiescent  to  see 

A  man  raised  under  popish  direction, 

Take  such  sway  in  our  land, 

As  to  boast,  he  can  stand 

To  defy  other  men  in  election. 

When  report  of  his  fame 

From  Lynchburg,  whence  he  came. 

Lacks  much  of  what  is  good  reputation, 

So  I  think  the  best  way 

Whare  he  is  let  him  stay 

Least  we  partake  of  his  degradation. 

If  Squire  Lindsey  swore  true. 
And  captain  Worrell  too* 


♦Capt.  Jesse  P.  Worrell's  deposition  before  commissioners  appointed  by  Grayson 
court  was  as  follows: 

Question  by  John  Blair — what  do  you  know  of  John  Carroll,  having  a  ticket  of 
your  vote  at  the  last  Presidential  election  at  Baskerville  precinct'? 

Ans.  I  wrote  my  name  on  a  ticket,  on  the  morning  of  the  Presidential  election, 
and  gave  it  to  Col.  Carrol,  who  remarked  that  he  (Col.  Carrol)  would  take  the  ticket 
to  the  election,  and  see  if  it  would  not  do,  but  observed  that  he  did  not  think  it  would 
be  legal.  Jesse  P.  Worrell. 

William  Lindsay,  after  being  duly  sworn  deposeth  and  saith: 

Question  by  John  Blair — what  do  you  know  of  John  Carrol  having  a  ticket  of 
Jessee  P.  Worrell  vote  at  the  last  presidential  election? 

Answer.  Col.  Carrol  asked  me  on  the  day  of  the  Presidential  election,  previous  to 
the  commencement  of  the  election  if  a  vote  could  be  taken  by  a  man  sending  his  ticket, 
and  stated  that  Jessee  Worrell  had  sent  his  to  the  election.  I  told  him  that  the  vote 
could  not  be  legally  taken  in  that  way.  After  the  commencement  of  the  election,  I 
heard  Jessee  P.  Worrell's  vote  cried;  how  it  came  into  the  sheriff's  hands  I  know  not. 
The  vote  was  challenged,  an  eraced  from  the  poll  book.  Question  by  same — was  Col. 
Carrol  a  commissioner  to  superintend  the  election  at  that  place?    Ans.  He  was. 

William  Lindsey. 

Thomas  Blair  after  being  duly  sworn  deposeth  and  saith; 

Question  by  John  Blair — was  you  the  sheriff  that  conducted  the  election  at  the 
Baskerville  precinct?    Ans.  I  was.  . 

Question  by  the  same — was  Jesse  P.  Worrell's  ticket  handed  to  you  and  if  so  by 
whom?  Ans.  It  was  handed  to  me,  and  my  impression  is  that  it  was  handed  to  me  by 
Col.  Carrol;  and  I  cried  it  and  it  was  entered  on  the  poll  book;  and  I  cried  no  vote  but 
what  was  handed  to  me  by  the  Commissioners  or  voters;  and  after  the  vote  was  cried 
and  entered,  it  was  objected  to  by  Mitchell,  eraced  off  the  poll  book. 

Thomas  Blair. 


32  Pioneer  Settlers 

And  Thomas  Blairs  oath  with  theirs  be  respected; 

As  commissioners  took. 

And  wrote  down  in  a  book, 

As  by  Grayson  court  record  directed. 

What  of  it  can  you  make, 

But  his  oath  did  he  break. 

When  he  swore  he'd  have  all  votes  prevented; 

Except  legally  brought 

Yet  illegal  he  thought 

Was  a  vote  he  himself  had  presented? 

What  those  three  did  dispose 

Was  the  truth  to  disclose. 

That  at  the  presidential  election 

After  kissing  the  book, 

To  swear  none  should  be  took. 

But  votes  legal  under  his  inspection? 

Did  John  Carroll  there  present, 

A  ticket  by  him  sent, 

Illegal  as  he  himself  said  he  thought  it; 

Being  doubtly  apprised, 

By  his  council  advised, 

Should  evince  that  he  could  not  have  forgot  it. 

What  John  (called)  Carrol  tho't. 

Can  you  think  he  forgot. 

If  leaving  Captain  Worrell's  he  thought  it, 

When  he  started  to  go 

To  Baskerville's,  we  know; 

On  the  road  he  could  hardly  forget  it. 

If  so  when  he  got  there. 

Oath  of  office  to  swear, 

He  consulted  Squire  Lindsey  about  it; 

Then  what  did  he  thare  do 

But  swore  what  proved  not  true 

Can  reason  be  tortured  to  doubt  it? 


Grayson  County,  Va.  33 

Illegal,  then  he  brought 

A  ticket  so  he  thought, 

With  him  from  Captain  Worrell  that  morning; 

Contrary  v^e  find  both. 

To  sacredness  of  oath. 

And  contrary  to  Squire  Lindseys  warning. 

Did  he  then  violate 

His  oath  unto  the  state? 

Willfully  and  corrupt  did  he  break  it, 

If  such  should  appear  plain. 

Why  trust  his  oath  again? 

What  more  then  would  prevent  him  to  break  it? 

Then  how  would  John  Carrol  stand; 

In  a  civilized  land, 

Where  truth  and  real  honor  is  regarded? 

Whose  end  to  enjoy, 

Disdained  vice  to  employ. 

Nor  wonld  have  else  but  virtue  rewarded. 

Would  it  not  be  a  shame 

To  evry  voter's  name. 

If  it  was  proved  to  a  demonstration. 

That  the  representative. 

Made  by  the  votes  they  give, 

Maintained  such  —  a  ****  reputation? 

John  Carl's  fame  to  know. 

Just  back  to  Lynchburg  go. 

To  men  who  are  with  him  well  acquainted 

Go  there  when  your're  amind. 

His  character  you'll  find 

In  glowing  colors  well  represented. 

Go  there  when  you  think  fit. 

His  character  you'll  get 

As  well  as  it  can  be  given  by  men; 

You  need  not  further  go 

Than  to  Jacob  Rumbough, 

John  R.  D.  Payne  and  David  R.  Lyman. 


34  Pioneer  Settlers 

There's  a  lawyer  named  Brown, 

Near  the  road  you  go  down 

To  Lynchburg  near  Staunton  you'll  find  him, 

Who  can  tell  you  Carl's  fame, 

Ere  he  altered  his  name, 

And  the  character  he  left  behind  him. 

Thare's  a  man  whom  we  know 

Oft  to  Lynchburg  doth  go, 

By  the  name  of  Andrew  Jackson  Durnal, 

Who  could  tell  if  he  would, 

That  Carl's  fame  there  was  good. 

Or  the  reverse  if  was  infernal. 

Creed  Nuckolls  could  relate, 

What  men  generally  state, 

When  hearing  Grayson  was  represented 

By  a  man  of  such  fame 

As  follows  John  Carl's  name. 

By  men  of  old  best  with  him  acquainted. 

Friel  Nuckolls,  too  as  well 

As  Creed  the  same  could  tell. 

From  trav'ling  to  Lynchburg  and  thro'  it, 

His  chance  was  just  the  same. 

To  hear  of  John  Carl's  fame. 

From  men  who  in  former  times  well  knew  it. 

Squire  James  Waugh  you  all  know. 

Has  to  Lynchburg  to  go. 

To  get  goods  to  suit  his  ocupation: 

He  passing  to  and  fro, 

Did  hear  as  much  for  to  show 

How  John  Carl's  fame  would  suit  Legislation. 

On  my  rights  to  intrude, 

By  John  Carrol  I'm  suad; 

By  him  who  is  not  found  in  our  nation; 

Just  because  that  foresooth, 

I  did  publish  the  truth, 

That  voters  might  have  due  information. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  85 

Can  there  be  any  ground, 

Till  a  plaintiff  is  found, 

For  a  verdict  in  any  court  given 

Was  the  like  ever  known. 

Or  in  all  history  shown 

On  record  in  court  under  Heaven? 

What  is  life  worth  to  me 

To  value  property 

If  from  freedom  of  speech  I  must  lose  it? 

If  my  country  says  so, 

n  God's  mame  let  it  go; 

For  freedom  of  speech  I'd  rather  choose  it. 

Though  I  yield  in  God's  name, 

It  clears  no  one  of  shame; 

For  in  his  great  day  of  retribution, 

When  he  displays  his  might. 

He  will  bring  all  things  right 

For  in  his  plans  he'll  have  no  confusion. 

Read  for  that  freedom  took, 

For  it  in  history  look, 

Of  that  country  from  which  Carl  migrated; 

You'll  see  thousands  of  lives. 

Children  husbands  and  wives. 

Lost  for  it  in  that  history  related. 

Then  why  should  I  be  slack, 

And  faintly  fly  the  track, 

That  martyrdom  had  marked  for  example; 

No!  I  will  not  give  back. 

But  stand  up  to  the  rack 

Though  my  country  should  my  fodder  trample. 

I  would  have  my  rhimes  seen 

Ostensively  to  mean, 

To  keep  our  realm  from  popery  prevaded; 

That  pure  Democracy, 

Might  keep  our  concience  free 

From  crouching  under  despots  degraded. 


36  Pioneer  Settlers 

In  a  canvass  speech  made, 

John  call'd  Carrol  has  said, 

As  to  God,  and  the  people  was  prating. 

That  he'd  wish  for  to  be 

Governed  by  popery, 

For  this  was  the  purport  of  his  saying. 

Now  who  among  you  all, 

Could  so  wish  for  to  fall. 

Under  control  of  one  man's  dominion; 

Who  would  doom  you  to  hell 

If  you  pleased  him  not  well. 

Can  Demo's  entertain  such  an  opinion. 

A  despot  for  to  find 

Of  most  tyranic  mind 

Need  we  pass  by  the  pope  for  to  find  him; 

Who  claims  sovreign  control 

Over  bodey  and  soul 

Wheres  the  true  democrat  who'd  thus  mind  him. 

Before  he'd  hazzard  all. 

For  to  stand  or  to  fall; 

Would  he  not  hazzard  his  blood  and  treasure; 

Before  it  should  be  said, 

He,  himself  would  degrade 

To  crouch  into  such  vassal-like  measure. 

On  the  hypothesis. 

That  CARROL  god's  mouth  did  kiss, 

To  swear  he'd  odject  all  votes  not  lawful; 

Then  poll  a  vote  he  brought. 

As  unlawful  he  thought 

To  good  concience,  does  not  it  look  awful? 

While  English  language  meant 

To  define  represent. 

As  likeness  of  the  thing  represented: 

And  voters  such  to  see 

I'd  like  they'd  show  me 

How  votes  such  is  from  shame  prevented? 

(The  Bible  being  God'a  word  2nd  Thessalonians,  2ad  and  8th  must  It  not  proceed 
from  his  mouth: 


ELIZABETH  BLAIR  WAUGH 
Daughter  of  John  Blair  and  wife,  Charity  Bourne,  and  wife  of  James  Waugh 


Grayson  County,  Va.  87 


If  such  vice  we  promote, 

Are  we  not  a  scape  goat,t 

Bearing  sins  of  him  who  represented  us; 

Now  you  can  by  your  vote, 

From  that  most  grevious  tote, 

From  that  infamous  shame  may  prevent  us. 

I  set  out  with  intent 

The  Popes  power  to  prevent, 

To  that  end  I  would  spend  and  be  spended. 

My  course  looks  dredful  hard, 

But  I  look  for  reward, 

Perhaps  not  till  all  labors  are  ended, 

I  mean  to  do  my  best. 

The  Pope's  power  to  arrest. 

That  free  concience  may  be  tolerated; 

And  pure   Democracy 

Make  our  whole  country  free, 

With  all  despotic  rules  abrogated. 

To  sacrifice  my  all 

Or  obey  virtues  call, 

I  have  set  my  determed  resolution. 

Determed  not  to  draw  back 

Or  to  fly  virtues  track. 

What  ere  the  result  in  conclusion. 

I'm  resolved  full  intent, 

For  to  spend  and  to  be  spent. 

If  circumstances  should  so  require 

Not  to  fly  virtues  track, 

Nor  dastardly  look  back. 

If  God  helps  me:    not  even  through  fire. 

This  rule  I  embraced  young, 
To  view  all  things  as  dung.* 


WieviticuB  16th  and  20th. 
*Pbilipians,  3rd  and  8th. 


38  Grayson  County,  Va. 

Great  Jefferson  did  see,  ' 

God  made  man  to  be  free, 

And  so  pen'd  in  our  constitution; 

Inviolate  I'm  bent, 

To  keep  that  instrument; 

And,  so  set  my  determ'd  resolution. 

First  our  grand  bill  of  right. 

In  which  my  soul  delights, 

Formed  by  democratic  resolution; 

Afterwards  was  adjoin'd 

And  so  fitley  combin'd. 

In  our  great  glorified  constitutbn. 

So  come  woe,  or  come  weal. 

To  that  poll  I'd  appeal; 

Not  to  violate  it  in  a  fraction. 

So  come  peace  or  come  war 

Its  my  polar  star. 

And  the  magnet  of  my  souls  attraction. 

As  with  tears  in  my  eyes, 

I  solmnly  advise 

My  country  not  to  be  represented, 

By  a  man  of  such  fame. 

That  might  load  us  with  shame, 

By  your  votes  you  might  keep  such  prevented. 

When  Carl,  to  our  land  came. 

Did  he  record  his  name. 

And  his  oath  for  his  naturalization; 

In  Amelia  county 

May  you  that  record  see, 

The  first  name  gave  himself  in  our  nation. 

Was  not  that  still  his  name. 

Till  to  Lynchburg  he  came 

To  fix  it  on  his  sign  to  shew  it; 

Over  his  door  to  tell, 

He  had  goods  there  to  sell. 

That  all  wishing  to  purchase  might  know  it. 


Pioneer  Settlers  89 

That  to  prevent  what  duty  should  require; 
To  desert  that  rule  now 
Would  be  like  the  washed  sow, 
Returning  to  wallow  in  the  mire.^ 

Far  as  with  Christ  I  list, 

That  far  bound  to  persist 

To  have  honor  and  truth  propigated, 

I'll  fall  short  as  a  saint 

If  from  duty  I'd  faint. 

In  what  Christ  by  example  dictated. 

So  at  hazzard  I'll  try, 

With  duty  to  comply; 

Such  as  Christ  by  example  assigned  me; 

Nor  kick  against  the  pricks — 

God,  in  concience  did  fix; 

Though  my  country  in  penalties  bind  me. 

As  God  made  man's  soul  free, 

No  distinction  there  to  be.  _    ^ 

As  by  God's  word  in  Scryptures  we  find  it, 

Whoever  would  be  great. 

Or  attain  to  that  state. 

Must  serve  all  as  Christ's  word  has  enjomed  it. 

So  real  democrats  pure. 

Cannot  despots  endure. 

Nor  the  dupes  under  popish  dominion; 

But  as  God  made  them  free; 

They're  determ'd  so  to  be. 

This  is  Democrat,  John  Blair's  opinion. 

He'd  have  no  man  called  great. 

Either  in  Church  or  state— 

'Till  the  people  discover'd  his  merits; 

And  declare  by  their  voice, 

They  had  made  them  their  choice, 

Regarding  his  democratic  spirit. 

52nd  Peter  2nd  and  22nd. 
Mathew  23d  8.  12  h  verses. 


40  Pioneer  Settlers 

Where  writings  of  all  kinds, 

That  name  he  still  sign'd 

Till  it  got  into  bad  reputation; 

When  he  thought  the  best  way. 

There  no  longer  to  stay, 

He  would  change  both  his  name  and  his  station. 

So  to  Grayson  he  came 

When  he  changed  his  name, 

And  ere  his  character  was  detected; 

By  a  rare  circumstance  t 

It  so  happened  by  chance 

That  a  delegate  he  got  elected. 

Was  John  Carl  drunk  or  not. 

When  a  drunkard  he  fought. 

Who  marked  him  in  his  right  ear  by  biting; 

Which  is  but  an  effect, 

Temperance  men  might  expect, 

When  two  drunkards  like  dogs  gets  to  fighting. 

Perhaps  God  so  design'd. 

As  Carl  was  hard  to  find. 

By  the  mame  that  was  first  given  to  him; 

That  as  he  had  mark'd  Cain, 

He'd  mark  Carl  now  again, 

That  when  he  changed  his  name  all  might  know  him. 

Though  an  unpleasant  task 

The  question  I  must  ask. 

Why  William  Parks,  withdrew  a  petition; 

Or  at  least  documents 

To  maintain  its  contents, 

That  there  existed  more  than  suspicion. 

That  an  oath  Carl  did  take, 

He  did  corruptly  break 

To  defeat  Harrison,  in  election; 

My  aim  now  is  to  see 

Whether  so  it  can  be. 

That  Parks'  object  was  for  Carl's  protection. 

tMany  candidates  near  the  middle  and  the  upper  end  of  the  county,  and  in  the 
extreme  lower  end  prejudice  and  amulation  prevailed. 


Q    H- 


^   — 

J  3 


Grayson  County,  Va.  41 

If  the  affirmative, 

To  my  problems  you  give, 

On  reflection  what  will  you  make  of  it; 

But  had  I  such  a  mind, 

As  holily  inclin'd 

As  one  had  Jeremiab  the  prophet. 

I'd  cry  Ob!  that  my  head 

Were  waters  to  be  shed, 

From  my  eyes  in  fountains  of  tears  flowing; 

That  in  spirit  contrite, 

I  might  weep  day  and  night, 

In  grief  from  my  people  to  be  going. 

That  in  the  wilderness 

I'd  find  a  lodging  place. 

Of  way-faring  men  with  spirits  greater,* 

Than  basley  to  decend 

So  accomplish  their  end, 

To  select  and  combine  with  a  traitor. 

Recolect  as  you  go. 

Observation  will  show, 

Scarsce  a  word  positive  I  have  stated 

But  all  hypothetic, 

Or  as  problematic, 

A  proviso  is  still  indicateu. 

THE  APPENDIX 

I  am  now  sued  again, 

To  augment  loss  and  pain. 


•See  Jeremiah,  chap.  9th. 

(Except  relating  to  Popery  against  which  I  go  might  and  main. 

N.  B.  I  was  raised  a  Presbyterian  and  learned  the  shorter  catechism  the  first 
question  is,  Q.    What  is  the  chief  end  of  man? 

Ans.  To  glorify  God,  and  enjoy  him  forever.  Now  I  cannot  see  any  better 
way  for  me  to  glorify  God  than  to  subject  all  my  means,  mental,  and  pecuniary  to 
prevent  his  attributes, — -truth  and  candor,  from  being  as  it  were  trodden  down,  on 
which  to  establish  the  glory  of  perfedy,  fraud  and  falsehood. 

JOHN  BLAIR. 
Wytheville  December  8th  1846 


42  Pioneer  Settlers 

It  is  not  more  than  I  had  expected; 

It  is  not  less  or  more 

Than  I  looked  for  before, 

Our  delegate  was  last  time  elected. 

Hard  through  life  I  have  wro't, 

To  procure  what  I  have  got, 

It  peirces  to  the  'marrow'  to  lose  itt 

If  my  country  says  so 

In  God's  name  let  it  go. 

Rather  than  serve  mamon  I'd  so  choose  it.* 

If  my  treatis  a'nt  true, 

Should  not  all  concern'd  sue. 

If  true,  how  will  Carroll's  voter's  bear  it; 

If  thej'  cant  bear  truth's  test 

But,  to  hide  it  think  best. 

They  can  pull  it  down  cut  smear  and  tear  it. 

As  some  has  done  before, 

They  can  still  do  so  more, 

From  such  might  not  the  like  be  expected. 

Admitting  that  they  knew, 

My  treatis  to  be  true 

And  still  by  their  vote  keep  him  elected. 

If  they  cant  bear  the  light, 

That  brings  truth  to  their  sight 

Is  it  not  as  Christ  once  did  make  mention ;t 

That  darkness  they  have  chose. 

Least  the  light  should  disclose, 

"Evil  deeds"  they  had  in  their  intention. 

If  such  wretches  be  found, 
To  cast  truth  to  the  ground. 
Phoenix  like  t'will  rise  resusitatedH 
As,  from  ashes,  again 

tHebrews  4th  and  12th. 

•Mathew  the  6th  and  24th. 

tJohn  3rd  and  19th. 

ilPhoenix  is  imagioned  with  the  Arabians  a  bird  to  live  500  years,  only  one  at  a 
time,  then,  build  a  nest  of  combustable  which  the  sun  kindles  and  burns  it ;  out  of 
the  ashes  of  which  a  new  phoenix  survives,  so,  always  keeps  a  phoenix. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  43 

It,  new  life  will  sustain. 

Truth,  must  not  be  thus  annihilated. 

What  has  Grayson  come  to 

Or  might  not  Carroll  do, 

If  a  delegate  they  have  elected; 

Who  too  true  for  a  joke, 

His  oath  corruptly  broke, 

From  them  what  might  not  then  be  expected. 

As  I  was  sued  before, 

Let  me  now  be  sued  more, 

All  I  have  wrote;  if  I  do  not  maintain  it; 

Then,  'so  God  do  to  me.' 

'And  more'  and  let  it  be 

All  I'm  sued  for,  let  them  that  sues  gain  it. 

Why  did  our  delegate, 

Until  August  court  wait 

To  indite  me  for  a  demonstration 

Against  granting  him  leave; 

From  the  clerk  to  receive 

Our  documents  just  at  his  discretion. 

Least,  as  he  did  before. 

He  might,  still  do  so  more 

With  forgeries,  give  then  a  wrong  direction; 

With  deceit,  and  with  fraud 

Circulate  them  abroad; 

Aiming  by  such  to  gain  his  election. 

Where  Paul,  popery  defines. 

Wrought  by  satin  with  'signs 

Decievableness  and  lying  wonder,' 

By  pontific  control. 

Over  bodey  and  soul 

Kept  by  popes  sovereign  dictation  under. 

To  Thesolonians  turn, 
There  this  truth  for  to  learn 

Ist  Kings  2nd  and  23rd  Ruth  first  and  17tb. 


44  Pioneer  Settlers 

Second  book,  second  chapter  you'll  find  it, 

How  popes  power  is  portrayed, 

By  'wondors'  as  Paul  said 

By  signs  lying  as  satin  design'd  it; 

Should  this  not  satisfy, 

Revelations  then  try, 

Seventeenth,  saint  John  corroborated; 

Rome  a  figure,  he  made§ 

Of  Babylon  portray'd. 

The  spiritual  whordom  God  hated. 

As  Luther  once  did  say 

I'm  resolv'd  the  same  way, 

'Though  devils,  thick  as  tiles  may  beset  me;'* 

Like  him  lawfully  called. 

And  like  him  sore  enthrol'd 

In  dificulties  my  truths  do  get  me 

Is  a  sentance,  or  word 

Of  this  false  and  absurd; 

Or  with  truth  and  propriety  clashes; 

My  clothes  I  will  not  rent, 

But  my  heart,  and  repent  t 

As  envelop'd  in  sac-cloth  and  ashes,  t 

Does  it  or  not  shew  plain? 

That  I  am  sued  again. 

For  countenance  in  our  legislature; 

For  to  make  it  appear 

Like  this  treatis  was  near 

Efusions  of  malignant  nature. 

For  if  members  should  view. 

My  treatis  to  be  true. 

Which  one  of  nice  feelings  would  abide  him; 

In  social  company. 

And  conversation  free. 

In  good  fellowship  to  sit  beside  him. 

^Observe  the  7  hills  called  mountains,  on  which  Rome  stood;  and  now  partly 
stands.     Rome,  was  50  miles  round  it;   Babylon  was  60.    Worcester's  Gazeteer. 
♦Luthers  commentarys  page  10. 
tJoel  2nd  and  13th. 
lEster  4  and  13. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  45 

Had  we  now  the  same  way; 

As  in  Josiah's  day; 

Of  expressing  our  mortification; 

Might  we  not  our  clothes  tare§ 

Till  our  bodeys  were  bare, 

When  we  behold  our  great  degradation. 

A  papist  may  perplex 

And  by  law  suets  sore  vex 

And  with  costs,  and  fatigue,  sore  oppress  me; 

Yet  a  promise  I've  got. 

He  also  wrote  the  inscriptions  for  the  tombstones  of 
William  Bourne  and  his  wife,  Rosa  Jones.  They  were 
given  on  a  preceding  page. 

John  Blair  and  wife,  Charity  Bourne,  lived  at  Blair's 
Forge,  near  what  is  now  Blair  Depot,  Carroll  county,  Va. 

From  this  union  there  were  three  sons  and  six  daughters: 

First  son,  Thomas  Blair,  married  Sally  Patton;  one 
son,  John  Blair,  was  killed  by  a  slide  in  a  mill  race  on 
Chestnut  Creek;  one  daughter,  Catherine,  first  married 
James  Leonard,  second  married  John  Roberts,  son  of 
Thompson  Roberts  and  wife,  Seraphina  Currin. 

A.  Sidney  Blair,  youngest  son  of  John  Blair  and  wife, 
Charity  Bourne,  married  Mildred  James,  sister  to  Emeline 
James,  who  married  L.  D.  Blair.  Sidney  Blair  settled 
first  at  the  old  Blair  Forge,  on  Chestnut  Creek;  afterwards 
bought  the  farm  at  Hale's  Ferry  from  William  B.  Hale, 
and  since  that  time  it  has  been  known  as  Blair's  Ferry 
on  New  River,  near  Fries  and  Washington  Cotton  Mills. 
To  A.  S.  Blair  and  wife  were  bom  three  children;  two  died 
in  infancy.  One  daughter,  Rosa  B.  was  drowned  in  the 
dam  at  the  old  Blair  Forge.  She,  with  her  nurse,  was 
playing  near  the  dam,  and  saw  some  flowers  blooming  near 
the  water,  and  in  her  effort  to  get  the  flowers,  fell  into 

22nd  Chronidea  34th  and  27th  a  good  king  in  Israel. 


46  Pioneer  Settlers 

the  water  and  was  drowned  before  she  could  be  recov- 
ered. There  is  a  memorial  window  in  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Fries,  put  in  by  Mr.  Blair  and  his  wife,  in 
memory  of  themselves  and  their  children.  They  were 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  South. 

There  were  six  daughters  bom  to  John  Blair  and  his 
wife,  Charity  Bourne:  Polly,  Rosa  Bourne,  Rebecca, 
Celia,  Elizabeth,  and  Lucinda. 

Polly  Blair  lived  to  be  quite  old,  never  married;  Rosa 
B.  married  John  Hale,  son  of  William  Hale  and  wife, 
Lucy  Stone,  of  Elk  Creek.  They  lived  on  Rock  Creek 
and  brought  their  farm  up  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
To  them  were  born  thirteen  sons:  Alfred,  Warner,  James, 
Lorenza  D.,  Thomas  B.,  William,  Sidney,  John,  Stephen, 
and  the  names  of  the  others  I  cannot  give;  some  died 
young,  but  most  of  them  lived  to  rear  families  in  Grayson 
county. 

Rebecca  Blair  married  William  Stone.  They  settled 
on  Chestnut  Creek,  cleared  up  and  made  a  nice  farm  on 
part  of  the  Blair  lands.  They  had  a  large  family:  Sons, 
Hamilton,  George,  William,  Thomas,  Lorenzo  Dow, 
John;    daughters,  Elizabeth,  Jane,  and  Mary. 

William  Stone,  with  his  wife  and  all  his  children, 
sold  out  here  and  moved  to  Missouri. 

Celia  Blair  married  Maj.  Minitree  Jones,  Jr.;  she  was 
his  second  wife.  They  had  one  son  and  one  daughter. 
Thomas  B.  Jones,  who  lives  at  the  old  Jones  homestead 
at  Mouth  of  Elk  Creek  on  New  River,  is  the  son. 

Charity  B.  Jones,  the  daughter,  married  Mr.  Delp, 
of  Smyth  county,  Va.  They  had  one  son,  Minitree  Delp 
who  married  first  Miss  Blanch  Dickenson,  daughter  of 
Col.  John  Dickenson.  He  settled  on  New  River,  after- 
ward moved  west. 

Elizabeth  Blair,  fifth  daughter  of  John  Blair  and  Charity 
Bourne,    married    James   Waugh,   from    Pennsylvania. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  47 

To  them  were  born  three  sons;  first,  William  Peaden,  who 
married  Miss  Sallie  L.  Hale,  daughter  of  Rev.  Wiley  D. 
Hale  and  wife,  Miss  Martha  Mitchell.  To  Wm.  Waugh  and 
Sallie  Hale  were  born  one  son,  Emmett,  who  died  young; 
and  five  daughters:  first,  Lenora,  died  young;  second, 
Eugenia,  also  died  young;  Martha  and  Elizabeth  (twins). 
Martha  married  Edwin  A.  Wolfe;  two  daughters,  Gladys, 
Juanita;  one  son,  Eugene.  Elizabeth  married  Edward 
Reeves,  son  of  George  Reeves  and  wife,  Caroline  Thomas, 
of  Jefferson,  N.  C.  They  lived  in  Jefferson  a  while,  then 
bought  a  farm  near  Washington  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reeves  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolfe  both  own  farms  and  live 
near  Washington  City. 

The  third  daughter  of  William  P.  Waugh,  Laura, 
married  Dr.  J.  H.  Dunkley.  They  live  in  Roanoke, 
Va.,  and  have  had  two  children;  one  died  in  infancy, 
the  other  died  when  a  few  years  old.  The  parents  put 
a  beautiful  memorial  window  in  memory  of  the  child, 
Ruth  Waugh  Dunkley,  in  the  Southern  Methodist 
Church  at  Galax,  Va. 

After  the  death  of  William  P.  Waugh's  first  wife  (the 
mother  of  the  above-named  children), Mr.  Waugh  married 
Lelia  Burt  Nuckolls,  daughter  of  William  Swift  Nuckolls 
and  Susan  B.  Hale.  From  this  union  there  was  a  son. 
Swift,  and  a  daughter,  Susan  B.  After  the  death  of 
William  Waugh,  his  widow  sold  the  Waugh  homestead 
at  Old  Town,  and  moved  to  Galax,  Va.,  where  she  and 
her  children  now  reside. 

William  P.  Waugh  went  out  as  a  Confederate  soldier 
in  the  first  company  from  Grayson  county — the  "Dare 
Devil  Company" — with  Peyton  N.  Hale  as  captain. 
In  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  Capt.  Hale  was  killed, 
leading  his  company  in  a  charge.  Several  of  his  men  were 
killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  number  of  wounded 
was  William  P.  Waugh.     He  was  shot  through  the  thigh, 


48  Pioneer  Settlers 

and  the  minnie  ball  lodged  in  the  wound.  In  gathering 
up  the  wounded,  he  was  found,  but  being  so  badly 
wounded  it  was  thought  there  was  no  chance  for  him  to 
live,  so  they  left  him  for  the  night  on  the  battle-field. 
During  the  night  there  came  a  shower  of  rain  and  wet  him, 
and  allayed  his  fever.  He  was  found  alive  next  morning 
and  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  finally  his  wound  healed, 
and  the  bone  grew  together.  Some  time  after  he  was 
brought  home  he  had  the  ball  taken  out  of  his  thigh. 
He  was  always  lame,  but  lived  for  thirty  years  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  died  a  member  of  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church,  and  rests  in  peace. 

Capt.  John  B.  Waugh,  second  son  of  James  Waugh 
and  wife,  Elizabeth  Blair,  entered  the  Confederate  army 
later  than  his  brother.  He  was  elected  captain  in  the 
Sixty-first  Regiment.  His  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  He  continued  in 
the  war  until  the  close  and  returned  to  Old  Town,  Va., 
and  his  father  turned  over  his  mercantile  business  to 
him.  He  continued  in  business  there  until  the  town  of 
Galax  commenced  building,  and  he  moved  his  stock  of 
goods  there,  where  he  has  been  the  leading  merchant. 
The  firm  is  now  known  as  J.  B.  Waugh  &  Sons. 

In  1877  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Perkins,  daughter 
of  Johnson  Perkins  and  wife, Catherine  Johnson,  of  Helton, 
N.  C.  From  this  union  there  were  three  sons:  Charles 
P.,  Dan  Blair,  Richard  G.  These  sons  are  with  him  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Galax  at  the  present  time. 

There  was  one  daughter,  Berta  Carson,  who  was  a 
bright,  beautiful  girl.  She  was  educated  at  Mary  Baldwin, 
Staunton,  Va.,  and  Hollins  Institute.  While  at  Hollins 
she  contracted  a  cold,  which  resulted  in  tuberculosis, 
from  which  she  suffered  three  years.  And  while  her  family 
tried  every  available  cure  she  never  recovered,  but  died 
in  February,  1906,  at  the  age  of  22.    She  was  buried  in 


X 

o 

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so  5 

Z    i; 

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z  ■« 
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Grayson  County,  Va.  49 

the  cemetery  at  Old  Town,  Va.  A  beautiful  tombstone 
of  Mt.  Airy  granite  with  marble  slab  marks  her  resting 
place. 

Her  mother  is  devoted  to  her  memory,  and  keeps  fresh 
flowers  on  her  grave  constantly. 

When  young  she  joined  the  Methodist  Church  at  Old 
Town  and  lived  a  devoted  Christian  life  and  she  rests 
in  peace. 

Her  mother  gave  a  communion  set  of  sterling  silver  of 
six  pieces,  to  the  Methodist  Church  of  Galax,  in  mem- 
ory of  Berta.  This  communion  set  was  presented 
through  the  missionary  society,  of  which  Berta  was  a 
member. 

James  Waugh,  Jr.,  son  of  James  Waugh,  died  young. 
He  was  accidentally  scalded  with  hot  water,  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  it. 

James  Waugh  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Blair,  had  three 
daughters:  First  daughter,  Flora,  married  Dr.  William 
R.  Dufphey;  they  lived  at  Old  Town,  Va.,  had 
two  daughters  and  one  son.  First  daughter,  Ella, 
married  Dr.  Benjamin  S.  Dobyns.  They  now  own  and 
live  at  the  Oglesby  farm,  between  Old  Town  and  Galax, 
Va.  They  have  one  son,  William ;  two  daughters :  Alma  and 
Ruth.  One  daughter,  Aileen,  died  young,  and  the  parents 
put  a  memorial  window  in  the  Methodist  Church  at  Galax, 
Va. 

Josephine,  second  daughter  of  Dr.  Dufphey,  married 
James  Witherow.  He  is  a  druggist  in  Galax,  Va.,  and 
lives  there.  They  have  two  sons,  Fred  and  Eugene. 
One  daughter  died  young  and  the  parents  put  a  window 
in  the  church  in  memory  of  her. 

These  three  children,  in  whose  memory  the  windows 
were  placed,  are  great-grand  children  of  James  Waugh. 
Although  young,  these  little  children  had  been  taught 
to  know  and  love  the  Christ  who  loves  all  children. 


50  Pioneer  Settlers 

One  little  girl  was  particularly  impressed  with  the  picture 
of  Christ  as  "The  Good  Shepherd,"  and  loved  to  be  told 
about  him. 

Knowing  the  rough  places  on  life's  road,  and  that  fierce 
storms^  often  gather,  "The  Good  Shepherd"  gathered 
these  "lambs"  in  his  arms  and  carried  them  through  the 
gates  of  Paradise,  there  to  await  the  coming  of  their 
loved  ones. 

Dr.  Dufphey  and  wife,  Flora  Waugh,  had  one  son, 
James,  that  died  young.  He  was  a  bright  boy,  and  his 
death  was  a  sore  affliction  to  the  family. 

The  third  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Waugh  was 
Emma  AmeKa  Waugh;  she  died  at  Old  Town,  of  diphtheria, 
when  about  ten  years  old.  Mary,  the  second  daughter 
of  James  Waugh  and  Elizabeth  Blair,  married  Fields 
McMillan  Young,  son  of  Ezekiel  Young  and  his  wife, 
Evelina  McMillan.     They  had  two  daughters: 

First  daughter,  Virginia  Young,  died  of  typhoid  fever 
while  attending  school  at  SuUins  College,  Bristol,  Tenn. 
Second  daughter,  Mattie,  lives  with  her  parents  at 
Edgewater,  on  Wilson  Creek,  N.  C. 
One  son,  James,  died  young;  is  buried  at  Old  Town,  Va. 
The  youngest  daughter  of  John  Blair  and  wife,  Charity 
Bourne,  was  Lucinda  Blair.  She  married  Thomas  Howard; 
they  had  one  son  and  one  daughter.    John  B.  Howard 
married  Miss  Kyle,  daughter  of  Madison  Kyle  of  Wood- 
lawn,  Va. 

Mary  B.  Howard  married  Samuel  Kyle,  son  of  Madison 
Kyle.  They  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Follow- 
ing is  an  account  of  the  death  of  one  of  their  children: 

"On  Sunday  the  20th,  as  she  was  returning  from  church 
at  Woodlawn,  Miss  Stella  Kyle  was  thrown  from  her  horse 
and  received  injuries  from  which  she  died  on  Tuesday 
following. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  51 

"She  and  her  cousin,  Miss  Mamie  Houseman,  were 
both  mounted  on  a  spirited  saddle  horse  belonging  to 
Mr.  L.  A.  Houseman.  The  horse  became  ungovernable 
and  Miss  Houseman  jumped  off  escaping  almost  unhurt 
while  Miss  Kyle  was  thrown  on  her  head  fracturing  her 
skull  and  rendering  her  unconscious.  She  was  carried 
home  and  Drs.  Tipton  and  Robinson,  were  immediately 
summoned,  but  her  life  was  despaired  even  at  the  first. 
She  never  rallied  or  regained  consciousness. 

"She  was  thirteen  years  old  and  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sam  D.  Kyle  of  Woodlawn.  She  was  a  bright 
girl  and  a  favorite  among  her  schoolmates. 

"She  is  survived  by  father,  mother,  three  brothers  and 

two  sisters. 

"  The  remains  were  interred  yesterday  in  the  cemetery 
at  Woodlawn  near  the  school  and  church  she  had  always 
attended."  , 

Mrs.  Lucinda  Howard  inherited  from  her  fathers 
estate,  the  old  homestead  at  the  Blair  Forge,  with  an 
interest  in  the  Iron  Ridge  mineral  land.  This  property 
passed  down  to  John  B.  and  Mary  B.  Howard;  they 
sold  it  and  bought  good  farms  near  Woodlawn,  where 
they  now  live. 

Lorenzo  Dow  Blair  married  Miss  Emeline  James. 
They  have  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Their  son, 
William,  married  Miss  Martha  Watson;  their  son,  Lorenzo 
Dow,  has  several  daughters;  they  live  near  Galax,  Va. 
John  Blair,  son  of  Lorenzo  Dow  Blair,  married  Miss 
Queenie  Lynthecum.  They  had  one  son,  Walter  Blair, 
who  married  Miss  Laura  E.  Felts;  issue:  two  sons.  Ivy 
Earl,  John  Harold;  two  daughters,  Hazel  Claudine 
and  Gladys  Blair. 

Walter  Blair  is  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Galax,  Va.,  and  lives  in  Galax.  John  Blair's  daughter 
married  Leander  Felts. 


52  Pioneer  Settlers 

Lorenzo  Dow  Blair  and  wife  had  three  daughters: 
First,  Elizabeth,  married  Rev.  Phillip  P.  Kinzer.  They 
had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  Elizabeth  died, 
and  Philip  Kinzer  married  her  younger  sister,  Emma 
Blair.  They  have  a  son,  Sidney  Blair  Kinzer,  who  married 
Miss  McKnight;  they  have  two  sons.  S.  B.  Kinzer  is 
in  the  hardware  business  in  Galax,  Va. 

The  third  daughter  of  Lorenzo  Dow  Blair  married 
William  Houseman.  They  live  at  Blair,  Va.,  near  the 
old  Blair  Forge,  and  have  sons  and  daughters.  Their 
first  son,  Lorenzo  Houseman,  married  a  daughter  of 
Judge  William  Kyle;  he  is  in  the  lumber  business.  The 
second  son,  Walter  Houseman,  married  Miss  Farmer, 
and  went  West. 

William  Houseman's  first  daughter,  Elizabeth  E., 
married  Thomas  L.  Felts.  He  is  partner  in  the  Baldwin- 
Felts  Detective  Agency,  and  is  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Galax,  Va.  They  have  one  son,  Gordon 
Felts,  and  live  at  Blair,  Va.  Thomas  Felts  owns  several 
farms  near  Galax,  Va.,  and  is  a  public-spirited  man, 
and  a  great  help  to  the  community. 

Sallie  Houseman,  second  daughter  of  William  Houseman, 
married  Mr.  John  James,  of  Yadkinville,  N.  C.  They  have 
two  sons,  and  live  in  Galax,  Va.  Mr.  James  is  a  success- 
ful business  man. 

Eugenia,  third  daughter  of  William  Houseman,  married 
Robert  Eversole.  They  have  one  son,  and  live  in  Galax, 
Va.    Mr.  Eversole  is  editor  of  the  Galax  Post-Herald. 

Stephen  Bourne  married  Patsy  Mays,  and  lived  on 
Knob  Fork  near  his  father's  home.  He  cleared  land  and 
improved  it  until  he  had  a  valuable  farm.  They  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  and  he  and  his  wife  died  on  the 
same  day,  and  were  buried  in  the  same  grave  on  his  farm. 

Following  are  given  the  ages  of  Stephen  Bourne's 
children: 


KLl/.ABKIH  THOMAS 
Daughter  of  Patience  Bourne  Thomas,  and  wife  of  Samuel  Cos 
(See  Cox  Family) 


Grayson  County,    Va.  63 

Elizabeth  Bourne  was  born  June  the  24th,  1802.  Mar- 
ried James  Dickey,  Esq.,  son  of  Mathew  Dickey  and 
Rebecca  Wiley,  his  wife  (see  Dickey  family). 

Cynthia  Bourne  was  born  October  23,  1803;  married 
Mr.  Pugh;  moved  to  Missouri;  has  a  family  there. 

Martin  Bourne  was  born  February  26th,  1806;  married 
Sarah  Smith,  of  Smyth  county,  Va. 

Matterson  Bourne  was  born  September  25th,  1808;  died, 
March  2nd,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1826;  age  seventeen 
years,  five  months,  and  seven  d;'ys. 

William  Bourne,  Jr.,  bom  M  ly  12th,  1810;  married 
Margaret  Scott,  of  Smyth  count  y,  Va. ;  three  daughters 
and  two  sons. 

Nancy  Bourne,  bom  Sept.  17th,  1818;  married  Spencer 
James,  of  Smyth  county,  Va.;  three  sons.  Dr.  Ezekiel, 
Friel,  and  Stephen. 

Martin  Bourne  and  wife.  Miss  Sallie  Smith,  had  one 
son,  Montgomery  Bourne,  who  married  Miss  Olive  Hale, 
of  Elk  Creek,  Va. ;  they  had  sons  and  daughters. 

His  first  daughter,  Talitha  B.,  first  married  Tivis  Hale; 
two  daughters,  Amelia  and  Sallie;  the  second  time, 
Talitha  B.  married  Charles  Hale;  two  daughters:  Flora 
and  Ella  Hale. 

Jane  B.,  the  second  daughter,  married  John  P.  Byi"d; 
had  sons  and  a  daughter,  Sallie,  who  married  John  Welch; 
Uve  at  Summerfield,  N.  C. 

Floranza  B.,  third  daughter,  married  Johnston  Bourne; 
moved  to  Texas. 

Cynthia,  the  fourth  daughter,  married  Joseph  Phipps, 
of  Saddle  Creek,  Va. 

The  fifth  daughter,  Julia  Ann  Bourne,  married  Carson' 
Andis,  and  lives  at  the  old  homestead;  no  issue. 

The  sixth  daughter  Amanda,  married  first,  Lockett 
Cooper;  second  time,  Alexander  McMillan. 


54  Pioneer  Settlers 

William  Bourne  (3),  son  of  Stephen  Bourne,  married 
Margaret  Scott,  daughter  of  William  Scott  and  wife, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Porter.  Two  sons:  Andrew,  died  in  Con- 
federate war,  single;  John  A.  Bourne  married  Mrs.  Jane 
Gose;  no  issue.  Three  daughters:  Elizabeth,  married 
Rufus  Perkins;  one  son.  Rev.  J.  L.  M.  Perkins,  of  Holston 
Conference.  Matilda  married  Mr.  Spraker;  Cynthia 
married  John  Foster.  After  the  death  of  William  Bourne, 
his  widow,  Margaret  Bourne,  married  David  Gose. 

Mary  Bourne  married  Martin  Dickenson  and  lived  at 
Grayson,  C.  H.,  now  Old  Town,  Va.  Their  children 
were:  three  sons,  James,  John  and  William;  daughters: 
Charlotte,  Jestena,  Jane,  Rosamond  B.,  Matilda  and 
Elizabeth  Caroline. 

James  Dickenson  married  Miss  Julia  Thurmon;  settled 
on  New  River,  afterward  moved  lo  Mississippi.  James 
Dickenson  was  murdered  in  his  home  by  Federal  soldiers 
during  the  war.  Had  one  son,  Martin,  who  died  single; 
three  daughters:  Sallie,  Mary  and  Amelia.  Sallie  married 
Hugh  Gwin;  Mary  married  Richard  Gwin,  and  Amelia 
married  Thomas  Gwin,  all  three  sons  of  Richard  Gwin, 
Si.,  and  wife.  Miss  Elizabeth  Hunt,  of  Elkin,  N.  C. 

Hugh  Gwin  was  principal  of  a  school  in  Mississippi; 
died  there;  no  issue.  His  wife,  Sallie  D.,  married  the 
second  time,  Hugh  Wright;  had  one  daughter,  Julia  Wright, 

Richard  Gwin,  who  married  Mary  Dickenson,  lived  at 
Elki.1,  N.  C,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Elkin  Cotton  Mills.. 
They  had  two  sons;  Charles  G.,  married  Miss  Bettie 
Perkins,  of  Hilton  N.  C;  they  have  three  daughters; 
one  son,  Ernest,  died  single;  one  daughter  married  Mr. 
Chatam. 

Thomas  Gwin  first  lived  at  Elkin,  one  of  the  owners  of 
the  Elkin  Woolen  Mills.  Gwin  and  Chatam  afterward 
moved  to  Elk  Creek,  Grayson  county,  Va.,  and  bought 
the   Col.   Stephen  and  Capt.  John  M.  Hale  farm;  built 


Grayson  County,  Va.  65 

a  Roller  Flour  Mill,  and  improved  the  fann  and  buildings. 

Thomas  Gwin  was  representative  in  the  legislature, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  that  met  in  1912 
to  amend  the  constitution  of  the  state.  In  the  latter 
part  of  1912,  he  sold  his  farm  on  Elk  Creek,  and  moved 
back  to  Elkin,  N.  C,  where  he  now  resides.  Two  daughters 
were  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gwin;  the  first  daughter, 
Sallie,  married  Mr.  Poindexter;  they  have  one  son,  Gwin, 
three  daughters. 

Col.  John  Dickenson,  second  son  of  Col.  Martin  Dick- 
enson and  wife,  Mary  Bourne,  married  Rosamond  Hale, 
daughter  of  William  Hale  and  wife,  Lucy  Stone.  They 
had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  First  son.  Dr.  Martin 
Dickenson,  married  Miss  Mattie  Phipps;  they  had  four 
sons  and  two  daughters.  The  first  daughter,  Lelia  B., 
married  Judge  Robert  C.  Jacl<son;  issue:  two  or  three 
children.  Lelia  Jackson  died,  and  Judge  Jackson  married 
the  second  time,  Marian  Early,  daughter  of  James  Early, 
Jr.,  of  Hillsville,  Va.  They  have  children  and  live  in 
Roanoke,  Va. 

Second  daughter,  Rosa,  (of  Martin  Dickenson  and 
Mattie  Phipps)  married  Mr.  Reeves  of  Wilkes  county, 
N.  C;  two  sons  Albert  and  Martin. 

James  Piper  Dickenson  married  in  North  C'irolina 
and  moved  to  Oregon.  Rush  Floyd  was  helpless;  died 
young. 

The  youngest  son,  Alexander  Martin,  marred  Minnie 
Dickey,  daughter  of  John  M.  Dickey;  one  son,  McCamant 
married  Miss  Wilson,  Blue  Springs  Gap,  Va. 

John  Dickenson's  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  Dr. 
Huffman;  one  son,  Eddie  Huffman.  Married  sec^ond  time, 
Mr.  Lapop,  of  Charlottesville,  Va.;  two  daughters. 

The  second  daughter,  Lucy  Dickenson,  married  William 
Edwards;  daughters  and  one  son. 


I 


6^  Pioneer  Settlers 

The  third  daughter,  Mary  Dickenson,  married  Col. 
Alex.  M.  Davis;  they  had  several  children;  Joseph  died 
single,  others  died  young.  Garnet  Davis,  the  youngest 
son,  married  Miss  Mattie  Dickey.  He  has  four  sons, 
and  lives  at  the  Davis  homestead.  Independence,  Va. 

Col.  John  Dickenson  married  the  second  time.  Miss 
Margaret  Ellen  Andis;  from  this  union,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters;  First  son,  Robert  L.  Dickenson,  married  Miss 
Olive  Ring;  sons,  Roy  and  one  daughter. 

Robert  L.  Dickenson  is  an  enterprising,  good  citizen 
and  lives  on  the  Garrison  farm  on  New  River. 

John  Dickenson,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Sallie  Ring;  lives 
at  the  Dickenson  homestead.  He  is  a  good  farmer  and 
useful  man;  has  children. 

The  two  daughters  were,  Sallie,  who  married  C.  H. 
Edwards,  supervisor  for  Grayson  county;  one  son,  Robert, 
married  Miss  Collins;  f(,ar  daughters;  a  nice  family. 

The  other  daughter.  Miss  Blanche  Dickenson,  married 
MiDitree  Delp;  had  one  son,  Horace  Delp;  she  died  young; 
her  son  went  West. 

Col.  John  Dickenson  was  a  useful  citizen  of  the  county; 
he  o\  ned  a  large  landed  estate  on  New  River,  was  in 
public  office,  and  in  the  mercantile  business  when  there 
were  bi  t  few  stores  in  the  county.  The  firm  of  Dicken- 
son and  Nuckolls  had  stores  at  Old  Town,  Elk  Creek, 
and  Bridle  Creek.  The  goods  were  then  hauled  from 
Lynchbu^rg  on  wagons.  There  were  but  two  other  stores 
in  the  ci:)unty;  they  were  at  Grayson  C.  H.  (now  Old 
Town).  At  that  time,  all  the  goods  and  groceries  came 
to  Lynchburg  on  the  canal,  and  were  hauled  out  into 
these  western  counties  in  six  horse  wagons. 

William  B.  Dickenson,  youngest  son  of  Martin  D., 
married  A^Iiss  Mary  Edmondson  of  Glade  Spring,  Va., 
andf  lived  ttt  Grayson  C.  H.  with  his  mother  who  kept 
hotel  there   for  a  number  of  years.      They  had   four 


COL.  SAMUEL  McCAMANT 


Grayson  County,  Va.  57 

daughters  and  two  sons;  three  daughters  and  two  sons 
bom  at  Grayson  C.  H.  He  later  moved  to  Glade  Spring 
Depot.  One  daughter  born  at  Glade  Spring.  Eugenia, 
the  oldest  daughter,  married  Robert  Blair;  Ellen  manied 
Ml.  Thurman;  Nannie  and  Mattie;  Robert  married  Miss 
Gardner;  John,  the  youngest  son  of  William  Dickenson, 
died  suddenly  at  his  home  in  Glade  Spring,  Va.  The 
family  then  all  moved  to  California. 

Elizabeth  Caroline,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Martin 
D.  and  his  wife,  married  Benjamin  Martin,  of  Lee  county, 
Va.  For  some  years  they  lived  at  Jonesville,  Va.  Mr. 
Martin  was  educated  at  Emory  and  Henry  College, 
when  Dr.  Collins  was  president.  When  they  were  married. 
Dr.  Collins  performed  the  ceremony.  They  were  married 
at  the  Dickenson  Hotel,  Grayson  C.  H.  Mr.  Martin  had 
three  sons,  Clarence,  John,  and  Beverly.  Beverly  died 
young  at  Old  Town,  and  is  buried  there;  they  had  one 
daughter,  Mary;  the  family  moved  from  Lee  county 
to  Texas. 

Col.  Martin  Dickenson's  mother  was  a  Miss  Bryson 
of  North  Carolina.  He  died  in  1833.  His  wife  survived 
him  nearly  thirty  years,  dying  in  September,  1860.  For 
these  thirty  years  she  managed  the  estate  which 
Col.  Dickenson  left,  and  did  it  successfully.  She  kept 
the  hotel  open  and  made  money. 

Charlotte  Dickenson  married  Col.  Stephen  Hale  of 
Elk  Creek,  Va.  The  follwing  was  written  of  her  by  an 
admirer: 

"Colonel  Stephen  Hale,  of  Elk  Creek,  married  Miss 
Charlotte  Dickenson,  a  christian  lady,  who  adorned  the 
family  circle.  She  offered  up  public  prayer  and  delivered 
earnest  exhortations.  Col.  Hale  and  wife  and  their  family 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  If  every 
family  lived  as  Col.  Hale's  this  would  be  a  happy  world. 
Col.  Hale  married  the  second  time,  Mrs.  Lenora  Gwin 


58  Pioneer  Settlers 

Mitchell,  who  was  first  Miss  Lenora  Gwin.  She  was  a 
noble  christian  woman,  gave  peace  and  happiness  in  the 
love  of  God  to  the  home  of  these  good  people,  where  their 
sun  of  ife  sat  beneath  a  cloudless  sky  to  rise  in  the  res- 
urrection morning." 

As  the  foregoing  sketches  give  a  number  of  the  names 
of  the  Gwin  family,  I  will  insert  here  a  sketch  of  one  of 
the  ancestors  of  the  Gwin  family.  General  William  Lenoir. 
He  resided  in  Wilkes  county,  N.  C.  His  life,  char- 
acter, and  services  have  been  recorded  by  an  able  and 
familiar  hand.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
Raleigh  Register,  June  22nd,  1839,  and  recorded  in 
Wheeler's  history  of  North  Carolina:  "This  venerable 
patriot  and  soldier  died  at  his  residence  at  Fort  Defiance 
in  Wilkes  county  on  Monday,  May  6th  1839,  aged  88 
years. 

"Gen.  Lenoir  was  born  in  Brunswick  county,  Va., 
on  the  20th  of  May,  1751,  O.  S.;  descended  from  poor 
but  respectable  French  ancestry.  When  about  eight 
years  old,  his  father  removed  to  Tar  river,  near  Tarboro, 
N.  C.,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  happened 
shortly  after.  Gen.  Lenoir  received  no  other  education 
than  such  as  his  personal  exertions  permitted  him  to 
acquire.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age,  he  married 
Miss  Ballard,  a  lady  possessing  those  domestic  and  heroic 
virtues  which  qualified  her  for  sustaining  the  privations 
and  hardships  of  frontier  life,  which  it  was  her  destiny 
afterward  to  encounter.  In  1775,  Gen.  Lenoir  moved 
his  family  to  the  county  of  Wilkes. 
I  "James  Gwyn  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Lenoir, 

'p.  5  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Gen  William  Lenoir 
was  a  resident  of  Wilkes  county,  owned  and  cultivated 
a  large  farm  on  the  Yadkin  River.  He  was  a  good  citi- 
zen, brought  up  a  family  whose  piety  and  devotion  to 
Christianity  will  leave  fruits  to  ripen  in  eternity. " 


Grayson  County,  Va.  59 

His  younger  son,  Rufus  Lenoir,  married  Miss  Sallie 
Gwyn  of  Elkin,  N.  C,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth 

Gwyn. 

Jestena  Dickenson,  daughter  of  Col.  Martin  Dicken- 
son, married  James  Meek.  They  lived  at  the  Stone  house 
in  Washington  county,  Va.,  had  two  sons;  first,  Joseph 
Meek  married  Miss  Clark  and  settled  in  Burk's  Garden, 
Va.  James  also  settled  in  Burk's  Garden.  They  owned 
a  fine  landed  estate  in  the  Garden.  Their  daughter, 
Jane  Meek,  married  Dr.  William  Hoge.  Their  family 
is  in  Bland  county,  Va.  ,  ,.      , 

Mary  Meek  married  Phillip  Snapp,  and  lived  near 
the  old  homestead.     Their  son  lives  at  Snapps  Siding 

on  N.  &  W.  R.  R.  ,  XT        ^  w 

Sophia  Meek  married  Mr.  Edmondson.     He  and  his 
wife  died  of   yellow  fever  in  Mississippi;  two  children; 
the  youngest  daughter,  Caroline,  married  Alex  Golahom;  ^a.a^<^^ 
lived  near  Saltville,  Va. 

Mrs.   Jestena  Meek  married  the  second    time,    C^ol. 
Strother,  of  Washington  county.  ,  ^r  r^         + 

Matilda  Dickenson  married  Col.  Samuel  McCamant 
from  Pennsylvania.  He  was  prominent  as  an  attorney; 
was  a  representative  in  state  senate,  and  in  all  movements 
for  the  good  of  this  county.  He  lived  at  Grayson  Old 
Court  House,  reared  and  educated  his  family,  and  he 
and  his  wife  both  died  and  are  buried  at  Old  Town, 
in  the  Dickenson  graveyard.  They  had  seven  sons  and 
three  daughters.  The  sons:  Alexander  Smith,  James 
Martin,  John  D.,  William  B.,  Samuel,  Thomas  Jefferson, 
Emmett.  The  daughters:  Charlotte  Virginia,  and  two 
daughters  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  daughter,  Charlotte  Virginia,  was  a  lady  of  tine 
intellect,  culture,  and  refinement;  also  a  fine  christian 
character.  She  married  Rev.  Charles  M.  Howard,  an 
Evangelist  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.    She  lived  at  the 


60*  Pioneer  Settlers 

old  homestead;  died  without  issue  and  is  buried  at  Old 
Town,  Va. 

Alexander  S.,  John  D.,  and  William  B.  McCamant,  all 
married  daughters  of  Thomas  Gardner  in  Texas.  James 
Martin  and  Emmett  also  went  to  Texas  and  married 
there.  John  D.  had  two  daughters,  Hattie  and  Lizzie. 
They  lived  in  Fort  Worth. 

Lizzie  McCamant  married  Rev.  Carter,  who  belongs 
to  the  Texas  Conference.  He  is  a  Methodist  Minister 
and  was  educated  at  Emory  and  Henry  College,  Va. 

Samuel  McCamant,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Nancy  Kitchen. 
He  died  during  the  war;  no  children. 

Thomas  Jefferson  McCamant  married  Miss  Ellen 
Hale,  daughter  of  Maj.  Peyton  G.  Hale  and  wife,  Jane 
Bourne,  of  Elk  Creek,  Va.  They  had  five  daughters: 
Blanche,  Lizzie,  Clyde,  Josephine,  Mjrtle.  Josephine 
and  Myrtle  died  young.  Blanche  married  Clayton 
Higgins;  one  son,  McCamant  Higgins.  They  own  and 
live  at  the  McCamant  homestead  at  Old  Town,  Va. 

Lizzie  McCamant  married  Fred  Armfield;  they  have 
two  daughters.  They  live  at  the  old  Governor  Franklin 
homestead  on  Fish  River,  N.  C. 

Clyde  McCamant  married  Marvin  Vaughn,  son  of 
Rev.  Thomas  C.  Vaughan  and  wife,  Lucy  Hale.  They 
live  at  Spring  Valley,  Grayson  county,  Va.;  have  one 
son,  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Col.  Samuel  McCamant  had  one  brother,  Thomas 
Jefferson  McCamant,  who  studied  medicine  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  came  to  Grayson  C.  H.,  and  lived  with  his 
brother.  The  doctor  never  married;  died  about  1860, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Dickenson  graveyard,  Old  Town,  Va. 

Miss  Rosa  B.  Dickenson  married  Hugh  Gwin,  and  they 
live  near  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C.  They  have  four  sons:  First 
son,  Martin,  married  Miss  McComas,  and  lived  near  Mt. 
Airy,  N.  C. ;  one  son  married  Miss  Johnston.    John  Gwin 


Grayson  County,  Va.  <61 

married  Miss  Crockett  and  lived  in  Rich  Valley.  One 
daughter,  Mary,  married  Mr.  Morgan;  lives  at  Seven 
Mile  Ford. 

Elizabeth  Bourne  married  Capt.  Lewis  Hale,  Jr., 
and  lived  on  Elk  Creek.  (See  Hale  history,  p.  104.) 
They  had  four  sons:  Jackson,  Washington,  Rufus, 
Capt.  Peyton  N.  Hale;  four  daughters:  Millie,  Celia, 
Elvira,  Rosamond  B.  (See  Capt.  Lewis  Hale,  Jr.) 

Frances  Bourne  married  Stephen  Hale,  Sr.,  and  settled 
at  the  Hale  homestead.  Elk  Creek.  (See  Hale  history, 
page  117.) 

Names  and  number  of  their  sons  and  daughters  follow: 

Eight  sons:  Mastin,  Warner,  William  B.,  Martin, 
Fielden  Lewis,  Chapman  G.,  Clark,  Eli  C. 

Five  daughters:  Lucinda,  Rosa  Bourne,  Mary,  Amanda 
Jane,  Sophia  P.    (See  Stephen  Hale,  Sr.) 

Celia  Bourne  married  Robert  Johnstone  and  settled 
on  Roaring  River,  Wilkes  county,  N.  C.  This  Johnstone 
of  Revolutionary  fame  was  in  the  battle  of  Kings  Moun- 
tain. There  were  sons  and  daughters  of  this  family  in 
Wilkes  county  N.  C,  but  I  cannot  give  their  names. 

William  Bourne,  Jr.,  married  Mary  Johnstone,  sister 
to  Robert  Johnstone.  He  settled  at  the  old  Wm.  Bourne 
homestead,  on  Knob  Fork,  Va.,  and  brought  up  his  family 
there.  Their  daughter,  Rosa  B.,  married  Stephen  M, 
Hale,  son  of  John  Hale  and  Mary  Hale,  his  wife.  They 
had  sons  and  daughters.  Their  son,  Alexander  Hale, 
married  Miss  Sallie  Roberts,  daughter  of  Thompson 
Roberts  and  wife,  Seraphina  Currin;  one  son,  Friel;  one 
daughter,  Nannie;  and  one  daughter,  Malinda  Hale, 
married  Stephen  Whitman,  son  of  David  Whitman  and 
wife,  Elizabeth  Hale. 

Stephen  M.  Hale  and  his  wife,  after  living  in  Grayson 
some  time,  moved  with  their  family  to  Texas,  from 
Independence,  Va. 


62  Pioneer  Settlers 

Malinda  Bourne  married  Robert  Currin,  son  of  Maj. 
George  Currin  and  his  wife,  Martha  Swift.  They  had  a 
son,  William  B.  Currin,  and  a  daughter,  Mary  J.  Currin; 
all  moved  to  Oregon. 

Rachel  Bourne  man'ied  James  P.  Waugh;  they  first 
lived  at  Grayson  C.  H.;  afterward  moved  to  Jefferson, 
Ashe  county,  N.  C;  died  there;  no  issue. 

Jane  Bourne  married  Peyton  G.  Hale,  son  of  Wi  liam 
Hale  and  wife,  Lucy  Stone.  (See  Ha-e  history.)  They 
lived  and  died  at  the  Wm.  Hale  homestead  on  Elk  Creek, 
Va. 

Lucinda  Bourne  married  Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls,  son 
of  Ezra  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Lucinda  Hale.  They  both 
died  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  They  had  sons:  William, 
Paul,  Rupert  (See  Nuckolls  Family).  Rupert  Nuckolls 
now  lives  in  Butte,  Montana;  is  cashier  of  the  State 
Savings  Bank  there. 

Harvey  Gordon  Bourne  married  Miss  Frances  Nuckolls, 
daughter  of  Ezra  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Lucinda  Hale. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Bourne,  and  two  sons, 
William,  and  Houston  Bourne. 

Johnstone  Bourne  married  Floranza  Bourne,  daughter 
of  Martin  Bourne,  of  Knob  Fork,  Va.    They  live  in  Texas. 

Following  are  the  descendants  of  L.  W.  Bourne,  the 
third  son,  and  eighth  child  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and 
Mary  Johnstone  Bourne. 

L.  W.  Bourne  was  born  January  13th,  1832;  married 
Julia  Fulton  March  12th,  1857.  From  this  union  there 
are  five  children,  two  girls,  and  three  boys.  Pinkie  Bourne 
was  bom  March  7th,  1859;  Cleveland  Bourne  was  born 
August  18th,  1861;  Robert  Bourne  was  born  September 
26th,  1867;  William  Stephen  Bourne  was  born  October 
28th,  1873;  Chloe  Bourne  was  born  November  1st,  1877. 

Pinkie  A.  Bourne  was  married  to  John  H.  Skinner, 
December  5th,  1873.    From  this  union  are  four  boys  and 


Grayson  County,  Va.  63 

two  girls:  Lute  Skinner  was  married  to  Ella  Com,  Jan- 
uary 10th,  1897.  To  this  union  are  three  girls  and  two 
boys,  Eunice,  Verna,  Ellie,  John,  and  George.  They  live 
at  Nogal,  New  Mexico. 

Conda  Skinner,  the  second  son,  married  Ethel  Greer, 
August  24th,  1904.  From  this  union  are  one  girl  and  one 
boy,  Brooksie  and  Christa,  who  live  at  Nogal,  New  Mexico. 

Floy  Skinner  married  May  15th,  1907,  to  Alice  Zum- 
walt;  one  girl  is  added  to  this  union,  Elsie  Bly;  live  at 
Nogal,  New  Mexico. 

Roy  Skinner,  the  fourth  son,  was  married  to  Clara 
Adams,  March  12th,  1911;  home,  Carrizozo,  New  Mexico. 

Alice  Rosa  Skinner,  the  first  daughter,  was  married 
to  Ben  B.  Parker,  May  3rd,  1891.  To  this  union  are  three 
boys  and  three  girls;  Carl  Parker,  aged  eighteen  years, 
married  Ethel  Roth,  September  4th,  1910.  Live  in  Sacra- 
mento, Cal.  Rolla,  Bryce,  Pinkie,  Hattie,  and  Ella  live 
in  Carrizozo,  New  Mexico. 

Effie  Julia  Skinner  married  Bowen  Zumwalt,  February 
13th,  1898.  To  this  union  are  four  boys  and  one  girl, 
Clifton,  Floy,  Wayne,  Murray,  and  Chloe. 

Chloe  Bourne,  second  daughter,  and  youngest  child 
of  L.  W.  Bourne  and  Julia  Bourne,  married  W.  R.  White, 
February  28th,  1898;  no  issue. 

Cleveland  Bourne,  eldest  son,  was  married  to  Lula 
Henley,  October  10th,  1885.  To  this  union  are  four  girls, 
Minnie,  Midge,  Julia,  and  Etta;  four  boys,  William, 
Thomas,  Milton,  and  Lute.  All  yet  under  the  parental 
roof,  at  Tularosa,  New  Mexico. 

Robert  Bourne,  second  son,  married  Josephine  Pfing- 
sten,  December  30th,  1891.  To  this  union,  one  son, 
Emmett.  Robert  Bourne  is  owner  and  manager  of  the 
Telephone  line,  and  living  at  Duran,  New  Mexico. 

William  Stephen  Bourne,  third  and  youngest  son, 
was  married  to  Annie  Zumwalt,  January  27th,   1901. 


64  Pioneer  Settlers 

To  this  union  are  two  sons,  Creed  and  Rex;  home,  Carri- 
zozo.  New  Mexico. 

L.  W.  Bourne,  father,  grandfather,  and  great-grand- 
father, of  this  large  family,  is  living  with  his  eldest  daughter 
Mrs.  John  Skinner,  Carrizozo,  New  Mexico. 

Julia  Fulton  Bourne,  wife  of  L.  W.  Bourne,  died  Sept- 
tember  21st,  1908.  Was  buried,  at  Ever  Green  Cemetery, 
Carrizozo,  New  Mexico. 

William  Bourne  (3),  youngest  son  of  William  Bourne  (2), 
and  wife,  Mary  Johnstone,  died  single,  at  Independ- 
ence, Grayson  county,  Va.;  a  fine  young  man,  in  the 
prime  of  life. 

Capt.  Richmond  G.  Bourne,  son  of  William  Bourne 
and  wife,  married  Miss  Mary  Wagoner  of  Tennessee, 
daughter  of  David  Wagoner  and  wife.  Miss  Celia  Perkins, 
daughter  of  Timothy  Perkins,  of  Grayson  county. 

Mary  Ann  Bourne,  youngest  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Bourne,  married  Preston  Reeves;  one  son,  Rich- 
mond G.  Reeves,  married  Miss  Hall,  on  Rock  Creek,  Va. 

Capt.  R.  G.  Bourne  entered  the  war  between  the  states 
as  an  officer  in  the  Grayson  Cavalry  Company,  Dr.  Wm. 
H.  Bramblett  as  Captain,  in  the  8th  Regiment  of  the 
Cavalry.  After  the  first  year.  Dr.  Bramblett  resigned, 
and  Capt.  Bourne  took  charge  as  captain,  and  was  cap- 
tain when  the  war  closed.  After  his  marriage,  he  lived 
at  the  old  Bourne  homestead  on  Rock  Creek,  near  Inde- 
pendence, Va.  He  had  two  sons:  William  married  Miss 
Wiley;  Charles  married  Miss  Dickey.  He  also  had  two 
daughters:  Callie  married  George  W.  Simmerman  of 
Wythe  county,  Va.  Addie  married  Mr.  Barton,  Inde- 
pendence, Va.  Capt.  R.  G.  Bourne  did  much  for  his  country 
and  was  a  useful  citizen. 


MATILDA  DICKENSON  McCAMANT 

Daughter  of  Col.  Martin  Dickenson  and  wife,  Mary  Bourne,  and  wife  of 

Col.  Samuel  McCamant 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  NUCKOLLS  FAMILY 

The  early  history  of  our  country  tells  us  that  the  first 
permanent  English  colony  in  America  was  established 
on  the  coast  of  Virginia  in  1607.  Montgomery's  English 
history  says,  "A  London  joint  stock  company  of  mer- 
chants and  adventurers  or  speculators  established  the 
first  permanent  English  colony  in  America  on  the  coast 
of  Virginia  in  1607,  at  a  place  which  they  called  James- 
town in  honor  of  the  king. " 

The  tradition  in  the  Nuckoll's  family  is  that  three 
Nuckolls  brothers  came  from  York,  England,  in  this 
company  of  colonists.  They  were  merchants,  and  their 
names  were  John,  James  and  William.  From  one  of  these 
brothers,  John  Nuckolls  of  Louisa  county,  was  descended. 
John  Nuckolls  married  Mary  Garland  about  1776.  Mary 
Garland  was  the  daughter  of  Robert  Garland  (4)  of 
Louisa  county.  Robert  (4)  and  Edward  (4)  were  sons 
of  John  Garland  of  Garland's  Neck,  and  were  the  founders 
of  the  Louisa  branch  of  the  Garland  family  (see  chapter 
on  Gailand  family).  Mary  Garland  was  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  her  prayer  book,  which  was 
printed  in  MDCCLXI  (1761),  has  been  handed  down  to 
her  children  and  grandchildren  until  it  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  author  of  this  book,  who  is  her  great- 
grandson.  In  this  prayer-book  there  is  a  record  of  the 
time  of  births  of  Maiy  Garland  and  John  Nuckolls,  and 
the  names  and  time  of  births  of  their  nine  sons  and  one 
daughter.    Following  is  a  copy  of  the  record: 

"Mary  Garland,  born  March  20th,  1755. 

"John  Nuckolls,  born  July  12th,  1755. 


66  Pioneer  Settlers 

"The  ages  of  children  born  to  John  Nuckolls  and 
wife,  Mary  Garland: 

"1st.  David  Nuckolls,  born  October  26th,  1778. 

"2nd.  Rhodes  Nuckolls,  bom  June  11th,  1780. 

"3rd.  Robert  G.  Nuckolls,  born  August  7th,  1782. 

"4th.  Peter  Nuckolls,  born  June  18th,  1784. 

"5th.  Elisha  Nuckolls,  born  September  4th,  1786. 
^"6th.  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  born  January  12th,  1789. 

"7th.  Samuel  Nuckolls,  born  December  26th,  1790. 

"One  daughter.  Patsy  Nuckolls,  born  November 
27th,  1792. 

"8th.  Asa  Nuckolls,  born  February  11th,  1795. 

"9th.  Ezra  Nuckolls,  bom  March  28th,  1798." 

There  is  also  a  record  given  of  the  births  of  fifteen 
negroes  belonging  to  John  Nuckolls,  and  twelve  negroes 
belonging  to  Mary  Garland.  Of  this  number,  none  were 
sold  out  of  the  Nuckolls  family,  except  two  men  who  were 
sold  to  men  who  owned  the  wives  of  these  two  negro  men. 
Several  of  the  descendants  of  these  negroes  are  now 
living  with  and  working  for  the  descendants  of  John 
Nuckolls  and  Mary  Garland. 

All  the  children  of  John  Nuckolls  and  Mary  Garland 
were  bom  in  Louisa  county,  Va. 

In  1780,  Charles  Nuckolls  moved  to  Southwest  Vir- 
ginia and  entered  one  thousand  acres  of  land  on  New 
River  and  Cripple  Creek,  and  others  of  the  Nuckolls 
family  followed  him.  About  the  year  of  1790,  John 
Nuckolls'  family  came  from  Louisa  county  and  settled  on 
New  River  and  Meadow  Creek  near  Greenville  or  Gray- 
son C.  H.  At  the  same  time,  Charles  Nuckolls,  who  was 
a  cousin  of  John  Nuckolls,  moved  from  Cripple  Creek 
to  Meadow  Creek,  near  Greenville. 

The  land  enteied  by  Charles  Nuckolls  on  Cripple 
Creek  is  now  owned  by  John  P.  M.  Simmerman  and  others. 
Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  son  of  John  Nuckolls,  owned  a  part 


Grayson  County,  Va.  67 

of  this  land,  lived  there,  brought  up  his  family,  and  died 
in  Wythe  county. 

Charles  Nuckolls  married  first  a  Miss  Garland  of  East- 
ern Virginia ;  they  hado  nes  on,  Robert.  His  second  wife 
was  Mary  Black.  From  this  union  there  were  three  sons: 
John,  who  moved  to  Kentucky;  James,  who  moved  to 
Missouri,  and  Charles,  who  died  single;  and  five  daughters, 
Betty,  Sally,  Polly,  Susan,  and  Nancy. 

At  that  time  this  country  was  Washington  and  Mont- 
gomery District.  Wythe  county  was  formed  in  1790, 
and  in  1792  Grayson  was  formed  from  Wythe,  taking 
in  the  south  side  adjoining  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 
(See  records  of  the  first  courts  of  Grayson  county,  1793.) 

Charles  Garland,  brother  of  Mary  Garland  Nuckolls, 
came  with  his  sister's  family  from  Louisa  county  to 
Grayson.  He  died  single  and  is  buried  in  the  Nuckolls 
cemetery  in  Grayson  county.  John  Nuckolls  and  iiis 
wife,  Mary  Garland,  went  back  to  Louisa  county,  died, 
and  are  buried  there.  Of  the  nine  sons  of  John  Nuckolls, 
seven  of  them  settled  in  Grayson  county.  The  daughter, 
Patsy,  or  Martha,  married  Maj.  James  Anderson,  of 
Albemarle  county,  Va.  They  established  a  home  and 
reared  a  family  in  Grayson.  Both  are  buried  in  the  Ander- 
son cemetery  near  Galax,  Va.  Descendants  of  Maj. 
James  Anderson  live  on  the  Anderson  estate  near  Galax, 
Va. 

Rhodes,  the  second  son  of  John  Nuckolls  and  Mary 
Garland,  and  Peter,  the  fourth  son,  moved  from  Giayson 
to  Kentucky;  Elisha,  fifth  son,  and  Samuel,  seventh 
son,  also  moved  to  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  Asa,  the 
eighth  son,  died  single,  and  is  buried  in  the  Nuckolls 
cemetery.  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  sixth  son  of  John  Nuckolls 
and  Mary  Garland,  first  married  a  Miss  Garland  of  Louisa 
county,  Va.;  issue,  three  sons:  Lee,  Garland,  and  Andrew; 
and  two  daughters:   Sena  and  Allie.    The  fiist  son,  Lee, 


\ 


68  Pioneer  Settlers 

married  Miss  Lydia  Painter.    They  lived  near  Ivanhoe, 
Va.,  and  had  no  children.    They  are  buried  near  Ivanhoe. 

The  second  son,  Garland,  moved  to  Missouri  in  1830. 

The  third  son,  Andrew,  married  Celia  Jones,  daughter 
of  Maj.  Abner  Jones  and  wife,  Hannah  Fawbush,  of 
Grayson  county;  issue:  two  sons,  Calvin  and  Kent, 
and  four  daughters.  Two  of  the  daughters  moved  to 
Nebraska  and  died  there;  the  other  two  daughters 
are  living  single.  Calvin  Nuckolls  moved  to  Nebraska. 
Kent  Nuckolls  had  four  daughters.  The  first  daughter, 
Cynthia,  married  James  B.  Johnson,  lived  and  died  in 
Hillsville,  Va.    (See  following  obituary) : 

"Mrs.  Cynthia  (Nuckolls)  Johnson,  widow  of  James 
B.  Johnson,  died  Monday,  and  was  buried  Tuesday 
afternoon,  age  seventy-eight  years. 

"After  a  long,  busy  and  useful  life,  she  died  as  she  lived, 
honored,  trusted  and  loved.  She  reared  her  own  monu- 
ments while  she  lived,  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  her. 
Life  completed  if  work  all  done,  and  well  done,  consti- 
tutes completion.  Her  Christian  life  was  beautiful  from 
its  beginning  to  its  close,  and  through  all  vicissitudes 
and  sorrows  that  she  met  in  the  way,  her  faith  in  God 
never  wavered. 

"None  evei  entered  her  home  without  a  warm  welcome, 
nor  left  without  feeling  the  warmth  cf  a  genuine  hospi- 
tality, so  characteristic  of  the  people  of  her  ancestry. 
Disease  did  not  destroy  the  charm  of  a  kind,  indulgent 
disposition,  nor  old  age  diminish  unselfish  solicitude  for 
her  friends  and  loved  ones. 

"The  deceased  was  the  mother  of  a  large  and  gifted 
family.  Impressive  funeral  services  were  held  at  the 
home  after  which  all  that  was  mortal  of  this  grand  old 
mother  in  Israel  was  tenderly  conveyed  to  our  Silent 
City,  where  by  the  side  of  a  devoted  husband  she  now 
rests  in  peace." — Carroll  Journal. 


PHOTOGRAPHS  OF  THE  NUCKOLLS  CEMETERY 


Grayson  County,  Va.  69 

"Mrs.  Johnson  was  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Nuckolls 
and  Celia  Jones  Nuckolls.  Their  ancestois  were  English, 
and  early  settlers  of  Virginia.  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  father 
of  Andrew  Nuckolls,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Wythe  county.  Maj.  Abner  Jones,  father  of  Celia  Jones 
Nuckolls,  was  also  a  pioneer  settler  of  Grays-on  county. 
These  families  have  done  much  for  the  development  of 
this  section. 

"Mrs.  Johnson  was  very  much  interested  in  all  that 
was  for  the  interest  of  both  church  and  state,  loved  her 
friends  and  was  kind  to  aH. 

"The  pall-bearers  were  her  nearest  relatives.  Four 
sons-in-law,  Jam.es  Early,  Fulton  Green,  W.  D.  Tomp- 
kins and  James  Cooley,  of  Kjioxville,  Tenn.,  Judge  Robert 
Jackson,  Bernard  Early,  Rev.  B.  F.  Nuckolls,  and  Dr. 
C.  D.  Nuckolls." 

Mr.  James  Johnson  was  a  succesFful  merchant  and 
useful  citizen.  Four  daughters,  Viola,  Henrietta,  Eliza, 
Dora,  and  one  son.  Heath,  were  born  to  James  Johnson 
and  Cynthia  Nuckolls.  Viola,  the  eldest  daughter,  died 
young;  Henrietta  married  Maj.  John  Rawley;  they  lived 
in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  had  two  sons,  Kent  Nuckolls, 
and  Heath.  Maj.  Rawley  died  several  years  ago;  the 
sons  are  lawyers,  and  live  with  their  mother  in  Richmond. 

Eliza,  third  daughter,  married  James  Early,  a  merchant; 
they  live  in  Hillsville,  Va.,  and  have  several  children. 
The  eldest  daughter,  Marion,  married  Judge  Robert  C. 
Jackson  and  lives  in  Roanoke,  Va.  Eliza  and  James 
Early  have  other  children — one  son,  Bernard.  The 
fourth  daughter  of  James  and  Cynthia  Johnston,  Dora, 
married  Fulton  Green,  son  of  Mr.  Jack  Green,  who  married 
Miss  Betsy  Fulton,  daughter  of  Judge  Andrew  Fulton. 
They  have  three  daughters,  Clara,  Blanche  and  Nancy, 
one  son,  Ashby.  One  of  the  daughters  manied  Gordon 
Hall. 


70  Pioneer  Settlers 

Heath  Johnston,  only  son  of  James  Johnston  and  Cjm- 
thia  Nuckolls,  married  Miss  Sallie  Green,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Jack  Green.  They  had  one  daughter,  Alpha  Heath, 
single;  one  son,  died  young,  and  the  father.  Heath  John- 
ston, died  soon  after  the  death  of  his  son. 

Heath  Johnston  was  an  exemplary  young  man.  He 
had  taken  his  father's  place  in  business,  and  his  death 
was  a  loss  and  sorrow  to  the  community,  as  well  as  to  his 
immediate  family.  His  widow  married  a  lawyer,  W.  D. 
Tompkins.     They  live  in  Hillsville,  and  have  children. 

Sena,  the  first  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  man  led 
the  first  time,  Daniel  Sheffey;  they  had  one  son,  Ezra 
Nuckolls  Sheffey,  who  was  a  druggist  in  Marion,  Smythe 
county,  Va.  He  man'ied  first  a  Miss  Preston,  second  a 
Miss  Rhea;  moved  to  Greenville,  Tenn.,  and  died  there; 
he  has  sons  and  daughters  living  in  Greenville. 

Mrs.  Sena  Nuckolls  Sheffey  married  the  second  time, 
Joshua  Jackson.  They  had  one  son,  Berton,  who  died 
in  the  Confederate  army.  One  daughter,  Nannie,  who 
married  Melville  Fisher,  of  Cripple  Creek,  and  they  now 
live  in  Tennessee. 

Rev.  Robert  Sawyers  Sheffey  was  a  son  of  Daniel 
Sheffey  by  his  first  wife.  Miss  White,  of  Abingdon,  Va. 
He  was  a  local  Methodist  preacher  of  the  Holston  Con- 
ference, a  man  who  had  some  eccentricities  of  character, 
but  whose  unbounded  faith  in  God,  and  good  works 
among  his  fellow-men  made  him  widely  known  through- 
out Southwest  Virginia.  He  was  a  man  who  had  power 
with  God  in  prayer,  and  the  writer  knows  of  many  strik- 
ing and  direct  answers  to  his  prayers. 

In  Robert  Sheffey's  time  there  was  much  illicit  distil- 
ling of  whiskey  in  the  mountains  of  Southwest  Virginia 
and  he  was  the  enemy  of  the  traffic.  At  one  time  he 
prayed  for  a  certain  distillery  to  be  removed,  and  a  water 
spout  burst  just  above  it,  and  left  not  a  trace  of  the  plant. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  '71 

He  prayed  for  specific  things,  and  God  honored  his  faith 
by  giving  him  what  he  asked  for.  The  wicked  trembled 
when  he  prayed  for  justice  to  be  meted  out  to  wrong- 
doers, and  many  were  brought  to  repentance  through 
the  influence  of  his  prayers.  Mr.  Sheffey  first  married 
Miss  Swecker,  of  Wythe  county;  they  have  children 
living  in  Wythe  county.  His  second  wife  was  a  Miss 
Stafford,  of  Giles  county;  they  have  one  son,  Edward 
Sheffey,  who  lives  in  Lynchburg,  Va.  He  is  a  man  of 
fine  character,  and  honors  the  God  of  his  father.  He  is 
superintendent  of  a  very  fine  Sunday  School,  and  a  man 

of  large  influence.  .  ,    xt    i    n 

Allie,  the  second  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Nuckolls, 
married  Mr.  Engledow,  of  Wythe  county,  Va.  She, 
with  her  husband  and  her  brother.  Garland  Nuckolls, 
moved  to  Missouri  about  1830.  She  has  a  daughter, 
Mrs.  Allie  J.  Bone,  living  at  Mineral  Point,  Missouri. 

Nathaniel  Nuckolls  married  the  second  time.  Miss 
Martha  Toler,  of  Wythe  county.  They  had  two  sons 
and  two  daughters;  first  son,  John  Nuckolls,  lived  in 
Wythe  county;  second  son,  Calvin  Nuckolls,  moved  to 
Tazewell  county,  Va.  First  daughter,  Elizabeth  Nuckolls, 
married  William  Pope;  they  lived  on  Cripple  Creek,  Va., 
and  reared  a  family  there;  second  daughter,  Nancy 
Nuckolls,  married  Abner  Thompson;  they  also  lived  on 
Cripple  Creek,  Va.;  no  issue.  The  plantation  on  which 
Nathaniel  Nuckolls  first  settled  is  now  owned  by  the 
Catron  family.  Rev.  S.  S.  Catron,  of  Holston  Conference, 
was  brought  up  on  this  farm.  The  following  clipping 
from  a  Roanoke  paper  gives  a  sketch  of  Robert  Rhodes 

Nuckolls: 

"Richmond,  Aug.  11— Information  was  received  here 
today  of  the  death  of  Robert  R.  Nuckolls,  well  known 
throughout  newspaper,  printing  and  labor  circles  for  more 


72  Pioneer  Settlers 

than  half  a  century.    His  death  occurred  yesterday  after- 
noon in  Louisa  county.    He  was  72  years  of  age. 

"Major  Nuckols,  as  he  was  called,  was  a  type  of  the 
Vh-ginia  gentleman.  He  was  born,  however,  in  Alabama, 
coming  to  Virginia  at  the  close  of  the  war,  when  his  regi- 
ment was  disbanded  in  this  state.  He  was  in  prison  when 
the  war  ended,  but  came  to  Hanover  county.  He  was 
connected  with  the  old  "Whig"  and  afterwards  with 
the  "State."  He  traveled  the  state  for  the  last  named 
paper,  working  in  its  circulation  and  advertising  depart- 
ments. He  had  experience  in  almost  every  branch  of 
the  profession.  He  was  editor-in-chief  of  the  "Star," 
remaining  with  that  paper  until  it  suspended. 

"Nuckols  worked  with  the  Richmond  Journal  until 
health  failed  him.  He  married  Miss  Swift,  of  Louisa 
coimty,  after  the  war.  His  wife  died  four  years  ago. 
Respected  and  esteemed  throughout  the  state,  where  he 
was  widely  known,  his  death  is  regarded  as  a  loss  to  the 
newspaper  profession  of  the  state." 

Robert  Garland  Nuckolls  was  the  third  son  of  John 
Nuckolls  and  wife,  Mary  Garland.  He  was  born  in 
Louisa  county.  Yd.,  August  7th,  1782;  he  came  to  Grayson 
county  with  other  members  of  the  family,  and  settled 
on  Meadow  Creek,  one  mile  from  Grayson  Old  C.  H. 
He  married  Miss  Margaret  Swift,  daughter  of  Col.  Flower 
Swift  and  wife,  Mary  Bedsaul  (See  Swift  history).  Soon 
after  his  marriage,  Capt.  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  opened 
up  an  Ordinary,  or  Tavern,  at  Grayson  Old  C.  H.  (See 
License  for  Ordinary  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Court). 

To  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Margaret  Swift, 
were  bom  eight  sons  and  two  daughters:  first  son.  Creed 
Nuckolls;  second,  Clarke  S.  Nuckolls;  thu-d,  James 
Nuckolls;  fourth,  George;  fifth,  Nathaniel  Nuckolls; 
sixth,  Thomas  Nuckolls;  seventh,  Hugh  Nuckolls;  eighth, 
Andrew  Nuckolls.     First  daughter,   Martha   Nuckolls; 


CLARK  NUCKOLLS  AND  WIFE,   ROSA  BOURNE  HALE 


Grayson  County,  Va.  73 

second  daughter,  Sena  Nuckolls. 

Creed  Nuckolls  married  Elizabeth  Hale,  daughter  of 
Mastin  Hale,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Susan  Perkins  (see  Hale 
history);  issue,  three  sons:  Robert  G.  Nuckolls,  married 
Miss  Lucinda  Hale,  daughter  of  Maj.  Peyton  G.  Hale  and 
wife,  Jane  Bourne  (see  Bourne  history);  no  issue.  They 
live  on  Elk  Creek  in  the  William  Hale  homestead.  Lee 
Nuckolls,  (single)  lives  with  his  brothei ,  Robert  Garland 
Nuckolls.  Charles  Nuckolls  married  Mrs.  Effie  Wal- 
ters; no  issue;  lives  at  Speedwell,  Wythe  county,  Va. 

Clarke  S.  Nuckolls  mairied  Rosa  Bourne  Hale,  daughter 
of  Stephen  Hale,  Sr .,  (son  of  Lewis  Hale,  Sr.,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Burwell),  and  Frances  Bourne,  (daughter  of  William 
Bourne,  Sr.,  and  v/ife,  Rosa  Jones.)  Issue:  eight  daughters, 
four  sons.  First  daughter,  Amali?  Gwyn  Nuckolls, 
married  Ballard  E.  Ward  of  Speedwell,  Wythe  county, 
Va.  (son  of  William  Ward  and  wife,  Mary  Young).  Issue: 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter. 

First  son,  Ellis  William  Clarke  Ward,  graduated  at 
Emory  and  Henry  College  and  took  course  in  Vander- 
bilt  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  M.  E.  Church,  South;  married  Miss  Lelia 
Sparks  of  Centre,  Cherokee  county,  Ala.;  was  principal 
of  Elk  Creek  School,  then  moved  to  Centre,  Alabama, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  died 
with  typhoid  fever  in  Centre,  Ala.;  one  child  (died  in 
infancy) ;  both  buried  at  Garrett  Cemetery,  Ala. 

Second  son,  Floyd  Harvey  Ward,  married  Miss  Ella 
Walsh  (daughter  of  Dr.  Walsh).  First  daughter,  Mamie, 
married  Dr.  Phipps,  and  lives  at  Bridle  Creek,  Va.; 
second  daughter,  Laura  Ward,  married  Richard  Rowe, 
Wythe  County,  Virginia;  third  daughter,  Ethel  Ward, 
married  Prof.  Crockett  Carr,  Galax,  Virginia. 

First  son,  Ballard  E.  Ward,  married  and  lives  in 
Pocahontas,   Vh-ginia;    fourth   daughter,   Floyd;    fifth, 


74  Pioneer  Settlers 

Ida;   one  son  died  young;   one  son,  Clarence,  single. 

Floyd  Harvey  Ward  and  family  moved  to  Illinois 
from  Knob  Fork,  Va. 

Frances  Laura  Ward,  only  daughter  of  Ballard  E.  Ward, 
married  John  C.  Hale  of  Centre,  Cherokee  county,  Ala. 
Issue,  one  son  and  two  daughters.  The  son,  Ballard  E. 
Hale,  died  young.  First  daughter,  Stella  Hale,  educated 
at  Centenaiy  College,  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  single;  second 
daughter,  Virginia,  single,  at  Centenary  College.  They  live 
in  Centre,  Alabama.  Mrs.  Hale  died  in  Centre,  Ala- 
bama, January  30th,  1914;  is  buried  in  the  Garrett 
cemetery.  John  C.  Hale  is  son  of  Clarke  Hale  and  wife, 
Susan  Garrett,  of  Garrett's  Ferry,  Ala.  Clarke  G.  Hale 
was  son  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife,  Frances  Bourne, 
of  Elk  Creek,  Va.  John  Hale  has  been  a  merchant  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  now  employs  his  time  looking 
after  the  Garrett  plantation,  a  large  and  productive 
body  of  land,  on  the  Coosa  river  near  Centre,  Ala. 

James  Stuart  Ward  (third  son  of  Ballard  E.  Ward 
and  Amelia  Gwyn  Nuckolls),  married  Miss  Alice  Varney, 
of  Newfields,  N.  H.;  one  son,  Varney  Stuart  Ward. 

James  Ward  died  in  Roanoke,  Virginia,  September 
17th,  1913.  His  son,  Varney,  is  a  student  in  the  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy  in  Massachusetts. 

Eli  Hale,  fourth  son  of  Ballard  Ward,  died  young, 
and  is  buried  at  Speedwell  Church,  Wythe  county. 

Leonidas  Hicks  Ward,  fifth  son,  married  Ellen  Hale 
(daughter  of  Charles  Hale  and  wife,  Tabitha  Bourne). 
First  son,  Everett  Hale;  second,  Gwyn;  one  daughter, 
Ruth;  third  son,  Leonidas;  fourth,  Basil.  They  live  at 
the  Charles  Hale  homestead  on  Knob  Fork. 

Dr.  Lilburn  Ward,  sixth  son,  married  Nellie  Mahood 
of  Culpepper,  Va.;  one  son.  They  live  in  Pocahontas, 
Va.    Dr.  Ward  is  practicing  dentistry  there. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  75 

Herbert  Gwyn  Ward,  seventh  son,  first  went  to  Centre, 
Ala.,  and  was  in  business  with  his  brother-in-law,  J.  C. 
Hale.  From  there  he  went  to  Pueblo,  Col.,  and  was 
employed  for  a  while  by  the  Nuckolls  Packing  Co.  He 
went  from  there  to  California,  and  finally  to  Minneapolis, 
Minn.  He  was  drowned  in  Pike  Lake,  New  Brighton, 
July  15th,  1905. 

Ballard  E.  Ward's  first  wife,  Amelia  Gwyn  Ward, 
died  at  Speedwell,  Wythe  county,  Va.,  when  her  youngest 
son,  Herbert  Gwyn  Ward,  was  four  weeks  old.  She  is 
buried  at  the  Speedwell  Methodist  Church,  Wythe 
county,  Va. 

Ballard  Ward  married  the  second  time,  Sophia  L. 
Nuckolls,  fourth  daughter  of  Clarke  Nuckolls  and  wife, 
Rosa  Bourne  Hale.  He  sold  his  farm  on  Cripple  Creek, 
and  bought  the  farm  on  Knob  Fork  in  Grayson  county, 
where  William  Bourne  and  Rosa  Jones,  his  wife,  first 
settled.  At  that  place,  a  son,  Ballard  Ernest  Ward,  was 
born  to  them,  July  15th,  1877.  He  is  the  only  child  of 
Ballard  Ward  and  Sophia  Nuckolls.  When  he  was  an 
infant,  his  mother  died,  and  is  buried  at  the  Nuckolls 
cemetery  near  Old  Town,  Va.  At  the  request  of  his  mother, 
Ballard  Ernest  Ward  was  taken  by  her  brother,  B.  F. 
Nuckolls  (the  writer  of  this  history),  and  brought  up 
with  his  family.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  B.  Ander- 
son, Ivy,  Va.,  on  June  10th,  1913.  He  is  travelling  auditor 
for  the  Pocahontas  Consolidated  Collieries  Co.,  and  lives 
in  Pochontas,  Va. 

Ballard  E.  Ward  married  the  third  time,  Mrs.  Caroline 
Frances  Killinger  of  Marion,  Va.  He  died  in  1896,  and 
is  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Ebenezer  Church,  Spring 
Valley,  near  his  home  in  Virginia.  His  third  wife  died 
and  is  buried  in  Marion,  Virginia;   no  issue. 

Malinda  Nuckolls,  second  daughter  of  Clarke  Nuckolls, 
died  single. 


76  Pioneer  Settlers 

Benjamin  Floyd  Nuckolls,  first  son  of  Clarke  Nuckolls 
and  Rosa  Bourne  Hale,  and  writer  of  this  history,  was 
bom  October  20th,  1838,  at  the  old  Nuckolls  homestead 
near  Grayson  Old  C.  H.  When  quite  young,  he  clerked 
in  his  father's  store  at  Grayson  C.  H.,  was  educated  at 
the  Jefferson  Academy,  Ashe  county,  N.  C.,  licensed  to 
preach  May  31st,  1861,  and  admitted  to  the  Holston 
Conference  at  Greenville,  Tenn.,  October,  1861. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Fletcher  Goodykoontz,  daughter  of  David  Goodykoontz 
and  wife.  Ruth  Harter  of  Floyd  county,  Va.  (See  Goody- 
koontz history.) 

From  this  union  there  were  four  children:  First  son, 
William  David,  bom  in  Concord,  Tenn.,  March  16th, 
1868,  died  near  Athens,  Tenn.,  and  is  buried  in  the 
cemetery  at  Wesleyana  Church,  by  the  side  of  the  grave 
of  Rev.  Carroll  Long. 

First  daughter,  Rosamond  Ellen,  was  born  near  Athens, 
Tenn.,  Oct.  20th,  1869,  educated  in  Wytheville,  Va., 
and  at  Martha  Washington  College,  Abingdon,  Va.; 
mai ried  B.  G.  Witherow,  Sept.,  1896.  They  have  two  sons, 
Charles,  and  Benjamin,  and  live  near  Galax,  Va . 

Second  daughter,  Ruth  Frances,  was  born  in  the  old 
Goodykoontz  home  near  Floyd  C.  H.,  Va.,  March  5th, 
1872,  educated  in  Wytheville,  Va.,  and  at  Martha  Washing- 
ton College,  Abingdon,  Va.;  married  J.  E.  Johnston  of 
Cleveland,  Tenn.  They  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Ruth 
and  live  in  Cleveland,  Tennessee.  Their  daughter,  Mary 
Ruth,  was  married  on  January  7th,  1914,  to  Dr.  Carl 
Thomas  Speck.     They  reside  in  Cleveland. 

Second  son,  Isaac  Clarke,  was  bom  at  Independence, 
Va.,  Nov.  11th,  1873;  died  near  Old  Town,  Va.,  Oct. 
10th,  1875,  and  is  buried  in  the  Nuckolls  cemetery. 

Sarah  Frances  Nuckolls,  third  daughter  of  Clarke  S. 
Nuckolls  and  wife,  Rosa  Boimie  Hale,  married  Dr.  Brutus 


Grayson  County,  Va.  77 

Fleming  Cooper  and  settled  at  Old  Town,  Va.  Issue: 
six  daughters  and  one  son.  First,  Emma  Cooper,  married 
Stephen  Mason  Hale,  son  of  Rev.  Wiley  Dickenson  Hale 
and  wife,  Martha  Gwin  Mitchell.  They  have  six  sons  and 
five  daughters;  first  son,  Willie  Hale,  married  Minnie 
Burke;  second  son,  Cleveland  Hale,  single;  third  son, 
James  Hale,  single;  fourth  son,  Scott  Hale,  single;  fifth, 
twins,  died  infants. 

First  daughter,  Clara  Hale,  married  Oscar  Oakley, 
of  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C;  second  daughter,  Blanche  Hale,  mar- 
ried Mr.  Banner,  Mt.  Airy;  third,  Forrest  Hale,  single; 
fourth,  Lillie  Hale,  single;  fifth,  Alice  Hale,  single. 

Stephen  M.  Hale  and  family  all  live  in  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C. 
He  and  his  sons  are  successful  merchants. 

Eddie  Forest  Cooper,  second  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F. 
Cooper  and  wife,  Sarah  Frances  Nuckolls,  married  James 
Lafayette  Warrick,  son  of  John  Wesley  Warrick  and  wife, 
Ellen  Carson.  They  have  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
First  son,  Thomas;  second,  Claude  S.,  third,  Paul.  First 
daughter,  Bertie,  married  Mr.  Charles  Vance,  Kingsport, 
Tenn.;  one  daughter,  Ethel  Louisa;  second  daughter, 
Ethel,  single.  All  now  living  at  Kingsport,  Tenn.  Lula, 
second  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  Sarah  F. 
Nuckolls,  married  James  Wiley  Dobyns,  son  of  Ben 
W.  Dobyns  and  wife,  Charlotte  Hale.  They  have  two 
sons:  first,  Benjamin  E.,  second,  Stephen  Brutus  Fleming. 
All  now  living  at  Kingsport,  Tenn.  Benjamin  married 
Miss  Huffard,  of  Wythe  county,  Va. 

The  only  son  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  S.  F.  Nuck- 
olls, Johnnie,  died  young  at  Old  Town,  Va. 

Fourth  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  S. 
F.  Nuckolls,  married  Alexander  Chapman  Anderson, 
son  of  Friel  Nuckolls  Anderson  and  wife,  Elizabeth 
Roberts.  They  have  five  daughters  and  two  sons:  first 
daughter,  Ruby  Elizabeth,  died  young;  second  daughter, 


78  Pioneer  Settlers 

Catharine;  third,  Lula;  fourth,  Virginia;  fifth  daughter, 
Paulina;  first  son,  Edward;  second,  Daniel. 

Fifth  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  S.  F. 
Cooper,  Lillie  Rosa,  married  Charles  Anderson,  son  of 
Friel  Nuckolls  Anderson  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Roberts; 
one  daughter,  Garnett,  died  young;  one  son.  Grey. 
They  live  in  Galax,  Va. 

Nannie  Cooper,  sixth  and  youngest  daughter  of  Dr. 
B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  Sarah  F.  Nuckolls,  single. 

Dr.  Brutus  Fleming  Cooper  was  born  in  Wythe  county, 
Va.>  read  medicine  under  his  brother,  Dr.  John  Cooper, 
and  Dr.  Bert  Saunders,  near  Leadmines,  Wythe  county, 
Va.  Commenced  the  practice  of  Medicine  at  Old  Town, 
Va.,  1855. 

Sarah  Cooper  died  at  the  old  homestead,  Old  Town, 
August  31st,  1909.  Dr.  Cooper  died  at  Kingsport, 
Tenn.,  1910.  Both  are  buried  in  the  old  Nuckolls 
Cemetery. 

William  Swift  Nuckolls,  second  son  of  Clarke  S.  Nuck- 
olls and  his  wife,  Rosa  Bourne  Hale,  joined  the  8th 
Virginia  Cavalry  Co.  in  1861.  His  captain  was  Dr.  Wm. 
Bamblett.  Wm.  Swift  Nuckolls  was  wounded  in  Maryland 
in  1864.  He  partially  recovered  from  his  wounds,  and 
in  1868  was  married  the  first  time  to  Miss  Susan  B.  Hale, 
daughter  of  Martin  Hale  and  wife,  Jestena  Hale,  of  Lees- 
burg,  Cherokee  county,  Alabama.  (See  sketch  of  Hale 
family.) 

From  this  union,  one  daughter,  Lelia  B.  Nuckolls, 
who  married  William  P.  Waugh.  She  was  his  second  wife, 
and  to  them  were  born  one  son,  Swift,  and  one  daughter, 
Susan.  Swift  Waugh  is  being  educated  at  the  Virginia 
Polytechnic  Institute  at  Blacksburg,  Va.,  and  Susan  is 
in  school  at  Martha  Washington  College,  Abingdon,  Va. 

William  Swift  Nuckolls  married  the  second  time 
Miss  Fannie  M.  Kinzer,  daughter  of  Michael  Kinzer 


Grayson  County,  Va.  79 

and  wife,  Annie  Tunner,  of  Hillsville,  Va.;  issue:  three 
daughters,  Annie,  Susan  Viola,  Amelia  Clyde;  two  sons, 
John  Michael,  Alexander  Heath. 

Annie  married  Kemper  Hampton,  son  of  Litrell 
Hampton  and  wife,  Nancy  Blevins.  They  live  at  Round 
Meadows,  Grayson  county,  Va.,  and  have  three  sons, 
Bernard,  Raleigh  and  Litrell,  and  two  daughters,  Selma 
Frances  and  Nancy  Vera. 

Susan  Viola  Nuckolls  married  Edwin  Dodd  of  Tazewell 
county,  Va.  They  live  in  Galax,  Va.,  and  have  three 
sons,  Edwin  Nuckolls,  John,  Robert;  one  daughter, 
Ruth  Nuckolls.  Mr.  Dodd  is  manager  of  the  Galax 
Furniture  Factory. 

Amelia  Clyde  Nuckolls  married  Rudolph  Couch;  they 
live  in  Galax,  and  have  two  daughters,  Hazel  and  Ruby. 

John  Michael  Nuckolls  married  Eliza  Hankley  of 
Rural  Retreat,  Va.  They  have  one  daughter,  Louise, 
and  one  son,  Francis.    They  live  in  Galax,  Va. 

Alexander  Heath  Nuckolls  married  Ella  Lundy,  daughter 
of  William  Lundy;  they  have  one  daughter.  Alpha  Heath, 
and  live  with  their  mother,  Mrs.  Fannie  Nuckolls,  on  a 
part  of  the  old  Nuckolls  homestead,  near  Old  Town,  Va. 

William  Swift  Nuckolls  died  in  February,  1887,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Nuckolls  Cemetery. 

Mary  A.  Nuckolls,  fifth  daughter  of  Claike  Nuckolls 
and  Rosa  Bourne  Hale,  married  Churchill  Fawbush 
Moore,  son  of  Isaac  Moore  and  wife,  Euphemia  Jones, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Maj.  Abner  Jones  and  wife, 
Hannah  Fawbush.  They  have  five  daughteis  and  three 
sons: 

First  daughter,  Celia  Fawbush,  died  single;  second 
daughter,  Amelia  Nuckolls  married  a  Mr.  Miller,  and  lives 
in  Winston,  N.  C;  third  daughter,  Rosa  Bourne,  married 
Fred  Lawson,  they  live  in  Ivanhoe,  Va.,  and  have 
one  son,  Fred  Moore;   fourth  daughter,  Leona  Nuckolls, 


80  Pioneer  Settlers 

single;  fifth  daughter,  Lura,  single.  Fh-st  son,  William, 
died  single;  second  son,  Glen,  died  single;  third  son, 
Arthur  Neal,  married  Cora  Moore,  daughter  of  Orville 
Moore. 

Dorthula  Gertrude  Nuckolls,  sixth  daughter  of  Clarke 
Nuckolls,  married  first,  Robert  Rodgers,  of  Wytheville, 
Va.  He  died  in  Roanoke,  Va. ;  no  issue.  She  married  the 
second  time,  Albert  G.  Umberger,  Wytheville,  Va.;  he 
died,  no  issue.    Mrs.  Umberger  now  lives  in  Galax,  Va. 

Margaret  A.  Nuckolls,  seventh  daughter  of  Clarke 
Nuckolls,  married  John  A.  Ward,  son  of  Lilbum  Ward, 
and  wife,  Annie  Groseclose.  They  live  on  Cripple  Creek, 
Va.,  and  have  three  sons,  James  Brown,  Charles  and 
Robert  N.  Kent,  and  seven  daughters,  Annie,  Ella, 
Rosa  Bourne,  Susan,  Lena,  Stella  H.,  and  Ruth  Nuckolls. 
James  Brown,  single,  lives  in  Kingsport,  Tenn. ;  Charles, 
single.  Cripple  Creek,  Va.;  Robert  N.  Kent,  Pocahontas, 
Va. 

Annie  married  Eugene  Kyle;  they  live  on  Cripple 
Creek,  Va.;  three  sons:  Ward,  Glasgow,  James;  one 
daughter,  Elma.  Ella  Ward  married  Charles  Dobyns, 
son  of  Samuel  Green  Dobyns,  and  wife,  Ruth  Lawson, 
of  Patrick  county,  Va. ;  no  children.  They  live  at  Speed- 
well, Va. 

Rosa  Ward  married  Rev.  Keller  Yonce  Umberger,  a 
Lutheran  Minister.  They  live  in  Bluefield,  West  Va.; 
one  son,  Kenneth. 

Thomas  Fielden  Nuckolls,  third  son  of  Clark  Nuckolls, 
died  of  diphtheria  in  1862  ;isburied  in  the  Nuckolls  cemetery. 

Stephen  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  fourth  son  of  Clarke 
Nuckolls,  married  Leona  Mitchell  Cornett,  daughter  of 
Capt.  William  Cornett  and  wife,  Linnie  Mitchell,  who 
was  the  daughter  of  William  M.  Mitchell  and  wife, 
Sophia  P.  Hale.  They  have  four  sons,  William  Swift, 
Clarke  Hale,  Benjamin  Winton,  Earl  Garland,  and  six 


V.  ;- 

^  >*■ 

J  - 

C  C 

^  I 

y  2 

z  o 


<=  £ 


a  xi 


Grayson  County,  Va.  81 

daughters,  Maud  Forrest,  Linnie,  Bertha,  Pauline,  Gay, 
and  Dawn. 

Maud  Forrest  married  Dr.  Asbury  Glen  Pless,  of 
Waynesville,  N.  C.  They  had  two  children;  one  son, 
Asbury  Glenn;  one  daughter,  Maud  Forrest. 

Mrs.  Pless  died  soon  after  the  birth  of  her  second 
child,  and  the  child  died  soon  afterwards;  both  are 
buried  in  the  Nuckolls  cemetery.  Dr.  Pless  married  the 
second  time,  Miss  Shelton,  of  Richmond,  Va.  They  live 
in  Galax,  Va.  Linnie  is  single,  lives  in  Galax.  Bertha  is 
single.  Pauline  died  young,  is  buried  in  the  Nuckolls 
cemetery.  William  Swift  lives  in  Wyoming.  Ben  Win- 
ton,  Clarke  Hale,  Earl  Garland,  Fay  and  Daron  live  at 
home. 

Elizabeth  B.  Nuckolls,  youngest  child  of  Clarke  Nuck- 
olls, married  Geo.  W.  Todd.  They  live  in  Galax,  Va., 
and  have  three  sons,  Lance,  Emmon,  and  George  W. 
Clarke,  and  three  daughters,  Rosa  B.,  Ila,  and  Mebus. 
They  are  all  living  in  Galax,  Va.  Rosa  is  being  educated 
at  Martha  Washington  College,  Abingdon,  Va. 

Martha  Nuckolls,  first  daughter  of  Robert  G.  Nuckolls 
and  wife,  married  John  Brown,  Jr.,  oldest  son  of  John 
Brown,  St.,  and  his  wife,  Martha  Wood,  who  came  from 
Yorkshire,  England.  John  Brown,  Jr.,  was  bom  in  York- 
shire in  1801.  To  John  Brown,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Martha 
Nuckolls,  were  bom  three  sons,  and  two  daughters. 
First  son,  Creed,  died  single;  second  son,  George,  died 
single;  third  son,  Nathaniel,  living,  single;  first  daughter, 
Sena,  married  Francis  Bryan,  no  issue;  second  daughter, 
Amelia,  married  Joseph  Duphey;  lives  now  at  Battle 
Creek,  Nebraska;  one  daughter,  Isabella,  single;  one  son 
John  B.,  educated  in  Nebraska,  and  at  Blacksburg,  Va. 

Sena,  second  daughter  of  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  wife 
died  single;  is  buried  in  Nuckolls  cemetery. 

The   Brown   family   came   from  Yorkshire,  England, 


82  Pioneer  Settlers 

before  or  about  the  time  of  the  formation  of  Grayson 
county,  and  bought  and  entered  lands  on  Meadow 
Creek,  and  have  held  the  estate  in  the  family  until  the 
present  generation.  The  Browns,  like  all  other  pioneer 
settlers,  began  in  woods.  It  is  said,  the  first  tree  was  cut 
down  by  the  Old  Man  Brown  who  had  never  seen  a  tree 
cut.  He  pulled  off  his  coat  and  silk  hat,  and  commenced 
to  cut  all  around  the  tree;  at  last  it  fell  on  his  silk  hat 
and  coat,  and  mashed  them;  but  he  worked  on.  He  cut 
a  forked  limb,  and  scratched  up  his  ground,  planted 
com,  and  raised  a  crop;  and  there  has  been  plenty  raised 
on  the  farm  ever  since,  and  now  the  old  homestead  is 
the  most  valuable  farm  on  Meadow  Creek.  It  is  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  Osborne  and  her  children.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Jane  Brown,  who  married  Hiram  Williams. 
Jane  Brown  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  John  Brown,  Sr., 
and  Martha  Wood,  of  England.  Mrs.  Mary  Osborne  is 
the  wife  of  Emmett  Osborne,  a  son  of  Floyd  Osborne  and 
his  wife,  Rosa  B.  Hale.  Mrs.  Mary  Osborne  has  four 
daughters,  Annie,  Bettie,  Callie,  and  Hattie,  and  two  sons, 
Ellis,  and  Dean  Floyd.  Their  father,  Emmett  P.  Osborne, 
died  at  a  Roanoke,  Va.,  hospital,  of  appendicitis  in  1911. 
He  was  a  good  man  and  is  greatly  missed  by  all. 

The  second  wife  of  Col.  Alfred  Moore  was  Mrs.  Susan 
Nuckolls  Wellington,  of  Eastern  Virginia.  Her  mother  was 
a  Swift.    Her  son,  Mr.  Wellington,  lives  in  Richmond,  Va. 

Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  son  of  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and 
wife,  Margaret  Swift,  moved  to  Missouri  in  1845,  manied 
Sarah  Ann  Finn;  from  there  he  crossed  the  plains,  and 
was  a  miner  in  California;  found  gold,  came  back  to  Mis- 
souri and  moved  his  family  in  wagons  to  California, 
and  settled  there.  One  of  his  sons,  Clarke,  was  born  on 
top  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  journey  to  Cali- 
fornia. There  were  sixteen  children  bom  to  them,  and 
all  settled  in  California. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  83 

Andrew  Nuckolls,  James  Nuckolls,  George  Nuckolls, 
and  Hugh  Nuckolls,  sons  of  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  wife, 
Margaret  Swift,  died  single,  and  aie  buried  in  the  Nuckolls 
cemetery. 

Thomas  Nuckolls,  son  of  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  wife, 
Margaret  Swift,  married  Charlotte  Jestina  Stone,  daughter 
of  John  Stone  and  wife,  Sarah  Leonard;  issue:  six  sons, 
and  two  daughters:  First  son,  Hugh,  married  Ellen 
Wright ;  first  daughter,  Amelia,  married  Thomas  N.  Meyers ; 
two  sons;  Flora  W.,  single;  one  son,  Robert  G.  Nuck- 
olls, married  Miss  Bryant,  three  children. 

Second  son  of  Thomas  Nuckolls,  Nathaniel,  married 
Miss  Wall,  of  Hillsville,  Va.  They  live  in  Ketchakan, 
Alaska;  two  children.  He  is  engaged  in  mining  and 
shipping.    He  has  traveled  all  over  the  west. 

Second  son,  Ellis  V.  Nuckolls,  married  Bessie  N. 
Williams;  children  died.  Ellis  and  his  wife  are  Readers 
of  the  Christian  Science  Church,  in  El  Paso,  Texas. 

Fourth  son,  Chester  B.  Nuckolls,  M.  D.  He  graduated 
in  medicine  and  first  practiced  in  Fluvana  county,  Virginia 
He  is  now  located  at  Hillsville,  Va. ;  has  a  drug  store  and 
also  a  large  practice.  He  married  Miss  Carrie  Reeves, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Reeves  and  wife,  Miss  Alexander, 
formerly  of  Alleghany  county,  N.  C,  but  now  living  in 
Texas.     They  have  one  son,  Chester  Reeves  Nuckolls. 

Fifth  son,  Henry  C.  Nuckolls,  married  Frances  Cooley, 
of  Carroll  county,  Va.;  one  daughter,  Jessie,  died  young; 
two  sons  now  Jiving  in  Oklahoma.  First,  Ellis;  second, 
Ben.  His  wife  died  in  Oklahoma,  is  buried  at  Gambetta, 
Va. 

Sixth  son,  Elbert  L.  Nuckolls,  married  Bertie  Thornton, 
of  Hillsville,  Va.;  one  daughter,  Jessie;  one  son,  died  In 
infancy;  one  daughter,  small.  Elbert  is  a  lawyer  in  Fay- 
etteville,  W.  Va.  He  is  successful  in  his  practice,  and  also 
in  his  business  enterprises. 


84  Pioneer  Settlers 

Two  daughters  of  Thomas  Nuckolls  and  wife:  first 
daughter,  Sarah  Margaret,  died  young;  Bertie  married 
Robert  Wade,  of  Halifax  county,  Va. ;  now  living  in  Okla- 
homa. 

Thomas  Nuckolls  was  a  useful  citizen  and  lived  a  suc- 
cessful life.  A  marble  shaft  marks  his  resting  place  near 
the  railroad  at  Gambetta,  Va.  His  wife  died  at  the  home 
of  her  daughter,  Bertie  Wade,  in  Oklahoma,  February, 
1912,  and  is  buried  with  her  husband  at  Gambetta,  Car- 
roll county,  Va. 

Ezra  Nuckolls,  ninth  son  of  John  Nuckolls  and  wife, 
Mary  Garland,  came  to  Grayson  county  with  his  brothers, 
sister,  and  uncle,  Charles  Garland,  and  married  Lucinda 
Hale,  oldest  daughter  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife,  Frances 
Bourne.  From  this  union  there  were  seven  sons  and  six 
daughters;  the  oldest  son,  Stephen  Friel,  was  bom  in 
Grayson  county,  near  Grayson  C.  H.,  August  16th,  1825; 
died  February  14th,  1879,  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  He 
married  Lucinda  Bourne  in  Grayson  County,  Va., 
daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Mary  John- 
stone. Four  sons  of  Friel  Nuckolls  and  Lucinda  Bourne: 
William  B.  and  Bruce  are  mining  in  Montana;  Paul  died 
nineteen  years  ago ;  Rupert  B.  Nuckolls  lives  in  Butte,  Mon- 
tana. He  has  been  connected  with  the  State  Savings 
Bank  for  over  seventeen  years;  he  is  now  cashier  of  this 
bank.  He  is  married,  and  has  two  daughters,  Frances 
and  Virginia;  one  son,  Stephen  Friel.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls,  Rupert  B.  was  sent  to 
Virginia  by  the  Executor  of  his  father's  estate,  (Dr 
Fowler,  formerly  of  Bristol,  Tenn.)  to  Roanoke  College, 
at  Salem,  Va.  He  afterward  returned  west  and  has  made 
a  success  in  business. 

The  second  son  of  Ezra  Nuckolls  was  Heath,  who  re- 
mained with  the  family  in  Virginia  until  1853.  At  that 
time,  the  family  that  remained  here  moved  to  Missouri 


BALLARD   E.  WARD   AND  WIFE,   SOPHIA  L.   NUCKOLLS 
Daughter  of  Clark  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Rosa  Bourne  Hale 


Grayson  County,  Va.  85 

and  settled  at  Rock  Port.  Ezra  Nuckolls  died  there; 
also  his  wife  died  there  soon  after  he  died;  both  buried 
at  Rock  Port,  Mo. 

Heath  Nuckolls  married  Miss  Hawk,  settled  in  Nebraska 
City.  He  died  there  and  is  buried  in  Nebraska  City. 
His  wife  and  daughter  live  there. 

Columbus  Nuckolls  also  lived  in  Nebraska  City;  he 
married,  died,  and  is  buried  there;  he  has  a  wife  and 
children  living  there. 

Lafayette  Nuckolls  married  in  Missouri,  afterward 
moved  to  Texas;  died,  and  left  a  family.  Houston  Nuck- 
olls married  in  Missouri;  he  also  lived  in  Nebraska 
City,  and  died  there. 

Emmett,  the  youngest  son  of  Ezra  Nuckolls,  married 
first  in  Missouri,  married  second  time,  his  cousin,  Miss 
Ellen  Anderson,  daughter  of  Robert  Garland  Anderson, 
who  had  also  moved  to  Missouri  from  Grayson  coimty, 
Va.  Emmett  finally  settled  in  Pueblo,  Colorado,  estab- 
lished The  Nuckolls  Packing  House  in  Pueblo.  He  mar- 
ried the  third  time  in  Pueblo  and  died  there,  October 
12th,  1910. 

ANNOUNCEMENT 

"It  is  with  deep  sorrow  that  we  announce  the  death 
in  this  city  on  Wednesday,  October  the  twelfth,  nineteen 
hxmdred  and  ten,  of  our  President,  Emmett  Nuckolls, 
after  a  brief  illness  following  an  injury  received  while 
attending  to  his  regular  duties  at  our  plant. 
"The  Nuckolls  Packing  Co., 
"October   18th,   1910.         Pueblo,   Colo." 

His  last  wife  still  lives  in  Pueblo,  Col.  He  also  has  two 
sons  in  charge  of  The  Nuckolls  Packing  Co.  there.  Of  this 
Company,  E.  Nuckolls  is  president;  J.  M.  Nuckolls, 
vice-president;  G.  Harvey  Nuckolls,  treasurer,  and 
W.  F.  Nelson,  Secretary. 


86  Pioneer  Settlers 

Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls  left  Grayson  Court  House  and 
went  to  Missouri  about  the  year  1848;  he  came  back  to 
Grayson  and  married,  returned  to  Missouri  when 
Nebraska  was  a  territory.  When  Nebraska  City  was 
located,  he  planned  and  laid  off  the  City  and  was  prom- 
inent in  securing  the  change  of  Nebraska  from  a  terri- 
tory into  a  state.  He  lived  there  for  some  time.  One  of 
the  counties  in  Nebraska  is  named  for  him,  "Nuckolls 
county."  He  was  successful  in  business,  made  money, 
and  was  liberal  in  every  way  with  his  money.  When  his 
father,  Ezra  Nuckolls,  moved  from  Virginia  to  Missouri, 
he  took  with  him  quite  a  number  of  negroes.  They 
moved  through  in  wagons.  These  negroes  were  kept  at 
Rock  Port,  Mo.,  and  at  that  time  John  Brown  and  his 
Company  were  on  their  raids.  They  carried  away  two 
young  negro  women,  "Celia"  and  "Eliza,"  that  belonged 
to  the  family;  they  took  them  into  Illinois;  Stephen  Friel 
Nuckolls  followed  them,  found  them  in  Illinois,  and  made 
an  effort  to  take  them  back.  He  was  arrested  and  put 
in  prison,  and  the  negro  women  were  taken  to  Canada. 
Officers  came  into  the  prison  to  take  Friel  Nuckolls  out 
to  hang  him;  he  placed  himself  in  one  corner  of  the  room, 
drew  his  revolver,  and  said  to  them,  "  The  first  man  that 
opens  that  door,  I  will  shoot  him  down." 

They  did  not  go  in,  but  he  had  to  pay  twenty-two 
thousand  dollars  to  get  out  of  the  jail.  He  was  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  South,  and  when  the  war  broke  out,  he 
thought  best  for  him  to  leave  the  Western  country. 

He  moved,  with  his  family,  to  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey, 
and  remained  there  until  the  close  of  the  war.  While  he 
was  there,  he  sent  money  to  the  soldiers,  and  helped  many 
of  them  who  had  been  captured  and  were  in  the  Northern 
prisons.  Soon  after  the  surrender  he  returned  to  Nebraska, 
with  but  little  means,  but  began  again  to  accumulate 
money.    He  then  moved  to  Wyoming  Territory,  and  was 


JAMES  SlUART  WARD 
Son  of  Ballard  E.  Ward  and  wife,  Amelia  G.  Nuckolls 


Grayson  County,  Va.  87 

elected  from  there  as  a  member  of  the  46th  Congress 
and  served  this  term  in  Washington  as  a  useful  member. 

After  his  return  from  Congress  he  moved  to  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah.  At  that  time  there  was  an  effort  to  move  the 
"Mormons"  from  Salt  Lake,  and  his  object  in  going  there 
was  that  in  the  event  they  were  moved,  their  property 
would  sell  at  a  low  price,  and  he  could  make  profitable 
investments.  After  being  well  situated  there,  he  con- 
cluded to  remain,  as  he  had  investments  in  mining  and 
other  interests  by  which  he  was  gathering  large  profits. 

In  the  year  1875,  I  wrote  him  and  asked  for  some  help 
in  building  a  Methodist  Church  at  what  was  Grayson 
C.  H.,  but  at  that  time,  the  Courts  being  moved,  the 
post  office  was  Nuckollsville.  As  this  was  the  old  place 
of  business  for  the  Nuckolls  family,  I  thought  he  would 
be  glad  to  help  us  build  the  Church  and  would  perhaps 
send  me  $100.  I  soon  received  a  letter  in  which  he  stated 
if  I  would  promise  to  raise  $1,000,  he  would  send  to  me 
$1,000.  I  wrote  him  I  would  accept  his  offer.  He  promptly 
sent  the  $1,000  in  New  York  exchange  checks,  stating  he 
wanted  us  to  put  up  a  good  building.  We  finished  the 
building  and  had  it  dedicated  by  Dr.  David  Sullins  in 
1876.    This  Church  has  been  a  great  blessing  to  us. 

Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls  accumulated  a  large  estate 
and  was  a  man  of  wide  influence.  His  wife  died  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  and  he  died  soon  thereafter,  February  14th, 
1879. 

There  were  bom  to  Ezra  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Lucinda 
Hale,  six  daughters;  all  born  in  Grayson  county,  Va. 

Polly,  the  oldest  daughter,  married  Rice  Schooler;  he 
was  from  Eastern  Virginia.  He  and  his  wife  settled  near 
Grayson  C.  H.,  afterward  moved  to  Missouri  and  settled 
at  Rock  Port.  Their  children  were  bom  in  Grayson 
county,  Va. 


88  Pioneer  Settlers 

Frances,  their  oldest  daughter,  married  after  they 
moved  to  Missouri.  She  married  a  kinsman,  and  came 
back  to  Roanoke,  Va. 

Ellis,  the  oldest  son,  lives  at  Rock  Port,  Mo. ;  Kent, 
second  son,  married  in  Missouri  a  Miss  Bradley,  formerly 
from  Abingdon,  Va.;  has  a  family  of  children  in  Rock 
Port.  Houston,  another  son,  lives  at  Rock  Port.  They 
have  a  stock  farm  in  Missouri. 

The  second  daughter  of  Ezra  Nuckolls  and  wife  was 
Frances  H.,  who  married  Harvey  Gordon-Bourne,  son  of 
William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Mary  Johnston.  Harvey 
G.  and  his  wife  first  settled  on  Little  River,  in  Grayson 
county,  Va.;  afterwards,  moved  to  Missouri;  both  died 
out  west;  they  had  one  daughter,  Mary  Bourne,  one  son, 
Houston  Gordon.  Houston  Gordon  has  one  daughter, 
Mrs.  Pearl  Bourne  Dameron;  her  husband  is  a  lawyer,  the 
county  attorney  and  council  for  the  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  R.  R.; 
they  live  at  La  Junto,  Otero  county,  Colorado.  They  have 
two  sons,  seventeen  and  fifteen  years  old,  and  one  daughter 
seven  years  old. 

Rosamond  B.  Nuckolls,  the  third  daughter  of  Ezra 
Nuckolls,  went  to  Missouri  with  her  brother,  S.  F.  Nuck- 
olls, and  married  out  there  a  Mr.  Bourchees.  They 
lived  at  Hamburg,  Iowa;  both  died  there;  have  sons  and 
daughters. 

Sena,  fourth  daughter,  married  Mr.  Martin;  lived  and 
died  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado;  have  children  there. 

Elizabeth,  fifth  daughter,  married  Thomas  E.  Metcalf, 
a  lawyer;  lives  at  Long  Beach,  California.  Mr.  Metcalf 
died  recently.  They  have  two  sons,  both  lawyers,  who 
live  at  Long  Beach,  Cal.  Elizabeth  Metcalf  is  the  only 
one  of  the  children  of  Ezra  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Lucinda 
Hale,  who  is  now  living. 

Ezra  Nuckolls  and  his  brothers  were  of  much  help  in 
the  formation  of  the  county  of  Grayson.    They  had  been 


WILLIAM   SWIFT  NUCKOLLS 


Grayson  County,  Va.  89 

well  educated  and  had  good  family  training  in  Eastern 
Virginia.  The  men  and  women  were  tall  in  stature,  a 
number  of  them  seven  feet  in  height  and  well  proportioned. 
Several  of  them  inherited  from  their  Colonial  ancestry 
at  Jamestown,  a  liking  for  the  mercantile  business,  and 
with  some  of  the  present  generation  it  is  still  kept  up. 

Ezra  Nuckolls  was  for  a  term  sheriff  of  Grayson  county. 
He,  with  Creed  and  Clarke  Nuckolls,  sons  of  Robert  G. 
Nuckolls,  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Oglesby, 
and  went  into  the  goods  business  at  Grayson  C.  H.,  Va. 
They  were  the  first  merchants  at  the  place  and  had 
branch  houses  at  Elk  Creek  and  Bridle  Creek  and  continued 
in  business  until  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1861-1865.  The 
style  of  the  firm  was  then  changed  to  Nuckolls  and  Dick- 
enson. Another  firm  at  Grayson  C.  H.  was  Nuckolls 
and  Jennings.  James  Waugh  began  the  mercantile 
business  at  Grayson  C.  H.  before  the  war.  After  the 
war,  his  sons,  William  P.  and  John  B.  Waugh  continued 
the  business.  William  P.  Waugh  was  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  the  time  of  his  death  at  Old  Town,  Va., in  1896. 

His  brother,  John  B.  Waugh,  continued  in  business  at 
Old  Town  until  the  North  Carolina  Extension  of  the 
N.  &  W.  R.  R.  was  built  to  Galax.  He  then  transferred 
his  business  to  Galax,  built  a  handsome  home  there  and 
resides  there  now  with  his  family. 

When  the  county  of  Grayson  was  divided  and  Carroll 
county  formed  from  the  east  end,  the  courts  were  moved 
sixteen  miles  west,  to  Independence,  Va.  The  firm  of 
Nuckolls  &  Jennings,  of  Old  Grayson  C.  H.,  opened  a 
branch  house  at  Independence.  Ezra  Nuckolls  built 
the  first  store  house,  and  also  the  first  hotel  at  Indepen- 
dence, and  continued  in  business  until  he  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Missouri,  about  1853.  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  built  and 
opened  the  first  hotel,  or  ordinary,  at  Grayson  Old  C.  H. 
William  Bourne  built  the  first  clerk's  office  and  was  the 


90  Pioneer  Settlers 

first  clerk  of  the  courts  held  first  at  his  house,  and  later 
at  the  court  house.  The  ofiice  is  still  standing  in  good 
repair  after  over  one  hundred  years'  service.  It  is  a  good 
oil  brick  with  dressed  stone  foundation  and  is  now  used 
as  post  office  and  supervisor's  office.  This  building  still 
belongs  to  the  County  of  Grayson. 

NATHANIEL  NUCKOLLS 

The  subjects  of  the  following  sketches  are  not  resi- 
dents of  Virginia,  but  as  they  are  descended  from  the 
Jamestown  Nuckolls  family,  and  the  history  is  inter- 
esting, we  insert  it: 

Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  of  Muscogee  county,  Ga.,  was  the 
fifth  child  of  Thomas  and  Ann  Nuckolls,  and  was  born  in 
Louisa  county,  Va.  One  of  the  brothers,  who  were  mer- 
chants in  Jamestown,  had  married  a  Miss  Duke  in  England. 
Her  father  was  a  prominent  physician,  came  to  America 
with  his  son-in-law,  and  practiced  medicine  extensively 
in  Virginia.  Dr.  Duke  had  a  large  family,  and  the  Dukes 
have  for  many  years  been  prominent  in  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina.  From  this  Nuckolls  brother,  who  married  Miss 
Duke,  Nathaniel  Nuckolls  was  descended.  Thomas  and 
Ann  Nuckolls  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters;  the  sons 
were  Duke,  Stephen,  Alexander,  Samuel,  Nathaniel, 
and  George  Bias.  Duke,  Stephen,  Alexander,  and  Samuel 
were  farmers;  George  Bias  was  a  lawyer;  Nathaniel  was 
a  mechanic.  Two  of  his  sisters  were  named  Mary  (Polly) 
and  Lucinda ;  names  of  the  other  two  not  given.  Nathaniel 
owned  an  interest  in  a  gold  mine  in  North  Georgia, 
then  bought  a  farm  in  Alabama,  and  taught  some  of  his 
negro  men  to  work  at  the  mechanics  trade,  and  he  studied 
architecture,  and  planned  and  built  many  houses.  He 
was  a  merchant  for  a  while  in  Columbus,  Ga.,  and  planned 
and  had  built  for  himself  there  a  handsome  residence, 
where  he  lived  for  twenty  years  before  his  death  on 


Grayson  County,  Va.  91 

September  17th,  1868.  His  wife  died  in  June  of  the  same 
year.  They  left  three  sons,  Thomas  J.,  Nathaniel  A.,  and 
James  T.,  and  seven  daughters,  Elizabeth  A.  Ware, 
Louisiana  A.  Hawkins,  Mary  V.  Kyle,  Cornelia  L. 
Richardson,  Laura  C.  Freeman,  Adella  L.  Nowlin.  The 
will  of  Nathaniel  Nuckolls  was  recorded  in  Muscogee 
county,  Ga.,  October  5th,  1868,  and  copied  on  the  records 
of  Cherokee  county,  Ala.  (at  Centre,  Ala.),  in  1911. 
In  his  will  he  gives  to  each  of  his  three  sons,  farms  valued 
at  six  thousand  dollars  each,  and  to  each  of  his  seven 
daughters,  farms  valued  at  six  thousand  dollars  each, 
and  directs  that  all  of  his  other  property  be  equally  dis- 
tributed among  his  children.  The  will  states  that  the 
farm  given  to  Mrs.  Freeman  was  deeded  to  her  by  Martin 
Hale,  and  A.  H.  Mackey,  administrators. 

Of  the  ten  children  of  Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  there  are 
now  only  two  living — Mrs.  Laura  A.  Freeman,  who  lives 
with  her  son,  Thomas  N.,  on  her  farm  near  Centre,  Ala., 
and  Mrs.  Adella  L.  Nowlin,  who  lives  in  Gadsden,  Ala. 
There  are  a  good  many  descendants,  however,  living  in 
Alabama,  and  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

JOHN  NUCKOLLS  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

About  the  years  1765-75,  John  Nuckolls  moved  from 
Virginia  to  South  Carolina,  settling  near  Spartanburg. 
He  was  probably  a  great-uncle  of  Nathaniel  Nuckolls, 
as  William  T.  Nuckolls  (his  grandson),  was  a  cousin  of 
Nathaniel  Nuckolls.  Mrs.  C.  F.  Marsh,  of  Morristown, 
Tenn.,  is  a  descendant  of  John  Nuckolls,  and  gave  the 
author  the  following  information:  "John  Nuckolls  is 
buried  at  Whig  Hill,  S.  C;  following  is  the  inscription 
on  his  tombstone.* 

"'In  memory  of  John  Nuckolls,  Sr.,  who  was  murdered 
by  the  Tories  for  his  devotion  to  liberty,  on  the  11th  day 
of  December,  1780,  in  the  49th  year  of  his  age. ' 


(' 


92  Pioneer  Settlers 

'"Rest,  noble  patriot, 

'"Rest  in  peace 

'"The  prize  you  sought 

'"Your  country  won.'" 
The  Revolutionary  records  of  South  Carolina  were 
many  of  them  destroyed  when  Columbia  was  burned, 
but  one  record  tells  where  John  Nuckolls  was  a  commis- 
sioner of  election  in  1776.  Mrs.  Marsh  also  sent  the  fol- 
lowing copy  from  the  Carolina  Spartan: 

NUCKOLLS  AND  DAWKINS 
Two  Famous  Families— Whig  Hill — Tory  Raids- 
Revolutionary  Scenes 

"  In  a  recent  issue  of  the  Carolina  Spartan  there  appears 
some  very  interesting  local  history  under  the  title  of 
Nuckolls  and  Dawkins.  Hoping  that  it  will  be  of  interest 
to  our  subscribers,  especially  the  older  residents  of  the 
country,  we  publish  the  piece  entire. 

"Now  and  then  a  question,  or  a  suggestion,  sets  the 
train  of  thought  or  investigation  in  motion  that  keeps 
moving  and  widening  as  it  moves.  A  few  days  ago  a 
lawyer  of  the  city  asked  for  some  information  about 
Elijah  Dawkins,  who  died  in  Union  county  in  1834. 
A  lawyer  from  another  State  wanted  some  information 
about  the  Dawkins  estate.  The  necessary  information 
was  furnished  but  the  investigation  did  not  cease. 

"A  sketch  of  General  Dawkins  and  his  family  would 
prove  most  interesting  at  this  time.  Elijah  Dawkins 
married  Nancy  Nuckolls.  It  must  have  been  between 
1793  and  1800.  They  had  eight  children,  whose  names 
we  cannot  give  in  order  of  birth.  They  were  Elijah, 
Joshua  P.,  Thomas  N.,  Benjamin  F.,  James  B.,  Susan, 
Nancy  and  Elizabeth.  All  of  these  married  except 
Elijah.    Joshua  P.  married  a  Miss  Davidson.     Both  of 


SUSAN   B.   HALE 
Daughter  of  Martin  Hale,  and  wife  of  William  Swift  Nuckolls 


^f'-''        Grayson  County,  Va.  93 

them  are  dead,  but  their  two  children,  Benjamin  and  Mrs. 
Nannie  Trench  are  living  in  Florida.  We  believe  these  are 
the  only  survivors  of  this  large  family.  Judge  Thomas  N. 
Dawkins  married  Miss  Mary  Polton,  who  is  hvmg  m 
Union  S.  C.  Benjamin  F.  Dawkins  married  Miss  Llize 
Cleveland,  of  Greenville.  These  died  without  children. 
James  B.  Dawkins  married  Miss  Carrie  Taylor  and  moved 
to  Florida.  He  is  dead,  but  his  wife  is  living  at  Gaines- 
ville Susan  married  Wm.  T.  Nuckolls,  both  of  whom 
died  years  ago  without  children.  Nancy  married  Gen. 
James  Rogers.  She  was  the  tall  woman  that  Major  James 
E.  Henry  did  not  wish  to  be  seen  walking  with  in  Wash- 
ington. ,  ,,  , 
"Gen.  Rogers  and  Mr.  Nuckolls  were  both  members 

of  Congress. 

"Mrs.  Rogers  had  one  son,  Dawkins,  a  young  man  of 
fine  progress,  who  was  killed  early  in  the  war.  Elizabeth 
married  Abner  Benson.  He  was  also  a  Congressman. 
She  had  twins,  both  of  which  died  young  and  she  soon 
followed.  What  became  of  Abner  Benson  is  unknown  to 
the  writer  of  this  sketch.  About  1830  it  was  said  that 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Benson  and  Mrs.  Clarissa  Henry  were 
two  of  the  handsomest  women  in  the  up-country.  They 
were  noted  for  their  striking  appearance  and  gracious 

manners.  ,        ^  , 

"This  leads  us  back  to  the  Nuckolls  family.  John 
Nuckolls  married  Agatha  Ballock  in  Virginia,  perhaps  m 
Dinwiddle  county.  The  Nuckolls  family  came  over  from 
England  and  settled  in  Virgmia.  Their  history  runs  back 
to  1452,  when  the  "War  of  the  Roses"  began.  They  were 
adherents  to  the  house  of  York,  the  emblem  of  which  was 
the  white  rose.  When  the  original  Nuckolls  emigrated 
to  America,  he  brought  a  bush  of  that  rose  with  him. 
Each  member  of  the  family  kept  a  bush  of  this  famous 
rose    When  John  Nuckolls  and  his  wife  Agatha,  came  to 


94  Pioneer  Settlers 

South  Carolina,  they  brought  the  rose  with  them  and 
planted  it  at  Whig  Hill,  near  Grindall  Shoals.  From  that 
plant  their  decendants  got  cuttings  or  roots,  and  several 
members  of  the  family  had  the  white  rose  until  1860, 
when  sentiment  was  knocked  out  of  the  hearts  of  many 
of  our  people.  If  the  rose  of  York  is  now  living,  it  is  at 
the  residence  of  John  D.  Jeffries,  who  owns  the  W.  T. 
Nuckolls  homestead.  "Aunt  Nancy"  Dawkins  had  the 
rose  until  the  time  of  her  death,  about  1861  or  1862, 
and  T.  D.  Littlejohn  now  owns  the  famous  homestead. 
"About  1765  to  1775,  John  Nuckolls  and  his  wife,  with 
some  of  their  older  children,  came  to  this  state.  They 
set  Lied  between  Thickety  and  Pacolet,  at  the  place  after- 
wards known  as  Whig  Hill.  There  they  were  living  when 
the  war  came  on.  They  had  accumulated  considerable 
property  and  owned  some  negroes.  Mr.  Nuckolls  went 
into  the  war  at  the  beginning.  Owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  service  in  upper  Carolina  the  patriotic  soldiers  could 
often  get  to  their  homes  and  remain  a  few  days,  or  a  few 
weeks.  When  the  necessity  arose  they  would  rally  at 
some  appointed  place  and  enter  the  field  again.  It  was 
perhaps  in  the  fall  or  early  winter  of  1780,  just  before  the 
battle  of  King's  Mountain,  that  John  Nuckolls  visited 
his  home  at  Whig  Hill.  The  meal  tub  was  nearly  empty. 
He  went  with  his  son  John,  a  mere  lad,  over  to  a  mill  on 
Broad  river,  about  fifteen  or  eighteen  miles  from  home. 
This  mill  was  perhaps  at  the  Sam  Jeffries  mill  above 
Smith's  Ford.  The  distance  being  so  great,  Mr.  Nuck- 
olls had  to  remain  all  night.  It  is  said  that  millers  in 
those  days  provided  a  room  in  the  mill  house,  or  in  their 
dwelling  for  customers  thus  detained.  Nuckolls  was  well 
known  and  recognized  as  an  uncompromising  rebel. 
On  his  way  to  the  mill  tradition  says  that  a  man  by  the 
name  of  M.  Keown  saw  him.  Learning  that  he  was  going 
to  stay  all  night,  he  mustered  up  a  crowd  of  tories  in  the 


Grayson  County,  Va.  95 

neighborhood,  getting  some  of  them  from  the  York  side 
of  the  river,  and  went  to  the  mill  and  awoke  Nuckolls 
and  killed  him.     When  they  aroused  him  they  said: 
'We've  come  for  you.'     He  knew  what   they    meant. 
He  asked  permission  to  wake  his  son  so  that  he  could  give 
some  messages  for  his  people  at  home.    They  refused  and 
said  that  if  he  awoke  his  son  they  would  kill  him  also. 
They  then  took  Nuckolls  out  a  short  distance  from  the 
mill  and  prepared  to  shoot  him.    He  asked  permission  to 
pray  five  minutes.    This  was  granted.    He  prayed  aloud. 
After  he  had  uttered  a  few  petitions,  one  of  them  said: 
'  If  he  continues  praying  that  way  much  longer,  we  will 
not  be  able  to  kill  him.'      Some  one  then  fired  a  ball 
through  his  head.    He  was  thrown  into  a  ditch  or  gully 
and  some  rock  and  brush  thrown  over  the  body.    Some- 
time after  that  Mrs.  Nuckolls  had  the  bones  gathered  up 
and  buried  at  Whig  Hill.    The  tombstone,  which  is  stand- 
mg,   has   this   inscription,    'Killed   by   Tories'.      Mrs. 
Nuckolls,  about  1782  to  1785,  married  Joshua  Petty. 
He  was  as  much  loved  by  the  children  as  if  he  had  been 
their  father.    He  managed  the  farm  so  as  to  increase  the 
property   and  gave  the  daughteis  the  best  education 
possible.    He  never  had  any  children  of  his  own.    The 
Nuckolls    children    were    Nancy,    who    married    Elijah 
Dawkins;  Susan,  who  married  Charles  Littlejohn;  Frankie, 
who  married  a  Goudelock.    John  Nuckolls  was  the  boy 
who  was  at  the  mill  when  his  father  was  killed  by  Tories. 
He  married  a  Miss  Tompson,  daughter  of  gentleman 
Bill  Tompson,  and  had  two  children,  William  T.  and 
Melissa.     William  married  his  cousin  Susan  Dawkins, 
and  Melissa  married  Major  William  Norris. 

"  If  one  wished  to  follow  out  the  different  branches  of 
this  family  tree  he  would  get  somewhat  confused.  The 
Goudelocks,  the  Morgans,  the  Littlejohns  and  one  branch 
of  the  Jeffries  family  would  come  in  for  consideration. 


96  Pioneer  Settlers 

"As  we  have  said  before,  W.  T.  Nuckolls  and  his  wife, 
Susan  Dawkins,  had  no  children.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Norris, 
had  four  or  five  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living. 
John  D.  Norris  is  in  Texas  and  Miss  Julia  Norris  is  living 
with  her  nephews,  children  of  her  sister,  who  married 
Major  Frank  Anderson,  of  this  county.  Their  home  is 
at  Bethpage,  Tenn.  Of  the  descendants  of  Gen.  Elijah 
Dawkins,  only  two  are  living.  They  have  been  mentioned 
before  in  the  sketch,  and  their  home  is  at  Gainesville, 
Fla.  Major  S.  M.  Dawkins  and  his  sister,  Miss  Ophelia, 
now  living  in  Spartanburg,  are  descended  from  a  brother 
of  Gen.  Elijah  Dawkins.  Their  grandmother  was  Frankie 
Nuckolls,  daughter  of  the  original  John  Nuckolls.  They 
were  perhaps  the  only  persons  in  this  state  bearing  the 
name  of  Dawkins,  except  the  two  children  of  Major 
Morgan  Dawkins. 

"Several  times  the  Tories  made  raids  on  Whig  Hill. 
One  band  of  them  had  their  headquarters  at  Anderson, 
or  Thickety  Fort,  which  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Goucher 
Creek,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  its  junction  with 
Thickety.  Col.  Patrick  Moore,  a  stalwart  Irishman, 
six  feet  seven  inches  tall,  was  the  Loyalist  who  had  com- 
mand of  the  fort.  There  was  another  band  of  Tories  down 
on  the  Enoree,  that  played  havoc  with  the  property  of 
the  patriots.  The  famous  raid  made  on  Whig  Hill  was, 
in  the  winter  of  1780,  a  short  time  before  the  battle  of 
Cowpens.  They  made  a  clean  sweep  of  everything  in 
the  house.  Mrs.  Nuckolls  had  been  well  brought  up  and 
educated,  and  she  had  many  pieces  of  artistic  needle 
work  in  her  house.  Everything  was  taken,  and  the  only 
bed  for  the  youngest  child  was  a  sheep  skin  used  as  a 
saddle  blanket.  After  these  raids  John  Nuckolls  and  one 
of  his  sisters  would  mount  horses  and  go  out  and  search 
for  their  stolen  property.  At  one  time  they  went  as  far 
as  Lynch's  Creek  and  brought  back  some  stolen  negroes. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  97 

They  also  went  over  into  Laurens  county  and  found  some 
of  their  stock  which  they  would  drive- home.  In  one  of 
the  searches  they  entered  a  house  and  saw  some  of  the 
fine  work  of  their  mother's  hanging  in  the  room.  Such 
were  the  scenes  through  which  the  patriots  and  their 
families  had  to  pass  during  the  revolution  of  1776. 

"This  is  a  very  imperfect  sketch,  dealing  only  with  a 
few  historical  facts.  Long  ago  they  could  have  been  res- 
cued from  oblivion  by  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer.  But  they 
are  passing  away  and  will  soon  not  be  remembered  by 
any  one.  The  material  for  the  colonial  and  early  history 
of  upper  Carolina  is  very  meagre.  We  hope  by  writing 
this  sketch  that  some  one  will  be  induced  to  continue  the 
subject.  We  hope  there  are  persons  living  who  will  be 
able  to  give  interesting  sketches  of  Wm.  T.  Nuckolls  and 
his  wife ;  Gen.  James  Rogers  and  his  wife,  and  Aunt  Nancy 
Dawkins.  The  intelligent  readers  of  the  Spartan  would 
take  special  interest  in  reading  about  the  people  who 
helped  to  make  our  early  history." 

In  the  preceding  sketch  reference  was  made  to  the 
"War  of  the  Roses,"  stating  that  the  Nuckolls  family  in 
England  were  adherents  of  the  Duke  of  York,  whose 
emblem  was  the  white  rose,  and  that  the  white  rose  was 
brought  to  America  by  the  Nuckolls  emigrants,  and  that 
John  Nuckoll  's  family  took  roots  of  the  rose  to  South 
Carolina  with  them,  and  planted  them  at  Whig  Hill. 

John  Nuckolls,  the  ancestor  of  the  author  of  this  history, 
also  brought  the  rose  from  Louisa  county,  Va.,  about  the 
year  1790,  and  planted  it  in  Grayson  county,  and  it  is 
still  growing  on  the  old  Nuckolls  home  place  near  Old 
Town,  Va. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  FLOWER  SWIFT  FAMILY 

The  Swift  family  were  Colonial  Settlers  in  America, 
and  are  now  found  in  all  parts  of  these  United  States. 

Flower  Swift  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  New 
River  Valley.  He  came  here  from  North  Carolina, 
secured  quite  a  boundary  of  land  on  the  river,  near  the 
place  first  selected  to  build  the  Court  House  for  Grayson 
county.  Flower  Swift  and  Charles  Nuckolls  donated 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  building 
the  first  court  house  and  public  buildings  for  the  county, 
reserving  to  themselves  three  choice  one-half  acre  lots, 
after  laying  off  the  lots  for  the  public  buildings  and  the 
streets.  The  town  was  first  named  Greenville;  the  post 
office,  Grayson  C.  H.  After  the  courts  were  moved,  and 
Carroll  county  formed,  the  post  office  was  changed  to 
Nuckollsville.  There  was  already  a  post  office  in  Scott 
county,  Va.,  Nickelsville,  and  the  names  being  so  near 
alike  gave  trouble  with  the  mail,  so  the  legislature  made 
another  change  to  Old  Town,  which  name  remains  at 
the  present  time. 

Flower  Swift  was  a  magistrate  in  Wythe  county. 
He  and  William  Bourne,  Lewis  Hale  and  Minitree  Jones 
were  instrumental  in  getting  the  territory  of  Grayson 
county  cut  off  from  Wythe  county,  two  years  after  its 
formation. 

The  following  is  copied  from  "Proceedings  of  First 
Court  at  William  Bourne's  house": 

"Under  a  commission  from  Henry  Lee,  Governor  of 
the  Commonwealth,  directed  to  Flower  Swift  and  others, 
bearing  date  of  the  10th  day  of  December,  1792,  being 


MARGARET  SWIFT 
Daughter  of  Flower  Swift,  and  wife  of  Capt.  Robert  Nuckolls 


Grayson  County,  Va.  99 

read,  and  thereupon,  Flower  Swift  took  the  oath  of 
Allegiance  to  the  Commonwealth,  the  oath  to  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  oath  of  a 
justice  of  the  county  court  in  chancery,  which  oath  was 
administered  to  him  by  Minitree  Jones  and  Nathaniel 
Frisbie.  Then  the  said  Flower  Swift  administered  all 
the  aforesaid  oaths  to  the  others."  (See  proceedings 
of  the  first  court  at  William  Bourne's  House.) 

Flower  Swift  was  the  leading  justice  of  the  courts,  as 
the  readers  will  see  from  the  first  chapter  in  this  book, 
copied  from  the  first  book  of  records  of  the  first  court  for 
Grayson  county. 

He  had  been  living  here  for  some  time,  as  stated  before. 
He  came  here  from  North  Carolina,  secured  lands  on  the 
east  side  of  New  River,  and  paid  for  same  by  the  sale  of 
a  lady's  side  saddle.  There  was  also  a  boundary  of  land 
on  the  west  and  north  side  of  New  River,  bought  with 
a  flintlock  rifle  gun. 

Flower  Swift  married  Mary  Bedsaul.  They  opened  up 
a  field  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  one  mile  west  of  where 
Old  Town  now  is,  and  built  a  cabin  with  board  roof, 
weighted  on  with  logs  and  with  puncheon  floor.  He  also 
built  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  set  out  some  peach  and  apple 
trees.  He  reared  a  large  family;  after  his  family  had 
grown  up,  he  and  his  wife  and  part  of  his  family  moved 
farther  west,  as  the  western  country  was  opened  up. 
The  family  records  were  taken  off  with  the  family,  and 
we  cannot  give  the  names  of  all  the  sons  and  daughters. 
We  have  the  names  of  four  sons,  Thomas,  John,  William, 
and  Elisha;  these  sons  all  moved  west.  There  were  three 
daughters  who  married  here:  First,  Miss  Jestena  Swift, 

married  a  Mr Jones.    They  moved  to  North 

Carolina.  Alfred  Swift  married  Miss  Julia  Jones, 
daughter  of  Minitree  Jones. 


100  Pioneer  Settlers 

The  second  daughter,  Margaret  Swift,  married  Capt. 
Robert  G.  Nuckolls.  They  opened  up  the  first  hotel,  or 
"ordinary"  (as  it  was  then  called)  at  the  new  court  house. 
On  the  first  court  records  we  find  the  following:  "On 
motion  of  Robert  Nuckolls,  who,  having  produced  the 
receipt  of  the  Clerk  of  this  Court  for  the  sum  of  Twelve 
Dollars  and  Fifty  Cents,  a  license  is  granted  him  to  keep 
an  Ordinary  at  his  house  in  Greenville,  one  year  from  the 
first  of  May  last,  whereupon  he  entered  into  bond,  with 
security  accordingly. " 

Before  this,  sometime,  John  Nuckolls  and  Mary 
Garland,  his  wife,  Charles  Garland,  Asa  Nuckolls, 
Ezra  Nuckolls,  and  Martha  Nuckolls  came  to  this  county 
from  Louisa  county,  Virginia.  John  Nuckolls  and  Mary 
Garland  returned  to  Louisa  county,  and  died  there; 
the  others  remained,  and  bought  a  boundary  of  land  of 
about  400  acres,  and  built  on  Meadow  Creek,  one  mile 
from  Greenville.    This  land  is  still  in  the  Nuckolls  family. 

Capt.  Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  Margaret  Swift  were 
married  in  1805.  Court  record  by  William  Carrico,  Sr., 
a  Methodist  minister,  who  was  also  an  early  settler  here, 
on  west  side  of  New  River.  Rev.  Carrico  came  to  the 
house  of  Col.  Swift  to  perform  the  ceremony.  He  found 
Col.  Swift  busy  working  in  his  blacksmith  shop.  Mr. 
Carrico  went  into  the  shop  and  asked  if  he  had  any  objec- 
tion to  the  marriage.  He  said,  "No,  but  Bob  Nuckolls 
will  carry  off  my  best  spinner. "  She  was  a  good  spinner; 
she  spun  wool  and  flax  until  her  old  days  and  died  at  the 
age  of  ninety-one,  honored  and  respected  by  all. 

There  were  born  to  them  two  daughters  and  eight  sons: 
Creed,  Clarke,  James,  George,  Nathaniel,  Thomas, 
Hugh,  Andrew;  two  daughters,  Martha,  Sena.  (See 
Nuckolls  History,  page  65.) 

The  third  daughter,  Martha  Swift,  married  Maj. 
George  Currin  of  Montgomery  county,  Va.    They  were 


MARTHA  NUCKOLLS 
Daughter  of  Robert  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Margaret  Swift,  and  wife  of  John 

Brown,  Sr. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  101 

married  at  the  same  place,  one  mile  from  Greenville,  on 
the  river. 

Maj.  Currin  and  Martha  Swift,  his  wife,  bought  six 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  Chestnut  Creek,  of  the  Buch- 
anan Survey;  they  built,  settled,  and  brought  up  their 
family  there.  Maj.  George  Currin  died,  and  is  buried 
on  his  old  home  place.  He  and  his  wife  were  worthy, 
useful  citizens,  and  reared  a  nice  family  of  sons  and 
daughters;  his  wife,  in  her  old  age,  moved  to  Missouri, 
died  there,  and  is  buried  on  Red  River,  Mo. 

Maj.  Currin  was  a  man  well  educated,  and  was  a  rep- 
resentative in  the  Virginia  Legislature  and  State  Senate, 
for  several  years.  He  owned  the  lands  on  which  the  town 
of  Galax  is  built.  His  grandsons  also  owti  farms  on  the 
old  tract  of  land,  and  his  grandson,  Thomas  F.  Roberts, 
owns  the  old  homestead.  There  is  a  Memorial  window 
in  the  Methodist  Church  in  Galax  in  memory  of  Maj.  Geo. 
Currin,  Martha  Swift,  Capt.  Robert  G.  Nuckolls,  Margaret 
Swift,  Thompson  Roberts,  Clarke  S.  Nuckolls,  Surphina 
S.  Currin,  Rosa  B.  Hale.  This  is  a  triple  art  glass  window, 
on  the  front  to  Centre  street,  put  in  by  the  descendants 
of  Maj.  George  Currin  and  wife,  Martha  Swift,  and  Capt. 
Robert  G.  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Margaret  Swift.  The 
author  of  this  history,  B.  F.  Nuckolls,  had  put  into  the 
brick  wall  under  this  window,  a  walnut  chest,  in  which 
we  expect  to  deposit  family  history  to  be  read  by  future 
generations. 

Of  Maj.  George  Currin  and  wife,  Martha  Swift,  there 
were  four  sons,  and  three  daughters:  first, Robert,  married 
.  Malinda  Bourne,  daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and 
wife,  Mary  Johnstone;  their  son,  William,  married;  their 
daughter,  Mary,  married  Mr.  Smoot;  all  went  to  Oregon. 
Second  son,  John,  married  Miss  Swift  in  Missouri;  they 
now  live  in  Oregon,  and  have  children  there. 

Third  son,  William,  married. 


102  Pioneer  Settlers 

Fourth  son,  Hugh,  married  Miss  Young,  Oregon; 
one  son,  George,  married,  and  owns  large  ranches  and  stock 
farms  in  Hepner,  Oregon.  He  is  a  useful,  good  man,  and 
has  been  successful  in  every  respect.  He  sent  a  check 
for  $25.00  for  the  memorial  window  in  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church  at  Galax. 

Fiis.  daughter,  Ann  Currin,  married  Joseph  Fields  of 
Bridle  Creek,  Grayson  county;  settled  there  first,  after- 
wards moved  west.  They  sold  their  land  on  Bridle  Creek 
to  Joseph  Bryant  and  wife,  Sarah  Hale.  They  had  two 
sons:  first,  Hugh  Fields;  second,  William. 

Second  daughter,  Catherine  Currin,  married  Martin 
Cooley,  son  of  Benj.  Cooley,  Sr.,  and  wife.  Miss  Jane 
Dickey. 

Third  daughter,  Surphina  Currin,  married  Thompson 
Roberts,  from  near  Mt.  Airy,  Surry  county,  N.  C.  They 
bought  out  the  interests  of  others  in  the  Maj.  Currin 
farm,  and  settled  there,  and  reared  their  family.  They 
died  and  are  buried  with  Maj.  Currin  in  the  family 
grave  yard,  in  Galax,  Va.  In  this  family  there  were 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters: 

First  son,  Currin  Roberts,  married  Frances  Bartlett; 
they  have  sons  and  daughters. 

Second  son,  John,  married  Mrs.  Catherine  Leonard; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Blair,  Jr. ;  they  have 
one  son,  Sidney. 

First  daughter,  Sallie  Roberts,  married  Alexander  Hale, 
son  of  Stephen  M.  Hale  and  wife,  Rosa  Bourne,  who  was 
daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Mary  John- 
stone; they  have  one  daughter,  Rosa;  one  son;  they  live 
m  Texas. 

Second  daughter,  Martha  Roberts,  died  when  a  young 
lady  with  diphtheria  in  the  year  1862.  Also  three  sisters, 
fourth,   Lucy,  fifth,  Catherine,  sixth,   Margaret  S.,  all 


Grayson  County,  Va.  103 

died  with  diphtheria  near  same  time.  Their  father  died 
soon  after  them. 

Seventh  son,  Thomas  Floyd,  man-ied  Florence  Cox, 
daughter  of  Thos.  Cox  and  Nancy  Roberts,  his  wife; 
their  first  son,  Charles,  died  young;  second  son,  Dan; 
third  son,  Fred;  fourth  son,  Frank  Currin;  first  daughter, 
May. 

Third  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  Friel  Nuckolls 
Anderson;  their  first  son,  Charles,  married  Lillie  Rosa 
Cooper,  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  Sarah 
Frances  Nuckolls.  Their  first  daughter,  Gamett,  died 
young;  first  son.  Grey,  still  living.  Second  son  of  Friel 
Anderson  and  Elizabeth  Roberts,  Alex  Chapman,  married 
May  Cooper,  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  Sarah 
Frances  Nuckolls;  their  first  daughter,  Rhuby,  died  young; 
second,  Catherine;  third,  Lula;  fourth,  Virginia;  first 
son,  Ned;  second,  Dan;  fifth  daughter,  Pauline. 

Third  son,  Hugh,  married  Alverda  Burrus;  no  children. 
Fourth  son,  Logan,  married  first  Evaline  Trimble;  they 
have  one  daughter,  Lola,  who  married  Isaac  Pope;  they  have 
sons;  second,  married.  Fifth  son,  William,  married 
Martha  Jones.  Sixth  son,  James,  married  first,  Elizabeth 
Hale,  daughter  of  Warner  Hale  and  Mary  Cox;  they  had 
one  son,  Clyde,  who  married  Miss  Ballard;  one  daughter, 
Ollie.  First  daughter,  Olive,  in  Oregon.  James  married 
second  time.  Miss  Blair,  of  Wythe  county;  one  son,  small. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HALE  HISTORY 

For  the  beginning  of  this  history,  I  will  copy  from 
**History  of  Middle  New  River  Settlements,  and  Con- 
tiguous Territory,"  by  David  E.  Johnston. 

The  Hales  of  the  New  River  Valley 

"This  family  is  of  English  origin,  decendants  of  the 
Hale's  of  Kent.  The  first  American  emigrants  of  the  name, 
coming  in  1632,  bore  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Kentish  Hales. 
The  traditional  story  in  the  family  of  these  New  River 
Hales  is  that  the  family  was  quite  numerous  in  Massa- 
chusets  and  Connecticut,  and  that  sometime  prior  to  the 
beginning  of  our  war  for  independence  there  were  in  one 
family  of  their  name,  seven  brothers,  all  of  whom  joined 
the  American  army.  A  great  part  of  them  served  through 
the  war,  imder  General  Washington,  in  and  around 
Boston,  in  the  Jerseys,  and  in  Pennsylvania;  that  one  of 
the  brothers  that  had  a  family  drifted  south  to  Virginia, 
•ome  years  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution, 
located  in  what  now  is  Franklin  county,  Virginia;  that 
this  settler  had  a  son,  Edward,  who  served  in  the  Ameri- 
can army  in  the  early  period  of  the  revolution,  and  later, 
in  1779,  came  across  the  Alleghenies  into  the  New  River 
valley,  and  later  married  a  Miss  Patsy  Perdue,  and  settled 
on  Wolf  Creek. 

''Edward  Hale  was  bom  about  1756,  was  a  man  of 
rather  small  stature,  fair  complexion,  was  a  man  of 
information  and  intelligence,  and  became  a  prominent 
figure  on  the  border  in  this  day,  engaging  in  the  Indian 
wars,  fights,  and  skirmishes. 


THE  HALE  COAT  OF  ARMS 


Grayson  County,  Va.  105 

"He  was  in  the  party  under  Capt.  Mathew  Farley  that 
followed  the  Indians  in  the  summer  of  1783,  after  their 
attack  on  Mitchell  Claig's  family,  on  the  Bluestone,  at 
Clover  Bottom;  and  was  in  the  skirmish  had  with  a  part 
of  these  Indians  on  Pond  Fork  of  Little  Coal  River,  in 
which  he  killed  an  Indian  at  the  first  fire.  From  the  back 
of  this  Indian,  killed  by  Edward  Hale,  William  Wiley, 
who  was  in  the  party  of  pursuers,  took  a  strip  of  the 
Indian's  hide,  which  he  gave  to  Hale,  and  it  was  used  by 
him  and  a  number  of  his  family  for  many  years  as  a 
razor  strap. 

*' Edward  Hale  marched  with  Captain  Shannon's 
Company  to  North  Carolina  in  February,  1781,  and  was 
in  the  engagement  at  Wetzell's  mills  on  the  6th  of  March, 
and  at  Guilford  court  house  on  the  15th  day  of  the  same 
month,  1785.  Edward  Hale  married  Miss  Patsy  Perdue, 
a  daughter  of  Uriah  Perdue,  then  recently  removed  from 
what  is  now  Franklin  county,  Virginia. 

"Mrs.  Hale  was  a  sister  of  the  w  fe  of  the  Elder,  Joseph 
Hare. 

"The  names  of  the  children  of  Edward  Hale  and  his 
wife  are  as  follows:  viz.,  Thomas,  Isaiah,  Chailes,  Jessie, 
Isaac,  Daniel,  Elias,  and  William;  and  the  daughters, 
Mary  and  Phoebe. " 

From  the  early  days  down  to  the  present  time,  the 
Hale  name  has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  country. 
We  are  all  familiar  with  the  story  of  the  heroic  martyr, 
Nathan  Hale,  the  spy  of  the  Revolutionary  days,  whose 
monument  stands  in  City  Hall  Park,  New  York.  Edward 
Everett  Hale's  writings  are  well  known  and  he  was  for 
many  years  the  honored  and  loved  chaplain  of  the  United 
States  Senate,  to  whose  halls  in  later  years  Massachusetts 
sent  Senator  Hale  as  her  representative. 

In  the  preceding  pages  we  state  the  coming  of  the  Hale 
family  to  America,  as  a  Colonial  family,  from  Kent, 


106  Pioneer  Settlers 

England,  in  the  year  1632,  and  that  they  bore  the  coat 
of  arms  of  the  Kentish  Hales. 

We  also  stated  that  one  of  the  brothers  drifted  south  to 
Virginia,  some  years  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  revo- 
lution, and  located  in  what  is  now  Franklin  county,  Va. 
Lewis  Hale  was  from  this  branch  of  the  Hale  family, 
and  married  Mary  Burwell,  who  was  a  descendant  from 
the  Burwells  of  Jamestown,  Va.  The  Burwells  were 
early  settlers  at  Jamestown,  and  official  members  of  the 
First  Episcopal  Church  at  Jamestown,  Va. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Lewis  Hale  and  his  family 
moved  from  what  is  now  Franklin  county,  Va.,  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  New  River  Valley,  and  settled  on  Elk 
Creek,  Va. 

"At  the  time  he  started  from  Franklin,  he  and  his 
brother-in-law,  John  Walden,  expected  to  settle  in  Ken- 
tucky. After  they  came  to  the  New  River  valley,  they 
learned  that  the  Indians  were  very  troublesome  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  John  Walden  (as  he  had  no  family)  decided 
to  go  on  horse  back,  look  out  a  place  for  them  to  settle, 
and  return. 

He  took  with  him  some  money,  disguised  himself  as 
a  poor  traveller  and  started  on  his  way,  but  was  killed 
by  the  Indians,  and  robbed  of  his  money.  Tradition  says 
he  was  killed  and  robbed  on  Walden's  Ridge,  Tenn., 
and  that  this  circumstance  gave  rise  to  the  name, 
"Walden's  Ridge." 

When  Lewis  Hale  learned  the  fate  of  John  Walden,  he 
and  his  family  decided  to  remain  in  the  Valley  of  Elk 
Creek.  He  reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters, 
settled  them  all  in  good  homes,  in  the  valley  near  him, 
and  for  years  Elk  Creek  was  known  as  the  Hale  Settle- 
ment. The  first  church  was  built  by  Lewis  Hale  and 
called  the  "  Hale  Meeting-house. "  When  Grayson  county 
was  formed  in  1792,  Lewis  Hale  was  one  of  the  first 


Grayson  County,  Va.  107 

Magistrates   of   the   court,   appointed   by   Henry   Lee, 
Governor  of  Virginia. 
The  following  was  written  by  Judge  D.  W.  Bolen,  of 

Hillsville,  Va.: 

LEWIS  HALE 

"The  tradition  that  Lewis  Hale  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  seems  to  be  well  authenticated.  I  have 
heard  Capt.  F.  L.  Hale  say  so,  and  have  heard  the  same 
thing  from  various  other  sources.  It  is  my  recollection 
that  Capt.  Hale  said  that  his  grandfather  served  under 
Col.  Wm.  Campbell.  Once  when  discussing  the  monu- 
ment of  Gen.  Campbell,  which  is  at  his  grave  near  Seven 
Mile  Ford,  and  in  sight  of  the  railroad,  and  which  had 
been  pointed  out  to  me  from  the  train,  Capt.  Hale  seemed 
to  know  much  more  about  the  history  of  Campbell  and 
his  men  than  I  did  at  that  time.  It  was  in  this  connection 
that  he  mentioned  that  his  grandfather  had  been  a  soldier 
and  I  am  nearly  sure  that  he  said  that  he  served  with 
Campbell.  I  find,  however,  that  he  was  not  a  member  of 
Campbell's  regiment  proper.  Campbell  was  colonel 
commandant  for  Washington  county,  while  Walter 
Crockett  was  colonel  commandant  for  Montgomery 
county.  Lewis  Hale  evidently  belonged  to  Crockett's  com- 
mand. A  few  of  Crockett's  men  served  with  Campbell  at 
the  battle  of  King's  Mountain,  October  7th,  1780,  and  a 
large  part,  if  not  the  whole  of  Crockett's  command,  served 
under  Campbell  in  the  battle  of  GuiKord  Court  House, 
March  15th,  1781.  At  Guilford,  Col.  Campbell  had  a  very 
bitter  quarrel  with  Col.  Henry  Lee  (Light  Horse  Harry) 
about  certain  maneuvers  on  the  battle  field,  and  after  the 
battle  was  over  Campbell  resigned  his  commission  as  col- 
onel, and  a  few  weeks  later,  Governor  Jefferson  made  him  a 
general,  and  sent  him  to  command  in  the  east  with  Lafay- 
ette, and  a  little  later  he  died  of  pneumonia.    Outside  of 


108  Pioneer  Settlers 

King's  Mountain  and  Guilford,  Campbell's  military- 
career  was  in  suppressing  Indian  raids  and  local  bands  of 
Toiies.  Lewis  Hale  was  in  Crockett's  territory  (Mont- 
gomery county).  To  my  mind  the  conclusion  is  almost 
irresistible  that  Lewis  Hale,  as  a  member  of  Crockett's 
command,  was  attached  to  Campbell's  command,  and 
participated  in  one  or  perhaps  both  of  the  above  named 
battles." 

Lewis  Hale  cleared  up  land,  built  houses,  and  accmnu- 
lated  property,  and  was  a  useful  citizen  of  this  once 
wilderness  country.  He  died  July  2nd,  1802,  and  is 
buried  near  his  home,  which  was  left  to  his  youngest  son, 
Stephen  Hale,  and  from  him,  to  his  youngest  son,  Eli  C. 
Hale,  and  now  is  held  by  Eli  Scott  Hale,  youngest  son  of 
Eli  C.  Hale. 

Lewis  Hale  was  called  out  in  the  militia  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  King's  Mountain.  His  six  sons  were  in  the  war 
of  1812,  at  Norfolk,  Va.  His  third  son,  Dudley  Hale,  died 
while  in  camp  at  Norfolk,  Va. 

Lewis  Hale's  grave  was  left  unmarked,  and  in  1902 
some  of  his  descendants  decided  they  would  not  any  longer 
leave  it  so.  They  framed  the  following  appeal  and  sent 
out  to  the  descendants  of  Lewis  Hale. 

''AN  APPEAL. 


'  *  You  are  a  descendant  of  Lewis  Hale,  who  settled  on 
Elk  Creek,  in  Grayson  county,  Va.,  and  was  buried  there, 
July  2nd,  1802.  His  grave  is  in  the  cemetery  on  thefaim 
now  owned  by  Eli  C.  Hale  and  has  never  been  marked. 
We  have  decided  to  erect  a  monument  at  his  grave,  with 
his  name,  that  of  his  wife,  Mary  Burwell  Hale — and 
their  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  We  appeal  to  you  for 
One  Dollar,  more  or  less,  to  help  pay  for  the  monument 


Grayson  County,  Va.  109 

and  thus  perpetuate  the  family  history.  You  are  also 
cordially  invited  to  be  present  on  July  2nd,  1902, — 'the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  his  burial — at  which  time  we 
want  to  put  up  the  monument.  You  are  requested  to 
make  remittance  to  the  member  of  the  committee  by 
whom  this  is  sent. 

"COMMITTEE 
"Rev.  B.  F.  Nuckolls, 
"Prof.   W.  Stephen  Hale, 
*'E.  Scott  Hale, 
"John  McLean, 
"Dr.  Sam  Mitchell, 
"Robert  G.  Nuckolls." 

There  was  a  ready  response  and  on  July  2nd,  1902,  a 
monument  was  unveiled  at  the  grave  of  Lewis  Hale, 
bearing  on  it  the  names  of  Lewis  Hale  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Burwell  Hale,  and  the  names  of  their  six  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

The  following  account  of  the  unveiling  was  written 
and  published  in  the  Southwest  Virginia  Enterprise  by 
John  A.  Whitman,  great-great-grandson  of  Lewis  Hale. 
Mr.  Whitman  is  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Southwest 
Virginia  Enterprise. 

THE    LEWIS    HALE    MONUMENT     UNVEILED 

"Wednesday,  July  the  second,  between  two  and  three 
thousand  people  assembled  on  Elk  Creek,  Grayson 
county,  Virginia,  to  witness  the  unveiling  of  a  monument 
erected  to  the  memory  of  Lewis  Hale  and  wife,  who  died 
in  eighteen  hundred  and  two.  The  procession  formed  in  a 
grove  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  W.  S.  Hale  and  in  charge 
of  Marshals  E.  Scott  Hale,  Leon  Dickenson,  Thomas 
Comett  and  Charles  Hale  marched  to  the  cemetery. 
'Coronation,'  led  by   Mr.    F.   A.    Comett,    was   sung. 


110  .  Pioneer  Settlers 

Then  Mr.  W.  S.  Hale  thrilled  his  hearers  with  an  eloquent 
address  containing  a  fund  of  interesting  information  and 
entertaining  facts  concerning  his  pioneer  ancestry.  The 
unveiling  proper  then  followed,  eight  great-great-grand- 
children of  Lewis  Hale  taking  part  in  the  ceremony — ■ 
Allie  Rose  Bryant,  Sue  Waugh,  Ethel  McLean,  Agnes 
May  Hale,  Gwyn  Ward,  Hale  Lundy,  Leon  Hale  and 
William  Scott  Hale.  A  photographer  was  on  the  ground 
with  his  camera  and  got  a  good  view  of  the  monument 
and  those  of  the  near  relatives  who  surrounded  it  at  the 
time.  The  crowd  then  repaired  to  a  nearby  grove  where 
the  exercises  were  concluded.  Several  selections  were 
rendered  in  choruses  and  a  sloo  "One  Sweetly  Solemn 
Thought"  was  effectively  sung  by  Mrs.  Ruth  Nuckolls 
Johnston,  of  Cleveland,  Tennessee.  The  memorial 
sermon  was  ably  preached  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Nuckolls,  of  Old 
Town.  His  text  was  Acts,  thirteenth  chapter  and  thirty- 
sixth  verse,  "For  David  after  he  had  served  his  own 
generation,  by  the  will  of  God  fell  on  sleep  and  was  laid 
unto  his  fathers  and  saw  corruption. "  During  the  inter- 
mission which  followed  a  sumptuous  lunch  was  partaken 
of  and  the  hospitality  of  Grayson  county  fully  p  oven 
by  the  keen  appreciation  with  which  each  man  solaced  his 
inner  self.  The  reading  of  the  names  of  the  contributors 
to  the  monument  next  won  the  attention  of  the  listening 
throng. 

"Mr.  A.  M.  Dickenson,  formerly  of  Grayson  but  now  of 
Marion,  discussed  *A  Hundred  Years  of  Progress,' 
citing  the  advance  made  since  1802,  when  the  remains 
of  Lewis  Hale  were  consigned  to  the  grave.  A  song  and 
the  benediction  concluded  the  exercises,  but  the  day  will 
live  long  with  those  who  were  present,  and  will  pass  into 
the  annals  of  Grayson  county  as  complete  and  not  to 
be  forgotten. 

"A  few  facts  regarding  Lewis  Hale  may  be  interesting 


Grayson  County,  Va.  Ill 

to  the  reader.  The  exact  date  of  his  birth  is  not  known, 
but  it  was  thought  he  must  have  been  sixty  or  sixty-five 
at  his  death  in  1802.  In  about  the  year,  1760  Lewis  Hale 
and  wife  started  from  what  is  now  Franklin  county, 
Vu-ginia,  to  Kentucky,  but  owing  to  the  hostility  of 
Indians  they  stopped  over  in  Grayson  county.  They 
were  so  attracted  by  the  country  and  climate  that  they 
decided  to  make  it  a  permanent  home.  At  that  time  there 
were  but  seven  families  living  on  Elk  Creek;  and  what  is 
now  a  beautiful  valley  dotted  with  handsome  houses, 
churches  and  academies,  and  where  progress  and  pros- 
perity are  so  evident,  was  then  an  almost  untenanted 
and  trackless  forest.  Here  Lewis  Hale  reared  six  sons 
and  two  daughters,  and  from  these  descended  men  who 
have  been  prominent  in  war,  church  and  state,  others 
playing  important  parts  in  the  country's  history.  A 
great  many  have  emigrated  to  other  states  and  taken 
foremost  places  among  the  people  of  the  country.  A 
large  portion  of  Grayson  county's  people  are  their  descend- 
ants and  are  noted  for  sturdiness,  uprightness  and  general 
worth.  The  projectors  of  the  plans  to  thus  honor  and  keep 
green  the  memory  of  these  pioneer  settlers  are  to  be  very 
much  complimented  on  their  success  and  commended 
for  the  spirit  of  commemoration  of  the  departed  to 
whom  they  and  the  country  at  large  owe  so  much." 

LEWIS  HALE  AND  DESCENDANTS 

To  Lewis  Hale  and  wife,  Mary  Burwell,  were  bom  six 
sons,  and  two  daughters: 

Their  first  son,   Richard,   married   Elizabeth   Stone. 

Second  son,  William,  born  March  20th,  1771,  married 
Lucy  Stone,  sister  to  the  above  Elizabeth  Stone. 

Elizabeth  and  Lucy  Stone  were  daughters  of  Jeremiah 
and  Susanna  Stone. 

Third  son,  Dudley,  married  Mary  Burroughs. 


112  Pioneer  Settlers 

Fourth  son,  Francis,  married  Elizabeth  Burroughs, 
sister  to  Mary  Burroughs. 

Fifth  son,  Lewis  (2),  married  Elizabeth  Bourne. 

Sixth  son,  Stephen,  married  Frances  Bourne,  sister  to 
Elizabeth  Bourne. 

Elizabeth  and  Frances  Bourne  were  daughters  of 
William  and  Rosa  Jones  Bourne. 

Two  daughters:  First,  Elizabeth,  married  first,  Thomas 
Burroughs,  had  children;  Elizabeth  married  second  time, 
they  had  children.  One  daughter  married  Hamilton; 
one  son.  Rev.  Hale  Snow  Hamilton,  of  Holston  Confer- 
ence. 

Second  daughter,  Mary,  married  first,  John  Hale;  had 
two  sons,  James,  who  died  young,  and  Stephen  M.,  who 
married  Rosa  Bourne,  daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.; 
they  had  a  large  family;  moved  to  Texas.  Mary  married 
second  time,  James  Atkins;  no  children. 

Richard  Hale's  children:  First,  Lewis,  Jr.,  married 
Celia  White  and  moved  to  Tennessee;  their  first  son, 
William,  married  Miss  Russell  in  Tennessee,  Bradley 
county,  near  Cleveland,  Tennessee. 

First  daughter,  Charlotte,  died  young. 

Second  daughter,  Talitha,  married  a  Mr.  Garden;  they 
had  one  son.  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Carden,  of  the  Holston  Con- 
ference; one  daughter,  Sarah  Carden. 

Third  daughter  of  Lewis  Hale,  Jr.,  was  Lucinda,  born 
on  Elk  Creek,  Va.,  August  14th,  1818;  married  John 
Wesley  Stanton  and  settled  in  Georgia,  in  Murray,  now 
Whitfield  county.  They  had  nine  children;  William 
Lewis,  Celia  Elizabeth,  Peyton  Lisby,  Elbert  Miller,  Chap- 
ell  Quillian,  Sarah  Jane,  McClure  Hale,  Mathew  Whit- 
field, and  Mary  Irene.  All  living  except  McCure  Hale, 
who  was  drowned  in  1896. 

Second  son  of  Richard  Hale,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hale, 
married  Susan  White,  lived  on  Elk  Creek;  first  son, 


St 

^    3 

I  ;5 


Grayson  County,  Va.  113 

Tivis,  married  Telitha  Bourne;  they  had  two  daughters; 
first  Amelia,  married  Stephen  Clarke;  they  now  live  in 
Wjrthe  county.  Sallie  married  Stephen  Cornett ;  they  have 
children  and  live  on  Elk  Creek.  Second  son,  John  S. 
Hale,  married  Susan  Troy;  lived  on  Rock  Creek. 

Third,  Oscar,  died  in  the  army,  1863;  single. 

First  daughter,  Lucinda  Hale,  married  Mr.  Byrd. 

Second  daughter,  Jane,  married  Stephen  Clarke;  they 
had  two  sons,  Walter  and  Oscar;  they  lived  at  Inde- 
pendence and  Wytheville,  then  moved  to  Elizabethton, 
Tenn. 

Sena,  daughter  of  Richard  Hale,  married  Col.  Eli 
Cornett;  lived  on  Elk  Creek,  near  Summerfield. 

Their  first  daughter,  Matilda,  married  James  Hale, 
son  of  John  Hale  and  wife,  Rosa  Blair;  they  had  one 
daughter,  Rosa,  who  married  John  Roberts;  they  live  in 
Missouri. 

Second  daughter,  Elizabeth  Cornett,  first  married 
Samuel  Carson;  they  had  one  son,  Adolphus,  who  married 
Ella  Scott,  and  moved  to  Missouri.  Elizabeth,  second 
time,  married  James  Warrick;  they  had  several  children. 

Third  daughter,  Amanda  Cornett,  first  married  Capt. 
Peyton  N.  Hale,  son  of  Lewis  Hale,  Jr.,  and  Elizabeth 
Bourne;  he  was  killed  in  first  Manassas  battle,  leading 
his  Company;  they  had  one  son,Emmett,who  died  young; 
one  daughter,  Bettie,  who  married  Basil  Home,  Smythe 
county;  they  have  two  sons,  William  and  Basil. 

William  Hale  was  the  second  son  of  Lewis  Hale  and 
Mary  Burwell.  Their  first  son,  John  Hale,  married 
Rosa  Blair,  daughter  of  John  Blair  and  Charity  Bourne. 
They  had  thirteen  sons: 

First,  Alfred,  married  Elizabeth  Jones,  daughter  of 
Maj.  Minitree  Jones,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Nancy  Golden;  they 
reared  a  large  family  on  Rock  Creek. 

Second  son,  Warner,  married  Mary  Cox,   daughter 


114  Pioneer  Settlers 

of  David  Cox  and  wife,  Jane  Doughton,  had  a  large 
family  in  the  west. 

Third,  James,  married  Matilda  Comett;  moved  to 
Missouri. 

Three  of  these  brothers,  Lorenzo  Dow,  John  B.,  and 
Alonzo  Sidney,  all  married  daughters  of  David  Isom  and 
wife,  Sarah  Choate.  Thomas  married  Elvira  Cornett; 
he  also  moved  to  Missouri. 

Second  son  of  William  Hale,  Col.  Stephen  Hale,  married 
first  Miss  Charlotte  Dickenson,  daughter  of  Martin 
Dickenson  and  wife,  Mary  Bourne,  of  Grayson  Court 
House,  Va. 

Their  first  son.  Rev.  Wiley  Dickenson  Hale,  married 
Miss  Martha  Mitchell;  their  first  daughter,  Charlotte, 
married  Ben  W.  Dobyns;  one  son,  James  Wiley  Dobyns, 
married  Lula  Cooper,  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and 
wife,  Sarah  Frances  Nuckolls;  they  have  two  sons:  first, 
Ben;  second,  Brutus  Fleming.  Second  daughter,  Vir- 
ginia Hale,  died  single;  third  daughter,  Sallie  B.  Hale, 
married  William  P.  Waugh.  Their  fu"st  daughter,  Eugenia, 
died;  second,  Lenora,  died;  third  and  fourth,  twins, 
Elizabeth  B.  and  Martha  M.;  Elizabeth  married  Edward 
Reeves,  son  of  George  Reeves  and  wife,  Caroline  Thomas. 

Martha  M.  married  A.  Edwin  Wolfe;  their  first  daughter 
Juanita;  second,  Gladys;  one  son,  Eugene;  fifth  daugh  er, 
Laura  Waugh,  married  Di.  Dunkley.  He  is  connected 
with  the  Shenandoah  Hospital,  Roanoke,  Virginia. 

Fourth  daughter,  Caroline  Hale,  married  William 
Scott;  they  live  in  Texas,  and  have  children. 

Fifth  daughter,  Emma  Hale,  married  Fi-ank  Williams; 
their  first  daughter,  Leona,  married  Mr.  Scott;  they  have 

two  children;  second  daughter,  Sallie,  married  Dr 

Reed;  third  daughter,  Mary,  married 

Sixth  daughter,  Alice  Hale,  married  Ellis  Lundy,  of 
Independence,  Va.,  son  of  F.  J.  Lundy  and  wife,  Eliza- 


Grayson  County,  VA.  115 

beth  Dickey;  their  first  daughter  married  Mr.  Rhudy; 
second  daughter  married  Thomas  Comett;  third  daughter 
married  Walter  Busic. 

First  son,  Clarence,  married  Minnie  Sutherland, 
daughter  of  Capt.  William  Sutherland,  of  Hillsville,  Va. 
They  live  at  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C;  he  is  a  clothing  merchant; 
they  have  two  sons. 

Second  son.  Fie] den  Hale,  married  Rosa  Busic;  first 
son  of  Rev.  Wiley  D.  Hale,  James,  died  in  Cc  nfederate 
army,  single. 

Second  son,  Stephen  Mason,  married  Emma  Cooper, 
daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Cooper  and  wife,  Sarah  Frances 
Nuckolls.  Their  first  son,  William,  married  Minnie 
Burke;  second  son,  Cleveland,  single;  third  son,  James, 
single;  fourth  son,  Scott,  single. 

First  daughter,  Clara  Hale,  married  Edgar  Oakley; 
second  daughter.  Banner;  third  daughter,  Lillie;  fourth 
daughter.  Forest;  all  the  family  live  in  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C. 

Second  son  of  Col.  Stephen  Hale  and  wife  Charlotte 
Dickenson,  Reese,  married  Celia  Perkins,  daughter  of 
Levi  Perkins  and  wife,  Milly  Hale;  they  have  a  son  and 
daughters  in  Texas. 

Third  son.  Creed  Hale,  died  single;  was  killed  in  First 
Manassas  battle. 

Fourth  son,  Capt.  John  M.  Hale,  died  single,  at  Staunton, 
Va. 

First  daughter  of  Col.  Stephen  Hale,  Theresa,  married 
Rev.  Russell  Rogers;  lived  in  Washington  county,  Va. 
Their  first  daughter,  Charlotte,  married  Mr.  Neal; 
second,  Mary;  first  son,  Charles;  second  son,  John. 

Col.  Stephen  Hale  married  the  second  time,  Mrs. 
Leonora  Gwyn  Mitchell,  of  Mitchells  River,  N.  C;  they 
had  one  daughter,  Caroline,  who  died  single,  a  grown 
young  lady.  One  son,  James  Gwyn,  died  single,  a  grown 
young  man. 


116  Pioneer  Settlers 

Eli  C.  Hale,  youngest  son  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife, 
married,  first,  Miss  Frances  Scott,  daughter  of  William 
Scott  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Porter;  four  sons:  first,  William 
Stephen,  a  graduate  of  Emory  and  Henry  College.  He 
studied  law,  was  a  representative  in  the  legislature, 
superintendent  of  public  schools;  also  a  teacher.  He 
man-ied  Miss  Mary  Booher  of  Tennessee;  two  daughters: 
first,  Gussie,  married  Vivian  Hale;  one  son,  William 
Scott,  died  young;  another  died  in  infancy;  one  daughter, 
Mamie,  single. 

Second  son,  Robert  Clarke,  married  Mary  McLean; 
one  daughter,  Gussie,  married  Jelane  Rhudy,  Elk  Creek,Va, 

Third  son, Maurice, married  Kate  Perkins;  two  children; 
they  live  at  Blue  Springs,  Va. 

Fourth  son,  Eli  Scott,  lives  at  the  old  Hale  homestead. 
He  married  Miss  Eva  Hale,  daughter  of  Norman  Hale 
and  wife.  Miss  Lillie  Thorntom  of  Hillsville  (daughter 
of  William  Thorntom  and  wife,  Martha  Johnston).  They 
have  one  daughter,  Rachel  Holmes;  one  son. 

Eli  C.  Hale  married  second  time,  Mrs  Lillie  Hale, 
widow  of  Attorney  Normon  Hale,  Hillsville,  Va.;  from  this 
union,  three  children.  Two  died  in  infancy;  third,  Agnes 
Hale,  in  E.  C.  T.  School,  Elk  Creek,  Va. 

There  were  seven  daughters  of  Eli  Hale's  first  family: 
Fu-st,  Laura,  married  Dr.  Emmett  Vaughn;  they  live  in 
Lynchburg,  Va.;  one  daughter.  Alma;  two  more  children. 

The  second  daughter,  Emma,  married  Mr.  Bamett; 
lives  in  Lynchburg,  Va;  first  daughter,  Bessie;  also  one 
son  and  another  daughter. 

Third  daughter,  Mary  Hale  married  Willis  McKinney 
of  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C;  no  issue. 

Fourth  daughter,  Callie  Hale  married  Rev.  John  Pugh; 
one  daughter,  Frances;  one  died  young;  other  children; 
they  live  near  Grant,  Va. 

Fifth  daughter,  Susan  Hale,  married  George  Lambert, 


ELI  C.   HALE 
Thirl  eanth  ol  the  Family  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife,  Frances  Bourne 


Grayson  County,  Va.  117 

Rural  Retreat,  Va.;  two  children. 

Sixth  daughter,  Alvirda  Hale,  married  Mr.  Booher; 
they  have  childien.  Seventh  daughter,  Chatham  Hale, 
married  Mr.  Booher;  they  have  children.  Alvirda  and 
Chatham  Booher  live  near  Bristol,  Tenn. 

Sophia  P.  Hale  and  Dr.  W.  M.  Mitchell  had  five 
daughters  and  one  son. 

First  daughter,  Malinda  M.,  manied  Capt.  William 
Comett;  their  daughter  married  Stephen  Nathaniel 
Nuckolls;  one  son,  married  in  Missouri;  children  there. 

Second  daughter,  Frances,  married  Rufus  Thomas; 
no  issue. 

Third  daughter,  Mary,  married  Ephriam  Gentry;  sons 
and  daughters;  New  River,  Va. 

Fourth  daughter,  Sena,  married  Dodge  L.  Phipps, 
Long's  Gap,  Va.;  two  sons,  two  daughters. 

Fifth  daughter,  Virginia,  married  Newton  Cox;  one 
daughter,  married. 

Only  son,  Samuel  Hale  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  lives  at  the 
Mitchell  homestead,  Elk  Creek,  Virginia.  He  married 
Bessie  Comett,  daughter  of  Monroe  Cornett  and  wife, 
Jane  McCarter;  children:  one  son,  died  in  infancy;  first 
daughter,  Katie  May,  teacher  in  Martha  Washington 
College,  Abingdon,  Virginia.    Second  daughter,  single. 

Stephen  Hale,  Sr.,  sixth  son  of  Lewis  Hale,  Sr.,  married 
Frances  Boiirne,  daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Sr.,  and 
his  wife,  Rosa  Jones;  children:  eight  sons;  first,  Mastin, 
married  Susan  Perkins. 

Second  son,  William  B.,  married  Matilda  Jones. 

Third  son,  Martin,  married  Jestin  Hale,  daughter  of 
Dudley  Hale  and  wife,  Mary  Burroughs. 

Fourth  son,  Warner,  who  died  young. 

Fifth  son,  Fielden  Lewis,  married  Evalina  Anderson, 
daughter  of  Maj.  James  Anderson  and  wife,  Martha  G 
Nuckolls. 


118  Pioneer  Settlers 

Sixth  son,  Clarke,  married  Susan  Garrett  of  Centre, 
Cherokee  county,  Ala. 

Seventh  son,  Chapman  G.,  married  Margaret  Isom, 
daughter  of  David  Isom  and  wife,  Sarah  Choate. 

Eighth  son,  Eli  C,  married  Frances  Scott,  daughter  of 
William  Scott  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Porter,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  Porter  and  wife.  Miss  Cleaves. 

OBITUARY   OF   CAPT.    FIELDEN   LEWIS   HALE 

"'Captain  Hale  is  dead!'  'Yes,  he  is  dead!'  Often 
and  tenderly  these  words  have  passed  from  lip  to  lip 
among  the  people  of  Carroll  county  since  the  news  of 
the  death  of  Captain  Fielden  L.  Hale,  of  Florida,  reached 
here  a  few  days  ago. 

'  'Capt.  Hale  was  bom  on  Elk  Creek  in  Grayson  county, 
Va.,  on  the  9th  day  of  September  1814,  and  died  at  his 
home  in  Seville,  Florida,  November  the  5th,  1894, 
aged  80  years,  1  month  and  26  days.  His  grandfather, 
Lewis  Hale,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  from  data  in  our  possession  it  seems  nearly  certain 
that  he  fought  in  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain  under 
Gen.  Wm.  Campbell.  His  father,  Stephen  Hale,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Capt.  Hale  himself  enlisted 
in  the  Confederate  army  and  served  as  captain  of  a  com- 
pany of  volunteers. 

"The  prime  of  his  manhood  was  spent  in  Hillsville. 
It  was  here  that  he  had  his  largest  and  widest  experience. 
He  was  here  in  business  as  a  merchant  when  ;he  county 
was  formed. 

"His  store  house  then  stood  where  D.  A.  L.  Worrell's 
residence  now  stands.  His  name  appears  frequently 
among  the  records  of  the  first  court  ever  held  in  the  county, 
which  was  the  June  term,  1842.  B.  F.  Cooley  was  then 
appointed  Sheriff  and  F.  L.  Hale  became  his  suiety;  at 
the  same  term  F.  L.  Hale,  John  B.  Mitchell,  and  I.  B. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  119 

Coltrane,  were  appointed  to  superintend  the  building  of 
the  courthouse.     On  the   1st  day  of  September,  1842, 
F.  L.  Hale  was  commissioned  by  the  governor  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  member  of  the  county  court  for  Carroll 
county.     He  held  this  office  for  several  years.     At  the 
June  term,  1849,  he  was  appointed  county  clerk  to  fill  a 
vacancy  and   held   the   office   for  the  unexpired   term. 
In  1858  he  was  elected  c'erk  and  held  the  office  a  full 
term.    The  records  of  his  official  life  everywhere  bear  the 
impress  of  duty  well  performed.    January,  1861,  was  ush- 
ered in  amid  such  clouds  of  war  as  this  country  never  saw 
before.    The  Legislature  of  Virginia  on  the  19th  of  that 
month  passed  the  famous  resolution  for  a  peace  conference, 
all  the  cotton  states  having  just  seceded  from  the  Union. 
The  same  Legislature  called  a  convent'on  of  the  people 
to  decide  upon  the  course  Virginia  should  pursue  towards 
the  Union.    An  election  of  delegates  to  this  convention 
was  held  on  the  4th  of  February,  and  F.  L.   Hale  was 
elected  as  the  delegate  from  Carroll. 

"The  convention  assembled  at  once  and  Mr.  Hale,  with 
a  majority  of  its  members,  was  opposed  to  unconditional 
secession.     The  convention  did  but  little  the  first  sixty 
days  of  its  session.    But  the  time  arrived  when  it  was  plain 
that  the  peace  conference  would   accomplish  nothing. 
On  the  15th  of  April,  President  Lincoln  issued  his  proc- 
lamation   for    seventy-five    thousand    troops,  of  which 
Virginia  was  called  on  to  furnish  her  proper  quota,  to 
suppress  the  action  of  the  seceding  states.     This  proc- 
lamation was  accepted  by  the  south  as  a  declaration  of 
war,  and  three  days  later  the  Virginia  convention  passed 
the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  cast  her  lot  with  that  of 
her  sister  states  of  the  South.    Capt.  Hale  voted  for  and 
signed  this  ordinance.     His  familiar  signature  to  that 
document  may  be  seen  hanging  upon  the  walls  of  the 
State  Library  in  Richmond.    As  an  evidence  of  his  sin- 


120  Pioneer  Settlers 

cerity  and  patriotism  in  this  critical  measure,  Mr.  Hale 
returned  home  and  though  past  the  military  age  entered 
the  army  and  fought  for  the  cause.  He  staked  his  for- 
tunes upon  the  success  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  and 
,lost.  Capt.  Hale's  record  as  a  private  citizen  is  an  inter- 
esting exemplary  one.  The  statutes  upon  the  subject  of 
forfeited  delinquent  lands  from  1832  to  1850  were  in  much 
confusion.  The  Ruston  grant  of  242,000  acres  covered 
all  the  land  in  Carroll  county  north  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
except  a  small  corner  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  coimty. 
This  survey  in  1839  was  declared  forfeited  for  failure  to 
enter  it  on  the  land  books  for  the  purpose  of  taxation. 
It  was  exposed  to  sale  and  purchased  by  D.  Graham, 
Robert  Rapert,  F.  Allison.  As  the  statute  declared  the 
land  forfeited,  the  people  believed  it  was  open  for  re- 
entry and  survey,  and  numerous  indeed  were  the  small 
grants  that  were  then  obtained  for  lands  inside  of  the  Rus- 
ton grant.  Capt.  Hale  procured  between  50,000  and 
100,000  acres  of  land  inside  the  Ruston  grant.  He  sold 
these  lands  in  small  tracts  and  people  settled  upon  them 
in  nearly  every  section  of  the  county.  The  years  rolled 
along  and  finally  the  supreme  court  decided  the  Ruston 
title  to  be  good.  This  decision  created  a  panic  among 
Hale's  purchasers.  There  were  hundreds  of  them.  They 
had  erected  homes,  laid  out  plantations,  and  made  large 
and  costly  improvements. 

*'It  seemed  to  them  that  all  was  lost.  Capt.  Hale, 
though  then  in  failing  circumstances  resulting  from  the 
war,  effected  a  purchase  of  such  portions  of  the  Ruston 
title  as  completely  protected  every  person  who  had 
purchased  from  him. 

"This  was  no  doubt  a  very  trying  period  for  Capt. 
Hale.  It  incurred  a  responsibility  that  a  man  of  doubt- 
ful integrity  would  have  shirked. 

'  On  one  of  his  last  visits  to  Carroll  he  referred  to  it 


LUCINDA  HALE 

Daughter  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife,  Frances  Bourne,  and  wife  of 
Ezra  Nuckolls 


Grayson  County,  Va,  121 

and  a  gleam  of  honest  delight  came  over  his  face  as  he 
remarked  in  the  presence  of  the  writer  that  he  had  never 
sold  a  tract  of  land  to  a  man  who  lost  it. 

"At  the  age  of  26  Capt.  Hale  was  happily  married  to 
Miss  Evelina  Anderson.  She  bore  him  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  The  daughter  died  in  this  town  many  years 
ago.  She  is  still  remembered  by  some  of  our  people  as 
a  beautiful  child;  the  joy  and  constant  companion  of 
her  father;  but  just  as  prattling  childhood  was  merging 
into  womanhood  her  sweet  spirit  like  a  bird  of  spring 
returned  to  the  bright  land  whence  it  came.  The  wife 
died  in  1855.  The  sons  all  grew  to  manhood  and  all 
but  Stephen,  preceded  their  father  to  the  grave.  In  1859 
Capt.  Hale  was  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  Burt,  of 
Alabama,  a  lady  of  the  most  excellent  and  estimable 
qualities.  For  thirty-five  years  she  bore  him  sweet  com- 
panionship and  with  loving  hands  and  loving  heart 
sweetened  his  cares  and  soothed  his  sorrows. 

*'The  hearts  of  the  people  of  old  Carroll  go  out  for  her 
in  tender  sympathy  in  her  sad  bereavement.  As  husband 
and  parent  no  soul  was  more  tender  and  loving  than 
Capt.  Hale.  His  love  for  her,  and  his  attentions  to  his 
wife  and  children  and  grandchildren  was  proverbial  and 
poetical.  Amid  the  severest  calamities  and  afflictions  his 
face  was  a  ray  of  light  in  his  home.  As  a  neighbor  and 
friend  he  was  faithful  and  constant  to  the  end. 

"Reverses  of  fortune,  death  of  his  sons,  calamities 
that  would  have  driven  other  men  to  madness  and  death, 
never  soured  his  nature  or  caused  him  to  murmur.  Envy, 
jealousy  and  malice  had  no  place  in  his  soul.  He  was  kind 
and  generous  to  every  creature  he  met  with  in  this 
world.  He  made  firm  and  lasting  friendships  with  people 
in  every  rank  and  grade  of  society  and  appreciated  the 
friendship  of  the  humblest  creature  in  our  world. 


122  Pioneer  Settlers 

"His  intellectual  qualities  were  of  a  high  order.  He 
seemed  to  know,  to  comprehend  and  recollect  every- 
thing. On  his  last  visit  to  Carroll  he  could  describe  the 
corners  and  lines  of  lands  he  once  owned,  but  which  he 
had  not  seen  for  thirty  years,  with  such  accuracy  that 
there  was  no  trouble  to  go  on  the  ground  and  indentify 
them. 

"For  about  12  years  before  his  death  he  had  made  his 
home  in  Florida,  but  usually  visited  Carroll  once  a  year. 
His  return  in  the  spring  or  early  summer  was  looked  for 
with  delight  by  our  people.  He  would  usually  get  here  by 
the  June  term  of  our  court  and  it  was  often  touching  to 
witness  the  greetings  he  would  receive  from  the  people 
on  the  streets,  especially  from  old  soldiers,  and  from  the 
plain  country  people  that  knew  him  and  loved  him  so 
long.  The  time  for  his  departure  came  and  he  knew  it 
and  felt  it.  The  flowers  of  youth,  and  the  strength  of  his 
manhood  were  gone;  old  age  came  and  lingered,  but  its 
furrows  on  his  face  and  its  weight  upon  his  head  never 
dimmed  or  marred  the  beauty  of  his  character.  To  look 
upon  his  snowy  locks  and  tottering  steps  was  to  increase 
our  love.  He  was  a  ripe  shock  and  ready  for  the  Master's 
garner.    His  peace  with  God  had  long  been  made. 

"  His  faith  and  trust  in  the  mercies  and  goodness  of  the 
everlasting  Father  grew  and  multiplied  as  his  years 
accumulated;  and  when  the  summons  came,  with  the 
radiance  of  immortality  on  his  face  and  eternal  life  in 
sight,  he  went  forth  like  one:  'Who  wraps  the  drapery 
of  his  couch  about  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams."' 

The  five  daughters  of  Stephen  Hale  and  wife  were: 
First,  Lucinda,  mairied  Ezra  Nuckolls,  son  of  John 
Nuckolls  and  wife,  Mary  Garland,  of  Louisa  county,  Va. 

Second,  Rosa  B.,  married  Clarke  S.  Nuckolls,  son  of 
Robert  Garland  Nuckolls  and  wife,  Margaiet  Swift. 
(See  Nuckolls  family.) 


Grayson  County,  Va.  123 

Third,  Mary,  who  died  young. 

Fourth,  Amanda  J.,  married  Col.  Ira  B.  Coltrane. 
(See  Obituary  of  Col.  I.  B.  Coltiane.) 

Fifth,  Sophia  P.,  married  Dr.  William  Marshall  Mitchell, 
son  of  Dr.  Zachariah  Mitchell  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
Newland,  of  Blue  Springs,  Smyth  county,  Va. 

COL.  IRA  B.  COLTRANE 

"A  familiar  form  passed  from  mortal  view  when  on 
the  13th  day  of  May,  1894,  at  his  home  two  miles  west  of 
Hillsville,  Col.  Ira  B.  Coltrane  peacefully  breathed  his 
last,  having  attained  the  good  old  age  of  78  years,  11 
months  and  15  days.  Col.  Coltrane's  life  was  spent  in 
our  midst.  He  leaves  behind  him  more  monuments  to 
his  usefulness  than  perhaps  any  man  that  has  lived  in 
our  section.  When  a  boy  fourteen  years  old  he  drove  a 
team  across  the  Blue  Ridge  at  the  Good  Spur.  On  his 
return,  in  company  with  several  wagons,  when  the  foot  of 
Good  Spur  was  reached,  all  teams  were  hitched  to  the  front 
wagon,  and  by  hard  pulling  and  tugging  it  was  taken 
to  the  top  of  the  mountain.  The  teams  were  all  taken 
back  to  the  foot  and  hitched  to  another  wagon  and  it 
was  taken  up  to  the  top  as  the  first  one  was.  This  thng 
was  repeated  until  every  wagon  landed  safely  on  the 
mountain  top.  While  this  thing  was  going  on  the  young 
teamster  looked  into  the  deep  gorge  just  east  of  Good 
Spur,  where  Paul's  Creek  goes  rippling  down  the  mountain, 
and  in  his  mind  located  a  place  for  a  better  road.  Years 
afterward  when  Virginia  had  embarked  upon  the  policy 
of  internal  improvements,  Col.  Coltrane  was  a  member  of 
the  General  Assembly  and  procured  an  appropriation  to 
open  the  Fancy  Gap  turnpike  across  the  mountain  along 
the  very  line  his  boyish  eyes  had  mapped  out.  He  then 
came  home  and  by  genius  and  skill  located  and  opened  the 
road  across  the  moimtain,  which  is  one  of  the  very  best, 


124  PoiNEER  Settlers 

if  not  the  best,  crossing  of  the  Blue  Ridge  to  be  found  in 
Virginia.  This  crossing  will  never  be  changed,  neither 
its  location  nor  its  grade  can  be  improved.  It  will  remain 
there  as  a  convenience  and  a  blessing  to  the  people  of 
Southwest  Virginia  and  Western  North  Carolina  for  ages 
after  the  face  of  its  projector  and  constructor  has  faded 
from  human  memory. 

*'The  bridge  across  little  Reed  Island  Creek,  two  miles 
north  of  Hillsville,  is  a  model  of  perfection.  It  was  pro- 
nounced by  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  N.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co. 
to  be  as  good  a  wooden  bridge  as  can  be  built  with  human 
hands.  This  bridge  was  built  by  Col.  Coltrane  and  will 
long  stand  as  a  monument  to  his  memory.  The  court 
house  at  Hillsville  is  a  model  of  beauty  and  symmetry. 
It  is  universally  pronounced  to  be  one  of  the  soundest, 
most  durable,  as  well  as  convenient,  structures  that  can 
be  reared.  Col.  Coltrane  was  its  builder  and  its  architect. 
Long  before  it  was  finished  Col.  Coltrane  saw  hat  he 
would  lose  money  on  his  contract;  but  he  went  on  to 
completion  without  one  inferior  piece  of  material  or  one 
inferior  piece  of  workmanship  going  into  it.  The  stone 
wall  and  the  stone  steps  in  front  of  the  court  house  and 
some  of  the  cut  stone  in  the  building  were  not  in  his 
contract,  but  he  was  unwilling  to  turn  off  anything  but 
a  good  job  and  so  he  did  this  work  and  received  no  pay 
for  it.  It  would  be  next  to  impossible  to  tell  how  often 
Col.  Coltrane  has  been  appointed  to  draw  plans  for  build- 
ings, to  assess  damages,  to  receive  work  that  was  being 
done  for  the  county  and  to  perform  other  duties  of  that 
kind,  but  just  as  often  as  he  was  appointed  he  performed 
his  duties  faithfully  and  well.  He  drew  the  plan  for  the 
first  court  house  and  jail  ever  built  in  our  county.  He 
was  Colonel  of  Militia,  and  had  served  in  both  branches 
of  the  legislature.  But  of  all  the  monuments  he  has  erected 
the  grandest  one  is  his  character  for  truth  and  honesty. 


AMANDA  J.   HALE 

Daughter  of  Stephen  Hale,  St.,  and  wife,  Frances  Bourne,  and  wife  of 

Col.  Ira  B.  Coltrane 


Grayson  County,  Va.  125 

If  there  was  ever  a  track  of  falsehood,  flattery,  deceit,  or 
corruption  in  his  composition  it  had  been  carefully  rooted 
out.  His  manner  sometimes  seemed  rough,  and  his  words 
sometimes  sounded  harsh  but  they  were  utterances  of  the 
plain,  unvarnished  truth,  nevertheless,  without  affixes, 
prefixes  or  adjectives. 

"In  his  legislative  life  his  name  was  a  terror  to  all 
lobbyists.  He  would  snap  their  heads  off  with  as  much 
composure  as  he  would  snap  the  idler  who  came  around 
him  to  meddle  with  his  business  or  his  work.  A  person  fond 
of  feeding  on  flattery  could  never  have  enjoyed  Col. 
Coltrane  as  a  companion  or  associate.  On  the  other 
hand  a  person  contented  with  fair  dealing,  with  firm  and 
unyielding  friendship  unmixed  with  falsehood  or  deceit, 
would  love  him  for  his  sterling  qualities.  Beneath  his 
stem  exterior  there  beat  a  kind  and  loving  heart.  Col. 
Coltrane  was  married  to  Amanda  Hale  of  Giayson  county, 
on  the  9th  of  June,  1844.  She  and  seven  of  the  children 
bom  to  their  union  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  Mrs. 
E.  L.  Williams  is  the  only  child  that  survives  to  mourn 
his  death.  During  the  long,  long  months  of  his  illness 
she  sat  at  his  side  and  administered  to  his  wants  as  only 
faithful  woman  can  do.  Several  small  grandchildren 
by  a  deceased  daughter,  Mrs.  G.  T.  Burroughs,  and  the 
children  of  Mrs.  Williams,  are  his  descendants.  May  the 
spirit  and  the  mantle  of  the  honest  and  upright  grand- 
father rest  upon  them.  For  some  time  before  his  death 
Col.  Coltrane  knew  that  his  days  were  numbered,  and 
that  he  was  lingering  at  death's  door;  but  he  was  not 
afraid.  He  had  not  overlooked  the  subject  of  religion. 
He  had  read  and  studied  the  bible;  he  had  examined  the 
creeds  and  tenets  of  faith  of  the  prevailing  denominations 
in  this  section  of  thecountry;  but  he  never  joined  any  church. 
He  looked  upon  his  own  judgment  and  the  promptings 
of  his  own  conscience  as  his  safest  guide  to  a  correct 


126  Pioneer  Settlers 

understanding  of  his  duties  towards  God  and  towards 
man;  and  these  he  faithfully  followed.  He  stated  in  his 
last  sickness  that  he  had  yielded  himself  into  the  hands  of 
God  and  trusted  Him  to  do  whatever  was  right.  We  know 
that  he  went  into  the  presence  of  his  Maker  with  no  lie  on  his 
lips  and  no  hypocrisy  on  his  soul.  He  had  lived  long  and 
no  doubt  met  upon  the  other  bank  of  the  mysterious 
river  thousands  whom  he  had  known  in  this  life;  but  it 
is  safe  to  say  he  met  no  one  there  upon  whom  he  had  com- 
mitted a  fraud,  or  to  whom  he  had  in  this  life  done  inten- 
tional wrong.  One  of  the  largest  crowds  that  ever  assembled 
at  our  village  cemetery  gathered  around  his  open  coffin 
to  take  a  last  sad  look  at  the  face  they  had  known  so 
long  and  so  well  and  then  with  loving  hands  the  casket 
was  interred  close  by  his  wife  and  children  and  among 
the  relatives  that  for  generations  have  been  buried  there. 

*'Were  a  star  quenched  on  high, 
For  ages  would  it  light 
Still  travelling  downward  from  the  sky 
Shine  on  our  mortal  sight; 
So  when  a  good  man  dies 
For  years  beyond  our  ken 
The  light  he  leaves  behind  him  lies 
Upon  the  paths  of  men."  B. 

James  Scott  was  from  Ireland,  and  married  Rachel 
Holmes.  She  was  of  the  nobility  of  Scotland,  and  theie 
was  so  much  opposition  and  displeasure  with  her  family 
that  James  Scott  and  his  wife  emigrated  to  America,  and 
settled  in  Rye  Valley,  near  Blue  Springs,  Va.  Their  son, 
James,  married  Margaret  Porter;  one  son.  Rev.  Andrew 
Scott. 

Their  son,  William,  married  Elizabeth  Porter.  Eliza- 
beth and  Margaret  were  daughters  of  Andrew  Porter 
and  wife,  Miss  Gleaves,  who  was  a  sister  of  Maj.  James 


Grayson  County,  Va.  127 

Gleaves,  of  what  is  now  Wythe  county,  Va.  The  descend- 
ants of  William  Scott  and  family  are  given  on  preceding 
pages. 

Capt.  Lewis  Hale,  fifth  son  of  Lewis  Hale,  Sr.,  married 
Elizabeth  Bourne,  daughter  of  William  Bourne  and  wife, 
Rosa  Jones;  they  had  four  sons:  First,  Jackson,  mairied 
Catherine  Isom;  second,  Washington,  married  Nancy 
Hale,  daughter  of  Francis  Hale;  third,  Rufus,  married 
Nancy  Hale,  daughter  of  Dudley  Hale;  fourth,  Capt. 
Peyton  N.,  married  Amanda  Cornett,  daughter  of  Col. 
Eli  Cornett  and  wife,  Sena  Hale. 

Four  daughters:  first,  Milly,  married  Levi  Perkins. 

Second,  Celia,  married  Mr.  Rutherford. 

Third,  Elvira,  married  Mr.  Davenport. 

Fourth,  Rosa  B.,  married  Charles  Daugherty;  one  son, 
Lindsey;  others  in  Texas. 

Maj.  Peyton  G.  Hale  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  in 
both  Church  and  State ;  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  in  1882 
when  the  question  of  the  state  debt  was  discussed,  and  the 
question  of  Funding  and  Readjusting  was  coming  before 
the  Senate  for  a  vote.  Hale  and  three  other  membeis 
left  the  house,  and  were  known  as  the  "Big  Four." 
They  were  Maj.  Peyton  G.  Hale,  Judge  Lybrook,  Mr. 
Williams  and  Mr.  Newberry.  They  refused  to  follow 
Mahone  into  the  Republican  party;  did  not  like  Mahone's 
methods  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  State. 

DEATH  OF  MAJOR  HALE 

*' Information  has  been  received  here  of  the  death,  at 
his  home  in  Grayson  county,  yesterday,  of  Major  Peyton  G. 
Hale,  one  of  the  immortal' big  four'  who  fought  Mahone's 
methods  in  the  Legislature,  and  did  much  towards  clinch- 
ing the  nails  in  his  political  coffin. 

"Major  Hale  was  what  Albert  Pike  would  call  *a 
Virginia  gentleman  of  the  olden  time.'    Honest,  brave, 


128  Pioneer  Settlers 

patriotic,  and  true  to  every  trust  or  responsibility,  he 
was  a  typical  Virginian,  and  his  death  will  be  mourned 
by  all  who  knew  him  for  his  worth." 

William  Hale  and  wife  had  four  daughters:  first,  Susan, 
married  Morgan  Bryant,  a  Methodist  minister.  Their 
first  son,  Shadrack,  was  also  a  Methodist  Minister;  he 
married  Sallie  Bryant,  his  cousin;  they  have  sons  and 
daughters. 

Second  son,  Gideon,  died  single. 

First  daughter,  Lucy,  married  Henderson  Cheek; 
they  have  sons  and  daughters. 

Second  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Archibald  Edwaids. 
Their  first  son,  William  Edwards,  man  led  Lucy  Dicken- 
son. One  daughter  married  John  Murphy.  Second, 
Morgan,  married;  Wythe  county;  one  daughter  married 
Prof.  Gentry;  one  daughter,  Rosa  Bryant,  married 
Columbus  Fulton,  Independence,  Va.;  one  daughter 
married  J.  H.  Rhudy,  lawyer  (see  children);  second 
daughter  married  Mr.  Couch. 

Elizabeth,  second  daughter  of  William  Hale,  married 
David  Whitman,  W3rthe  county,  Va.;  they  had  two 
daughters:  first,  Caroline,  married  George  W.  Gentry, 
and  moved  to  Texas;  second,  Nancy,  married  Peter 
Gallagher;  they  had  three  sons,  Emmett,  Patrick,  Marvin, 
and  three  daughters,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Nannie.  Peter 
Gallagher's  wife,  Nancy,  died  while  they  lived  in  Wythe- 
ville,  Va.  He  was  appointed  under  President  Cleveland, 
and  went  to  Pocatello,  Idaho.  Emmett  is  married  and 
lives  in  the  West;  Patrick  died  in  the  West;  Marvin  is 
married,  and  lives  in  the  West;  Mary  married  and  lives 
in  Pocatello,  Idaho;  they  have  children;  Elizabeth 
manied  Mr.  Green  and  lives  in  Pocatello,  Idaho;  they 
have  children.    Nannie  married,  and  died  in  California. 

One  son,  Stephen  Whitman,  married  Linnie  Hale, 
daughter  of  Stephen  M.  Hale  and  wife,  Rosa  Bourne; 


STEPHEN  FRIEL  NUCKOLLS 


Grayson  County,  Va.  129 

they  live  in  Texas.  Clarke  married  and  moved  to  Texas. 
David,  Jr.,  married  Malvina  Porter,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Porter  and  wife,  Margaret  McNutt,  Cripple  Creek,  Va. 
Mrs.  Whitman  died  in  1882  at  the  family  homestead, 
and  is  buried  on  Cripple  Creek.  After  her  death,  the 
family  moved  to  Wilmore,  Ky.  Their  first  daughter, 
Gertrude,  married  in  Kentucky;  second  daughter, 
Margaret,  married  Dr.  Haller;  they  live  in  Pocahontas, 
Va.,  and  have  children.  Third  daughter,  Jennie,  married 
Mr.  A.  H.  Jordan,  a  druggist,  in  Pulaski,  Va. ;  they  have 
two  children,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth. 

Fourth  daughter,  Blanche,  married  Mr.  Galloway, 
cashier  of  the  Bank  in  Pocahontas,  Va.  Fifth  daughter, 
Lillie,  is  a  teacher,  single.  Sixth  daughter,  Nannie,  is  a 
teacher,  single. 

William  Whitman  married  Miss  Sloan,  Pulaski,  Va. 
They  have  a  large  family  of  children,  and  live  near  Pulaski, 
Va. 

Clay  Whitm.an  mairied  Caroline  Kegley;  first  son, 
John  A.  Whitman,  married  Miss  Carrie  Heuser  and  is 
editor  of  the  Southwest  Virginia  Enterprise,  Wythe- 
ville,  Va. 

William  H.  married  Miss  Cleaves;  lives  in  Loudon 
county,  Va. 

Sidney  married  Rosamond  Vaughn,  daughter  of  Rev. 
T.  C.  Vaughn  and  wife,  Lucy  Hale. 
Fifth,  George,  died  single. 

Nancy,  third  daughter  of  Wm.  Hale,  married  David 
Gose,  Cripple  Creek,  Va.,  one  son,  William,  married  Susan 
Umberger;  one  son,  John,  is  mayor  of  Bristol,  Tenn; 
one  daughter. 

First  daughter,  Rosa,  married  Lewis  Perkins,  moved  to 
Texas;  Matilda,  first  married  Riley  Moore;  second  time, 
married  Leonard  Sutherland,  Elk  Creek,  Virginia;  the 
fourth  daughter  of  William  Hale  and  wife,  Rosa,  married 


130  Pioneer  Settlers 

John  Dickenson;  they  lived  on  New  River;  had  sons 
and  daughters.     (See  Martin  Dickenson  family  history.) 

Dudley  Hale,  third  son  of  Lewis  Hale,  Sr.,  married 
Mary  Burroughs;  he  was  a  soldier,  and  with  his  five 
brothers,  went  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  in  the  war  of  1812.  Capt. 
Lewis  Hale,  his  brother,  was  in  charge  of  the  company. 
Dudley  Hale  died  while  they  were  in  Norfolk.  His  wife 
died  in  a  short  time  after  her  husband;  his  brothers  took 
their  children  and  reared  them.  There  were  five  sons  and 
five  daughters;  Preston,  Franklin,  and  James,  moved  to 
Cherokee  county,  Alabama.  Burroughs  married  Miss 
Sutherland  and  settled  on  Elk  Creek;  their  first  son,  Alex- 
ander, first  married  a  Miss  Catron.  Second  wife.  Miss 
Lucinda  Wheeler,  of  Knob  Fork.  Second  son.  Eh,  mar- 
ried Miss  Hampton;  one  daughter  married  Hackler. 
Burroughs  Hale's  second  wife  was  Miss  Clara  Houk;  two 
daughters  by  second  wife:  first  daughter  married  Haw- 
kins; second,  Amanda,  married  Jacob  Thomas,  of  Elk 
Creek;  one  son,  Jo,  man ied  Bourne;  one  daughter,  mar- 
red;  Cora,  first  daughter,   married  Elbert  Ring. 

Lewis  B.  Hale,  son  of  Burroughs  Hale,  married  Margaret 
Huddle  of  Wythe  county,  Va.;  their  first  son,  Lef trick, 
married  Miss  Hale;  Gideon  married  Jestina  Bryant; 
Peyton  died  single;  John  married  Miss  Bryant;  Mastin, 
Jr.,  married  Caroline  Hale;  Lewis,  Jr.,  married  Miss 
James,  of  Wji:he  county,  Va. 

First  daughter,  Keziah,  mairied  Ephriam  Bourne; 
their  first  daughter,  Linnie,  married  Mr.  Vaughn;  Rosa 
married  James  Rhudy;  third  married  Vaught;  fourth 
daughter  married  John  McLean;  first  son,  James,  in 
Missouri;  second  daughter,  Jane,  died  single;  third, 
Olive,  married  Montgomery  Bourne;  fourth,  Sallie, 
James  Yontz. 

The  five  daughters  of  Dudley   Hale:     first,   Mary, 


Grayson  County,  Va.  131 

married  James  Brewer;  moved  to  Georgia;  have  sons  and 
daughtei-s. 

Second,  Sarah,  married  Joseph  Bryant,  Bridle  Creek. 

Their  first  son,  Stephen,  married  Mazie  Phipps,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Phipps  and  wife,  Nancy  McMillan;  their  first 
daughter,  Jennie,  married  Crockett  Mallory;  second 
daughter  married,  first,  John  Hale;  one  son,  Wallace 
Graham.  Third  daughter  man  led  Dan  Busic,  treasurer 
of  Grayson  county. 

Second  son,  William  Bryan c,  married  Emmeline, 
daughter  of  Isom  Cox;  they  have  one  daughter,  who 
married  John  M.  Parsons,  lawyer  and  state  senator  of 
Grayson  county,  Va. 

One  daughter,  married  Burt  Bagwell. 

One  daughter,  married  Charles  Cox,  son  of  Harden 
Cox,  of  Potato  Creek,  Va. 

The  three  daughters  of  Joseph  Bryant  and  wife  Sarah 
Hale: 

First,  Rosa,  first  married  Noah  Weaver;  lived  at 
Weaver's  Ford,  New  River;  second,  married  Mr.  Dixon. 

Second,  Olive,  first  married  Ed  Greer,  Grassy  Creek, 
N.  C;  second  time  roanied  Mr.  Pierce. 

Thud  daughter,  Jestin,  first  married  Gideon  Hale, 
Elk  Creek;  second,  married  James  Greer,  Grassy  Creek, 
North  Carolina. 

Fourth  daughter  of  Stephen  Bryant  married  Dan 
Busic;  their  first  daughter  married  Emmett  Cox;  lives 
at  Peach  Bottom,  Virginia;  second,  Rosa,  married 
Fitzhugh  Lundy,  Independence;  one  son,  Busic,  married 
Lundy,  daughter  of  Ellis  Lundy  and  wife,  Alice  Hale, 
Independence,  Va. 

One  son  of  Stephen  Bryant  and  Mazie  Phipps  Kenerly, 
married  Etta  Phipps,  daughter  of  Joseph  Phipps  and 
wife,  Cynthia  Bourne.  First  daughter  married  Dr. 
Robinson;    lives    at    Woodlawn,    Carroll    county,    Va.; 


132  Pioneer  Settlers 

second,  married  R.  S.  Fulton,  second  son  of  Joseph 
Bryant;  Aaron,  died  when  a  young  man,  in  Mississippi. 

Third  son,  Lewis  Hale,  married  Drucy  Phipps;  their  first 
son,  Joseph,  married  Miss  Graham.  Second  son,  John, 
married  Lesbia  Phipps,  daughter  of  Columbus  Phipps 
and  Nannie  Cox.  They  have  children,  and  live  in  Texas. 
Third  son,  Alexander,  married  Bena  Cox,  daughter  of 
Isom  Cox  and  wife,  Jensey  Phipps. 

Fourth  son,  I.  B.  Bryant,  manied  Miss  Reeves;  one 
son,  Lewis  Preston.  L  B.  Bryant  is  Grayson  county 
court  clerk. 

First  daughtei-  of  Lewis  H.  Bryant  married  James 
Perkins,  lawyer;  second  daughter  married  James  R. 
Hale;  live  in  Oregon.  One  son,  Jo,  married  Miss  Graham, 
N.  C.  One  son,  Robert,  married  Con  Phipps,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Phipps  and  Cynthia  Bourne,  Bridle  Creek,  Va. 
Second  daughter  married  Mr.  Spicer.  Third  daughter, 
Phoebe,  Married  Mr.  Thompson,  North  Carolina. . 

This  family  of  Bryants  is  related  to  William  Jennings 
Bryan,  "The  Commoner."  Francis  Bryan,  the  father  of 
Morgan  Bryan,  was  a  brother  of  William  J.  Bryan's 
great-grandfather.  Francis  Bryan  and  his  sister,  Eliza- 
beth, came  to  Southwest  Virginia;  first  stopped  at  "Fort 
Chiswell,"  afterward  went  across  to  what  is  now  Grayson 
county,  Va.  Elizabeth  mairied  John  Sutherland;  Francis 
married  Phoebe  Woodruff.  (See  Bryan  History  by  Mrs. 
W.  J.  Bryan.) 

Third  daughter  of  Joseph  Bryant  married  second  time, 
Jones  Greer,  Grassy  Creek,  North  Carolina;  son  and 
daughters. 

Third  daughter  of  Dudley  Hale,  Jestin,  married  Martin 
Hale  and  settled  in  Leesburg,  Cherokee  county,  Ala. 
(See  history  of  Stephen  Hale,  Sr.,  and  Frances  Bourne's 
descendants.) 

Fourth  daughter  married  Rufus  Hale  (see  history  of 


LUCINDA  BOURNE 
Daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Mary  Johnston,  and  wife  of 
Stephen  Friel  Nuckolls 


Grayson  County,  Va.  133 

Lewis  Hale  and  Elizabeth  Bourne's  descendants).  They 
also  settled  in  Cherokee  county,  Ala. 

Fifth  daughter,  Olive,  married  Levi  Comett  (see 
Canute),  and  they  lived  and  died  on  Elk  Creek,  where 
Dudley  Hale  first  settled;  their  first  son,  Franklin,  mar- 
ried first.  Miss  Austin;  they  had  sons  and  daughters. 
Second  time,  married  Miss  Daniel;  they  had  sons  and 
daughters;   lived  at  Summerfield,  Elk  Creek. 

Nancy,  daughter  of  Dudley  Hale,  married  Rufus  Hale, 
son  of  Capt.  Lewis  Hale;  lives  in  Cherokee  county, 
Alabama;  has  children. 

Francis  Hale  married  Elizabeth  Burroughs;  they  had 
two  daughters;  fu-st  daughter,  Nancy,  married  Washing- 
ton Hale,  son  of  Capt.  Lewis  Hale  and  wife,  Elizabeth 
Bourne.  They  moved  to  Cherokee  county,  Ala.;  they 
had  one  daughter,  Jane,  who  married  Mr.  Stiff,  an  editor 
in  Center,  Ala.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stiff  have  a  son,  Washing- 
ton Stiff,  who  lives  in  Center,  Alabama.  He  married 
Miss  Martha  Senter.  Washington  Stiff  is  editor  of  The 
Harmonizer,  Center,  Alabama.  Second  daughter  of 
Francis  Hale  married  Mr.  Massensmith.  Francis  Hale 
had  five  sons:  first,  Thomas,  married  Sallie  Sutherland; 
second.  Wicks,  married  Miss  Delp;  third,  Fontaine, 
married  Miss  Martin;  fourth,  Dudley,  married  Miss 
Wright;  fifth,  Frank,  Jr.,  married  Betsy  Huddle,  of 
Wythe  county,  Virginia;  their  first  son,  Lee,  killed  in  the 
Confederate  war;  second,  Lindsey;  third,  Nicholas, 
married  Hale;   have  children. 

First  daughter,  Amanda,  married  Churchill  Boyer; 
their  first  son,  Watson,  married  Ellen  Boyer;  second  son, 
Samuel,  is  a  practicing  physician;  first  daughter,  Bettie, 
married  Mr.  Herrington;  second  Luzana,  married  Mr. 
Schuler;  they  have  one  daughter,  married  Mr.  Neff, 
Rural  Retreat,  Va. 


134  Pioneer  Settlers 

Lewis  Hale  (2)  married  Miss  Gantrell  of  Tennessee; 
they  have  two  sons,  Granville,  and  William,  who  went 
to  Texas  and  married;  and  two  daughters,  first,  Martha, 
married  William  R.  Dickey,  Independence,  Va.  They  have 
one  son,  James,  who  married  Miss  Taylor,  Mt.  Airy, 
N.  C;  they  have  two  daughters;  first,  married  Charlie 
Bourne,  son  of  Capt.  R.G. Bourne;  second,  liiarried  Thos. 
Dobyns,  of  Patrick  county,  Va.  Then-  first  daughter, 
Mary,  married  John  Wiley;  went  west;  have  children. 
Second  daughter,  Cynthia  Dickey,  married  William  Warren 
of  Noith  Carolina;  they  have  one  daughter,  who  mar- 
ried Rev.  Terry  Fulton. 

Second  daughter  of  Lewis  Hale,  Ellen,  married  James 
Ballard;  first  son,  William,  married  first  in  California; 
married  second  time.  Miss  Emma  Ballard,  of  Old  Town, 
Virginia;  they  have  one  son,  James  Ballard;  have  one 
daughter.  Bell,  who  married  Winfield  Perkins,  Hilton, 
North  Carolina,  son  of  W.  Perkins  and  wife.  Bell  Ballard; 
one  son,  Edwin,  married  Zollie  Bryant,  Bridle  Creek, 
Virginia. 

Third  son  of  William  Hale,  William  J.,  married  Sarah 
Porter,  of  Cripple  Creek,  Wythe  county,  Va.  One  son, 
Stephen  Porter  Hale,  the  only  child,  was  a  cripple  from  a 
boy.  Following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  written  by  him  to 
the  author: 

"I,  Stephen  P.  Hale,  son  of  William  and  Sarah  Hale, 
was  born  Nov.  1st.,  1825,  and  married  to  Elmira  Gantrell, 
Jan.  1st,  1856.  From  this  union,  were  four  children,  to- wit : 
Sarah  Alice,  Nov.  25th,  1856;  William,  Dec.  17th,  1858; 
Mary  Elmira,  Jan.  25th,  1861;  Stephen  Porter,  bom 
Feb.  13th,  1863,  and  died,  Sept.  5th,  1863.  My  wife, 
Elmira  G.  Hale,  departed  this  life  on  April  1st,  1863, 
and  on  Oct.  2nd,  I  was  married  to  Miss  Cornelia  V. 
Yearwood,  of  McMinn  coimty,  Tenn.,  who  died  June 
9th,  without  issue;  and  on  April  7th,  1870,  I  was  again 


SOPHIA  P.   HALE 
Daughter  of  Stephen  Hale,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Frances  Bourne,  and  wife  of 
Dr.  William  M.  Mitchell 


Grayson  County,  Va.  135 

married  to  Mrs.  Susan  A.  Palmore,  formerly  Miss  Susan 
A.  Price,  of  Cumberland  county,  Va.  From  this  union 
have  been  bom  five  children,  to-wit:  Lillie  Hale,  May 
6th,  1872;  Charles  P.  Hale,  May  7th,  1874;  Stephen  P. 
Hale,  Oct.  10th,  1876;  Susan  Albina  Hale,  bom  Feb. 
7th,  1879,  and  died  Oct.  22nd,  1880.  Thomas  Newton 
Hale  was  born,  April  21st,  1881. 

"My  oldest  daughter,  Sarah,  spent  about  seven  years 
in  Mexico  as  a  missionary  in  the  service  of  the  foreign 
missionary  board  of  the  Baptist  Church,  but  her  health 
failing,  she  returned  home  to  recuperate,  and  is  now  at 
Carson  and  Newman  College  at  Jefferson  City,  Tenn., 
teaching  a  class  in  Spanish.  She  expects  to  go  back  Lo 
Mexico  when  her  health  will  permit. 

"Thomas  N.,  the  youngest,  is  still  with  us  and  has 
charge  of  the  farm.  All  the  others  are  married  and  settled 
on  farms  in  the  county.  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  George  G. 
Florida;  is  the  mother  of  five  living  children.  Mary 
Elmh-a  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  N.  Bicknell,  and  the  mother 
of  six  living  children;  William  is  living  at  the  place  where 
I  lived  when  you  were  at  our  home.  These  seventeen  are 
all  the  living  grandchildren  I  have. 

"My  three  oldest  children  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  The  four  youngest,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
My  wife  and  myself  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

"You  request  that  I  state  what  has  been  my  profession 
or  vocation  through  life. 

"About  twenty-two  years— from  1843  to  1865—1  spent 
in  teaching  school;  twelve  years  as  Clerk  and  Master  of 
the  Court  of  Monroe  county,  from  1865  to  1877;  about  ten 
years  in  pretending  to  practice  law.  The  balance  of  my 
time  and  attention  has  been  devoted  to  looking  after  my 
farming  and  other  interests. 

"For  the  last  few  years,  I  have  been  mostly  confined 
to  my  rolling  chair,  though  I  am  still  able  to  ride  little  a 


136  Pioneer  Settlers 

in  the  saddle  or  buggy.  I  was  born  in  McMinn  county, 
Tenn.,  and  most  of  my  life,  my  home  has  been  in  the 
two  counties,  McMinn  and  Monroe." 

Following  is  a  copy  of  part  of  a  letter  from  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Hale,  written  to  the  author  from  Jerusalem,  Pales- 
tine, Dec.  6th,  1906: 

"I  returned  to  Mission  Field,  Mexico,  after  my  father's 
death,  but  my  eyes,  after  one  and  a  half  years  work, 
became  so  weak  that  I  decided  to  come  abroad  for  a 
year  or  cwo. 

"I  sailed  last  March  from  Galveston,  Texas;  spent  two 
days  in  Bremen,  a  few  hours  in  Hanover,  two  days  in 
Berlin,  and  two  days  in  Dresden,  sight-seeing,  contin- 
ually; then  on  to  Vienna,  where  I  spent  one  night,  then 
through  Servia,  Bulgaria,  and  ancient  Macedonia,  through 
the  historic  City  of  Phillippi  to  Constantinople.  There  I 
spent  a  week,  then  came  down  the  Mediterranean  to 
Athens,  Greece,  in  a  steamer  crowded  with  Greeks  going 
to  the  Olympic  Games.  I  stopped  a  few  hours  at  Athens, 
then  went  on  same  steamer  to  Alexandria,  Egypt,  from 
there  to  Jaffa  and  to  Jerusalem,  arriving  here  last  April. 
I  soon  determined  to  spend  a  year  here,  to  know  the 
country  in  all  seasons. 

"I  made  the  overland  journey  to  Nazareth  and  the 
sea  of  Galilee  last  spring,  seeing  Jacob's  well,  the  ruins 
of  Samaria,  on  the  way;  then  visited  Damascus  and 
Baalbec, going  and  returning  byway  of  Hafiaand  Beyroot. 

"It  was  after  my  return  to  Jerusalem  that  I  learned 
that  Mr.  P.  L.  Stanton  and  I  have  the  same  great-grand- 
father, Lewis  Hale.  It  was  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to 
meet  a  relative  in  this  land,  so  far  from  home.  He  has 
traveled  a  great  deal  in  America,  Europe,  and  the  East. 
He  is  a  voluminous  writer  and  a  fine  conversationalist. 

"His  piety  and  sound  judgment  have  enabled  him  to 
accomplish  good  during  bis  sojourn  in  this  city,  and  he 


MAJOR  PEYTON  G.  HALE 
Son  of  William  Hale  and  wife,   Lucy  Stone.     He  was  one  of  the  "Big  Four" 


Grayson  County,  Va.  137 

has  won  for  himself  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  he 
meets." 

Following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  the  author  received  from 
Peyton  L.  Stanton,  who  was  then  living  in  Jerusalem, 
Palestine,  November  27th,  1906. 

*'I  graduated  at  Emory  and  Henry  College,  in  the 
class  of  1876.  In  1875  I  was  licensed  to  preach  there  in 
Washington  county,  Emory  Circuit;  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  North  Georgia  Conference  in  1877,  ordained 
Deacon  in  1879,  and  Elder  in  1881.  I  wastransfenedto 
Denver  Conference  in  1882,  and  spent  ten  years  in  New 
Mexico  and  Colorado;  then  transferred  to  Calif  on  ia,  and 
two  years  later  went  back  to  North  Georgia  Conference, 
of  which  I  was  a  member  until  two  years  ago,  when  I 
was  located  at  my  own  request. 

"On  the  25th  of  this  month,  November,  four  years  ago, 
I  left  New  York  for  the  East.  I  was  first  in  Egypt  for 
about  three  months,  and  then  came  over  land  from  there 
in  March.  Jerusalem  has  been  my  headquarters  since 
March  11th,  1903.  I  came  here  for  some  special  study 
in  connection  with  the  land,  the  Book,  and  the  people; 
I  do  not  know  when  I  will  finish  my  work." 

Charles  Hale  was  the  fourth  son  of  William  Hale  and 
wife,  Lucy  Stone.  Charles  Hale  married  first,  Jane  Suther- 
land of  Elk  Creek;  firsUon^Fblden,  married  Tibitha  Tom- 
blin;  they  have  one^sonT James,  who  married  a  Bryant; 
one  daughter,  Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Gaither,  of 
North  Carolina. 

Second  son.  Creed  Hale,  went  to  Texas;  married  there, 
and  has  children. 

Third  son,  Johnston,  married,  first  time,  Caroline  Os- 
bourne.  Bridle  Creek;  one  daughter  who  married  William 
Hampton  and  moved  to  Oregon ;  one  son  went  west.  Johns- 
ton married  second  time;  has  children.  First  daughter, 
Elvira  Hale  married  Geo.  W.  McGuu-e,  teacher,  from 


138  Pioneer  Settlers 

North  Carolina;  they  moved  to  Missouri;  have  children. 

Second  daughter,  Rosa  Hale,  married  Orville  Moore, 
son  of  Isaac  Moore  and  wife,  Euphamia  Jones;  both 
died;  no  children.  Fourth,  Elizabeth  Hale,  married  Alfred 
Mallory;  sons  and  daughters. 

Third  daughter,  Sarah  Hale,  married  Harvey  Vaughan, 
of  Knob  Fork.    They  have  sons  and  daughters. 

Charles  Hale's  second  wife  was  Rosa  Comer,  daughter 
of  Harvey  Comer  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Bourne;  their  first 
son,  Reese,  married  Theresa  Comett,  of  Elk  Creek; 
three  sons,  Charles,  a  Methodist  minister;  second,  died; 
third,  June,  married  a  Reeves, 

Second  son,  Elbert  Hale,  married  Nannie  McLean, 
daughter  of  John  M.  McLean  and  wife;  they  have  three 
daughters  who  live  in  Missouri. 

Lucy,  first  daughter  of  Charles  Hale  and  Rosa  Comer, 
married  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Vaughn,  Spring  Valley;  their  first 
son,  Marvin,  married  Clyde  McCamant,  daughter  of 
T.  J.  McCamant  and  wife,  Ellen  Hale;  second  son,  John 
Vaughn,  married  Miss  Rhudy;  first  daughter  married 
Jack  Porter;  second  daughter  married  Phillip  Herington, 
lawyer, of  Independence,  Va.;  they  have  one  son,  Thomas; 
third,  Rosa  Vaughn,  married  Sidney  P.  Whitman,  of 
Wythe  county,  Va. 

Second  daughter,  Charlotte  Hale,  married  George  Delp, 
of  Elk  Creek;  one  daughter,  married  Roscoe  Pbipps, 
Elk  Creek,  Va. 

Charles  Hale's  third  wife,  Mrs.  Tabitha  Bourne  Hale, 
widow  of  Tivis  Hale,  had  two  daughters;  Flora,  who 
married  Martin  Comett,  Elk  Creek;  one  daughter,  mar- 
ried; second  daughter  married  Leonidas  Ward,  son  of 
Ballard  E.  Ward  and  Amelia  G.  Nuckolls;  sons:Everett, 
Gwyn,  Leonidas;  daughter,  Ruth;  one  son,  Basil. 

Montgomery  Hale  married  Sarah  Ann  Anders,  of 
Washington  county,  Va.;  they  had  one  son,  Leonidas,  who 


Grayson  County,  Va.  139 

died  young;  one  daughter,  Margaret  Ellen,  married 
William  J.  Comett,of  Elk  Creek.  They  have  one  son, 
Leonidas,  who  married  Minnie  Kiesling,  Wythe  county, 
Va.,  daughter  of  Emory  Kiesling. 

Mrs.  Amanda  Hale  married  the  second  time,  John  M. 
McLean,  of  Guilford  county.  North  Carolina;  had  four 
daughters  and  one  son.  Fu^t  daughter,  Mary,  married 
Robert  Clarke  Hale,  son  of  Eli  C.  Hale;  one  daughter, 
Gussie,  married  Jelane  Rhudy. 

Second  daughter,  Nannie,  married  Elbert  Hale,  son  of 
Charles  Hale,  of  Knob  Fork;  they  have  two  children; 
live  in  Missouri. 

Third,  Sena,  married  Charles  Bryant,  son  of  Joseph 
Bryant,  Bridle  Creek,  Va.;  first  daughter  Zollie,  married 
Ed  Perkins,  Hilton,  N.  C;    Ada,  Sena,  Rosa,  single. 

Fourth  daughter,  Sallie,  married  Edgar  Phipps;  lives 
on  Bridle  Creek. 

One  son,  John  M.,  (2)  married  Miss  Young;  they  have 
three  children;  live  at  Fries;  he  is  cashier  of  Fries  Bank 

The  first  son  of  Col.  Eli  Comett  married  Miss  Ellen 
Scott,  of  Smyth  county,  Virginia;  they  have  children 
and  live  in  Missouri. 

Second  son  of  Col.  Eli  Comett,  Winton,  went  to  Mis- 
souri. He  is  a  merchant  and  banker;  yet  single.  Winton 
accumulated  a  considerable  amount  of  money,  lived  a 
quiet,  industrious  life.  His  health  failed,  and  he  is  now 
in  Grayson  county;  has  retired  from  business  and  is 
spending  his  time  with  his  relatives. 

Maj.  Peyton  G.  Hale,  youngest  son  of  William  Hale, 
married  Jane  Bourne,  daughter  of  William  Bourne,  Jr., 
and  wife,  Mary  Johnstone:  one  son,  William,  died  single 
in  Oregon;  first  daughter,  Nannie,  married  Fielden  Hale, 
son  of  Warner  Hale  and  wife,  Mary  Cox.  In  the  *'Foot, 
prints  on  the  Sands  of  Time,"  I  find  this  sentence,  "Esq. 
David  Cox,  married  Miss  Jane  Doughton,  a  patient,  quiet. 


140  Pioneer  Settlers 

good  Christian,  and  faithful,  good  and  affectionate  wife, 
Hon.  Fielden  J.  Hale,  state  Senator  from  Madison. 
Nebraska,  is  their  grandson. ' '  They  have  one  daughter. 
Miss  Lee. 

Second  daughter  of  Maj.  P.  G.  Hale,  Mary  Ann, 
married  Emory  Kirby;  they  have  two  sons.  Judge  Robert 
Lee,  and  William  Hale.  Judge  Kirby  married  Mary 
Boyer,  of  Elk  Creek. 

Third  daughter,  Lucy,  married  William  Perkins,  of 
Hilton,  N.  C,  they  have  two  daughters;  first,  Catharine, 
married  Maurice  Hale,  son  of  Eli  Hale;  live  at  Blue 
Springs,  Va.,  and  have  two  children;  second  daughter, 
Gertrude  Perkins,  single;  two  sons,  James. 

The  fourth  daughter  of  Peyton  G.  Hale,  Ellen,  married 
Thomas  J.  McCamant;  they  had  five  daughters;  first 
daughter,  Blanche,  married  Clayton  Higgins;  they  have 
one  son,  McCamant,  and  live  in  the  old  McCamant 
homestead  in  Old  Town,  Va.  Second  daughter,  Lizzie, 
married  Mr.  Fred  Armfield  of  Fish  River, N.C.;  they  have 
two  daughters  and  live  in  North  Carolina  on  what  was 
the  old  Gov.  Franklin  farm.  Third  daughter,  Clyde, 
married  Marvin  Vaughn,  son  of  Rev.  T.  C.  Vaughn. 
They  live  at  Spring  Valley,  Va.  Fourth  and  fifth  daughters 
Josie  Hale,  and  Myrtle  Lee,  died  young.  The  fifth 
daughter  of  Pejrton  G.  Hale,  Lucinda,  married  Robert 
Garland  Nuckolls;  they  live  at  the  old  William  Hale 
homestead  on  Elk  Creek;  no  children. 


Garland 


THE  GARLAND  COAT  OF   ARMS 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  GARLAND  FAMILY 

(Copied  from  the  genealogical  column  of  The  Times- 
Dispatch,  Richmond,  Va.) 

**  There  were  in  England  three  Garland  families  en- 
titled to  bear  a  coat  of  arms:  one  in  York,  one  in  Lincoln- 
shire, and  one  in  Sussex. 

Family  tradition  says  that  the  Sussex  branch  moved 
into  Wales.  Their  common  ancestor  was  a  warden  of 
the  cinque  ports,  and  as  such  was  a  lord  entitled  to  a 
seat  in  Parliament,  had  entire  jurisdiction,  civil,  military 
and  naval,  over  the  five  ports,  and  lived  in  Dover  Castle. 

The  history  of  this  distinguished  family  in  America 
dates  far  back  to  Colonial  times,  beginning  about  the 
year  1650.  Their  descendants  have  wrought  well,  filling 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  history  of  both  church 
and  state.  They  have  intermarried  with  the  chief  families 
of  the  Commonwealth. 

The  Garlands  were  in  New  Kent  county  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  The  recoids  of  New  Kent  county  are 
mostly  destroyed,  but  there  is  one  parish  register  preserved 
and  in  it  is  a  record  of  Edward,  son  of  Edward  Garland, 
born  May  20th,  1700.  This  baby,  Edward,  was  the  father 
of  John  Garland  (5),  who  lived  at  Garland's  Neck,  Han- 
over county,  Va.  His  children  were,  in  the  order  of  their 
birth,  as  follows:  Thomas  (4),  who  inherited  the  Neck  by 
the  law  of  primogeniture,  and  founded  the  Goochland 
branch  of  the  family. 

Edward  (4),  Robert  (4)  (founder  of  the  Louisa  branch), 
James  (4),  John  (4),  Lucy  (4),  and  Peter  (4). 


142  Pioneer  Settlers 

The  third  son  (Robert)  of  John  Garland  (5)  was  the 
progenitor  of  men  who  did  much  in  their  day  and  gener- 
ation. James  (4)  (1722-1812)  married  Mary  Rice,  of 
Hanover  county,  whose  mother  was  a  Howlett,  and  soon 
thereafter,  moved  to  Albemarle.  He  was  acting  magis- 
trate of  Albemarle  county,  Va.,  in  1753,  was  associated 
with  Gov.  Nelson,  and  accumulated  a  fortune. 
.  Nathaniel  (5)  was  born  in  1750;  manied  a  Miss  Rhodes. 
'  John  (5)  (born  1751)  died  of  camp  fever  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

James  (5)  (born  1753)  married  Annie  Winfield,  whose 
mother  was  a  Hudson.  He  commanded  the  company 
detailed  to  guard  the  surrendered  troops  of  Burgoyne. 
When  officer  of  the  day  at  Charlottesville  he  was  shot 
by  the  sentry  at  night  as  he  did  not  give  the  pass  word. 
He  had  fom-  children:  Hudson  (6),  Henrietta  (6),  Spotts- 
wood  (6),  and  James  (6). 

Mary  Garland  was  born  March  20th,  1755,  and  married 
John  Nuckolls,  1777.  To  them  were  born  nine  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Mary  Garland  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  her  prayer-book  (printed  in 
MDCCLXI)  are  recorded  the  births  of  her  children. 
(See  Nuckolls  chapter.) 

Charles  Garland,  a  brother  of  Mary  Garland,  who 
married  John  Nuckolls,  died  single,  and  is  buried  in  the 
Nuckolls  cemetery  in  Grayson  county,  Va.  Charles  and 
Mary  Garland  were  of  the  Louisa  branch  of  the  Garland 
family,  and  were  bom  in  Louisa  county,  Va.  In  the  latter 
years  of  their  life,  John  Nuckolls  and  Mary  Garland  went 
back  to  Louisa  county,  died,  and  are  buried  there. 

Charles  Garland  was  a  Baptist  minister.  There  is  a 
story  that  he  got  upon  a  barrel  one  day  to  preach, 
and  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  he  said  that  the  faith  of 
the  Baptists  was  on  a  firm  foundation,  that  they  would 
never  fall;  he  stamped  his  foot  to  emphasize  the  remark 


Grayson  County,  Va.  143 

and  the  head  of  the  barrel  fell  through,  and  he  fell  with 
it.  This  circumstance,  of  course,  broke  up  the  meeting, 
but  he  no  doubt  continued  to  preach  about  the  firm 
foundation  of  the  Baptist  faith.  He  was  a  good  man, 
died  with  consumption  about  1830,  near  Grayson  C.  H., 
Va. 

Hudson  (6)  Garland  was  father  of  Hudson  (7),  and 
also  of  General  John  (7)  Garland,  whose  daughter  married 
General   Longstreet,   and   of   Spottswood    (7)    Garland. 

Hudson  (6)  Gai'land  represented  Amherst  county  in 
the  House  of  Delegates,  was  captain  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  an  intimate  friend  of  Andrew  Jackson,  who  presented 
him  with  a  cane  made  of  a  fragment  of  the  Constitution, 
and,  what  was  more  valuable,  a  lucrative  office  which 
he  held  until  Tyler's  administration. 

Spottswood  Garland  (6)  married  Lucinda,  daughter  of 
Colonel  Hugh  Rose  and  Caroline  Jordon,  and  had  Hugh 
A.,  who  married  Anna  Powell  Burwell;  Caroline,  who 
married  Maurice  H.  Garland;  Landon  Cabell, who  married 
Louisa  F.  Garland. 

Landon  C.  Garland,  LL.D.,  was  president  of  Randolph - 
Macon  College,  president  of  University  of  Alabama 
and  chancellor  of  Vanderbilt  University,  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century.  His  sister,  Caroline,  married  Mauiice  H. 
Garland,  whose  son  was  General  Samuel  Garland,  of 
Confederate  war  fame.  Hugh  A.  Garland  was  author 
of  the  life  of  John  Randolph  of  Roanoke. 

Mrs.  Rose  Garland  Lewis,  daughter  of  the  late  Chan- 
cellor Landon  C.  Garland,  of  Vanderbilt  University,  died 
at  her  home  in  Birmingham,  Alabama,  October  29th, 
1913,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Her  husband,  Dr.  Bur- 
well  B.  Lewis,  was  at  the  time  of  his  death,  some  years 
ago.  President  of  the  University  of  Alabama.  Mrs.  Lewis 
was  a  devout  Christian  and  faithful  member  of  our  church. 


144  Pioneer  Settlers 

Many  who  knew  and  loved  her  sorrow  because  of 
her  death. 

There  were  twelve  children  bom  to  Samuel  Meredith 
Garland  and  wife,  Mildred  Jordan  Powell.  The  daughter, 
Mildred  Irvin,  married  Col.  John  T.  Ellis.  Martha 
Henry  married  Col.  Thomas  Whitehead.  First  son, 
Rev.  James  Powell,  married  Lucy  Braxton,  of  Fredericks- 
burg, Va.,  a  great  grand-daughter  of  Carter  Braxton, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Narcissa  E. 
married  Mr.  Dillard,  of  Lynchburg,  Va.  Lucy  Lee  married 
Mr.  Richardson,  of  New  Kent  county,  Va.  Ella  Rose 
married  Henry  Wills;  Jane  Meredith  married  Willis 
Wills;  Sally  died  in  infancy;  David  Shepherd  died  single; 
Walter  died  in  childhood;  Paulus  Powell  married  Lucy 
Ellis. 

Issue  of  the  marriage  of  David  Shepherd  Garland  to 
Jane  Henry  Meredith:  Jane  Meredith,  who  married 
Dr.  Jno.  P.  Cobbs  and  moved  to  Indiana  in  1840;  Anne 
Shepherd,  who  married  Dr.  Gustavus  A.  Rose  and  moved 
to  Indiana  in  1840;  Sally  Armistead,  who  married  Captain 
William  Waller;  Samuel  Meredith,  who  married  Mildred 
Jordon  Powell;  Mary  Rice,  who  married  Edward  A. 
Cabell;  William  Henry,  who  married  Frances  Eubank; 
Patrick  Henry,  who  married  Miss  Floyd;  Eliza  Virginia, 
who  married  George  K.  Cabell;  Louisa  Frances,  who 
married  Dr.  Landon  C.  Garland;  Caroline  died  single; 
Martha  Henry  died  single.  It  is  worth  while  to  note 
that  the  average  age  of  these  eleven  children  was  seventy 
years,  while  a  majority,  or  six  of  them,  lived  to  be  eighty 
or  over. 

David  S.  Garland  was  a  man  of  ability  and  prominence. 
He  represented  his  state  in  Congress  during  Madison's 
administration,  represented  his  county  (Amherst)  in  the 


.ip^Pir    '  ■  ''^'t^. 


iM? 


LANDON  CABELL  GARLAND.   LL.  D. 
Son  of  Spottswood  Garland  and  wife,   Lucinda,  Daughter  of  Col.  Hugh  Rose 


(Members  of  the  Nuckolls  family  say  that  this  picture  of  Landon  C.  Garland  is  an 
exact  likeness  of  the  author's  grandfather,  Robert  Garland  Nuckolls) 


Grayson  County,  Va.  145 

Legislature  with  distinction,  for  twenty-nine  years;  was 
a  man  of  great  public  spirit  and  enterprise,  and  by  his 
industry  and  great  business  capacity  amassed  a  large 
fortune. 

His  mansion,  built  for  and  owned  by  him,  is  now  stand- 
ing in  a  fair  state  of  preservation  in  the  village  of  New 
Glasgow,  about  five  miles  from  Amherst  court  house. 
In  proximity  to  and  in  sight  of  the  old  Garland  home, 
stands  "Winton,"  the  home  of  Colonel  Samuel  Meredith, 
whose  daughter  David  S.  Garland  married. 

Col.  Meredith  was  born  in  Hanover  county,  Va.,  in 
1732,  and  was  captain  in  Colonel  Byrd's  Regiment,  1758, 
and  for  his  services  was  granted  to  him  July  11th,  1774, 
2,000  acres  of  land  in  Kentucky.  In  1775  he  was  captain 
of  an  independent  company  from  Hanover  county,  which 
on  May  2nd  he  resigned  in  favor  of  his  brother-in-law, 
Patrick  Henry,  and  accepted  a  lieutenancy  in  the  com- 
pany. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  May,  1776, 
and  in  1778  he  subscribed  ;^500  to  old  Washington- 
Henry  College  in  Hanover  Town,  and  for  several  years 
was  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  college. 

Rice  (2)  Garland  was  a  distinguished  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Virginia,  and  afterwards  Judge  of  the  supreme 
court  of  Louisiana. 

Robert,  bom  in  1768,  and  Clifton,  in  1769,  concluded 
the  children  of  James  Garland  and  his  wife,  Mary  Rice. 

William  Garland,  bom  1746,  married  Ann  Shepherd  of 
Amherst  county;  issue:  David  Shepherd;  James,  died 
single;  Frances,  married  Mr.  Pendleton;  Mary,  married 
Mr.  Camden. 

David  Shepherd  Garland,  bom  1769,  married  Jane 
Henry  Meredith  on  March  4th,  1795,  the  daughter  of 
Colonel  Samuel  Meredith  and  Jane  Henry,  his  wife,  who 
was  a  sister  of  Patrick  Henry,  the  great  orator  and  patriot . 


146  Pioneer  Settlers 

In  the  family  graveyard  at  Winton  are  buried  Jane 
Henry  Meredith  and  her  husband,  Hon.  David  S.  Garland, 
and  four  other  members  of  the  Henry  family. 

Samuel  Meredith  Garland,  bom  November  15th,  1802, 
married  Mildred  Jordan  Powell,  July  8th,  1830.  He  was 
by  profession  a  lawyer.  When  quite  yoimg  he  represented 
Amherst  in  the  Legislature,  was  a  member  of  the  Reform 
Convention  of  1850-51,  and  of  the  Secession  Convention 
of  1861.  He  advocated  the  sovereignty  of  the  States, 
and  voted  for  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  In  his  later 
years  he  was  clerk  of  the  Amherst  court.  He  was  imi- 
versally  beloved ;  was  a  lay  reader  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  died  in  1880,  and  is  buried  at  Kenmore,  Va. 

We  cannot  close  this  incomplete  sketch  of  the  Garlands 
without  some  reference  to  Hon.  Hugh  A.  Garland  and 
Hon.  Augustus  H.  Garland. 

Hugh  A.  Garland  was  a  brother  of  Dr.  Landon  C. 
Garland;  was  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature, 
clerk  of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives, 
a  man  of  vast  and  varied  learning  and  a  writer  of  dis- 
tinction; author  of  the  life  of  John  Randolph. 

Augustus  H.  Garland  was  a  scion  of  the  Lunenburg 
branch,  was  a  lawyer  of  national  reputation,  Governor 
of  Arkansas,  United  States  Senator,  and  attorney  general 
in  Cleveland's  Cabinet. 

Garland  Connection  With  the  Pendletons  and 
THE  Cabells 

Lettie  B.  Pendleton  married  Hudson  Martin  Gailand; 

she  was  the  daughter  of  Micajah  Pendleton  and  Mary 

^^^  w^'V  tu^/»H  Cabell  Horsley.    Micajah  Pendleton  was  a  son  of  Philip 

l^ftK''  ^  ^  Pendleton,  and  nephew  of  the  famous  jurist,  Edmond 

^^^'  Pendleton. 

'  Phillip  Pendleton  had  fifteen  children,  and  Micajah 

(so  tradition  has  it)  addressed  Mary  Horsley  seventeen 


i 

^1-  'i-r.,. 

I 

1 

■  iA 

t  - 

i 

iM 

J 

^i-ii 

Ll  « 

■    ■ 

'i 

THE  GARRETT  CEMETERY 
On  the  Banks  of  Coosa  River,  Near  Centre,  Alabama 


Grayson  County,  Va.  147 

times  before  she  would  consent  to  marry  him.  Mary 
Horsley  was  the  daughter  of  William  Horsley,  who  was 
the  son  of  William  Horsley  and  Mary  Cabell,  only  daughter 
of  Dr.  William  Cabell  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Burkes 
Cabell.  Bessie  Powell  married  Rev.  R.  F.  Wilson,  D.D. 
Rev.  James  Powell  Garland,  D.D.,  gi-aduated  at  Emory 
and  Henry  College,  June  10th,  1857,  and  joined  the 
Virginia  Methodist  Conference  in  1858,  and  was  forty- 
seven  years  in  the  active  ministry  of  this  church,  holding 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  that  body.  His  long  and 
useful  life  came  to  a  close  January  13th,  1906. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  JONES  FAMILY 

(The  author  is  indebted  to  The  Richmond  Times 
Despatch  and  The  Toledo  Blade  for  a  good  deal  of  the 
following  infoimation  in  regard  to  the  Jones  family. 

The  Despatch  says:  "James  Jones  is  presumed  to  have 
been  the  first  settler  in  Spottsylvania  county,  Va.,  and 
the  question  might  be  raised  if  he  could  have  been 
the  brother  of  Admiral  Paul  Jones,  who  visited  him  in 
1750,  and  after  his  brother's  death,  1773,  is  said  to  have 
taken  charge  of  his  estate  near  Fredericksburg." 

The  first  name  of  Paul  Jones'  brother  is  not  given,  and 
indeed  the  name  of  Jones  was  assumed  by  Paul  in  1773; 
yet  we  may  presume  that  the  Jones  family  of  Spotts- 
sylvania  were  some  of  his  Scotch  family,  who  had  pre- 
ceded him  to  Virginia,  and  that  this  James  Jones  was  the 
immigrant."  Paul  Jones'  father's  name  was  John  Paul 
and  James  Jones  may  have  assumed  the  patronymic 
of  Jones  as  his  brother  Paul  did.  This  custom  which  is 
of  classical  authority  has  long  been  prevalent  in  Wales, 
and  in  various  other  countries,  although  it  is  not  practiced 
in  that  part  of  the  island  in  which  John  Paul  Jones  was 
bom. 

The  life  of  Paul  Jones  has  given  rise  to  much  romance. 
Cooper,  Dumas  and  Allan  Cunningham  have  celebrated 
him  in  their  novels;  and  scarcely  less  fictitious  are  some 
of  his  so-called  biographies. 

Every  school  boy  is  familiar  with  John  Paul  Jones  as 
the  founder  of  the  American  Navy,  and  the  hero  of  many 
naval  engagements.    His  is  a  most  interesting  character, 


Grayson  County,  Va.  149 

and  the  following  short  sketch  of  his  life  is  inserted,  as 
it  will  no  doubt  be  of  interest  to  the  readers  of  this  book. 
John  Paul  Jones  (1747-1792)  was  bom  July  6th,  1747, 
on  the  estate  of  Arbigland,  in  the  parish  of  Kirkbean,  and 
the  stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright,  Scotland,  where  his 
father,  John  Paul,  was  a  gardener.  At  twelve,  he  went  to 
sea  as  apprentice  to  a  merchant  of  Whitehaven,  in  whose 
ships  he  visited  America  several  times.  He  became  a 
skilful  sailor,  and  was  for  some  time  mate  of  a  slaver 
in  the  West  Indies.  On  his  way  back  to  England,  after 
leaving  the  slave  trade  in  disgust,  the  captain  and  mate 
of  the  ship  in  which  he  was,  both  died;  and  the  skilful 
manner  in  which  he  brought  the  ship  safely  into  port 
induced  the  owners  to  appoint  him  captain.  In  1771,  or 
thereabouts,  he  added  the  name  of  Jones  to  John  Paul. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  he  and  an  old  man  by  the 
name  of  William  Jones,  of  South  Carolina,  had  become 
fast  friends.  William  Jones  was  a  planter  and  owned  a 
large  estate.  He  wished  to  leave  his  estate  to  John  Paul, 
and  the  latter  added  the  name  Jones  to  his  name  in  order 
that  he  might  inherit  the  estate  and  because  William 
Jones  wished  him  to  assume  the  name  of  Jones.  It  is 
more  than  probable,  however,  that  both  John  Paul 
and  his  brother  James  assumed  the  name  Jones,  as  has 
been  before  explained  in  this  chapter,  because  their 
father's  name  was  John  and  they  followed  the  established 
custom  of  assuming  the  patronymic. 

In  1773,  Paul  Jones  inherited  the  estate  of  his  brother, 
James  Jones,  in  Spottsylvania  county,  and  settled  on  it. 
When  the  American  war  of  Independence  broke  out 
two  years  later,  Paul  Jones  took  up  arms  for  the  colonies, 
and  accepted  a  command  in  the  navy  of  the  new  republic. 
His  engagement  with  the  English  ship,  "Serapis," 
which,  after  a  long  and  bloody  battle,  he  compelled  to 
strike,  raised  his  fame  to  its  acme.    Later,  he  became  a 


150  Pioneer  Settlers 

Rear  Admiral  in  the  Russian  Navy  during  the  reign  of 
Empress  Catharine,  but  the  jealousy  and  rivalry  of  the 
Russian  commanders  brought  about  his  recall  in  less  than 
eight  months.  He  retired  to  Paris,  where  he  died  in  1792, 
at  the  age  of  forty-five  years,  and  was  laid  in  an  unmarked 
grave,  only  discovered  a  few  years  ago. 

He  writhed  under  the  suspicion  of  being  an  "ad- 
venturer;" once  and  again  he  eagerly  repels  the  charge. 
His  character  is  illustrated  by  an  incident  told  of  his 
conduct  in  one  of  the  hottest  fights  of  the  Revolution 
when  he  heard  one  of  his  ofl&cers  cursing, — "Do  not  swear, 
Mr.  Stacy,"  he  said,  "in  another  moment  we  may  be  in 
eternity;  but  let  us  do  our  duty."  When  called  upon  by 
the  commander  of  the  British  frigate  Serapis  to  surrender 
the  battered  American  ship,  Bonhomme  Richard,  he 
said,  "Surrender?    I  have  not  yet  begun  to  fight." 

When  General  Horace  Porter,  of  New  York,  was  United 
States  Ambassador  to  France,  he  found  the  remains  of 
Commodore  Jones  in  an  abandoned  cemetery  in  Paris. 
Through  General  Porter's  efforts,  the  remains  were 
brought  to  the  United  States  in  1908,  and  they  now  rest 
in  a  vault  in  the  chapel  of  the  United  States  Naval  Acad- 
emy at  Annapolis,  Md. 

JOHN  PAUL  JONES'  STATUE  UNVEILED 

"Washington,  D.  C,  April  17,  1912— With  impressive 
military  and  civic  exercises  the  magnificent  memorial 
to  John  Paul  Jones,  the  naval  hero  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, was  dedicated  in  this  city  today.  Congress  appro- 
priated $50,000  for  the  memorial,  which  occupies  a  con- 
spicuous site  at  the  main  entrance  to  Potomac  Park. 

"The  President  of  the  United  States  and  members  of 
the  Cabinet,  the  diplomatic  corps,  justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  distinguished  officers  of  the 
navy  and  the  army,  senators,  representatives  in  congress 


Grayson  County,  Va.  151 

and  many  others  prominent  in  ofl5cial  life,  as  well  as  a 
large  concourse  of  citizens,  were  present.  Thousands  of 
blue  jackets  of  the  navy,  United  States  marines,  soldiers 
of  the  regular  army  and  of  the  National  Guard  and  dele- 
gations representing  patriotic  and  other  civic  organizations 
were  assembled  in  parade  as  a  tribute  to  the  famous 
naval  hero. 

"The  memorial,  the  work  of  Paul  H.  Niehaus,  the 
New  York  sculptor,  was  admired  by  everyone  who  saw  it. 
In  many  respects  it  differs  from  other  similar  memorials 
erected  in  the  national  capital.  It  consists  of  a  marble 
pylon  of  classic  design  as  the  back-ground  for  a  colossal 
bronze  figure  of  the  intrepid  naval  commander  of  the 
early  days  of  the  republic.  The  pylon  is  a  massive  rec- 
tangular tower  about  fifteen  feet  in  height.  It  occupies 
the  center  of  an  ornamental  fountain,  the  water  for  which 
will  come  from  the  bronze  heads  of  dolphins  at  each  end 
of  the  pylon.  On  the  back  of  the  shaft  is  a  large  panel 
containing  a  bas  relief  representation  of  Commodore  Jones 
raising  the  American  flag  on  the  historic  ship  Bonhomme 
Richard. 

"The  Jones  statue  stands  at  the  base  of  the  monument 
in  front  of  the  pedestal.  It  is  of  heroic  proportions, 
being  about  ten  feet  high.  The  great  naval  commander 
is  shown  in  full  uniform,  with  an  expression  and  pose 
suggestive  of  his  indomitable  will  and  unconquerable 
spirit.  Apparently  he  is  watching  a  naval  engagement. 
His  right  hand  is  clenched  and  his  left  hand  clutches 
his  sword. 

"  In  the  die  imder  the  statue  is  inscribed : 

"1747  First  1792. 

To  compel  foreign  men  of  war  to  strike  colors 

to  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

"There  are  two  inscriptions  on  the  rear  of  the  pylon. 
The  first  of  these  is  on  the  stone  forming  the  cap  of  the 


152  Pioneer  Settlers 

shaft.  It  embodies  the  language  popularly  attributed  to 
Commodore  Jones  when  called  upon  by  the  commander 
of  the  British  frigate,  Serapis,  to  surrender  the  battered 
American  ship,  Bonhomme  Richard.  The  inscription  is 
as  follows: 

"  — Surrender? — 

"I  have  not  yet  begun  to  fight. 

"The  second  inscription  is  just  below  the  bas  relief 

representing    Commodore    Jones     raising    the     United 

States  flag  for  the  first  time  on  an  American  warship. 

It  reads: 

"In  Life  he  honored  the  Flag 
"In  death  the  Flag  shall  honor  Him. 

"Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Meyer,  presided  at  the  dedi- 
cation exercises  and  the  memorial  was  unveiled  by  Admiral 
Dewey.  President  Taft  addressed  the  assemblage  and 
pronounced  a  splendid  tribute  to  the  valor  and  genius 
of  the  sailor  and  patriot  and  told  of  his  daring  deeds  on 
the  high  seas.  The  exercises  concluded  with  the  oration 
of  the  day  delivered  by  General  Horace  Porter,  of  New 
York,  who,  while  United  States  ambassador  to  France, 
found  the  remains  of  Commodore  Jones  in  an  abandoned 
cemetery  in  Paris  and  had  them  brought  to  their  present 
resting  place  in  a  vault  of  the  chapel  at  the  United  States 
Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis. 

"The  United  States  Marine  Band  furnished  the  musical 
features  of  the  dedication  program.  At  the  conclusion 
of  the  exercises  a  vessel  of  the  navy  stationed  in  the 
Potomac  opposite  the  statue  fired  a  regulation  salute. " 

The  following  names  are  given  by  the  Times-Despatch 
as  being,  many  of  them,  sons  and  grandsons  of  James 
Jones  and  their  descendants: 

Bartholomew,  Bathurst,  Churchill,  etc. 

From  Churchill  we  trace  the  Jones  family  that  came 


Grayson  County,  Va.  153 

as  pioneer  settlers  to  what  is  now  Grayson  county,  Vir- 
ginia. 

Churchill  Jones  married  a  Miss  Minitree;  issue :  Minitree 
Jones  who  married  a  Miss  Spottswood;  issue:  Rosamond 
Jones,  Minitree  Jones  (2)  and  Spottswood  Jones,  and 
Churchill  Jones  (2)  all  of  Revolutionary  fame.  A  number 
of  this  J:  nes  family  moved  into  this  Southwestern  part 
of  Virginia,  and  settled  in  the  forests  on  the  waters  of 
New  River  and  its  tributaries. 

William  Bourne  married  Rosamond  Jones,  daughter 
of  Minitree  Jones  and  wife.  Miss  Spottswood,  in  Hanover 
county,  Virginia.  They  emigrated  to  Southwestern 
Virginia,  coming  as  far  as  Fort  Chiswell  in  wagons. 
From  Fort  Chiswell,  they  packed  their  household  goods 
across  the  Iron  Mountains  on  horses,  and  settled  on  Knob 
Fork  of  Elk  Creek,  not  far  from  where  Elk  Creek  empties 
into  New  River.    (See  Bourne  chapter.) 

(We  insert  the  following  clipping:  "Announce  wedding 
eleven  years  after,"  taken  from  the  Washington  Herald, 
as  interesting  in  this  connection.) 

"After  keeping  the  news  of  their  nuptial  secret  for  more 
than  eleven  years,  announcement  was  made  yesterday 
of  the  marriage  on  August  1st,  1901,  of  George  C.  Lafferty, 
official  reporter  at  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  a 
prominent  local  clubman,  and  Miss  Rosamond  E.  Jones,  of 
816  Fifteenth  street,  N.  W.,  daughter  of  the  late  Chrechill 
Jones,  of  Westmoreland  county,  Virginia. 

"Although  the  first  formal  announcement  of  the 
marriage  was  not  made  until  yesterday,  many  of  the  close 
friends  of  the  couple  knew  of  the  affair.  For  eleven  years 
Mr.  Lafferty  and  his  wife  lived  separately  and  tried  to 
keep  the  fact  of  their  marriage  a  secret.  The  husband 
called  daily  at  the  Fifteenth  street  residence  to  see  "Miss 
Jones, "  and  spent  much  of  his  time  there,  but  neighbors 


154  Pioneer  Settlers 

were  of  the  opinion  that  he  was  merely  the  fiance  and 
not  the  husband  of  the  young  woman. 

IN  ATLANTIC  CITY 

"Mr.  and  Mis.  Lafferty  are  now  at  Atlantic  City,  N.  J., 
supposedly  on  their  long  delayed  honeymoon.  Why  the 
marriage  should  have  been  kept  a  secret  for  so  many 
years,  and  why  the  couple  should  have  undergone  such 
long  separation,  although  man  and  wife,  is  a  mystery 
which  will  probably  be  solved  only  by  a  statement  from 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lafferty.  Friends  of  the  couple  said  last 
night  that  they  were  unable  to  tell  the  cause  of  the  secrecy. 

"Mr.  Lafferty  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifty-five  years 
old.  His  bride  is  considerably  younger,  it  is  said.  Mr. 
Lafferty  comes  from  an  old  Virginia  family.  His  home 
was  originally  in  Richmond,  and  his  father.  Dr.  Lafferty, 
was  well  known  as  a  newspaper  man  of  ability.  For  a 
time  the  son  was  employed  as  a  stenographic  reporter 
for  the  Virginia  legislature  at  Richmond. 

"His  father  finally  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him  a 
position  in  congress,  and  about  twenty-five  years  ago 
he  came  to  Washington  as  official  reporter  of  debates  in 
the  house.  He  has  held  the  position  ever  since.  About 
twenty  years  ago  he  was  married,  but  his  wife  died. 
According  to  the  announcement  made  yesterday,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Jones  in  New  Jersey,  August  1st,  1901. 

were  CHILDHOOD  CHUMS 

"He  had  known  Mrs.  Lafferty  from  childhood  in  Vir- 
ginia. She  was  the  daughter  of  the  late  Churchill  Jones, 
who  was  well  known  in  Westmoreland  coimty.  At  the 
time  of  the  marriage  it  is  said  that  Miss  Jones  was  living 
here. 

"Mr.  Lafferty  is  a  prominent  Washinglon  clubman. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Metropolitan  Club  and  makes  his 


Grayson  County,  VA.  155 

residence  there.  For  the  last  five  or  six  years  Miss 
Jones  has  been  living  in  apartments  at  816  Fifteenth 
street.  Mr.  Lafferty  was  frequently  seen  at  the  apart- 
ments, although  he  did  not  live  there." 

William  Jones  came  from  Eastern  Virginia,  and  settled 
on  New  River  below  the  mouths  of  Elk  and  Meadow 
creeks,  at  a  place  where  there  was  an  island  in  the  river. 

A  road  was  made  passing  Jones'  place,  and  a  ford  was 
made  through  the  river,  crossing  the  island.  This  was 
named  "Jones'  Ford,"  and  was  two  miles  from  where  the 
town  of  Greenville  and  Grayson  Old  Court  House  was 
located  when  the  county  of  Grayson  was  formed  in  1792. 

William  Jones'  daughter  married  Isaac  Garrison. 
From  this  union  there  was  one  son,  David,  who  married 
Sally  Bourne,  daughter  of  Stephen  Bourne  who  had  also 
moved  from  near  Richmond  and  settled  on  Knob  Foik. 

Isaac  Garrison  had  one  daughter  who  married  Benjamin 
Shoupe.     They  lived  on  Elk  Creek  and  have  children. 

Elizabeth  B.,  daughter  of  David  Garrison  and  Sally 
Bourne,  married  Hastings  Fulton,  son  of  Samuel  Fulton 
and  wife,  Martha  Powell  Jones.  After  the  death  of  Wil- 
liam Jones,  Isaac  Garrison  and  wife  lived  at  the  old 
homestead,  and  the  name  of  the  Ford  was  changed  to 
"Garrison's  Ford." 

Afterwards,  the  land  passed  to  David  Garrison,  and  for 
two  generations  this  was  known  as  "Garrison's  Ford" — 
for  yeais  the  only  ford  on  the  river  for  crossing  with 
wagons. 

After  the  death  of  David  Garrison,  the  land  passed  to 
Hastmgs  and  Elizabeth  Fulton's  heirs,  but  was  soon  sold 
to  Robert  L.  Dickenson.  The  ford  is  still  used,  but  a 
ferry-boat  is  operated  at  the  same  place. 

Hastings  Fulton  and  wife  settled  at  the  old  Wm. 
Bourne  Furnace,  "Point  Hope,"  at  the  falls  of  Peach 
Bottom  creek.    They  had  one  son  and  three  daughters. 


156  .    Pioneer  Settlers 

The  son,  Columbus,  married  Rosamond  D.  Edwards, 
granddaughter  of  Morgan  Bryant  and  wife,  Susan  Hale, 
daughter  of  William  Hale  and  wife,  Lucy  Stone,  of  Elk 
Creek.  The  son,  Columbus,  and  wife  live  near  the  old 
"Point  Hope"  Furnace  (now  the  site  of  an  electric  plant). 
They  have  one  son,  Robert  S.,  who  married  Miss  Bryant 
of  Saddle  Creek,  a  great  grand-daughter  of  Joseph  Bryant 
and  wife,  Sarah  Hale.  One  daughter  married  Hicks 
Rhudy,  attorney  at  Independence,  Va.,  and  one  daughter 
married  a  Mr.  Couch. 

Major  Minitree  Jones  married  Miss  Martha  Powell 
in  Eastern  Virginia.  Their  son.  Major  Abner  Jones,  also 
married  Miss  Hannah  Fawbush  of  Eastern  Virginia. 

Maj.  Minitree  Jones  and  family  moved  out  and  settled 
on  New  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Elk  Creek. 

His  home  place  is  now  owned  by  John  Dickenson,  Jr. 

Maj.  Minitree  Jones  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers, 
aided  in  forming  Grayson  county  in  1792,  and  was  named 
as  a  magistrate  in  the  commission  given  by  Henry  Lee, 
Governor  of  Virginia  to  organize  the  first  court  for  Gray- 
son county.  The  oath  of  office  as  a  magistrate  was  admin- 
istered to  him  by  Flower  Swift.  (See  "Proceedings  of 
first  court. ") 

Minitree  Jones,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Martha  Powell,  had  a 
son,  Powell  Jones,  who  settled  in  Georgia.  Powell  Jone's 
son,  Samuel  Jones,  was  the  father  of  the  well  known 
evangelist,  Samuel  Powell  Jones,  of  Cartersville,  Ga. 
Sam  P.  Jones  was  well  known  all  over  the  United  States 
as  a  preacher  and  lecturer. 

Maj.  Abner  Jones  who  was  sheriff  of  Grayson  county 
in  its  early  formation  was  a  son  of  Minitree  Jones,  Jr. 
Abner  Jones  lived  on  Steven's  creek.  He  was  appointed 
county  surveyor,  and  held  office  in  Grayson  county  for 
a  number  of  years. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  157 

Abner  Jones  and  Hannah  Fawbush,  his  wife,  had  two 
sons,  Spottswood  and  Churchill,  and  seven  daughters. 
First  daughter,  Charlotte,  married  David  Atkins  and  lived 
on  Steven's  Creek.  One  son,  Greenberry  Atkins,  died 
single.  One  daughter,  Elvira  Atkins,  first  married  a 
Hackler;  two  daughters  of  this  union;  one  married  a 
Mr.  Neel,  of  Bland  county,  Va.  Elvira  married  second 
time,  Fletcher  Boiles,  of  North  Carolina.  They  have 
children;  live  on  Stevens  Creek,  Va. 

Euphemia,  second  daughter  of  Abner  Jones  and 
Hannah  Fawbush,  married  Isaac  Moore,  and  lived  near 
the  old  homestead.  To  them  were  born  three  sons, 
Spottswood  D.,  Orville,  and  Churchill  Fawbush.  Spotts- 
wood married  Miss  Matilda  Bayless  of  Tennessee;  issue, 
two  sons,  one  daughter. 

Orville  Moore  married  Rosamond  Hale,  daughter  of 
Charles  Hale  and  wife,  Jane  Sutherland,  of  Knob  Fork. 
No  issue  from  this  imion.  Churchill  Fawbush  Moore 
married  Mary  A.  Nuckolls,  daughter  of  Clarke  Nuckolls 
and  wife,  Rosamond  B.  Hale;  issue,  three  sons,  William, 
Arthur  N. ;  William  died  when  he  was  about  twenty-five 
years  old.  Arthur  married  Miss  Moore,  daughter  of 
Orville  Moore,  and  lives  at  the  old  homestead  with  his 
father  and  mother. 

Five  daughters  were  born  to  Churchill  and  Mary 
Moore;  Celia  died  single;  Amelia  married  Mr.  Miller, 
and  lives  in  Winston,  N.  C;  Rosamond  B.  married  Mr. 
Lawson;  they  live  in  Ivanhoe,  Va.,  and  have  one  son; 
Lura,  single;  Leona,  single. 

To  Isaac  Moore  and  wife  were  bom  two  daughters. 

First  daughter,  Matilda,  married  Joseph  Comett; 
they  had  three  daughters,  and  two  sons.  First  daughter, 
married  John  Cooper,  of  Dobson,  N.  C.  Second  daughter, 
married  Harvey  Atkins;  Third  daughter,  married. 


158  Pioneer  Settlers 

First  son,  Heath  Comett,  married  a  Miss  Tomlinson 
and  moved  to  Illinois. 

Second  son,  Orville,  married  Miss  Bartlett,  and  moved 
West. 

Isaac  Moore's  second  daughter  Minerva,  married 
Creed  L.  Hanks.  They  live  at  Piper's  Gap,  Va.  One  son, 
Emmett  Hanks,  married  Miss  Lula  Todd  of  Galax,  Va.; 
issue,  one  son,  died  in  infancy;  one  daughter. 

Emmett  died  in  1909. 

Flora,  daughter  of  Creed  Hanks  and  Minerva  Moore, 
married  Stephen  Wilkinson,  son  of  John  Wilkinson  and 
wife,  Elizabeth  Anderson,  of  Hillsville,  Va. 

Stephen  Wilkinson  and  wife,  Flora  Hanks,  have  one  son 
and  one  daughter,  Robert  and  Retta.  They  live  in 
Galax,  Va. 

Stephen  Wilkinson  is  manager  of  the  Galax  Furniture 
Factory,  and  interested  in  the  various  enterprises  of 
the  town. 

Nancy  Hanks  was  bom  and  brought  up  near  Flour  Gap, 
(now  Piper's  Gap)  Va.,  on  Blue  Ridge,  then  Grayson 
county.  When  a  young  woman  she  went  to  Kentucky, 
manied  Mr.  Thomas  Lincoln,  and  was  the  mother  of 
Abraham  Lincoln. 

Nancy  Hanks  was  of  the  same  family  as  Creed  L. 
Hanks.  She  was  a  woman  of  fine  physical  organization, 
and  of  great  force  of  character,  and  possessed  of  shrewd 
practical  common  sense,  combined  with  deep  religious 
feeling  and  great  gentleness  of  manner.  She  taught 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  read  and  write,  and  although  but 
nine  years  of  age  when  his  mother  died,  Lincoln  had 
received  the  lasting  impress  of  her  power  for  good  in  his 
deepest  life.  Three  favorite  maxims  she  had  thoroughly 
instilled  into  his  mind — never  to  swear,  never  to  touch 
liquor,  and  never  to  lie.    These  three  things  he  never  did. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  159 

He  said  when  President,  "All  that  I  am  or  hope  to  be, 
I  owe  to  my  sainted  mother." 

Celia,  third  daughter  of  Abner  Jones  and  wife,  married 
Andrew  Nuckolls,  of  Wythe  county,  Vu-ginia,  son  of 
Nathaniel  Nuckolls,  bom  in  Louisa  county,  Virginia, 
January  3rd,  1739. 

From  this  imion  there  were  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 

One  daughter,  Cynthia,  married  James  Johnston  and 
lived  m  Hillsville,  Va.     (See  Nuckolls  chapter.) 

Olive,  daughter  of  Maj.  Abner  Jones,  married  John 
Worrell  about  the  year  1820.  The  history  of  the  Worrell 
family  dates  back  as  far  as  1066,  when  Sir  Herbert  Worrell 
lost  two  sons  at  Hastings  and  was  presented  with  two 
coats  of  arms  in  recognition  of  their  merit.  The  Worrell's 
came  to  this  country  during  its  early  settlement  and 
became  prominent  factors  in  its  development.  Records 
in  Philadelphia  show  that  Richard  and  John  Worrell 
were  deeded  lands,  where  Philadelphia  now  stands,  by 
William  Penn. 

Richard  and  John  had  a  brother  named  James,  who 
settled  in  what  is  now  Carroll  county,  Va.  (then  Mont- 
gomery), about  the  year  1780.  This  James  was  the  father 
of  Esau,Sr.,  who  was  the  father  of  a  large  family, of  which 
was  Captain  John  Worrell,  who  married  Miss  Olive  Jones 
about  the  year  1820. 

In  1910,  Malcolm  Lee  Worrell  was  appointed  to  the 
U.  S.  Naval  Academy  by  Congressman  C.  B.  Slemp, 
and  the  following  article  appeared  in  the  Tazewell  Re- 
publican: 

"Following  his  appointment  to  the  Naval  Academy, 
Malcolm  Lee  Worrell,  of  Pulaski,  has  just  passed  all 
entrance  requirements,  and  now  wears  the  brand  of 
Uncle  Sam  in  a  midshipman's  uniform. 

"Young  Worrell's  ancestry  dates  back  to  James  Jones, 
a  brother  of  Admiral  Paul  Jones,  the  founder   of   the 


160  PoiNEER  Settlers 

United  States  navy.  In  1773,  Paul  Jones  took  charge  of 
his  brother  James's  landed  estate  near  Fredericksburg,  Va. 
James  Jones'  wife  was  a  Churchill.  They  had  a  son 
named  Churchill,  who  married  a  Miss  Minitree.  From  this 
union  we  have  Minitree  Jones,  who  married  a  Miss 
Spottswood.  From  this  union  we  have  Rosamond  Jones, 
Minitree  Jones,  Jr.,  Churchill  Jones,  Jr.,  and  Spottswood 
Jones,  all  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Maj.  Minitree  Jones 
married  Miss  Martha  Powell,  a  highly  educated  lady, 
and  from  this  union  we  have  Abner  Jones  and  Martha 
Powell  Jones.  Martha  married  Samuel  Fulton,  and  their 
son.  Creed  Fulton  was  an  eminent  teacher  and  evangelist, 
and  founded  Emory  and  Henry  College. 

"Abner  Jones  married  Miss  Hannah  Fawbush.  From 
this  union  were  two  sons,  Churchill  and  Spottswood, 
and  six  daughters. 

"One  daughter,  Olive,  married  Captain  John  Worrell 
about  the  year  1820.  From  this  union  we  have  Churchill 
Fawbush  Worrell,  Maj.  C.  Columbus  Worrell,  Carinne, 
and  Minerva  E.  Worrell.  Carinne  died  single;  Minerva 
married  Harbert  Kenney.  Churchill  Worrell  married 
Mary  Ann  Ballard.  From  this  union,  one  son.  Dexter, 
A.  L.,  who  married  Rose  E.  Lyons;  their  third  son,  Mal- 
colm Lee,  is  the  young  midshipman  of  this  sketch. 

"It  was  Isaac  Worrell,  Sr.,  who  delivered  the  address 
of  welcome  to  Gen.  Lafayette  and  the  veterans  of  the 
Revolution  at  their  Reunion  in  Philadelphia  in  1824. 
Isaac  Worrell,  Jr.,  son  of  Isaac,  Sr.,  was  commissioned 
brigadier  general  in  the  British  war  of  1812. 

"Malcolm  Lee  Worrell  was  bom  in  Hillsville,  Carroll 
county,  Va.  He  was  educated  at  Roanoke  College, 
Salem,  Va.,  and  V.  P.  I.,  Blacksburgh,  Va.  Previous 
to  his  present  appointment,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Norfolk  and  Western  R.  R.  at  Bluefield,  W.  Va." 

Maj.  C.  Columbus  Worrell,  son  of  Capt.  John  Worrell 


Grayson  County,  Va.  161 

and  Olive  Jones,  is  a  worthy  and  useful  citizen  of  Carroll 
county.  He  mairied  first,  Miss  Latitia  Ward;  from  this 
union,  three  sons,  two  daughters.  His  second  wife  was 
America  V.  Watson;  from  this  union,  four  sons,  one 
daughter.  His  third  wife  was  Mrs.  Rosa  Beamer,  nee 
Cox. 

Minerva  E.  Worrell,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Worrell 
and  wife,  Olive  Jones,  married  Harbert  Kenney  of  Crooked 
Creek,  Carroll  county,  Va.  From  this  union,  one  daughter 
married  Thomas  Jones  and  lives  near  Woodlawn,  Carroll 
county,  Va.     They  have  one  son,  Elmer  Jones. 

One  son  of  Minerva  Worrell  and  Harbert  Kenney, 
married  and  lives  near  Woodlawn,  Va. 

Jessee  P.  Worrell,  brother  of  Capt.  John  Worrell, 
married  Rebecca  Cooley,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Cooley 
and  wife,  Jane  Dickey.  He  lived  a  while  on  Little  Reed 
Island,  but  later  moved  to  Missouri. 

Esau,  Jr.,  and  Amos  Worrell,  brothers,  lived  on  Little 
Reed  Island,  and  reraed  families.  Two  sisters,  Nancy 
and  Sallie.  Nancy  married  Joel  Franklin;  lived  near 
Hillsville;  one  daughter,  Tima  Franklin,  married  Mr. 
Staples.  Two  sons,  Esau  and  Powatan  Franklin  live  near 
Hillsville,  Va. 

Sally  Worrell  married  Mr.  Paul;  kept  hotel  in  Hillsville; 
married  second  time,  James  Crockett.  They  had  no 
children. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  CORNETT  FAMILY 

Up  to  about  the  year  1871,  the  Comett  family  of 
Grayson  spelled  their  name  Canute;  in  all  their  business 
transactions  it  was  written  Canute,  and  some  of  the  older 
people  still  spell  it  and  pronounce  it  that  way.  The  family 
tradition  is  that  they  are  descended  from  King  Canute  of 
England.  The  following  is  copied  from  Montgomery's 
English  history: 

Canute  (1017-1035)  Seveyn  the  Dane,  conquered 
England  (1013).  "All  the  people,*'  says  the  Chronicle, 
*'  'held  him  for  full  king.' "  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Canute,  (1017).  He  was  from  beyond  the  seas, 
but  could  hardly  be  called  a  foreigner,  since  he  spoke  a 
language  and  set  up  a  government  differing  but  little 
from  that  of  the  English. 

After  his  first  harsh  measures  were  over,  he  sought 
the  friendship  of  both  Church  and  people.  He  gave  the 
coxmtry  peace.  He  rebuked  the  flattering  of  courtiers  by 
showing  them  that  the  in-rolling  tide  is  no  respecter  of  per- 
sons; he  endeavored  to  rule  justly,  and  his  liking  for  the 
monks  found  expression  in  his  song: 

"Merrily  sang  the  Monks  of  Ely, 
As  Canute  the  King  was  passing  by." 

CANUTE'S  PLAN;  THE  FOUR  EARLDOMS. 

Canute's  plan  was  to  establish  a  great  Northern  empire, 
embracing  Denmark,  Norway,   Sweden,  and  England. 

To  facilitate  the  government  of  so  large  a  realm,  he 
divided  England  into  four  districts:      Wessex,    Mercia, 


Grayson  County,  Va.  163 

East  Angelo,  and  Northumbria,  which,  with  their  depend- 
encies, embraced  the  entire  country. 

Each  of  these  districts  was  ruled  by  an  Earl  invested 
with  almost  royal  power.  For  a  time  the  arrangement 
worked  well,  but  eventually  discord  sprang  up  between 
the  rulers.  Their  individual  ambitions  and  their  efforts 
to  obtain  supreme  authority  imperiled  the  unity  of  the 
country. 

William  Canute,  Sr.,  was  an  early  settler  on  Elk  creek, 
now  Grayson  county,  Virginia,  and  is  said  to  be  a  descend- 
ant of  King  Canute,  of  England. 

He  married  Jennie  Sutherland,  a  daughter  of  John 
Sutherland,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Bryan. 

In  the  history  of  the  Bryan  family,  written  by  the  wife 
of  William  Jennings  Bryan,  she  states,  "The  great  grand- 
father of  William  Jennings  Bryan  bad  a  brother,  Francis 
Bryan,  and  a  sister,  Elizabeth  Bryan,  that  moved  west 
from  Eastern  Virginia,  and  the  family  has  lost  trace  of 
them." 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Southwest  Virginia,  Francis 
Bryan  and  his  sister,  Elizabeth  Bryan,  came  to  Fort 
Chiswell  and  the  Lead  Mines;  from  there  they  crossed 
the  Iron  Moimtain  and  settled  on  Elk  Creek.  Elizabeth 
Bryan  married  John  Sutherland,  Sr.,  and  brought  up  a 
family  of  sons  and  daughters.  Francis  Bryan  married 
Phoebe  Woodruff,  and  moved  from  Elk  Creek  to  Ashe 
county.  North  Carolina. 

John  Sutherland's  family  were  originally  from  Scot- 
land. 

William  Canute,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Jennie  Sutherland,  had 
a  large  family;  all  settled  on  Elk  Creek. 

Their  first  son,  Col.  Eli  Canute,  married  Sena  Hale, 
daughter  of  Richard  Hale  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Stone. 
They  have  two  sons:  first,  Capt.  William  Comett;  sec- 
ond, Wiley  Winston  Comett.    They  also  had  six  daugh- 


164  Pioneer  Settlers 

ters:  Matilda,  Elizabeth,  Amanda,  Elvira,  Theresa,  and 
Jennie. 

The  second  son,  Levi  Cornect,  married  Olive  Hale, 
daughter  of  Dudley  Hale  and  wife,  Mary  Burroughs. 
They  had  seven  sons:  first  son,  Francis  Cornet t,  married 
first.  Miss  Austin,  of  Elk  Creek,  Virginia;  had  sons  and 
daughters;  his  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Jane  Dan- 
iels, of  Elk  Creek;  they  also  had  sons  and  daughters. 

The  second  son  of  Levi  Comett  and  wife,  Olive  Hale, 
George  W.  Cornett,  married  first.  Miss  Herbert;  they 
had  one  son,  Thomas.  He  married  the  second  time, 
Miss  Sarah  Gentry,  daughter  of  Col.  Allen  Gentry  and 
wife,  Rebecca  Reeves.  Judge  Cornett  is  a  lawyer,  rep- 
resented Grayson  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  was 
judge  of  the  county  court.  He  has  been  a  useful  and 
worthy  citizen  of  Grayson  county  for  many  years. 

He  has  four  daughters  and  one  son,  by  his  second  wife. 
His  son,  Munsey,  is  a  lawyer;  married  and  has  children. 
First  daughter.  Myrtle,  married  Rev.  Kelly  Boyer,  member 
of  the  Western  North  Carolina  Conference. 

Second  daughter,  Rebecca,  married  first,  Mr. — , 

of  Richmond,  Virginia. 

The  second  time  married  Frank  Sanders,  son  of  John 
L.  Sanders,  Chilhowie,  Virginia. 

Third  daughter,  married  Prof.  Morgan  Cheek,  Prin- 
cipal of  Elk  Creek  High  School. 

Third  son  of  Levi  Cornett,  William,  first  married  Callie 
Delp;  had  one  daughter,  who  married  a  Mr.  Copenhaver, 
of  Smyth  county,  Virginia.  William  second  time,  mar- 
ried Miss  Fisher  Asbury,  Wythe  county.  One  son, 
Thomas,  married  Miss  Lundy,  daughter  of  Ellis  Lundy 
and  wife,  Alice  Hale. 

Fourth,  Zach.  M.,  married  Gazilda  Cecil,  of  Pulaski 
county,  Va.  and  lives  there;  has  children. 

Fifth,  Miles  Foy,  was  a  noble  young  man;  died  single. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  165 

Sixth,  Lewis  K.,  married  Nannie  Warrick;  he  was 
representative  in  Legislature  of  Virginia  from  Grayson 
county  the  second  time;   has  two  children. 

Friel,  the  youngest  son,  who  lives  at  the  old  homestead, 
is  a  worthy  citizen;  he  married  Miss  Hester  Ring;  one 
son,  Romulus  Ring;  four  daughters;  first,  Isabella,  mar- 
ried Col.  William  Mitchell;  two  daughters;  Martha  mar- 
ried John  Cecil,  of  Pulaski  county;  moved  to  Texas; 
have  children.  Nancy  married  Mr.  Steffy,  Wythe  county, 
Virginia. 

Second,  Nancy,  married  Lewis  Perkins;  no  children. 

Third,  Elvira,  married  James  Cornett;  live  on  Elk 
Creek;  have  children. 

Fourth,  Theresa,  married  Carson  Andis;  one  daughter, 
married  Robert  Carson;  one  married  Noel  Tomlin,  Jr. 

The  third  son  of  William  Canute  and  wife,  Jennie 
Sutherland,  was  Francis  Cornett,  Sr.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Fulton,  daughter  of  Samuel  Fulton  and  wife, 
Miss  Martha  Powell-Jones.  (See  Fulton  and  Jones 
families.) 

There  were  three  sons:  First,  Samuel  Monroe  Cornett, 
married  Jane  McCarty,  of  Elk  Creek.  Prof.  Fielden  R. 
Cornett  married  Malissa  Copenhaver,  of  Smyth  county, 
Virginia. 

The  third  son  of  Francis  Cornett  and  wife  was  Peyton 
H.  Cornett,  who  married  AmeUa  Cox,  daughter  of  Enoch 
Cox  and  wife,  Susan  Thomas,  of  Bridle  Creek,  Virginia. 

There  are  also  two  daughters  of  Francis  Cornett  and 
wife:  the  first,  Amanda,  married  Van  Buren  McCarta; 
the  second,  Martha  Powell,  died  single. 

The  fourth  son.  Col.  Alexander  Cornett  married 
Jemima  Rhudy.  Their  sons:  Friel  N.,  James  P.,  William 
J.,  Stephen  H.,  and  Eli  C;  daughters:  Martha,  Elizabeth, 
Theresa,  Charlotte,  and  Nancy. 


166  Pioneer  Settlers 

William  Cornett,  Sr.,  and  wife,  had  three  daughters: 
First,  Charlotte  D.,  married  William  Rhudy;  had  a 
family  of  sons  and  daughters. 

Lucy  H.  married  Andrew  Porter;  they  had  sons  and 
daughters;  lived  on  Elk  Creek. 

The  third  daughter  of  William  Cornett  and  wife  was 
Margaret.  She  married  Rev.  Abraham  Elliott,  a  local 
Methodist  preacher.  Mr.  Elliott  and  his  wife  first  set- 
tled on  Meadow  Creek,  near  Grayson  C.  H.;  afterward 
moved  to  Elk  Creek  to  the  Cornett  mills;  from  there  to 
Independence,  Virginia.  For  some  time  they  kept  Hotel 
Elliott  at  Independence.  Mr.  Elliott  was  a  tinner  by 
trade;  was  a  useful,  industrious,  good  man;  he  and  his 
wife  both  died  and  are  buried  at  Independence.  They 
brought  up  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters;  all  settled 
in  and  around  the  town  of  Independence.  Their  youngest 
daughter,  Margaret,  married  William  Wright,  editor  of 
the  "Grayson  Journal."  Mr.  Wright  has  been  editor 
of  this  paper  for  over  forty  years  at  Independence,  Vir- 
ginia. 

William  Cornett,  Sr.,  was  an  energetic,  enterprising 
citizen,  and  brought  up  and  trained  his  family  for  useful, 
industrious  citizens  of  their  country. 

Elk  Creek  is  a  bold,  swift  mountain  stream,  flowing 
through  a  beautiful  valley,  and  emptjdng  into  New  River, 
furnishing  fine  water  power. 

William  Cornett,  in  the  early  days,  built  a  mill  for 
grinding  grain,  also  a  saw  mill,  and  a  carding  machine  for 
carding  wool.  These  mills  were  on  the  banks  of  Elk 
Creek,  and  were  used  by  the  settlers  for  many  miles 
around. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    COX,    OSBORNE,    PHIPPS,    HASH,    AND 
REEVES  FAMILIES 

In  the  time  of  the  early  settlement  of  this  country,  there 
were,  of  course,  few  families,  and  they  so  inter-married 
one  into  the  other  that  it  is  hard  to  write  of  them  separ- 
ately, so  I  will,  in  this  chapter,  give  these  families  together. 

About  the  year,  1740,  David  Cox  and  John  Cox,  two 
brothers,  came  from  Scotland  to  Virginia.  They  both 
located  in  what  is  now  Grayson  county,  on  New  River, 
about  ten  miles  west  of  Grayson  Old  Court  House. 

John  Cox  was  captain  of  the  Home  Guard,  or  Regu- 
lators, during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  built  a  fort 
on  a  ridge  at  the  mouth  of  Peach  Bottom  Creek,  over- 
looking New  River;  supplies  for  the  Fort  were  packed 
on  horses  from  the  Lead  Mines  in  Wythe  county. 

It  is  said  that  there  is  yet  a  tree  marked  at  a  point 
on  New  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Meadow  Creek,  show- 
ing the  Old  Trail  from  the  Fort  to  the  Lead  Mines. 
This  is  on  the  farm  of  John  Austin,  who  is  a  descendant 
of  John  Cox.  After  the  Revolutionary  war,  Capt.  John 
Cox  moved  up  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Cranberry  Creek, 
on  the  South  Fork  of  New  River,  opened  up  a  large  farm 
there,  and  is  buried  there  in  the  family  graveyard.  Most 
of  his  family  settled  in  Ashe  county,  N.  C;  he  had  two 
sons,  James  and  Joshua,  and  five  daughters. 

David  Cox,  brother  of  Captain  John  Cox,  moved  his 
family  and  located  on  the  river  near  where  his  brother 
jfirst  settled,  near  what  is  now  Cox's  Ford,  ten  miles  west 
of  Grayson  Old  C.  H.  David  Cox's  wife  was  a  Miss 
McGowan;  they  had  eleven  sons  and  three  daughters. 


168  Pioneer  Settlers 

One  of  these  sons,  Samuel,  known  as  Sheriff  Sam  Cox, 
married  Rebecca  Osborne,  and  reared  a  large  family 
on  the  New  River  farm.  Two  of  his  daughters  married 
brothers,  John  Blevins  and  Samuel  Blevins,  Three  of  his 
sons  married  sisters,  Alexander  married  Miss  Polly  Osbom; 
Calloway  married  Miss  Nancy  Osborn;  Samuel,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Miss  Phoeba  Osbom,  and  lives  at  the  old  homestead 
where  Samuel  Cox,  Sr.,  lived.  They,  and  their  families, 
live  in  the  same  neighborhood,  near  the  mouth  of  Little 
River;  they  are  true  types  of  their  patriotic  ancestors. 

Another  son  of  David  Cox  and  wife.  Miss  McGowan, 
Joshua  Cox,  married  Miss  Ruth  Osborne,  and  settled  on 
Bridle  Creek,  in  a  rich  and  fertile  valley,  which  industry 
and  enterprise  have  developed  into  fine  farming  lands. 
Joshua  Cox  was  a  good  citizen,  and  did  much  towards 
advancing  the  best  interest  of  his  neighborhood.  They 
reared  five  sons,  John,  David,  Harden,  Samuel,  and  Isom; 
also  three  daughters,  Hannah,  Jennie,  and  Margaret. 
John  Cox  married  Miss  Nellie  Ward ;  Esquire  David  mar- 
ried Miss  Jane  Doughton,  and  lived  on  New  River; 
his  daughter,  Mary,  married  Warner  Hale.  Harden  Cox 
married  Miss  Nancy  Reeves,  a  zealous  Christian,  and 
active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

Harden  Cox  served  his  country  as  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  many  years,  and  was  assessor  when  Grayson  and  Car- 
roll were  all  one  county;  their  eldest  son  fell  in  the  Con- 
federate Army,  a  brave  soldier. 

Esquire  Elbert  Sevier  Cox  lived  near  the  old  homestead; 
he  first  married  Rebecca  Hale,  daughter  of  Mastin  Hale 
and  wife,  Susan  Perkins,  of  Elk  Creek;  his  second  wife 
was  Miss  Jane  Hampton,  daughter  of  Alexander  Hamp- 
ton and  wife,  Jestena  Fulton,  who  was  daughter  of  Samuel 
Fulton,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Martha  Powell- Jones. 

Joshua  McGowan  Cox  and  family  ived  at  the  old 
family  residence,  near  Independence.    Enoch  Cox,  another 


Grayson  County,  Va.  169 

brother,  married  Miss  Susan  Thomas,  an  amiable,  good 
woman;  their  daughter,  Molhe,  married  Zachariah 
Osborne,  Jr. 

Samuel  Cox  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Thomas,  daughter 
of  Jonathan  Thomas  and  wife.  Patience  Bourne;  they 
lived  on  Bridle  Creek;  he  and  his  amiable  Christian  wife 
reared  an  intelligent  and  worthy  family. 

Capt.  Meville  B.  Cox,  their  son,  a  prominent  citizen, 
contributed  much  for  the  improvement  of  society  and 
his  country.  His  wife  was  Miss  Martha  P.  Fulton,  a 
lady  of  cultivated  intellect  and  refinement.  Capt. 
M.  B.  Cox  and  wife,  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  South,  having  been  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord.  Their  example  in  the  family 
circle  will  live  when  they  are  gone  from  this  life.  Their 
sons  and  daughters  are  following  the  example  of  their 
parents. 

Emeline,  daughter  of  Samuel  Cox  and  Elizabeth 
Thomas,  married  Harden  Cox,  Jr.,  and  lived  on  Potato 
Creek.  They  were  active  and  exemplary  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  built  an  elegant  home,  and  have  done 
much  for  the  community  and  county  in  which  they  live. 
Their  son,  Charles,  and  wife,  live  with  their  mother,  in 
their  happy  home  of  beauty  and  comfort,  the  fruit  of 
their  labor. 

Caroline,  another  daughter  of  Samuel  Cox  and  wife, 
married  Mr.  Bridges;  they  had  one  daughter.  Miss  Vir- 
ginia Bridges,  who  married  Verda  Hampton;  they  have 
one  son,  Samuel  Cox  Hampton.  Mrs.  Hampton  died 
young,  but  she  had  accomplished  her  work,  and  died  in 
the  triumph  of  the  Christian's  hope;  she  leaves  an  influence 
that  will  live  while  she  sleeps.  Her  mother  lives  with 
Mr.  Hampton  and  his  little  son,  Samuel  C,  and  will 
train  the  little  boy  for  usefulness  in  this  life. 


170  Pioneer  Settlers 

The  youngest  son  of  Samuel  Cox,  and  wife, 
McGowan,  died  suddenly  at  the  old  homestead  when  a 
young  man.  His  death  was  a  shock  to  the  family,  but  he 
rests  in  peace.  Thomas  Cox  married  Miss  Ransom  of 
Washington  county,  Va. ;  he  was  sheriff  of  Grayson  county; 
he  and  his  wife  were  Christians,  and  brought  up  a  nice 
family  of  sons  and  daughters,  who  reflect  honor  on  their 
parents. 

Dr.  Everett  Cox  was  a  practicing  physician;  also  a 
Methodist  preacher.  He  married  Miss  Scott,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Andrew  Scott,  of  Rye  Valley,  Smyth  county,  Va. 
They  have  two  daughters. 

Miss  Jinsey  Cox,  daughter  of  Samuel  Cox  and  wife, 
married  Mr.  Bartley,  of  Eastern  Virginia;  they  have  one 
daughter,  Bessie,  who  married  Dr.  Halsey,  of  Wilson. 

Margaret  married  Enoch  Reeves,  of  Grayson;  they  had 
sons  and  daughters.  Ruth  married  John  Calloway  and 
they  lived  on  New  River;   had  one  son. 

Isom  Cox  married  Miss  Jincy  Phipps,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Phipps  and  wife.  Miss  Nancy  McMillan;  Mrs. 
Cox  was  an  intelligent,  energetic  lady,  and  a  blessing  to 
her  family.  They  were  among  Grayson's  best  citizens, 
and  largest  farmers.  Isom  Cox  owned  the  land  where 
Bridle  Creek  Academy  and  Methodist  Church  are  located. 
He  did  much  for  church  and  state;  was  ever  ready  to 
assist  in  any  laudable  enterprise  for  the  good  of  society. 
He  and  his  faithful  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  South.  Their  example  is  a  priceless  heritage 
to  their  children,  and  the  children  have  honored  their 
parents  by  following  their  example. 

Third  daughter,  Ruth,  married  Thomas  Worth,  son 
of  David  Worth  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Thomas. 

Third  daughter,  Bena,  married  Alexander  P.  Bryant, 
son  of  Lewis  Hale  Bryant  and  wife.  Miss  Drucy  Phipps. 

Their  two  sons,  Haywood  and  Joseph,  fell  in  the  Con- 


Grayson  County,  Va.  171 

federate  Army.  Nobler  young  men  and  better  soldiers 
never  honored  an  army  or  country.  Joseph  married  Miss 
Emma  Phipps,  daughter  of  Alexander  Phipps  and  wife, 
Ludema  Thomas;   no  issue. 

There  were  five  daughters  of  Isom  Cox  and  his  wife. 
Emeline  married  William  H.  Bryant,  son  of  Joseph 
Bryant  and  wife,  Sarah  Hale.  They  brought  up  a  nice 
family.  Nannie  married  Columbus  Phipps,  of  Bridle 
Creek,  Va.  (See  Phipps  family.)  Elizabeth  married 
Preston  Reeves;  lives  on  New  River. 

THE  OSBORNE  FAMILY 

Esquire  Enoch  Osborne  settled  on  New  River,  near 
Bridle  Creek;  this  for  many  years  was  known  as  the 
Osborne  settlement.  Enoch  Osborne  had  three  brothers, 
Solomon,  Ephriam,  and  Johnathan,  who  came  to  this 
country  with  their  families  about  the  same  time,  and 
settled  on  New  River,  near  together. 

A  fort  was  built  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Joshua 
Osborne  and  son,  John,  at  Ancella  Post  Office.  Indian 
depredations  were  common  on  the  border  settlements, 
and  preparations  for  protection  and  defence  were  necessary. 

It  was  fortunate  for  society  that  the  first  settlers  were 
people  of  moral  worth  and  piety. 

Enoch  Osborne's  wife  was  a  Miss  Hash.  He  and  his 
wife  were  Christians,  and  aided  very  much  in  planting 
the  standard  of  Christian  civilization  over  the  land  that 
was  so  recently  inhabited  by  savages. 

Their  home  was  a  resting  place  for  the  wayworn  trav- 
eling preachers.  The  venerable  Bishop  Asbury  called 
with  them,  rested,  and  took  refreshments,  as  he  was 
making  his  ministerial  tours  through  this  newly  settled 
country,  preaching  the  gospel. 

It  was  at  the  old  Fort  where  Esquire  Enoch  Osborne,  Sr., 
first  located  a  home. 


172  Pioneer  Settlers 

An  incident  occurred  with  the  Osborne  brothers,  in 
their  newly  occupied  territory,  that  tells  of  the  dangers 
and  exposures  to  which  pioneer  settlers  were  subjected. 

Enoch  Osborne  and  brothers,  Solomon  and  Ephriam, 
went  into  what  is  now  Watauga,  N.  C,  on  a  hunting 
trip,  deer  being  plentiful  in  that  section.  Getting  wet  by 
a  shower  of  rain,  and  wet  bushes,  they  struck  up  camp 
in  the  evening,  and  lay  down  to  sleep  and  rest,  hanging 
up  their  clothes  by  the  camp  fire  to  dry.  The  Indians 
surprised  them  by  shooting  into  the  camp  and  killing 
Solomon  Osborne;  an  Indian  chased  Enoch  some  distance, 
and  lost  him  in  the  dark.  Ephriam,  after  fleeing  from 
camp  carefully  crept  back  in  the  dark  to  his  horse  that 
was  fastened  with  a  hickory  bark  halter  to  a  tree,  loosed 
him  and  rode  home.  Enoch  returned  home  without  shoes, 
and  in  his  night  clothing.  These  facts  are  gathered  from 
Mrs.  Mary  McMullen,  wife  of  Hon.  Lafayette  McMullen, 
member  of  Congress,  from  Scott  county,  Va.,  for  several 
sessions.  Mrs.  McMullen,  before  her  marriage,  was  Miss 
Mary  Woods,  granddaughter  of  Solomon  Osborne,  who 
was  murdered  in  the  camp  by  the  Indians. 

Up  to  the  present  day,  the  Osborne  family  have  lived 
in  Grayson  county;  some  have  moved  to  the  West, 
while  quite  a  number  have  remained  as  worthy,  indus- 
trious citizens  of  their  native  county. 

Solomon  Osborne,  Jr.,  married  Hannah  Cox,  lived  at 
the  old  fort  on  New  River,  and  on  the  same  farm  his 
son  Joshua  now  lives;  others  of  this  family  live  in  the 
same  community. 

Zachariah  Osborne  married  Miss  Jincey  Burton,  a 
lady  of  deep  piety,  a  faithful  wife  and  affectionate  mother. 
Zachariah  Osborne  and  wife  brought  up  a  large  family 
on  the  river  near  the  fort;  three  daughters,  Mary,  Nancy, 
and  Phoebe,  married  three  brothers,  Alexander,  Galloway, 
and   Samuel   Cox,   Jr.     Mahala   married   Joshua   Cox; 


Grayson  County,  Va.  173 

Biddie  married  David  Cox;  one  married  Daniel  Boyer; 
Caroline  married  Johnston  Hale.  Margaret  married 
John  Phipps,  of  Saddle  Creek. 

Their  son,  Enoch  Osborne,  married  Miss  Cox;  Allen 
married;  Floyd  married  Miss  Rosa  Hale,  daughter  of 
Warner  Hale  and  wife.  Miss  Mary  Cox;  Preston  married 
Miss  Isabelle  Cox;  Zachariah,  Jr.,  married  Miss  MoUie 
Cox;  both  the  above  Isabelle  and  Mollie  were  daughters 
of  Enoch  Cox  and  wife.  Miss  Susan  Thomas. 

Floyd  Osborne  and  Preston  Osborne  both  settled  on 
Meadow  Creek,  near  Old  Town,  and  have  brought 
up  their  families  there.  Emmett  P.  Osborne,  son  of 
Floyd  Osborne,  married  Miss  Mary  Williams,  daughter 
of  Hyram  Williams  and  Miss  Jane  Brown.  He  lived  on 
the  old  Brown  farm  on  Meadow  Creek;  died  at  the 
Jefferson  Hospital,  Roanoke,  Va.,  from  an  operation 
for  appendicitis;  he  leaves  a  wife  and  six  children. 

Thomas  H.  Osborne,  youngest  son  of  Floyd  Osborne, 
lives  at  the  old  homestead  on  Meadow  Creek. 

John  H.,  another  son,  lives  on  Rock  Creek,  Va. 

THE  PHIPPS  FAMILY 

Benjamin  Phipps  came  from  Rowan  county,  N.  C; 
settled  on  Bridle  Creek;  his  brother,  Isaiah,  and  the 
Hash  family,  came  also  about  the  same  time.  Benjamin 
Phipps  married  Miss  Jane  Hash,  an  excellent,  good  woman; 
she  lived  to  be  nearly  one  hundred  years  old;  lived  to 
see  her  children  and  grandchildren  to  the  fourth  gener- 
ation. 

Their  son,  Captain  Joseph  Phipps,  married  Miss  Nancy 
McMillan,  daughter  of  John  McMillan,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  a  man  of  letters.  He  came  to  Ashe  county 
and  settled  on  Elk  Creek.  He  brought  his  excellent 
wife  with  him  from  Scotland.  He  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  good  citizen,  and  was  first  clerk  of  Ashe 


174  Pioneer  Setttlers 

county.  His  family  had  the  industry  and  watchfulness 
in  business  affairs  peculiar  to  their  nationality. 

Captain  Joseph  Phipps  and  wife  settled  on  Saddle 
Creek,  Va.,  and  he  was  one  of  Grayson  county's  best 
farmers, — a  man  of  great  energy,  and  a  successful  manager 
of  business.  He  acquired  a  handsome  amount  of  property, 
and  reared  a  worthy  family.  He  and  his  excellent  wife 
went  down  to  their  graves,  honored,  loved  and  respected. 

They  had  three  sons,  John,  Alexander,  and  Joseph 
Phipps,  Jr.  John  Phipps  married  Miss  Margaret  Osborne 
and  settled  on  Saddle  Creek;  they  reared  a  nice  family. 

Alexander  Phipps  married  Miss  Ludema  Thomas, 
daughter  of  William  Thomas,  and  settled  at  the  old 
Field's  place.  Bridle  Creek;  they  have  two  sons,  Colum- 
bus and  Stephen  Phipps;  they  live  on    Bridle  Creek. 

Columbus  Phipps  married  Miss  Nannie  Cox,  daughter 
of  Isom  and  Jincey  Cox.  Mr.  Phipps  has  used  more 
than  ordinary  energy  in  all  that  pertains  to  temporal, 
business  and  religious  duties.  His  faithful  services  as 
the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  have  done  much 
to  advance  the  number  of  its  members  and  interest.  The 
home  of  Mr.  Phipps  and  excellent  family  shows  what 
industry  and  economy  can  do.  He  has  a  fine  farm, 
improved  stock,  and  stately  dwellings.  He  and  his  son 
are  also  doing  a  good  business  in  the  mercantile  line, 
selling  dry  goods.  His  youngest  daughter,  Rosa,  mar- 
ried Rev.  French  Wampler  of  the  Holston  Conference, 
now  at  Fountain  City,  Tennessee. 

Stephen  Phipps  married  Miss  Mattie  McMillan; 
has  a  nice  home  near  the  old  homestead,  and  has  a  nice 
family. 

Alexander  Phipps  and  wife  had  three  daughters; 
first,  Rosamond,  married  Mathew  Dickey,  Jr.;  second, 
Martha  married  Dr.  Martin  Dickenson;  lived  at  Inde- 
pendence, Va. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  176 

Emma  married  Joseph  Cox,  son  of  Isom  Cox  and  wife. 
He  died  in  the  army  and  his  wife  died  soon  after  he  did; 
no  issue. 

Joseph  Phipps,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Cynthia  Bourne, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Bourne,  of  Knob  Fork;  they  had 
two  sons:  Dr.  John  Phipps,  who  married  Miss  Cora  Miller, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  K.  Miller  and  wife,  Miss  Mattie 
Young.     They  lived  at  Rural  Retreat,  Va. 

Second  son.  Con  Phipps,  lives  at  the  old  homestead, 
which  his  father  inherited  from  his  father,  Captain 
Benjamin  Phipps,  on  Saddle  Creek. 

There  were  two  daughters,  first  Etta,  married  Ken 
Bryant;  lives  on  Saddle  Creek;  their  daughter  married 
Dr.  Robinson;  they  live  at  Woodlawn,  Va.;  one  daughter 
married  Robert  C.  Fulton. 

One  daughter  of  Joseph  Phipps  and  wife  married  Mr. 
Miller,  of  Rural  Retreat. 

Capt.  Joseph  Phipps  had  seven  daughters.  Rena 
married  Fielding  Young;  Jincey  married  Isom  Cox; 
Emily  married  Dr.  Fleming  Thomas;  Mazy  married 
Stephen  H.  Bryant;  Jane  married  Stephen  M.  Dickey; 
Dnicey  married  Louis  Hale  Bryant,  and  Nancy  married 
John  M.  Dickey.  This  family  of  Capt.  Joseph  Phipps 
has  been  a  great  benefit  in  the  settlement  and  improve- 
ment of  Grayson  county. 

When  we  look  around  over  this  country  and  see  the 
highly  cultivated  and  well-stocked  farms  with  splendid 
buildings;  when  we  count  the  prosperous  towns  and  villages, 
with  their  schools  and  churches  and  good  government, 
and  then  contrast  the  present  conditions  with  those  of 
the  early  days,  when  there  were  only  a  few  white  settlers 
in  a  wild  Indian  country,  with  just  a  few  forts  and  block 
houses  for  defense,  we  appreciate  all  the  more  the  courage 
and  bravery  and  industry  of  our  ancestors,  and  the 


176  Pioneer  Settlers 

heritage  of  peace  and  the  comforts  of  life  which  are 
ours  as  the  result  of  their  labors  and  their  economy. 

The  Reeves  family  were  also  pioneer  settlers,  and  as 
they  are  so  blended  with  the  Cox,  Osborne,  Phipps  and 
Hash  families,  we  will  give  a  short  sketch  of  them  in 
this  chapter. 

George  Reeves  and  family  came  from  Drewry's  Bluff, 
below  Richmond,  Va.,  and  settled  on  New  River,  about 
six  miles  from  Independence.  He,  like  all  the  other 
pioneers,  used  good  judgment  in  selecting  the  situation 
for  his  home,  and  lived  there  until  the  close  of  his  life, 
and  his  home,  like  many  others  has  remained  in  the  hands 
of  his  posterity. 

The  sons  of  George  Reeves,  and  wife  are  Jesse,  William, 
George,  and  John.  Their  daughters,  Anna,  Charity, 
Mary,  and  Susan.  Jesse  married  Miss  Terrill,  moved  up 
the  river  to  mouth  of  Peak  Creek;  William  married  Miss 
Terrill;  George  married  Miss  Jane  Osborne,  a  woman 
of  high  order  of  talent,  kind,  industrious,  and  pious. 
He  moved  up  the  river,  and  lived  where  Esquire  Charles 
Doughton  lived.  He  was  an  energetic  business  man, 
and  while  serving  his  county  as  an  officer,  he  was  shot 
and  mortally  wounded.  He  left  a  widow  and  seven 
children:  Jesse,  Enoch,  George,  Mary,  Nancy,  Rebecca, 
and  Cynthia. 

John  Reeves  married  Miss  Phoebe  Osborne,  of  whom 
it  may  be  said  she  was  a  true  type  of  womanhood  in  all 
that  was  good  and  lovely.  John  Reeves  and  family 
occupied  the  old  homestead;  their  son,  Osborne  Reeves, 
married  Rebecca  Osborne,  of  whom  it  may  be  well  said 
she  was  truly  a  helpmeet.  Mr.  Reeves  was  an  elder  in 
the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  His  son,  John  Reeves, 
Jr.,  fell  in  the  Confederate  army.  The  testament  in  his 
left  vest  pocket  was  cut  through  with  the  bullet  that 


Grayson  County,  Va.  177 

took  his  life.  Osborne  Reeves  and  family  moved  to 
Georgia. 

Col.  George  W.  Reeves  married  Miss  Caroline  Thomas, 
daughter  of  Esquire  Stephen  Thomas  and  wife,  Miss 
Rebecca  Perkins.  Col.  George  W.  Reeves  lived  near 
Jefferson,  Ashe  county,  N.  C. 

Jesse  A.  Reeves  married  his  cousin,  Charity  Reeves. 

John  Reeves,  Jr.,  the  youngest  son  of  John  Reeves,  Sr., 
married  Miss  Mary  Reeves,  an  amiable  lady,  and  resided 
at  the  old  homestead.  They  had  the  honor,  and  pleasing 
task  of  taking  care  of  their  parents  in  the  evening  of  life. 
Mr.  Reeves  died  when  comparatively  a  young  man. 
His  body,  with  his  father,  John  Reeves,  Sr.,  and  his  sainted 
wife  and  mother,  rests  in  the  family  graveyard,  awaiting 
the  trumpet  to  call  them  in  the  resurrection  morning. 

Preston  Reeves,  son  of  John,  Jr.,  and  widow,  Mary 
Reeves,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Cox,  daughter  of  Isom 
and  Jincey  Cox  of  Bridle  Creek.  Mr.  Reeves  and  wife 
by  prudence  and  economy  have  provided  well  for  the 
home  comforts  of  life,  following  the  example  of  their 
noble  and  praiseworthy  ancestors. 

The  daughters  of  John  Reeves,  Sr.,  were  Lucy,  who 
married  Esquire  James  Gambill;  Miss  Mahala,  who 
married  Rev.  Samuel  Plummer;  Miss  Polly  Reeves,  who 
married  Marshall  Calloway. 

Enoch  Reeves,  son  of  George  Reeves  and  wife,  Miss 
Jane  Osborne,  was  a  Primitive  Baptist  preacher,  reared 
a  nice  family;  his  sister,  Nancy  Reeves,  married  Esquire 
Harden  Cox;  another  sister,  Rebecca  Reeves,  married 
Colonel  Allen  Gentry.  He  and  his  wife  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  South.  Their  son, 
Capt.  George  W.  Gentry,  married  Miss  Caroline  Whitman; 
their  daughter,  Cynthia,  married  Capt.  James  H.  Parks; 
another  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Judge  George  W. 
Comett,  of  Elk  Creek,  Grayson  county,  Va.;  the  third 


178  Pioneer  Settlers 

daughter,  Martha,  married  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Doughton; 
the  fourth.  Miss  Ellen,  married  William  Hardin.  Dr. 
L.  C.  Gentry  married  Miss  May  Hamilton;  Reed  Gentry 
married  Miss  Ludema  Thomas,  daughter  of  Dr.  Flem- 
ing Thomas  and  wife,  Miss  Emily  Phipps.  Reed  Gentry 
had  one  daughter.  Miss  Reed  Gentry,  who  married  Judge 
James  Padgett,  of  Independence,  Va. 

The  Hash  family  came  from  Rowan  county,  N.  C., 
about  the  same  time  that  Enoch  Osborne,  Benjamin  and 
Isaiah  Phipps  came  and  settled  on  New  River.  Enoch 
Osborne  married  a  Miss  Hash;  Benjamin  Phipps  married 
Miss  Jane  Hash.  (Their  decendants  are  given  with  the 
Osborne  and  Phipps  families.) 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  citizens  of  this  Hash 
family  living  in  the  west  end  of  Grayson  county,  and 
they  were  men  and  women  of  prominence  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  county,  but  time  and  space  forbid  us 
tracing  this  and  many  other  families. 


CHAPTER  X 

The  first  attorney  for  the  court  of  Grayson  county, 
Vh^nia,  was  Alexander  Smyth.  I  will  give  a  copy  from 
the  first  records  of  the  Courts  of  Grayson. 

"Alexander  Smith,  gent.,  produced  license  signed  by 
Richard  Carey,  Henry  Tazewell  and  Edmond  Winston, 
permitting  him  to  practice  as  an  attorney  in  the  inferior 
and  superior  courts  within  this  commonwealth  and  hav- 
ing taken  the  oath  prescribed  by  law  is  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  courts." 

Another  Copy 

"Alexander  Smith  is  appointed  Deputy  Attorney  for 
the  Commonwealth  in  this  Court  which  is  ordered  to  be 
certified  to  and  it  is  further  ordered  that  he  be  allowed 
the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  in  the  levy  the  present  year  as 
a  compensation  for  his  services  for  one  year  from  this 
time." 

A  Copy  From  the  Obituary  of  Mrs.  J.  M.  McTebr. 

"Mrs.  McTeer  was  first  Miss  Frances  Stuart  Smyth, 
daughter  of  Greneral  Alexander  Smyth  (for  whom  Smyth 
county,  Virginia,  was  named),  an  officer  of  the  war  of 
1812  and  a  member  of  Congress  from  1817  to  1825  and 
1827  to  1830.  General  Smyth  was  the  mover  in  organizing 
the  county  of  Wythe  and  was  the  first  representative  in 
the  Legislature  from  Wythe  county,  Va. 

General  Smyth  was  son  of  Rev.  James  Smyth,  clergy- 
man of  the  Episcopal  Church,  who  was  sent  by  the  author- 
ities of  England  to  take  charge  of  Botetourt  Parish,  which 
embraced  all  the  country  lying  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 


180  Pioneer  Settlers 

Rev.  James  Smyth's  mother  was  Frances  Stuart  and 
her  husband  was  of  the  nobility  of  the  house  of  the  Stuarts, 
and  held  quite  a  large  landed  estate  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 
General  Smyth  was  bom  on  the  Island  of  Rathlin  twelve 
miles  from  the  north  coast  of  Ireland  and  brought  to 
this  country  when  only  five  years  of  age.  Young  Smyth, 
at  the  proper  age,  obtained  license  to  practice  law  and  soon 
rose  to  distinction  at  the  bar.  He  was  located  at  Fincastle 
and  attended  the  courts  at  Abingdon,  Va. 

There  were  no  railroads  then  and  traveling  was  done 
on  horseback  and  stage.  It  was  on  one  of  these  trips 
to  attend  Court  in  Abingdon  that  the  young  lawyer 
stopped  at  a  cabin  three  miles  below  Wy theville  to  warm, 
it  being  a  cold  and  most  disagreeable  day. 

His  temporal  wants  were  attended  to  by  the  bright, 
rosy  cheeked,  beautiful  daughter  of  the  mountaineer  with 
such  queenly  grace  and  modest  manner  that  the  young 
lawyer  was  entrapped  by  her. 

After  this  he  made  Mr.  Pinkley's  house  a  convenient 
stopping  place  and  in  due  course  of  time  the  young  lawyer, 
Smyth,  married  Miss  Nancy  Pinkley  and  their  marriage 
license  was  the  first  to  be  recorded  in  Wythe  coimty 
court,  1791. 

General  Smyth  after  his  marriage  settled  on  Cripple 
Creek,  in  Wythe  county,  Va.,  on  the  Mountain  Park  farm, 
and  his  daughter.  Miss  Frances  Stuart  Smyth,  was  bom 
there  December  2nd,  1806.  She  was  married  to  Col.  James 
H.  Piper,  of  Culpeper  coimty,  Va.,  the  9th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1824. 

Col.  Piper  and  wife  settled  on  Cripple  Creek  on  a  part 
of  the  Mountain  Park  farm  at  Speedwell  Furnace.  He 
for  years  represented  his  district  in  the  Senate ;  also  was 
a  man  of  sterling  worth;  did  much  for  the  development 
of  his  country,  especially  Wythe  and  Grayson  counties. 
He  was  a  civil  engineer,  finely  educated;  was  called  to 


Grayson  County,  Va.  181 

locate  roads  across  our  mountains;  located  the  road  across 
Blue  Ridge  at  Piper's  Gap,  leading  from  Grayson  C.  H. 
to  Mount  Airy,  N.  C.  He  was  on  the  location  of  the 
Wytheville  and  Raliegh  turnpike  through  Wythe 
and  Grayson,  when  he  was  taken  sick  and  died  at  the 
Grayson  Sulphur  Springs  on  the  8th  day  of  September, 
1854. 

On  the  second  day  of  March,  1857,  Mrs.  Rper  was 
married  to  Rev.  John  M.  McTeer,  of  the  Holston  Con- 
ference. Mrs.  Piper  joined  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Asbury  Camp  Ground, CrippleCreek,Va.,  1840.  When  she 
joined  the  church  she  consecrated  all  to  the  Lord  and  for 
forty-two  years  was  a  devoted,  exemplary  Christian. 
Her  house  was  opened  for  preaching  and  in  the  parlor 
at  Speedwell  regular  services  were  held,  until  the  church 
was  built  on  the  Ward  farm,  at  Speedwell.  Col.  Piper 
is  buried  at  the  Speedwell  Church. 

There  was  no  issue,  but  Mrs.  McTeer  brought  up  from 
childhood,  three  boys.  Piper  Catlett,  son  of  Rev.  Thos. 
K.  Catlett,  and  Canari  D.,  and  James  Piper  McTeer, 
sons  of  Rev.  J.  M.  McTeer.  These  are  sons  of  McTeer 's 
first  wife.  Miss  Kelly.  This  daughter  of  General  Smyth 
did  much  for  the  welfare  of  her  country  and  for  the 
church  in  all  the  adjoining  counties. 

Gen.  Smith  had  another  daughter,  Miss  Malvina  Smith, 

who  married Mathews.    They  also  settled  on  the 

Moimtain  Park  farm.  Cripple  Creek,  and  raised  a  large 
and  very  interesting  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  who 
did  much  for  Wythe,  Smyth  and  Grayson  counties. 
One  daughter.  Miss  Nancy  Mathews,  married  Benjamin 
Rush  Floyd.  Another  daughter,  Miss  Dorthula  Mathews, 
married  Dr.  James  Robertson,  of  Culpeper  county,  Va. 
They  settled  at  Grayson  C.H.and  lived  there  a  number 
of  years.  Dr.  James  E.  Robertson  was  a  nephew  of 
Col.  James  H.  Piper. 


182  Pioneer  Settlers 

One  son,  Richard  Mathews,  was  an  attorney,  lived  at 
Grayson  C.  H.,  and  practiced  law  in  Grayson;  also  Carroll 
county,  after  Carroll  county  was  cut  off  from  Grayson. 

One  son,  Alexander  Mathews,  married  Miss  Pierce, 
of  the  Lead  Mines.  He  settled  on  Cripple  Creek  and 
raised  and  introduced  thoroughbred  stock  cattle  into 
Southwest  Virginia.  Did  much  for  Wythe  and  Grayson 
counties  in  improving  the  grazing  stock  of  short-horn 
cattle. 

While  General  Alexander  Smyth  lived  in  Wythe  county 
he  did  much  for  the  county  of  Grayson,  aided  very  much 
in  establishing  in  the  county  her  laws  and  her  office 
holders  in  its  early  formation,  and  the  citizens  of  Grayson 
were  devoted  to  his  memory. 

Also  Col.  Samuel  McCamant,  to  whom  we  refer  in  these 
sketches,  was  a  lawyer  and  life-long  friend  of  Gen.  Smyth. 
McCamant  did  much  for  Grayson  and  Wythe  coimties. 
He  lived  and  died  in  Grayson,  a  worthy  man. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  DICKEY  FAMILY 

Mathew  Dickey  came  over  from  North  Carolina  in 
the  early  days,  and  settled  on  Peach  Bottom  Creek,  in 
what  is  now  Grayson  county. 

He  was  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  first  court  of 
Grayson  county,  held  at  the  house  of  William  Bourne, 
May  21st,  1793  (see  copy  of  court  record.  He  and 
William  Bourne  were  both  interested  in  the  old  Point 
Hope  Furnace  at  the  falls  of  Peach  Bottom  Creek.  (See 
Bourne  history.) 

Mathew  Dickey  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek, 
and  William  Bourne  on  the  east  side. 

Mathew  Dickey  married  Miss  Rebecca  Wiley,  and  a 
number  of  his  descendants  are  still  living  in  Grayson 
and  other  portions  of  the  country — useful  and  prominent 
citizens. 

His  son,  James  Dickey,  Esq.,  married  Elizabeth  Bourne, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Bourne,  son  of  William  Bourne  and 
wife,  Rosamond  Jones.     (See  Bourne  family.) 

There  were  eleven  children  of  this  family,  six  sons  and 
five  daughters.  William  R.  married  Martha  Hale, 
daughter  of  Lewis  Hale;  their  son,  James,  married  Miss 
Taylor,  of  Mt.  Airy.  N.  C,  whose  first  daughter  married 
Charlie  Bourne;  second  daughter  married  Thomas 
Dobyns. 

James'  second  wife  was  Miss  Vaughn,  daughter  of  Col. 
Wiley  Vaughn,  of  Independence,  Va. ;  no  issue.  William 
Dickey's  first  daughter,  Mary,  married  John  Wiley; 
second  daughter,  Cynthia  D.,  married  William  Warren; 
issue:  one  daughter,  married  Rev.  Terry  Fulton. 


184  Pioneer  Settlers 

Stephen  Dickey  married  Miss  Jane  Phipps,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Phipps  and  wife,  Nancy  McMillan.  Stephen 
Dickey  was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  a  major.  He  and  his 
wife  were  very  useful  citizens.  They  built  a  comfortable 
home  on  Peach  Bottom  Creek  near  Independence,  Va., 
and  reared  a  family  of  three  sons.  Dr.  John  R.  Dickey, 
and  Dr.  James  Alexander  Dickey,  both  live  in  Bristol, 
Tenn.  They  are  successful  business  men  and  men  of 
influence,  both  in  church  and  state. 

Friel  Dickey,  the  youngest  son  of  Stephen  Dickey, 
married  Miss  Nannie  Comett,  daughter  of  Col.  Alexander 
Cornett  and  wife,  Mina  Rhudy.  They  had  two  daughters, 
Rosa  and  Eunice.  Friel  Dickey  and  his  wife  lived  on 
Peach  Bottom  Creek,  near  Independence,  Virginia.  Both 
died  young. 

Matterson  Dickey  married  a  Miss  Wiley  of  North 
Carolina.  They  moved  to  Texas,  and  some  of  their 
children  live  in  Texas.  One  daughter  married  J.  Hurst 
Dickey  of  Marion,  Va. 

Mathew  Dickey,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Rosamond  Phipps, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Phipps  and  wife,  Lucinda  Thomas; 
issue:  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Alexander  Phipps 
was  quite  successful  in  business,  but  died  in  Florida  while 
still  a  young  man.    He  never  married. 

John  Mc,  youngest  child,  lives  at  the  old  homestead 
on  Peach  Bottom  Creek.  He  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
stock  raiser;  still  single. 

The  first  daughter.  Miss  Allie,  married  Mr.  W.  T. 
Berry,  of  Lynchburg,  Va.  They  live  in  Lynchburg,  and 
have  one  daughter,  Rosamond;  one  son,  Steele. 

The  second  daughter,  Martha,  married  Gamett  Davis, 
only  son  of  Col.  Alexander  M.  Davis  and  wife,  Mary 
Dickenson.  Gamett  Davis  inherited  his  father's  home 
place  in  Independence,  Va.,  and  lives  there.  His  wife, 
Martha,  died  in  1910,  leaving  a  family  of  four  sons. 


Grayson  County,  Va.   (I  185  I     -n^-y 

John  M.  Dickey  married  Nancy  Phipps,  daughter  of       *^^^^^^^yL 
Joseph  Phipps,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Nancy  McMillan;  issue:     ^   dj-^^J 
four  daughters.    First  daughter,  Minnie,  married  Alex-     ^n  "TT      W 
ander  M.  Dickenson,  attorney  at  law  at  Marion,  Va.,    '  ^ 
youngest  son  of  John  Dickenson  and  wife,  Rosamond  .^     * 

Hale.     Second    daughter   married    Mr.    Porterfield,   of  ^/-"^-'V^  *-^^,  ^ 
Washington    county,    Va.      Third     daughter    married  "'U-    Va^Wv 
Joseph  Delp,  of  Elk  Creek,  Va.  Fourth  daughter  married    ^2i^  i 

Mr.  Lincoln,  of  Marion,  Va.     y~  ^    {  ^-m<^* 

Ellis  Leftwich  Dickey  married  Miss  Dillard,  of  Eastern   i^  \wj^.v« 
Virginia;  issue:  one  son,  Albert,  one  daughter.     For  a  *^       ^ 
number  of  years,  the  office  of  county  clerk  was  held  by 
the   Dickey   family,   at   Independence,   Va.,   and   Ellis      ^.^  (^  ^^^ 
Dickey  was,  for  several  years,  deputy  clerk.  .      -#-*— 

Jane,  the  first  daughter  of  James  Dickey  and  wife,     ^i^-^^*^ 
married  Samuel  Thompson,  of  Alleghany  county.  North  pi^  '^*  / 
Carolina.  /)^I^  fi 

The  second  daughter,  Cynthia,  died  single.  V-  (  /Xs^iM^.v.... 

Third  daughter,   Nannie,    married    Stuart    Mathews    "Yvw<'*>-'^ 
from  Wythe  county,  Va.    They  moved  to  Texas;  issue:  j. 

two  sons.     Stuart  Mathews  was  a  grandson  of  General        "^v^.-.^P^^mJ 

Alexander  Smyth.  ^ 

The  fourth  daughter,  Martha,  married  Lee  Fredericking    fSA^*"'*'^  ' 

(a  German)  and  lived  at  Independence,  Va.;   issue:   two     ''^0*,...^%^  *' 

sons,  one  daughter.    They  afterward  moved  to  Hinton,         .-"^-''^^nr         i 

W.  Va. 

The  fifth    daughter,    Elizabeth,    married    Fielden   J. 

Lundy,  son  of  George  Lundy  and  wife,  Miss  Thomas;         S'fw 

issue:  two  sons,  one  daughter. 
First  son,  Ellis  L.  Lundy,  man-ied  Alice  Hale,  daughter 

of  Rev.  Wiley  D.  Hale  and  wife,  Martha  Mitchell;  issue: 

two  sons,  four  daughters.     First  son  of  Ellis  Lundy, 

Clarence,  married  Maud  Sutherland,  daughter  of  Capt. 

Wm.  M.  Sutherland,  of  Hillsville,  Va. ;  is  a  clothing  mer- 


t/yi^ 


186  Pioneer  Settlers 

chant  at  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C;  issue:  three  children.     Second 
son,  Fielden  Hale,  married  Miss  Busic. 

Second  son  of  Fielden  J.  Lundy  and  wife,  Fitzhugh 
Lee,  married  Rosa  Busic.  They  live  at  the  Lundy  home- 
stead in  Independence,  Va. 

One  daughter  of  Fielden  J.  Lundy  and  wife,  Leona, 
manied  Dr.  Koontz,  a  prominent  physician.  They  live 
in  Independence,  Va.  Fielden  J.  Lundy  was  county 
court  clerk  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was  faithful  and 
competent  and  knew  more  of  the  business  of  the  courts 
than  any  other  man.  He  was  well  known  and  honored 
by  all.  He  lived  a  Christian  life,  and  died  in  the  triumph 
of  a  Christian  faith,  and  the  hope  of  an  eternal  life  in 
heaven.     (See  Lundy  history.) 

Mathew  Dickey,  Sr.,  and  wife,  Rebecca  Wiley,  had  a 
daughter  that  married  Benjamin  Cooley,  Esq.  Dr.  Aras 
B.  Cox,  author  of  "Footprints  on  the  Sands  of  Time," 
says,  "No  modern  Tubal  Cain  could  have  excelled  him 
as  an  artificer  in  his  superior  skill  in  working  metals. 
He  made  some  of  the  finest  clocks  in  the  United  States. 
One  of  these  clocks  was  purchased  by  John  McMillan, 
of  Alleghany  county,  N.  C,  and  it  not  only  kept  the 
usual  order  of  time,  but  the  days  of  the  week  and  the 
month,  and  the  changes  of  the  moon.  Esquire  Cooley 
was  a  useful  and  honored  citizen,  and  had  an  intelligent 
and  highly  respected  family." 

Benjamin  Cooley,  Esq,,  was  among  the  early  settlers 
of  that  part  of  Grayson  that  is  now  Carroll  county.  He 
lived  on  Coal  Creek. 

There  were  but  few  clocks  or  time  pieces  in  the  country 
at  that  time.  The  twelve  o'clock  mark  for  the  sunshine 
in  the  open  door  on  the  floor,  was  the  only  way  many  of 
the  pioneers  could  tell  the  time  of  day.  Esq.  Cooley 
decided  that  he  would  go  to  Salem,  N.  C,  and  get  the 
Moravians  to  teach  him  how  to  make  clocks.     Upon 


Grayson  County,  Va.  187 

arriving  there  he  found  that  they  demanded  what  he 
thought  a  big  price  to  teach  him,  and  he  swore  that  he 
would  not  pay  the  price,  but  would  learn  to  make  clocks 
by  himself. 

William  Bourne,  living  on  Knob  Fork,  owned  a  fine 
Grandfather  Clock.  The  works  were  brass,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  time  of  day,  the  changes  of  the  moon  were 
shown.  It  was  the  first  clock  ever  brought  into  Grayson 
county.  After  Mr.  Cooley  returned  from  North  Carolina, 
he  went  to  see  Mr.  Bourne  and  asked  him  if  he  might  take 
the  pattern  of  his  clock.  Mr.  Bourne  consented,  and 
Mr.  Cooley  took  the  clock  to  pieces  and  made  patterns 
of  all  the  running  works.  From  these  patterns  he  made 
clocks  and  sold  them  all  over  the  country.  The  old  Bourne 
clock  is  still  running,  and  is  owned  now  by  Mrs.  Ruth 
Nuckolls  Johnston,  of  Cleveland,  Tenn. 

She  is  the  sixth  generation  from  William  Bourne 
and  Rosamond  Jones.  Mrs.  Johnston  has  other  time- 
pieces, but  she  says  the  old  Grandfather  Clock  keeps 
the  best  time  of  them  all. 

The  case  of  the  clock  is  rosewood  veneer,  with  inlaid 
blocks  of  different  kinds  of  wood,  and  brass  trimmings. 
It  is  an  eight-day  clock  with  heavy  iron  weights,  and  is 
wound  up  with  a  key. 

Benjamin  Cooley  and  his  wife,  Jane  Dickey,  had  two 
sons;  first  son,  Martin  Cooley,  married  Catherine  Currin, 
daughter  of  Maj.  George  Currin  and  wife,  Martha  Swift. 
They  had  two  sons;  moved  to  Oregon.  Second  son, 
James  Cooley,  married  Caroline  Higgins,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Higgins  and  wife,  Mary  Edwards.  Their  first 
daughter  married  Robert  Jones,  and  lives  in  Galax,  Va. 
One  daughter,  Fannie,  married  Henry  C.  Nuckolls; 
died  at  Quinton,   Oklahoma,   1911. 

One  son,  Frank,  single;  one  son,  Rufus,  a  minister  in 


188  Pioneer  Settlers 

the  Christian  Church;  two  sons,  teachers;  one  son,  George, 
teacher  and  farmer. 

Rebecca  Cooley  married  Jesse  P.  Worrell.  They 
moved  to  Texas,  and  have  sons  and  daughters.  Amanda 
Cooley  married  Logan  Roberts  of  Mt.  Airy,  N.  C;  died 
without  issue. 

Julia  Ann  Cooley  married  Mr.  Price;  was  for  a  number 
of  years  a  teacher;  no  issue. 

Benjamin  Cooley  had  a  brother  who  married  Mary 
Hanks,  and  lived  on  Coal  Creek  near  Benjamin  Cooley's. 
This  brother  had  a  large  family  of  children.  One  daughter, 
Matilda,  married  John  Carico,  son  of  Rev.  William 
Carico.  They  established  a  home  near  Providence 
Camp  Ground,  and  reared  a  large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters,  who  made  useful  citizens. 

One  daughter  married  Peter  Beamer;  lived  near 
Fancy  Gap,  Va.    Andrew  Cooley,  a  son. 

Harden  Cooley,  a  Methodist  minister.  Andrew  and 
Harden  lived  in  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

James  Cooley,  son  of  Andrew  Cooley,  married  Laura 
Johnston,  daughter  of  James  B.  Johnston,  of  Hillsville, 
Virginia. 

Benjamin  Cooley,  Jr.,  lived  and  died  at  the  old  home. 
All  of  these  were  useful  men,  had  nice  families,  most  of 
them  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  died  in 
the  Christian  faith,  and  their  posterity  show  to  the 
world  the  benefits  accruing  from  good  ancestry  and 
parental    training. 

A  COPY  FROM  LINEAGE  BOOK 

"National  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution 

"John  Dickey  commanded  a  company  of  Carolina 
Militia  at  Ramsour's  Mills.    His  widow  applied  for  pen- 


Grayson  County,  Va.  189 

sion,  1844,  in  Rowan  county,  and  it  was  allowed  for  17 
months  actual  service  in  North  Carolina  line." 

Mathew  Dickey,  Sr.,  married  Rebecca  Wiley,  in  North 
Carolina;  moved  to  Grayson  county,  Virginia;  died  in 
Grayson  county,  Virginia.  Date  on  tombstone — "Died 
June  15,  1827,  age  75  years." 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  GOODYKOONTZ  FAMILY 

The  following  is  copied  from  a  manual  compiled  and 
pen-written  by  Jasper  Goodykoontz;  published  by 
Jasper  Goodykoontz,  Atlanta,  Indiana,  1908. 

Descendants  of  David  Goodykoontz 

"Sometime  before  the  Revolutionary  War,  about 
1765,  David  Goodykoontz  (formerly  spelled  Gutekunst) 
and  a  brother  emigrated  from  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
to  the  United  States,  settling  in  the  vicinity  of  Chambers- 
burg,  Pa.  David  subsequently  removed  to  Virginia 
and  settled  near  the  present  town  of  Floyd,  which  is 
the  county  seat  of  Floyd  county,  and  his  brother  went 
farther  southward,  but  was  never  afterward  heard  from. 
David  was  bom  in  Germany  about  1740,  and  died  near 
Floyd,  Va.,  about  1815.  About  1768  he  married  Mar- 
garet   ,  who  died  in  March,  1819,  and  was  buried 

in  the  home  cemetery  four  miles  from  Floyd. 

The  following  are  their  children:  First,  Mary  M. 
Goodykoontz  (1769-1860),  who  married  George  Phlegar 
(1762-1839)  about  1789. 

Second,  Polly  Goodykoontz  (1771-1867),  who  married 
William  Gilham  (1775-1831). 

Third,  George  Goodykoontz  (April  23,  1773-September 
13, 1824),  P.  O.,  Floyd,  Va.,  who  married  Mariam  Beaver, 
September  4,  1800. 

Fourth,  Margaret  Goodykoontz  (January  25,  1775- 
September  8,  1851),  P.  O.,  Floyd,  Va.,  who  married 
Abram  Phlegar  (1776-1865),  December  12,  1797. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  191 

Fifth,  Elizabeth  Goodykoontz  (1776-October  6,  1858), 
P.  0.,  Floyd,  Va. ;  never  married. 

Sixth,  Jacob  Goodykoontz  (1780-1818),  who  married 
Beaver. 

Seventh,  Eva  Goodykoontz,  (1786-1867),  P.  0., 
Floyd,  Va.,  who  never  married. 

Eighth,    Daniel    Goodykoontz,    (1784-September    16, 

1843),  P.  0.,  Anderson,   Indiana,   who   married 

Beaver. 

Another  authority  (a  great-grandson  of  David  Goody- 
koontz), said  that  David  Goodykoontz  had  nine  daughters, 
that  three  of  the  daughters  married  Phlegars,  and  one 
married  a  Mr.  Stipes.  He  also  said  that  the  brother 
who  went  southward  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  that 
David  Goodykoontz  is  buried  at  Chambersburg,  Pa., 
but  his  wife,  Margaret,  is  buried  at  the  old  Lutheran 
Church,  near  Floyd  C.  H.  There  are  Goodykoontz's  at 
Rocky  Hollow,  S.  C. 

The  three  brothers,  George,  Daniel  and  Jacob,  bought 
a  large  tract  of  land  near  Floyd,  Va.  George's  portion 
of  the  tract  was  one  thousand  acres. 

The  Goodykoontz  home  (five  miles  from  Floyd  C.  H., 
on  the  West  Fork  of  Little  River)  was  originally  an  old 
Indian  block  house,  built  between  1775  and  1790.  The 
remodeled  house,  as  it  now  stands,  was  built  in  1854. 
David  and  Isaac  Goodykoontz,  sons  of  George  Goody- 
koontz and  Mariam  Beaver,  inherited  the  home  place, 
and  lived  there  together  for  sixty-six  years.  After  David's 
death  (in  1871)  Isaac,  who  was  a  bachelor,  continued  to 
live  at  the  home  place.  He  afterwards  married  Mrs. 
Amanda  Cecil,  and  lived  until  1884.  The  estate  then 
passed  into  the  hands  of  William  Goodykoontz,  third 
son  of  David,  who  lived  there  until  about  1900.  William 
sold  the  estate  and  removed  to  Roanoke,  Va.,  so  the 
estate  has  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Goodykoontz 


192  Pioneer  Settlers 

family,  after  having  been  owned  by  them  for  over  one 
himdred  years. 

David  and  Isaac  Goodykoontz  were  equal  partners 
in  business — fanning  and  buying  and  selling  cattle, 
and  Isaac  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  of  Virginia. 
They  are  both  buried  in  the  family  burying-ground  near 
the  old  home. 

David  Goodykoontz  gave  two  sons,  George  and  William, 
to  the  Confederate  army.  Both  were  desperately  wounded, 
but  recovered  and  lived  many  years  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  reared  large  and  useful  families. 

During  the  war,  the  Goodykoontz  family  suffered  much 
from  the  demands  of  the  soldiers,  but  more  from  that 
imprincipled  band  that  infested  all  neighborhoods — 
the  Bushwhackers. 

There  was  a  large  bam  near  the  house,  the  first  story  of 
which  was  of  stone.  The  Bushwhackers  burned  this  bam. 
At  the  time  of  the  burning,  there  were  thirteen  horses 
in  the  bam,  wagons,  farming  tools,  grain,  hay,  etc.  Every- 
thing was  lost. 

The  marauders  came  another  night,  and  attempted 
to  rob  and  bum  the  dwelling-house.  Two  or  three  old 
gims  had  been  left  in  the  house,  and  after  a  number  of 
shots  had  been  fired  into  the  house,  the  family  fired 
from  the  inside  and  wounded  one  of  the  men  of  the  party. 
After  this,  they  left  without  doing  any  further  damage. 

The  children  of  George  Goodykoontz  and  Mariam 
Beaver  are  as  follows:  first,  Catherine;  second,  Rebecca; 
third,  David ;  fourth,  Archibald ;  fifth,  Isaac ;  sixth,  George ; 
seventh,  Alfred  M.;  eighth,  Rachel;  ninth,  Nancy;  tenth, 
Adeline;  eleventh,  Washington;  twelfth,  Polly. 

Catherine  married  Moseby  Le  Seuer;  P.  0.,  Camp 
Creek,  Va.,  children:  first,  Martel,  married  Sarah  Phlegar; 
P.  0.,  Camp  Creek,  Va.;  children:  Elbert  J.  Le  Seuer, 
Belle  Fontaine,  South  Dakota.    Alice  Le  Seuer  married 


Grayson  County,  Va.  193 

Mr.  Hawety,  P.  O.,  Camp  Creek,  Va.  Flora  Le  Seuer, 
married  Mr.  Van  Fleet,  Neasho,  Mo.  Second,  James 
W.,  married  Nancy  C.  Yearout,  P.  0.,  Floyd,  Va.; 
children:  first,  Ellen  (Le  Seuer)  Turner,  River,  Va.; 
second,  Eliza  A.  (Le  Seuer)  Sowers,  Floyd,  Va.;  third, 
Charles  W.  Le  Seuer,  Johnson  City,  Tenn.;  fourth, 
John  R.  Le  Seuer,  Wallace,  Va.;  fifth,  Catherine  C. 
(Le  Seuer)  Shell,  Elizabethton,  Tenn.;  sixth,  Jennie  V. 
(Le  Seuer)  West,  National  Soldier's  Home,  Tenn.; 
seventh,  Thomas  Le  Seuer,  River,  Va.;  eighth,  Crockett 
Le  Seuer,  Bristol,  Tenn.;  ninth,  Foster  Le  Seuer, 
Bristol,  Tenn.;  tenth,  Lucy  C.  (Le  Seuer)  Weaver, 
Elizabethton,  Tenn.;  eleventh,  Richard  Le  Seuer,  Bristol, 
Tenn.;  twelfth,  Mary  Le  Seuer  (died  in  infancy); 
thhteenth,  Edwin  F.  Le  Seuer  (died  in  infancy). 

Rebecca  Goodykoontz  married  James  Le  Seuer, 
P.  0.,  Alumine,  Va.;  children:  George  W.,  Mary  F. 
(Le  Seuer)  Spillsman,  Elizabeth,  Catharine,  and  Dollie. 
David  Goodykoontz  (December  8,  1805— March 
15, 1871)  married  Ruth  Harter,  (November  8, 1830).  They 
lived  at  the  old  Goodykoontz  homestead,  and  their 
children  are  as  follows: 

First,  Henry  M.;  second,  Mary  Fletcher;  third,  Eliza- 
beth; fourth,  Julia;  fifth,  George  W.;  sixth,  William; 
seventh,  Alfred;  eighth,  Adeline;  ninth,  Nancy  Rosetta; 
tenth,  Ellen;  eleventh,  David;  twelfth,  Millard. 

Henry  M.  Goodykoontz  married  Amanda  Wade, 
P. 0.,  Santoo,  Va.;  children:  First,  Winton  Goodykoontz, 
San  Antonio,  Texas;  second,  Lou  Ella  Goodykoontz, 
Sweet  Springs,  W.  Va.;  third,  Webster  Goodykoontz, 
Sweet  Springs,  W.  Va.;  fourth,  Edward  Goodykoontz, 
Sandy  Bluff,  W.  Va.;  fifth,  Flora  Goodykoontz,  Sweet 
Springs,  W.  Va.;  sixth,  Ida  H.  (Goodykoontz)  Allison, 
Allisonia,  Va. 


194  Pioneer  Settlers 

Mary  Fletcher  Goodykoontz  married  Rev.  B.  F. 
Nuckolls,  of  Holston  Conference,  M.  E.  Church,  South 
(author  of  this  book),  November  6,1865;  P.  O.,  Galax, 
Va.;  children:  first,  Willie  David;  second,  Rosa  Ellen; 
third,  Ruth  Frances;  fourth,  Isaac  Clark.  (See  Nuckolls 
history  for  further  data.)  Mary  Fletcher  Goodykoontz 
Nuckolls  died  at  Galax,  Va.,  November  21,  1910.  Eliza- 
beth Goodykoontz  died  young  of  scarlet  fever. 

Julia  Goodykoontz  married  Rev.  B.  W.  S.  Bishop, 
of  Holston  Conference,  M.  E.  Church,  South.  They 
owned  a  home  at  Emory,  Va.;  children:  first,  Charles 
McTyiere  Bishop;  second,  Lucy;  third,  Mattie;  fourth, 
David  Horace  Bishop. 

Charles  McTyiere  Bishop  graduated  at  Emory  and 
Henry  College,  joined  the  Holston  Conference,  married 
Miss  Phoebe  Eleanor  Jones  of  Asheville,  N.  C,  and 
transferred  to  the  Missouri  Conference  in  1888.  In  1911, 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  Southwestern  University 
at  Georgetown,  Texas.,  and  resides  there  with  his  family. 
He  is  an  able  man  and  an  eloquent  preacher;  is  a  member 
of  the  Commission  on  the  Federation  of  the  Methodist 
Churches  of  America. 

His  children  are  as  follows:  First,  Phoebe  Eleanor; 
second,  Mary  Martha;  third,  Charles  (died  young); 
fourth,  Roseboddie;  fifth,  Hendrix. 

Lucy  Bishop  died  when  she  was  about  twenty-two  years 
old.  Mattie  Bishop  married  Mr.  John  Price,  son  of 
Dr.  R.  N.  Price,  of  Holston  Conference.  Mr.  Price  died 
in  1903,  leaving  three  sons,  Charles,  John,  David.  The 
three  sons  reside  with  their  mother  at  Welch,  W.  Va. 
David  Horace  Bishop  was  educated  at  Emory  and  He'  ry 
College  and  Vanderbilt  University.  He  now  occupies 
the  chair  of  English  in  the  University  of  Mississippi.  He 
married  Miss  Mary  Hartwell  Somerville,  of  Oxford, 
Mississippi. 


Benjamin   Floyd   Nuckolls   and   wife,    Mary   Fletcher   (Joodykoontz, 
and  Eldest  Son,  William  David  Nuckolls 


Grayson  County,  Va.  195 

Julia  Goodykoontz  Bishop  died  at  Emory,  Va.,  in 
1882.  B.  W.  S.  Bishop  married  the  second  time,  Mrs. 
Mary  Dickey;  no  children;  Mr.  Bishop  died  at  Taze- 
well, Va.,  in  1894;  Mrs.  Bishop  (2)  died  at  Glade  Springs, 
Virginia,  in  1911.  George  W.  Goodykoontz  married 
Mary  Williamson,  P.  0.,  East  Radford,  Virginia.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Confederafe  army,  and  was  badly 
wounded. 

Their  children  were:  First,  Nancy;  second,  William; 
thu-d,  Alfred;  fourth,  John;  fifth,  Ida;  sixth,  Charles; 
seventh,  Lena;  eighth,  Harry.    Nancy  married;    lives 

at . 

William  married  Miss  Pope  of  Mason  City,  Iowa; 
one  child,  Ruth  Evelyn.  William  held  responsible 
positions  as  train-despatcher;  he  was  only  thirty-five 
years  of  age  when  he  died  at  Mason  City,  Iowa.  His  wife 
and  child  reside  there. 

Alfred  married  Miss  Sadie  Bosang  of  Pulaski,  Va. 
They  live  in  East  Radford,  Va.,  and  have  children. 
Alfred  holds  a  responsible  position  with  the  N.  &  W.  R.  R. 

John  married  Miss  Williams,  of  Roanoke,Va.  They  live 
in  Roanoke  and  have  children.  John  is  one  of  the  Division 
Superintendents  of  the  N.  &  W.  R.  R. 

Ida  married  Charies  Caldwell,  of  East  Radford,  Va. 
They  live  in  East  Radford  and  have  children. 

Charles  married  Miss  Rhea,  of  Bristol,  Tenn.  They 
live  in  Bluefield,  W.  Va.;  have  one  child.  Charles  is  a 
druggist. 

Lena  married.     They   live  in  East  Radford,  Va.,  and 

have  children.  .•    u    ^.v, 

Harry  (single)  is  in  the  drug  business  with  his  brother, 

Charles,  in  Bluefield. 

William  (1862-1910)  was  a  Confederate  soldier.  He 
was  badly  wounded,  and  carried  a  minnie  ball  in  his 
arm  till  the  day  of  his  death.    He  married  Lucy  Wool- 


196  Pioneer  Settlers 

wine.  They  lived  at  the  old  Goodykoontz  homestead 
until  about  1900,  when  they  sold  it  and  moved  to  Roanoke, 
Va.  They  have  seven  children:  first,  Horace  Wells; 
second,  Arthur  Emmett;  third,  Oscar  Wilmer;  fourth, 
Oakey  B.;  fifth,  Robert  S.;  sixth,  a  daughter,  Willie  C; 
seventh,  a  daughter,  Lake  E.,  married  Mr.  Samuel 
Fishbume  Woody. 

Horace  Wells  married  Miss  Hooper,  of  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana;  he  is  a  successful  lawyer,  and  lives  in  Wil- 
liamson, West  Virginia.  Arthur  Emmett,  single,  lives 
with  his  mother  on  the  home  place.  Oscar  Wilmer  is 
married  and  lives  in  Chicago.  They  have  children. 
Oakey  B.  is  married;  lives  in  Roanoke,  Virginia.  Robert 
L,  single,  lives  in  Roanoke,  Virginia. 

Willie  C,  single;  lives  at  the  home  place  with  her 
mother.  Lake  E.  married  Mr.  Samuel  Fishbume  Woody, 
and  lives  in  Roanoke,  Virginia.  William  Goodykoontz 
died  in  1910,  at  his  home  near  Roanoke,  Virginia. 

Alfred  (1844-1872)  married  Ellen  Cecil  in  1870;  one 
son,  John,  bom  April,  1871,  died  in  1897;  never  married. 

David  (3),  son  of  David  (2),  (1853-1853). 

Millard  F.,  bom  1855,  married  first,  Mary  Howery, 
second,  Lizzie  McCauley;  P.  0.,  Graham,  Va.;  children: 
Julia  May,  married  J.  D.  Williams,  P.  0.,  Roanoke, Va.; 
Mattie  Myrtle,  married  W.  D.  Bower,  P.  0.,  Camp  Creek, 
Va.;  Minnie  Ruth,  married  M.  L.  Snead,  P.  O.,  Carloover, 
Bath  county,  Va.;  Glen  P.,  P.  0.,  1016  Kmdle  Avenue, 
Portsmouth,  0.;  Second  marriage  children:  Clarence 
F.,  Robert  E.,  Harry  L.,  Roy  F.,  Nannie  A.,  William  D., 
Bernard  Ellis. 

Elizabeth  Goodykoontz  (1834-1842),  Adeline  J.  (1846- 
1855).    Nancy  Rosetta  (1851-1856). 

Ellen  Goodykoontz,  youngest  daughter,  married  S. 
Zechariah  Cecil.  They  live  near  Newbem,  Va.,  and  have 
five  children :  Samuel,  Linnie,  Ruth,  Mary,  Estell.   Samuel 


Grayson  County,    Va.  197 

is  married  and  lives  in  Newbern,  Va.;  has  children. 
Linnie,  single,  lives  at  home.  Ruth  married  Isaac  Walton 
McClure;  they  live  in  Texas,  and  have  three  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Mary  married  Mr.  E.  H.  Southern;  they  have 
two  children;  live  in  Pulaski,  Va.    Estell,  single. 

Washington  Goodykoontz  (1882-1895),  P.  0.,  Floyd, 
Va. ;  was  never  married;  was  in  Confederate  army. 

George  Goodykoontz  (2),  (January  30,  1812-April, 
1888)  married  Sarah  Williamson.,  P.  O.,  Caledonia,  Mo. 
His  children:  Redmond,  Letitia,  Clark,  Mary  (January 
9, 1855)  married  Mr.  Bland,  P.  O.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.   Thomas 

(18 ),  P.  0.,  Caledonia,  Mo. 

Rev.  Alfred  M.  Goodykoontz  was  a  member  of  Holston 
Conference  (November  3,  1813-November  15,  1857). 
He  married  Mary  A.  Kirkpatrick,  October  8,  1846, 
P.  0.,  Ross,  Tenn.  He  died  in  Abingdon,  Va.,  while 
preaching  the  gospel.  One  daughter,  Margaret  Emma, 
(single)  P.  0.,  Prosise,  Tenn.  One  son,  George  E. 
(April  7,  1854),  married  Sarah  J.  Loving,  March  26, 
1878,  P.  0.,  Prosise,  Tenn.  Children:  Minnie  Andrews, 
Charles  Franklin,  Edgar  Marion,  William  Loving,  Thomas 
K.  Beaver,  James  Richard,  Joseph  Wiley,  Mary  Margaret 
(October  14,  1894.) 
Rachel  Goodykoontz  (October  14,  1815)  was  drowned 

June  17,  1818. 

Nancy  (July  27,  1817-September  9,  1842)  married 
Pascal  Baber  who  died  September  23,1842;  first  daughter, 
Arabella  Baber  (October  27,  1837-March  20,  1883.), 
married  William  Hall,  August  9, 1870;  children:  Washing- 
ton C.  Hall,  October  3, 1872;  Mae  Adda  (January  3, 1874), 
married  Crockett  Le  Seuer,  Bristol,  Tenn.;  Nannie 
Luther  (September  26,  1876-March  10,  1883),  William 
Rush  Hall  (March  8,  1878-July  23,  1905). 

One  son,  John  W.  Baber  (April  5,  1840-August  6, 
1861),  was  in  Confederate  army. 


198  Pioneer  Settlers 

Second  daughter,  Clementine  Baber  (July  15,  1842), 
P.  O.,  Floyd,  Va.;  never  married. 

Adeline  Goodykoontz  (December  24,  1820)  married 
Johnathan  Hall;  no  children,  Riner,  Va. 

Polly  Goodykoontz  (March  13,  1824),  died  when  a 
little  girl. 

GOODYKOONTZ— PHLEGAR    FAMILY 

Two  of  the  daughters  of  David  Goodykoontz,  Sr., 
married  Phlegars. 

Mary  M.  Goodykoontz  (1769-1832)  married  in  1789, 
George    Phlegar    (1762-1834).       Their    son,    Benjamin 

Phlegar,  married    first,    Mary    ,    second,    Sarah 

.     They  lived   at  Floyd,   Va.,  and  had  a  large 

family.  Their  son,  George,  was  a  Confederate  soldier, 
and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg;  Andrew  was 
a  bachelor;  Ellen  married  David  Willis,  Floyd,  Va.; 
Mary  married  Judge  Merritt;  Adeline,  maid;  Thomas, 
bachelor;  Abram,  bachelor;  Henrietta  married  Rev. 
George  W.  Summers,  of  Holston  Conference;  John  N.; 
Nancy  married  Mr.  Smith;  Lillie,  maid;  Dora  married 
Mr.  Irving  Rooney,  New  York;  Estella  married  Dr. 
Smith,  Radford,  Va.;  Benjamin;  Jesse  M.;  WiUiam 
married  Miss  Smith;  Mattie  married  Mr.  Brown. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Summers  and  wife,  Henrietta  Phlegar, 
had  six  daughters:  first,  Pearl,  married  Mr.  Thompson 
Asbury;  they  live  in  Glade  Spring,  Va.;  no  children. 
Second,  Bane,  married  Mr.  Paul  Dulaney  of  Bristol,  Tenn.; 
they  live  in  Washington  City;  have  two  children,  Ben- 
jamin Bane  and  Paul  Summers.  Third,  Mary,  married 
Mr.  George  Penn,  Jr.,  of  Abingdon,  Virginia.  They  live 
in  Abingdon;  have  one  daughter.  Fourth,  Dora,  single, 
Washington,  D.  C.  Fifth,  Lois,  single,  Bristol,  Ten- 
nessee.   Sixth,  Bessie,  single,  Bristol,  Tennessee. 


Grayson  County,  Va.  199 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Summers  died  while  the  family  lived 
in  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  and  is  buried  in  the  Cleveland 
cemetery.  Dr.  Summers  is  a  professor  in  Sullins  College, 
Bristol,  Tenn. 

Grandchildren  of  Mary  M.  Goodykoontz  and  George 
Phlegar: 

Elizabeth  Phlegar  (1790-1850)  never  married. 

Lydia  (1792-18)  married. 

Joseph  (1794-18,)  married. 

Great  grandchildren: 

Isaac  Phlegar,  Calvin,  John,  Margaret,  Eliza,  married 
Mr.  Simmons;  Sarah,  married  Martel  Le  Seuer;  Jacob, 
David,  and  Joseph. 

Margaret  (1775-1851),  third  daughter  of  David  Goody- 
koontz, married  Abram  Phlegar,  December  12,  1797, 
P.  0.,  Floyd,  Va.  Their  son,  Eli  Phlegar,  was  born  in 
1808;  died  in  1864;  P.  0.,  Floyd,  Va. 

Following  is  a  sketch  of  Eli  Phlegar's  son,  Judge  Archer 
A.  Phlegar: 

DEATH    COMES    TO    JUDGE    PHLEGAR 

Distinguished  Jurist  Succumbs  to  Bright 's  Disease 
After  Brief  Illness. 

Bristol,  Tennessee-Virginia,  December  twenty-second — 
Judge  Archer  A.  Phlegar,  distinguished  Virginia  lawyer 
and  jurist,  died  at  his  home  here  at  ten  forty-five  o'clock 
Simday  morning.  He  had  been  ill  but  one  week,  death 
resulting  from  acute  Bright's  disease,  following  an  attack 
of  grip. 

It  was  Judge  Phlegar's  oft-expressed  wish  that  he  might 
die  "in  harness,"  and  this  wish  was  virtually  fulfilled, 
for  he  had  just  concluded  the  argument  in  an  important 
civil  suit  in  the  corporation  court  here,  when  he  became 
ill  and  had  to  hasten  to  his  home. 


200  Pioneer  Settlers 

Judge  Phlegar's  rather  sudden  death  removes  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  lawyers  and  jurists,  not  alone  of 
his  own  State,  but  of  the  entire  South.  He  was  an  author- 
ity upon  all  important  questions  of  law,  and  during 
many  years  of  active  work  he  made  for  himself  a  repu- 
tation which  only  high  merit  could  possibly  have  attained. 
He  was  never  placed  in  any  position  of  trust  or  respon- 
sibility during  his  long  career  as  a  lawyer  and  jurist 
that  he  did  not  meet  the  demands  of  the  occasion  with 
masterly  ability,  and  his  success  was  emphasized  by  the 
extensive  clientage  which  he  had  represented  for  so  many 
years.  In  recent  years  he  had  been  at  the  head  of  the 
law  firm  of  Phlegar,  Powell,  Price  and  Shelton,  of  this 
city,  which  firm  had  an  important  clientage  extending 
over  portions  of  Virginia,  Tennessee,  and  West  Virginia, 
and  embracing  clients  among  important  financial  and  cor- 
porate interests  in  New  York  City  and  other  financial 
and  commercial  centers. 

Judge  Phlegar  continued  in  his  activities  with  his 
wonted  vigor  until  seized  with  his  fatal  illness  a  week  ago, 
and  up  to  that  time  no  man  in  Virginia  had  been  more 
zealous  in  the  attention  to  important  duties. 

During  the  last  fifteen  years,  Judge  Phlegar  had  not 
only  represented  various  important  corporations  in  the 
capacity  of  legal  advisor,  but  aside  from  his  service  in 
this  capacity  to  the  Norfolk  and  Western  Railway  Com- 
pany, the  Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio  Railway  Com- 
pany, and  kindred  corporations,  he  had  served  as  receiver 
for  the  Virginia  Iron,  Coal  and  Coke  Company,  which 
has  a  capital  stock  of  ten  million  dollars,  and  after  having 
by  his  wise  business  methods,  brought  its  company  out 
of  a  state  of  financial  embarrassment  by  adding  largely 
to  its  earnings,  he  was  made  general  counsel  for  the  com- 
pany. This  compliment  to  his  energy  and  ability  had 
not  been  long  thrust  upon  him  until  he  received  the 


Grayson  County,  Va.  201 

appointment  at  the  hands  of  Governor  Hoge  Tyler  to  a 
position  on  the  State  Supreme  Court  bench.  He  was  named 
to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  the  late  Judge  Riley. 
His  desire  to  serve  his  state  was  such  that  he  immediately 
resigned  as  general  counsel  for  the  Virginia  Iron,  Coal 
and  Coke  Company,  thus  surrendering  a  handsome 
income  that  he  might  be  of  direct  service  to  the  people 
of  his  State. 

Judge  Phlegar  was  a  son  of  Eli  and  Ann  C.  Phlegar. 
He  was  bom  at  Christiansburg,  in  Montgomery  county, 
Virginia,  February  twenty-second,  eighteen  and  forty-five 
and  was  therefore,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year.  His  early 
education  was  received  at  the  Montgomery  Male  Acad- 
emy, at  Christiansburg.  He  later  took  the  course  at 
Washington  and  Lee  University. 

He  left  the  University  to  enter  the  Confederate  Army. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Fifty-fourth  Virginia  regi- 
ment of  which  his  uncle,  Robert  C.  Trigg,  was  colonel. 
At  the  close  of  the  civil  war  he  studied  law  under  the  late 
Judge  Waller  R.  Staples,  of  Christiansburg.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Christiansburg  in  eighteen  and 
sixty-nine.  He  rapidly  attained  to  eminence  in  his  pro- 
fession. One  of  the  first  positions  held  by  him  after  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  was  that  of  commonwealth's  attorney 
for  Montgomery  county.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  State  Senate  in  eighteen  and  eighty-one.  He 
was  again  elected  to  that  body  in  nineteen  and  three, 
and  between  that  year  and  nineteen  and  five  had  a  con- 
spicuous hand  in  shaping  the  legislation  necessary  to 
make  the  code  of  Virginia  conform  to  the  new  State 
constitution. 

Judge  Phlegar  was  tendered  an  appointment  on  the 
corporation  commission  of  Virginia  by  Governor  Mon- 
tague, but  declined  this  honor. 


202  Pioneer  Settlers 

Judge  Phlegar's  death  is  not  only  a  distinct  loss  to  the 
profession  which  he  honored  through  so  many  years  of 
successful  practice,  but  to  the  State  and  community, 
and  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  had  been 
an  humble  and  consecrated  member  since  he  was  a  young 
man.  He  was  the  teacher  of  the  men's  Bible  class  of  this 
city,  and  that  class  met  this  Simday  afternoon  to  do 
honor  to  his  memory. 

He  took  special  pride  in  Sunday  school  work,  and  as 
an  instructor  on  Bible  topics,  was  distinguished  for  his 
aptness  and  ability. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Judge  Phlegar  was  general 
counsel  for  the  Virginia  and  Southwestern  Railway 
Company,  having  succeeded  Judge  Joseph  L.  Kelly 
in  that  position  upon  the  promotion  of  the  latter  to  the 
corporation  court  judgeship  in  October,  nineteen  and 
ten.  He  had  also  served  as  first  vice-president  and  a 
director  in  the  Carolina,  Clinchfield  and  Ohio  Railway 
Company,  but  resigned  those  positions  some  time  ago. 
He  was  president  of  the  Bank  of  Christiansburg,  a  position 
which  he  had  held  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  always  deeply 
concerned  in  the  welfare  of  Christiansburg  and  its  insti- 
tutions, and  although  long  a  resident  of  Bristol  he  had 
never  changed  his  place  of  legal  residence  from  Christians- 
burg, nor  had  he  transferred  his  church  membership 
from  there. 

Judge  Phlegar  was  especially  noted  for  his  philan- 
thropic work.  He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Thronwell 
orphanage  at  Clinton,  South  Carolina,  and  for  years  had 
contributed  to  the  expense  of  that  institution.  It  was 
a  rule  of  his  life  to  contribute  ten  per  cent  of  his  earnings 
to  charity,  and  from  year  to  year  he  wrote  numerous 
checks  at  this  season  of  the  year  in  conformity  with  his 
plan  of  giving.  He  had  given  many  thousands  of  dollars 
for  charity,  and  in  so  doing  he  was  always  unpretentious, 


Grayson  County,  Va.  203 

preferring  that  nothing  be  said  concerning  his  giving. 
The  poor  of  this  and  other  communities  will  miss  his 
annual  contributions  to  them  at  this  season,  as  it  was  his 
custom  to  mail  these  checks  on  the  first  of  each  year. 

Judge  Phlegar  is  survived  by  his  widow,  who,  prior 
to  her  marriage,  was  Miss  Susan  Shanks,  of  Salem,  and 
by  the  following  children :  David  S.  Phlegar,  of  Norfolk, 
Virginia;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Crosley,  Philadelphia;  Miss  Mary 
Phlegar,  of  Bristol,  and  Hunter  Phlegar,  of  Christians- 
burg. 

All  members  of  the  family  were  at  his  bedside  when 
the  end  came,  it  having  become  apparent  late  Saturday 
that  he  had  small  chance  to  recover. 

The  funeral  party  will  leave  Bristol  for  Christiansburg 
Monday  evening,  and  the  burial  will  take  place  there 
Tuesday  afternoon.  The  funeral  service  will  be  con- 
ducted from  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Christiansburg 
at  two  o'clock  Tuesday  afternoon,  at  which  time  it  is 
expected  that  many  prominent  persons  from  over  the 
State  will  be  in  attendance.  The  Bristol  bar,  of  which 
Judge  Phlegar  had  been  a  distinguished  member  for  a 
number  of  years,  will  be  largely  represented  at  the  funeral. 

Numerous  messages  were  sent  from  here  Sunday  to 
notify  friends  and  relatives  throughout  the  State  of  the 
death  of  Judge  Phlegar. 

The  news  of  the  death  spread  rapidly  among  the  people 
in  the  churches  of  the  city,  thousands  having  assembled 
for  the  worship  of  the  morning  service  just  at  the  hour 
when  death  had  claimed  the  beloved  lawyer  and  citizen, 
whos^e  noble  Christian  life  and  high  ideals  had  impressed 
the  people  of  this  community  of  his  great  worth.  The 
funeral  party  left  Bristol  this  evening  and  occupied  a 
private  car  of  the  Virginia  and  Southwestern  Railway. 
Ofl5cials  of  the  railway  and  members  of  the  Bristol  bar 
accompanied  the  body  to  Christiansburg. 


204  Pioneer  Settlers 

One  daughter  of  Eli  Phlegar,  Ellen  (born  1848),  married 
Mr.  Johnston;  their  first  daughter,  Anna  Johnston  (born 
in  1868),  married  Mr.  Campbell;  second  daughter,  Susan 
(1870)  married  Mr.  Price;  their  sons  were  Richard,  Lennie 
Archer  P.  (1876). 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE  KENNEY  FAMILY 

William  Kenney  and  wife,  Miss  Dunn,  were  early- 
settlers  in  this  country.  They  came  from  Frederick 
county,  Va.,  and  settled  in  the  Valley  of  Crooked  Creek, 
now  Carroll  county,  Va.  His  sons  were  Robert,  Hance, 
and  William.  Robert  married  Miss  Mallory;  her  mother 
was  Rosa  Bourne,  daughter  of  Stephen  Bourne.  William 
manned  Fidelia  Wells,  of  Wilson,  Va.  Their  son,  John 
A.  Kenney,  still  owns  part  of  the  old  homestead.  There 
were  three  daughters:  Eliza  Kenney  married  Dr.  James 
Worrell;  Eleanor  married  Robert  N.  Anderson,  and  Jane 
married  James  Early.  Amos  Ballard,  of  Grayson  Old  C.H., 
married  Jane   Kenney,  sister  of  William   Kenney,   Sr. 

John  Early  was  also  an  early  settler  of  English  ancestry. 
He  married  Miss  Rhoda  Stevens,  of  Reed  Island,  Va.; 
lived  near  what  is  now  Hillsville.  Their  sons  were  James, 
John,  Peter.  James  married  Jane  Kenney;  Peter  married 
Jane  Worrell ;  John  married  Ann  Johnston,  sister  to  Mrs. 
Martha  Johnston  Thornton,  wife  of  William  Thornton, 
who  for  many  years  has  kept  the  hotel,  "Texas  House," 
Hillsville,  Va.  Mrs.  Rhoda  Stevens  Early  married  sec- 
ond time.  Dr.  Straw,  of  Wythe  county,  but  is  buried  at 
Hillsville,  Va. 

Dr.  Joshua  Stoneman,  a  Quaker  from  Pennsylvania, 
was  for  a  long  time  the  only  doctor  in  this  country. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  and  useful  citizen  and  had  one 
son,  Mark  D.  Stoneman.  Dr.  Stoneman  moved  to 
Illinois.  His  daughters  were  well  posted  in  vegetable 
medicines,  and  very  useful  and  attentive  in  sickness. 


206  Pioneer  Settlers 

One  of  Dr.  Stoneman's  daughters,  Elizabeth,  had  her 
horse  and  saddle  bags  always  ready,  and  travelled  all 
over  this  country  at  night,  or  in  daytime,  whenever  called. 
Another  daughter,  Mary  who  married  Louis  LaRowe, 
would  go  to  attend  the  sick  whenever  called  for. 

There  are  a  number  of  the  Stoneman  descendants  here, 
and  we  find  them  solid  and  firm.  They  are  as  the  name 
indicates,  "Stone  Men." 

There  are  other  families  worthy  a  place  in  history  of 
this  upper  New  River  Valley,  but  time  and  space  forbid 
the  record.  I  hope  some  one  in  the  future  will  write  up 
this  country  and  its  people  better  than  I  have  been  able 
to  do.  At  any  rate  the  history  has  been  known,  and  will 
continue  to  be  written  on  memories  pages,  and  is  known 
and  will  be  known  to  the  great  God  of  the  universe,  unto 
whom  we  all  shall  render  up  the  final  account,  for  the 
manner  and  use  we  have  made  of  the  time,  opportunities, 
and  talents  given  to  us. 


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