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GATEWAY TO THE WEST

By J. M. Moseley

 

Chester Haburne Birthplace

 

Two miles southwest of Pennington Gap, in the Long Hollow section, stands a large two-story log house, built about 1790. It is known as the Crabtree House, having been built by James Crabtree, who owned more than a thousand acres of land there, including the land where the Collier Mill is located, and beyond the river at Schafers Ford.

This house is made of yellow poplar logs, and is in good state of preservation. It has a large chimney and wide fireplace made of brick which must have been hauled a long way by sled or ox cart, as there were no brick plants in the region at that time. There is no cement in it, only lime and sand. The heavy joists in the house are of clear yellow poplar, having been sawed by the primitive up-and-down saw. There is a large smokehouse nearby, with ridge-pole roof construction, no rafters being used. The house may have been built that way at first, and the sawed rafters put on later.

This property around the house has changed hands only a few times, from James Crabtree to Jones, then Haburne then Charles W. Waddell who now owns and occupies the place. The Crabtree House is the birthplace of Chester Haburne, the first American soldier killed in World War I from Lee Co.

James Crabtree was a brother to Isaac Crabtree who was with James Boone when killed by Indians near Stickleyville. He had another brother Job Crabtree who entered a large boundary of land south of where Dryden now stands, including the John P. Orr and Simpson Orr property near Green Hill. The Crabtrees owned a vast amount of land in Powells Valley including these two entries and some land between.

 

The Dickenson House

 

Soon after the beginning of the Jonesville Camp Ground, perhaps around 1825, Benjamin Dickenson came to Lee Co. Just west of the county seat, he built a cabin and lived in it until he erected a large brick mansion. This fine old landmark and historical center still stands out prominent in west Jonesville.

It was erected by slave labor under the direct supervision of Benjamin Dickenson from Russell Co. His wife was Elizabeth McKinney from North Carolina, who was said to have been related to Daniel Boone. Benjamin died November 28, 1851. Elizabeth had died seven years earlier. They are buried nearby.

About the year 1852, Andrew Milburne bought the place. It is often called the Milburne House, as the Milburnes owned and occupied it for many years. During the Civil War, while Jonesville was the center of repeated conflicts, the Union soldiers occupied the Milburne house as a headquarters and hospital. It still bears the marks of battle, a number of small shell holes. A replica of this house may be seen at Southwest Virginia Museum at Big Stone Gap, VA.

On the south side of the Highway and not far away stood the William Martin House, a large two story log building which bore the marks of heavier artillery shells. This has been known as the “Cannon Ball House,” because of the three holes in the east end of the building.

It had been reported that William Martin was sheltering some Confederate soldiers in his house, and the Union officer planned to shell the house. Andrew Milburne’s daughter learned of the plan and sent a trusty slave to warn the Martins, and they escaped before the building was fired upon. A Union soldier in the barn nearby was killed by a shell that struck the barn. He was the only casualty of the attack on the Martin House.

The old Martin building has been replaced by a modern dwelling and the historic building has been removed to Wise Co., and reconditioned at Camp Bethel.

The Milburne heirs sold the Dickenson House and property to William Wynn, who later sold it to Brown Wygal. It has been the scene of several stirring historical events, and has changed hands only a few times since pioneer days.

 

The Fitts House

 

A typical pioneer house still standing in Lee Co. Is the Andrew Fitts House. It is located at the mouth of Wallens Creek, a description of which will serve to show the general pattern of the more pretentious houses over the country at that remote time. This house was erected about the year 1795, being now more than 150 years of age.

The main structure is 24 feet by 36 feet, two stories high, with a roomy garret above, and a cavernous basement which was used for slave quarters. There is a roomy double-deck porch all along the south side. At each end stands massive hewed stone chimneys measuring four feet by nine feet and thirty feet in height. An ell has been built much later on the north side. One chimney, on the west end, being built much later than the other, bears the carved date of 1826. The southern front approach consists of six massive hewed stone steps, each measuring six by ten inches and six feet in length. In the back yard, on the north side, once stood an immense outdoor hewed stone table made of a single solid block of masonry 6 feet by 10 feet, which stood on four posts or legs, each a solid stone about 18 inches by 18 inches, and set in the earth so as to stand some three feet above the surface. Some time after the Civil War the great slab was removed, no one knows why nor by whom. The four solid stone posts or legs still stand in place.

Inside, this old residence is partitioned, ceiled, and finished with neatly dressed yellow poplar boards which were sawed by one of those ancient up-and-down mills, and dressed by hand. One board was noticed recently in the garrett, unused and in perfect condition, measuring 1" by 18" by 12'. It is of clear yellow poplar. The immense logs of which the main walls are built, are of yellow poplar.

This ancient landmark stands on a beautiful knoll, encircled on the west by Wallens Creek just before it empties into Powells River. Along the opposite bank of the Creek is a rim of rising cliffs fringed by cedar trees, making a lovely setting. At this place, Wallens Creek runs two turbines to furnish power for a modern grist mill.

Inside the old dwelling are rich pieces of hand-made furniture. One notable antique is a beautiful sideboard made of cherry and trimmed with apple wood. It has seven neat drawers along the top, with convenient cabinets below.

This house and farm were bought by Mr. A. N. Fitts from a man named Hamilton before the Civil War. The late H. E. Gibson recently added a modern touch to the building by a steel roof and electric lights.

 

The Natural Tunnel

 

The Wilderness Road passed by a natural inspiring wonder of nature before starting across Powells Mountain toward the west. This marvelous geological formation has been aptly called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” It equals and even surpasses the world famous Natural Bridge in Rockbridge Co., VA. It is indeed a natural and mighty tunnel through a limestone ridge or wall. It pierces this ridge for more than 900 feet from side to side, and the natural arch rises 750 feet at the highest point. Stock Creek passes through it from north to south. It is the only natural tunnel in the world used by a railroad. The Southern Railway passes through this vast subterranean passway midway between Kingsport, TN and Big Stone Gap, VA. It is on Highways 58 and 23.

Strange to say, the early explorers and travelers, Daniel Boone, Thomas Walker, Richard Henderson and hundreds of thousands of others who passed this way, made very little comment on this marvelous place of many wonders. It is very seldom mentioned in early writings and not at all in the early journals which have enabled us to trace the route of the Wilderness Road. They took note of a dog, a horse or a bear, but not this mighty wonder of nature. Interest is different now. Each year thousands from all parts of this country and many foreign countries visit this place of beauty and legend.

There is a legend of the beautiful Cherokee maiden who has rescued from a panther by a young Shawnee brave. They fell passionately in love. The girl wished to marry him, but her father would never consent. So the two lovers went to the highest point on the arch of the tunnel, and in each other’s arms they leaped to their death below. This is called Lover’s Leap.

Rev. George Dotson, an old time circuit rider, was on his way to church one Sunday morning. He rode out on the slope to look down over the chasm from above. His horse’s feet began to slip toward the edge. Seeing his fate so close at hand, he called on his horse in a frantic effort to regain solid ground. He was calling on the Lord at the same time. He escaped and went thankfully on to his sermon and duties at the church.

A youth was once let down by a rope to examine an eagle’s nest in a hole in the rock. The mother eagle struck at him, and he in defense slashed at the eagle with his knife, severing the rope all but one single strand. He grasped the rope above the cut just before the last strand broke. Holding on for life, he called frantically to his companions above. They drew him to safety.

These legends any many other stories have been told about the Natural Tunnel.

 

Sportsman Hill

 

Col. William Whitley was born of Irish parents in Augusta Co., VA, August 14, 1749. He went to Kentucky in 1775, taking his wife, his gun, axe and kettle. He built the first brick mansion in Kentucky. It is located between Crab Orchard and Logan’s Station. It is made of red brick with diamonds of lighter colored brick. The glass in the windows was imported, and carried from the east on packhorses through Powells Valley over the Wilderness Road, in 1775, the year that the Mumps Fort was built at Natural Bridge in Lee Co.

The house was not completed until the end of the Revolution. Whitley took a pride in placing memorials to the New Republic in his building. There are 13 steps in the stairway to the second floor, to represent the first states. When the new money was adopted, he had dollar marks ($) carved in the mantle. On each banister on the stairway there is carved an eagle with an olive branch in its beak. There is a secret panel hiding place built in at the head of the stairs.

Whitley was noted for his courage and promptness in striking at marauding bands of Indians. They soon learned to keep out of his way. Chief Doublehead led the Chickamaugas along the Wilderness road in Kentucky for ten years. Whitley led a force against them in 1794, and weakened their power.

He was killed in the battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813, in the same battle in which Chief Tecumseh was killed. It has been claimed that Whitley killed Tecumseh before he was himself killed in that fight.

 

Renfro Valley

 

About one hundred miles from Cumberland Gap, not far from the Wilderness Road toward Louisville, lies a lovely valley up near the head of Rockcastle River. Among the many thousands of emigrants through Powells Valley from the Valley of Virginia came John Renfro and his wife Lulu. Here they found a new place for a home and built their cabin in the year 1791. There soon followed other families - the Hiatts, Taylors, Ramseys and others.

Not far away was found a notable cave which yielded quantities of saltpeter from which the early settlers made supplies of gunpowder. This find began to be valuable to the pioneers only a few years after the settlement was begun. The cave is known as the Saltpeter Cave, and the settlement is the well known Renfro Valley, familiar to thousands for its radio programs.

The oldest house still standing in this notable community, and one of the oldest in Kentucky, is the “Old Polly Hiatt House,” built very soon after the settlement was started by the Renfros in 1791. It was built when wooden pegs were used for nails in floors, roofs and siding.

 

My Old Kentucky Home

 

Many places of prominence in the west are due credit to the memory of the old Wilderness Road through Lee Co. as the Gateway to that vast rich domain. One of the many places whose history turns back to the one Gateway is “My Old Kentucky Home.” This is a shrine belonging to the State of Kentucky, and prominent in memory of Senator John Rowan, Sr., and his nephew Steve Collins Foster, famous song author, writer of “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Near Bardstown, KY, 38 miles south of Louisville, on a plantation of 235 acres, stands a famous old mansion, built in 1795, just three years after the organization of Lee Co. This is one of the largest old brick buildings in Kentucky. It has a front of 60 feet and a depth of 50 feet, and contains seven rooms 32 feet by 22 feet, 15 feet to the ceiling. Through the center is a hall 15 feet by fifty feet. It has two stories, and a children’s play room in the garrett.

The brick of which this famous old building is made was imported from England, unloaded at Newport news, VA, and hauled from there on sleds drawn by oxen driven by slaves, over the Indian trails, through the Valley of Virginia and over the Wilderness Road through Powells Valley and Cumberland Gap, a distance of about 700 miles.

It holds today many rare antiques brought from England in that remote time, over the same distant route. The shrine is visited by thousands who always like to go again.

 

Pennington Gap

 

The metropolis and railroad center of Lee Co. is Pennington Gap. It is a thriving and rapidly developed town of 3,074 population by the 1950 census. It was established in 1892. It is the leading supply center for the coal fields and the agricultural sections of Lee Co. It now has city mail delivery. It was named for the Penningtons, who were prominent in the vicinity from pioneer days.

Two Pennington brothers came to Lee Co. in the time of early settlement. They were of a prominent English family, but came here from New Jersey over the predominating route by the Valley of Virginia, and entered the gateway county by the Wilderness Road. Edward came to Yokum Station in 1790. He married Patsy Flanary, daughter of Thomas Flanary who was among the first settlers at Yokum Station.

Edward and his wife at first rented a place there, but he soon bought a tract of land from a man named Butcher north of the present location of Pennington Gap. He entered a claim on 700 acres more. His land included the mountain Pass at Nigger Head Rock, and along the North Fork River including most of the territory now occupied by the town, and extending to the east of the north Fork.

They built their home near the mountain pass, by the River. They had eleven children. Edward lived to be 97 years of age. He died in 1858. His wife died earlier. They were buried on their old home place near Pennington Gap. They owned several slaves. It was their son John who put in a blast furnace and foundry in the Gap or Pass, just north of the base of Nigger Head Rock.

 

Nigger Head Rock

 

Overlooking the mountain pass at Pennington Gap, just north of the town of Pennington, is a striking head formation which is called Nigger Head Rock. This marvelous result or erosion is in the stratum of massive gray sandstone which forms many cliffs and hogbacks along the top of Stone Mountain. Viewed from the north, it suggests the outline of a Negro’s head. But viewed from the south, it suggests the form of an Indian’s head and face.

This “Old Man of the Mountain” stands as a mighty sentinel looking eastward over the Pass and the North Fork of Powells River. This great strategic Pass was one of nature’s immense economic favors to mankind. It stands as an open way for travel and for shipping, especially favorable for the removal of coal from the mountains. It was a vast saving in time and expense in road building.

State Highway No. 66 and U. S. Highway No. 421 pass directly below this rock and between it and the River. The L & N Railway passes right through its base by a tunnel for some two hundred feet. The marvelous figure stands about 300 feet over the highway, and towers half that height above the railroad.

It is possible for a sure-footed man to clamber down the dizzy heights to the top of Nigger Head Rock from the ascending rugged crest of the mountain on the west. The great crags of the east section of Stone Mountain loom high just across the River that breaks through the Pass and swirls and tumbles away among the boulders below. In fact the River is the agent responsible for the cutting of this Pass as a result of the great fault that occurred in a mighty upheveal long ages ago. A strange freak of nature left the remarkable human head formation in the rocks as the River cut away the mountain through many centuries of time, long before man came upon the scene.

 

Biographical Sketches

The Kane Family

 

Patrick Kane came from Ireland to the United States. He married Adelia O’Harris of New York City. They came to Norfolk, VA, and from there decided to make their way with the tide of emigrants to the great west, then the famous first settlements of Kentucky that drew so many thousands through Lee Co. and Cumberland Gap, along the Wilderness Road. They left Norfolk with a wagon train and some slaves, live stock and supplies, and came through Scott Co. as far as Flat Lick, later called Duffield. This was near the time of the organization of Lee Co., while the Indians still roamed the country.

Due to the illness of their daughter Adelia, Jr., they camped at Flat Lick. The daughter died of fever, and was buried there. The bereaved father and mother could not bring themselves to resume their journey and leave their daughter in the wilderness. So they entered land and established a home there.

Patrick Kane entered a large boundary of land, and purchased more, some as low as ten cents per acre, until he had acquired thousands of acres. This was the land where Duffield now stands, and surrounding country extending into what is now Lee Co. and Wise, as well as Scott. His land extended beyond the top of Powells Mountain into Lee, and included some of the Archibald Scott boundary. This was all Lee Co. Then, Scott and Wise not having yet been organized. Thus the historic Pass in Powells Mountain came to be called Kanes Gap.

The Kanes were inclined toward the legal profession. From Patrick Kane there have been several generations connected with the history of Southwest Virginia.

Henry S. Kane I, and his brother David Ross Kane, were lawyers. They were the sons of Patrick Kane. They both practiced law in Lee Co. and Scott. Robert Kane, brother of Henry S. Kane II, is a prominent lawyer practicing in New York and Philadelphia. Julian J. Kane, youngest son of Henry S. Kane II, practiced at Gate City until his death in 1929. Henry S. Kane III, son of Henry S. Kane II, has a son who practiced in Nashville, Tn. He was Henry S. Kane IV. This name has been persistent in the prominent and large family. Some of the heirs of Patrick Kane continued with that large estate around which much history has transpired during the centuries since their first settlement there.

Patrick Kane died at Flat Lick (Duffield) in 1827, and was buried there in the Kane Cemetery on a little knoll where his wife Adelia and five of their nine children were buried.

 

Henry S. Kane II

 

Henry S. Kane II was born at Estilville (Gate City), VA, August 1, 1860. His parents were Attorney Henry S. Kane and Sarah Anderson Kane. He was educated at King College, Bristol, TN, and V. P. I., Blacksburg, VA.

He became a merchant and farmer. He was elected State Senator for Lee, Scott and Wise, and served from 1895 to 1898. He was an active political worker for fifty years, but this was the only time he ever himself entered politics for an office.

He married Miss Fannie C. Koiner of Augusta Co., VA. They had nine children, and all arose to influential service. They all received college educations except two. There were two engineers, one lawyer, two real estate and insurance men, one Major in the U. S. Army, and one a leading Church man.

Henry S. Kane II was a large real estate owner and an active business man. He had business interests in Bristol, and was associated in business with Gen. R. A. Ayers of Big Stone Gap.

His chief service in Lee Co. was along religious lines. He and Rev. Isaac S. Anderson of Rose Hill were first cousins, and were ardent church workers in Lee Co. He like Anderson was often called the “Bishop of Lee.”

He died December 28, 1934, in Richmond Hospital, Richmond, VA, and was buried at Gate City.

 

C. T. Duncan

 

C. T. Duncan was first married to Mary Martin. To this union were born three daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth and Emma. He married a second time, to Ella Holliday. To this union were born two sons: C. T. Junior and Patrick Hagan Duncan.

He continued for many years in successive law practice at Jonesville, VA.

On September 29, 1915, Judge Charles T. Duncan was the leading speaker at Gate City on the occasion of the Scott Co. Centennial celebration (which was one year late). The celebration was held at the time of the Scott Co. Fair, which opened the next morning. His closing sentence expressed the hope that he might see the people next morning at their County Fair. But this was not to be. He died suddenly that night at the home of his cousin John M. Johnson, where he was lodging. He was buried at Gate City.

 

The Slemp Family

 

In early pioneer days, two German brothers by the name of Schlemb came to this county. Frederick Schlemb settled in Smyth Co., VA. As the name was gradually adjusted to the English language, the heavy B sound was changed to the voiceless lip sound of p, and the name became Schlemp. After further adjustment in etymology, the ch was dropped, and the name became plain Slemp, the name of a large and prominent family in Virginia.

Frederick Slemp’s son John removed to Turkey Cove and took up land in 1789. His wife was Alpha Smyth Slemp. They had a son named Sebastian S. Slemp. We have no record of other children.

 

Sebastian S. Slemp

 

Sebastian S. Slemp was born in Turkey Cove, Lee Co., VA, December 9, 1810. His father was John Slemp and his mother Alpha Smyth Slemp. He was employed chiefly on his father’s farm, and got little education in the local schools of his time. He married Margaret Reasor, August 15, 1831.

Sebastian Slemp was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1850-52. He was in the race for State Senate when he died in 1859.

His youngest son was Campbell Slemp.

Sebastian died April 22, 1859, of pneumonia, at the age of 48.

He was a staunch Methodist, but was liberal toward all churches.

 

Campbell Slemp

 

Campbell Slemp was born in Turkey Cove, Lee Co., VA, December 2, 1839. He was the youngest son of Sebastian Smyth Slemp and Margaret Reasor Slemp. He grew up on his father’s  farm, and received the common old time school education. He attended Emory and Henry College, but three months before his graduation, his father died, and his education was discontinued.

The Civil War then came up, and at the age of 22 he raised a company of men, and entered  the Confederate service with Virginia. He was advanced to Colonel. He was later assigned to the 64th Virginia Regiment as its commanding officer. He saw service in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

He was at Cumberland Gap when Gen. John W. Frazer surrendered there, September 8, 1863. He asked permission to leave, and with 100 men he disappeared. He and Maj. W. B. McDowell did not surrender with Frazer’s forces. He escaped and began at once to organize another battalion.

In 1878, Col. Slemp was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, and served two years. He was a Democrat until the year 1880, when he became associated with the Republicans in the readjuster period, as a strong leader of the party. He ran for the State Senate in 1883, but was defeated. He ran for Lt. Governor under Gen. Mahone, and was unsuccessful. He was elected to the U. S. Congress in 1902 and continued for the most of three terms.

Col. Slemp had three sons: Campbell Bascom, William Moses and Henry Clinton. He had four daughters: Emma Maggie, Susan Jane, Nannie Bell and Laura Alpha.

His chief business was farming. He also had successful connection with the coal industry.

He died Sunday October 13, 1907, at Big Stone Gap, and was buried in the Slemp Cemetery in the Turkey Cove. His son Bascom was elected to finish his unexpired term.

 

Campbell Bascom Slemp

 

C. Bascom Slemp was born in the Turkey Cove, Lee Co., September 4, 1870. His parents were Col. Campbell Slemp and Nancy Brittain Cawood Slemp. His mother was from Owsley Co., KY.

Bascom received his elementary schooling at the Seminary in his home community as he grew up on his father’s farm. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1891. He studied law at the University of Virginia, and attended the University of Chicago and was admitted to the Bar.

He taught mathematics in V.M.I. for awhile, then practiced law at Big Stone Gap and later at Washington City. He early acquired connections with the coal industry, was successful in business, and became a millionaire.

At the age of nine he served as page in the Virginia Legislature at Richmond, and thus extremely early in his life became familiar with legislative proceedings. He was elected to finish the unexpired term of his father in Congress at his death in 1907. He was re-elected to Congress, and served sixteen years, until 1923. On August 14, 1923, he was appointed Secretary to President Calvin Coolidge, entered upon the duties of that office September 4, and served to the end of the term.

In 1929 he purchased the Rufus A. Ayers property in Big Stone Gap, which later served to house the Southwest Virginia Museum.

He was appointed Commissioner General for the Paris Exposition and served in that position two years, beginning May 1, 1930. After that he returned to this law practice at Washington, D.C., and to his interests in the coal industry. He took a  leading part in securing for the Court House at Jonesville, the following portraits: Gov. Henry Lee, Judge Henry J. Morgan, Judge Charles T. Duncan, Judge James W. Orr, Col. Auburn L. Pridemore and Hon. Sebastian S. Slemp (1941), Judge W. E. Pennington, Maj. J. A. G. Hyatt and Hon. C. Bascom Slemp (1942).

He died at Big Stone Gap, August 4, 1943 and was buried in Slemp Cemetery.

 

Henry Jasper Morgan

 

Henry J. Morgan was born in Lee Co., February 5, 1827. His father was Nathaniel Morgan. His mother was Mima Yeary Morgan. He came to Jonesville at the age of 16, and began work in Ben Martin’s Store as clerk. He had received only a common school education.

On May 27, 1858, he was elected as County Court Clerk, and took over the office on July 1. He was re-elected in 1864. He was exempted from military service because of his office as Clerk.

After the end of the War, he was again re-elected in 1865. He served most of the time during his tenure of office as Circuit Court Clerk as well as County Court Clerk. In 1858, R. M. Hamblin was elected Circuit Court Clerk. After his resignation, May 2, 1861, Morgan was appointed to that office. In 1869, S. E. Thompson was appointed Clerk by Military authority and he appointed Henry J. Morgan as his deputy.

In 1863, Morgan did the County a great favor by removing the record books from the courthouse before it was burned by the army. He hauled the books away in a wagon and placed them at John Graham’s house near Green Hill, where they stayed until after the close of the War and a new courthouse was built.

In 1870 he was elected Judge of the County Court. His first court was held on April 18, 1870. He served until 1880. He was the first judge under the new Constitution of 1869. He was admitted to the Bar April 7, 1876. It will be ntoed that he served as County Court Judge six years before he was admitted to the Bar.

May 1, 1887, Judge Morgan, I. S. Anderson and W. K. Armstrong organized Powell Valley Bank. Morgan later acquired the other shares and became sole owner. He sold out to James R. Gilliam of Lynchburg in 1896. The Bank was later converted into Powells Valley National Bank.

There were no typewriters in Mogan’s day, but he was a fine scribe.

He was never married. He was a Democrat, but sometimes voted for the Republicans.

He died January 14, 1905, and was buried in Jonesville Cemetery.

 

Major J. A. G. Hyatt

 

J. A. G. Hyatt was born in Tazewell Co., VA, near Bluefield, April 22, 1840. His father was U. G. Hyatt and his mother was a Miss Kenneday. He received a small amount of education in the old time local elementary schools.

The Hyatts removed to Lee Co., first living in the Turkey Cove, and then later in Jonesville. J. A. G. Hyatt entered the Confederate Army and received rapid promotion. He became Major in the 64th Virginia Infantry. He was in the Battle of Jonesville and at Cumberland Gap, and several other engagements.

After the close of the Civil War, he taught school for three years in Lee Co. In 1881 he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court. He also served as Treasurer for a while.

He married Eliza A. Slemp in 1866. They had eight boys and one girl.

He died at Jonesville, December 22, 1922, and was buried in the Jonesville Cemetery.

 

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still

 

Andrew T. Still was born at the Natural Bridge near Jonesville, VA, August 6, 1828. His father was Rev. Abraham Still, a doctor and old time Methodist circuit rider, the pastor of the Jonesville Camp Ground at the time of the erection of the old building in 1824.

The Stills later removed to Tennessee, and from there to Missouri when Andrew was nine years of age. When he was nineteen, he was married Mary M. Vaughan. In 1853 he removed to Kansas, where his wife died six years later.

Andrew and his father followed farming and practicing medicine among the pioneers and Indians. He studied medicine at Kansas City. He was an ardent student of nature, and concluded that the Creator had placed everything in the body to keep it in normal health without the use of drugs. He turned to intensive study of anatomy of animals and of Indians he had occasion to dissect.

He was with John Brown in border wards, and entered the Civil War with the 21st Kansas Volunteers. He was elected to the Kansas Legislature in 1857. He helped found Baker University at Baldwin, Kansas

He continued his studies and investigations until he discovered and developed the science of Osteopathy in 1874, which became his great life work. He had a battle for recognition in this new science, practicing in Missouri, often aided by one or more of his sons.

In 1860 he had married Mary E. Turner. In 1887 they settled in Kirkville, Missouri, which had really been his home for about twelve years. There he developed a large practice. He started the American School of Osteopathy there in 1892, which developed a four-year course. Patients come there to the hospitals from all parts of the country and from Canada.

In 1898 he published his “Autobiography,” in 1902, his “Philosophy and Mechanical Principles of Osteopathy,” and in 1910, his “Osteopathy, Research and Practice.”

His wife died in 1910. He died December 12, 1917, and was buried at Kirkville, Missouri. His humble cabin birthplace at Natural Bridge in Lee Co. was taken down in 1925, and removed to Kirkville and reset on a knoll overlooking his grave.

In 1928 a Centennary celebration was held at the old Jonesville Camp Ground. This occasion was largely attended by Osteopathic physicians including his son Dr. Charles Still, a daughter Mrs. Laughlin, and several of his grandchildren.

 

Charles Taylor Duncan

 

Charles T. Duncan was born in Scott Co., VA, July 9, 1838. He was the oldest son of John and Ibby Carter Duncan. He was educated in the “Old Field” school of his time.

When the Civil War came up, he was one of the first to volunteer, in May 1861. He was assigned to Company D, 37th VA Infantry. He was soon advanced to the rank of Lieutenant. He served as aid to Gen. William B. Tallifaro, and later on the staff of Gen. George H. Stewart. He was in eighteen of the leading battles of the War, and was twice wounded, once at Sharpsburg, and then at Chancellorsville. He was captured in the battle of the Wilderness, May 12, 1864, near Spotsvylania Courthouse.

While a prisoner, he secured a copy of Blackstone’s Commentaries. This started him on the study of law. After the War, he continued his study and was admitted to the Bar, August 29, 1874, in the Circuit Court of Lee Co. Two years after being admitted to the Bar, he was elected Commonwealth’s Attorney, and continued for two terms.

He served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of Virginia in 1867-68.

He was commissioned as County Court Judge of Lee Co., December 21, 1885, and served four years. He then resigned and returned to private practice.

In 1890, when the L & N Railway was advancing through Lee Co. and on to Wise, he was employed as council for the railroad company on this division and continued in this position as long as he lived.

 

George Franklin Clark, MD

 

George F. Clark was born in England, October, 1834. He came to America with his parents at the age of ten. They settled in Pulaski Co. He got his medical training at Richmond Medical College, and continued in Richmond until the Civil War broke out. He was employed with the Richmond Hospital.

At the outbreak of War, he entered the Confederate Army. After the close of the war he came to Lee Co., where he lived and practiced medicine until his death. He married Emily Moseley in 1897. They lived at Dryden. They had three children: Ellis, Mary and Maude.

His medical practice was outstandingly successful. He was known and revered by a great number of people. He died at Dryden, October, 1914, and was buried in the Shelburne Cemetery near Woodway.

 

Rev. Reuben Steele

 

Reuben Steele was a Methodist backwoods evangelist. He was born in Wythe Co., VA, September 29, 1802. He spent his childhood in Kentucky, and returned to Virginia when he reached manhood, settling on Guests Mountain between Wise and Coeburn, within the present bounds of Wise Co., though it was then in Russell Co. He was for five years a licensed exhorter, then was licensed to preach in 1836. His first ministry was along the border of Kentucky. He joined the Holston Conference at Knoxville in 1841. His ministry is a part of Lee Co. history. He was heard, well known and loved by many in this county. He preached up and down Powells Valley, on Wallens Creek and Blackwater, for several years. He also worked as an evangelist in Wise, Scott an other sections of this country. Eight thousand were brought into the church by his preaching. His congregations were from lowly cabin homes, his churches likewise built of logs. He preached at the Jonesville Camp Ground, and in many places in the county. His contributions were not jingling money very often. They were mostly such useful things as home-knit pairs of socks, home-woven dresses, a pair of buckskin moccasins, a jug of molasses, a hand-pieced quit. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Newberry. She died in 1837, and was buried on Guests Mountain the first in the Nash Cemetery. His second wife was Elizabeth Forkner. He had five children by his first wife and ten by his second. He was an army chaplain during the Civil War, in the 64th VA Regiment of the Confederacy.

 

James Wesley Orr

 

James W. Orr was born at Walnut Hill in the western part of Lee Co., July 19, 1841. His father was David Orr and his mother Rhoda Ely Orr. They were married February, 1822, and had 13 children, 9 boys and 4 girls.

J. W. Orr was enrolled in the Confederate Army in May, 1861, from Walnut Hill, with Captain Thomas S. Gibson’s Company. They went to Richmond, and he was put in Company E, 37th VA Infantry. He saw action in many battles. His service was mostly in the Valley of Virginia under Stonewall Jackson.

He became a First Lieutenant in June, 1862, and continued with that rank to the end of the War. He lost his left arm in the battle of Sharpsburg. He then returned home, and was assigned to recruiting service in Lee and Scott with the 64th Cavalry Regiment under Col. A. L. Pridemore. He was with them in the battle of Jonesville, January 2, 1864.

He served as sheriff of Lee Co. from 1866 to 1869. He was the first County and Circuit Court Clerk to serve in the new courthouse built in 1870. He entered that office January 1, 1871.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1882, and practiced law the remainder of his life. He was appointed County Court Judge in 1889, to finish the term of C. T. Duncan after his resignation. He continued in this position eight years, also filling a vacancy in place of James B. Richmond in Scott for two years of this time. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1901-02.

Judge Orr was married to Pattie Vermillion. They had four children: W. E. Orr, George W. Orr, Ben F. Orr and Elizabeth Orr Sewell. He married a second time, to Olivia Johnson Morison. They were married in 1910. He died May 8, 1932, and was buried at Jonesville.

 

Jonathan Richmond

 

In 1811, Steve Osborne from North Carolina settled at Osborne’s Ford (Dungannon) then in Russell Co. Isaac Richmond married Osborne’s daughter. Jonathan, the son of Isaac Richmond, married Griffith Dickenson’s daughter and settled in the Turkey Cove, Lee Co.

Jonathan Richmond was a law partner with Patrick Hagan in 1860. He was Commonwealth’s Attorney until his death, and was succeeded by Patrick Hagan.

Jonathan Richmond had four sons: Marion, James B., Tip and Frank. He had two daughters, one of whom married M. B. D. Lane and went to Tennessee to live. The other married Dr. W. F. Edmonds, and later removed to Scott after 1880. M. B. D. Lane was Representative from Lee Co. In 1848-49. James B. Richmond was elected to Congress in 1878, and served three terms.

 

William H. Burnes

 

William H. Burnes was a powerful criminal lawyer. He came from Letcher Co., KY, after the Civil War. He practiced law at the Jonesville Bar. His son Harry Burnes recently died at Lebanon in Russell Co.

 

Peter Johnson

 

Peter Johnson lived in Turkey Cove. He once lived in the Jonathan Wyatt house. He was the first district Judge from Southwest Virginia. The first court held in Lee Co. after its organization in 1792 is reported to have been held in the Jonathan Wyatt house, which was remained standing, in part, until 1950.

 

Pete Kimberling, MD

 

Pete Kimberling was born at Stickleyville, August 24, 1848.

He attended medical school at Nashville, TN. He began the practice of medicine when he was thirty years of age, and first practiced under Dr. Hop Gray of Nashville.

He married Nancy J. Duff at Pennington Gap, in October, 1877. They had three children: two girls and one boy: Ollie, Rebecca and Robert.

He practiced medicine until his death, July 6, 1924, at Pennington Gap. He had excellent success in the treatment of Typhoid Fever. He had a fine reputation as a country doctor, all through his long practice in the medical profession.

 

Patrick Hagan

 

Patrick Hagan was born in Ireland, February 2, 1828. He came to America in 1847.

He was a partner with his brother in Richmond, VA, later studied law under Joseph Starns of Tazewell Co., and was admitted to the Bar in Scott Co. In 1854.

He was admitted to citizenship in 1855.

He was a law partner with Jonathan Richmond of Lee Co. in 1860. He was Commonwealth’s Attorney at Richmond’s death, then served two more terms. He was exempted from army duty in the Civil War because of his office as Commonwealth’s Attorney.

He married Mrs. Elizabeth Young Grubb. They had eight children.

He died and was buried in Scott Co. In 1917.

 

James Buchanan Richmond

 

James Buchanan Richmond was born in Turkey Cove, Lee Co., February 27, 1842. He worked on a farm in his youth. His father and mother were Jonathan Richmond and Mary Dickenson Richmond.

He received a common school education, and attended Emory and Henry College. He volunteered into the Confederate Army in 1861 and became Captain of Company A, 50th Virginia Regiment. He advanced to Major and then Lt. Colonel in the 64th VA Infantry.

He was a merchant in Jonesville in 1865. Later he was partner with Wright Stickley at Fork Blackmore in a store. Later he had a store at Estilville (Gate City).

He studied law at the University of Virginia and was admitted to the Bar in 1874.

He was elected to the Virginia Legislature in 1874-77, and to U. S. Congress in 1876.

He was County Court Judge in Scott Co., 1886-1892, and a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1901-02. He was president of People’s National Bank.

He was twice married - to Lizzie Duncan, and to Kate Morrison.

He died at Baltimore, MD, April 30, 1910, and was buried at Gate City.

 

Elbert Sevier Martin

 

Elbert S. Martin was born near Jonesville, VA, in 1829. He attended the local public schools. He completed his education at Emory and Henry College, 1845-48.

He entered the mercantile business in Jonesville. He was elected to Congress in 1858, and served two terms. He was an unsuccessful candidate for that office in 1862.

He served in the Confederate Army as Captain in the Infantry during the Civil War.

He removed to Dallas, Texas in 1870, and entered the mercantile business there. He died there September 3, 1876.

John Preston Martin, brother to Elbert S. Martin, was born at Jonesville, VA, October 11, 1811, was educated in Virginia, but removed to Prestonsburg, KY, in 1828. He became a member of the Kentucky House of Delegates in 1840. He was elected to Congress in 1844. He was elected to the Kentucky State Senate, 1855-59.

He died December 23, 1863.

 

Auburn Lorenzo Pridemore

 

Auburn L. Pridemore was born in Scott Co., VA, June 27, 1837. He was educated in the obscure common schools of his day, made by subscription for three to five months each year. His parents were Samuel Pridemore and Mary Ann Ingram Pridemore.

He left the farm to join the Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil War. He raised a company of volunteers and was made Captain, 1862. He advanced rapidly and became Major, Lieutenant, Colonel, and then Lt. Colonel. He was in many engagements, including Jonesville and Cumberland Gap. He was in command of the Cavalry Division of the 64th VA Regiment.

He taught school two years after the war ended, and studied law at night and in spare time. He was admitted to the Bar in 1867, and came to Jonesville that year. He practiced law in Lee and other counties until his death.

He was elected to the House of Delegates in 1865, but was prevented from serving because of the war. He was elected to the State Senate of Virginia to represent Lee, Wise and Buchanan counties, 1871-75. He was elected to U. S. Congress, 1877-79. He was instrumental, with Gen. John D. Imboden, Congressman, in bringing about coal and rail developments in Wise.

He was married three times - Miss Caledonia Hill, Miss Lucy Crocket and Mrs. Sallie Richmond Neal. His first wife was the mother of one daughter, his second wife the mother of one son. He had only two children.

He died May 17, 1900, and was buried in the Jonesville Cemetery.

 

William McAlister Davidson

 

W. M. Davidson was born April 8, 1851, near Blountville, TN. His parents were Jonathan and Sarah Evana Davidson. He was educated in the public schools of Sullivan Co., TN, and graduated from King College, and then entered the teaching profession. He first taught in the Male Academy at Blountville.

He married August 8, 1874, to Miss Emma Elizabeth Kehr of Fredericksburg, VA. She was the daughter of Charles and Eudora Terrell Kerh. She was teaching music at Blountville, TN when they were married. She continued to teach music in the schools where her husband taught.

After his marriage, Mr. Davidson removed to Turkey Cove, in Lee Co., VA, and established a school there. He taught there four years. Many older citizens long remembered his ardent and faithful work in building and establishing that school. He bought a farm there and built a home, but sold it and went to Gate City (then called Estillville). He taught three years there and then one year in Wise. He then returned to Lee Co. and taught at Jonesville and at Rose Hill. He bought a farm four miles west of Jonesville, and made his home there.

He was Superintendent of Public Schools of Lee Co. for 16 years, 1893 to 1909, doing much to set the school system on a strong footing in Lee Co.

He and his wife had five children: Mrs. Lucretia Yeary, W. L. Davidson, Mrs. Wort Cox and Mrs. Lillian Stepro. His grandson William L. Davidson, Jr. was the first scientist from Lee Co. to be called to Oak Ridge to help perfect the atomic bomb.

Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Davidson were charter members of the First Presbyterian Church at Jonesville.

Mr. Davidson died July 15, 1930, and was buried in the family cemetery on the farm where he had spent the greater part of this useful life.

 

Silas Shelburne, MD

 

Silas E. Shelburne was born in Pulaski Co., VA, April 30, 1852. His parents were James Shelburne and Mary Jane Shelburne. His mother was a sister of Dr. George Clark. They removed to Lee Co., VA while Silas was an infant.

After his marriage at the age of 22, he decided to become a medical doctor. He received his medical course at Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1881? He entered upon the practice of medicine at once, and continued the remainder of his life. He was Lee Co. Health Officer at the time of his death.

He was a minister, preaching in many churches on Sundays, ministering to both medical and spiritual needs of the people. For many years of his useful life he visited the sick, officiated at weddings, buried the dead, and comforted the sorrowing. His success was outstanding as a minister.

At the age of 22, he married Miss Sue Richmond. They had eleven children: four girls and seven boys.

He died at his home near Woodway, March 15, 1920. And was buried there in the family cemetery.

 

Rev. Isaac Anderson

 

The Rev. Isaac S. Anderson was born at Bristol, TN, December 9, 1854. His parents were Joseph Rhea and Mildred King Anderson. Joseph Anderson was a successful business man, and Mayor of Bristol. Isaac Anderson grew up in Bristol, and graduated from King College, June 9, 1875. He attended Union Theological Seminary at Hampton-Sydney, VA, graduating in 1878. He later did post-graduate work at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

He entered the ministry and devoted fifty-five years to that work in Lee Co., filling regular appointments at Jonesville, Wallens Creek, Rose Hill, Mt. Carmel, and Cumberland Gap. He preached in Wise and Scott on passing through on horseback between his home at Bristol and his field of work in Lee Co. during his early ministerial years. He was a faithful and conscientious church worker and a friend to education. He was often referred to as the “Bishop of Lee.”

On August 25, 1891, he married Miss Margaret Olivia Gibson of Jonesville, VA. Their only child, Nan Lin, married John F. Kincaid, June 28, 1916.

Rev. Isaac Anderson died at Rose Hill, December 20, 1932, and was buried in East Hill Cemetery, Bristol, TN.

 

Rev. John C. Orr

 

John C. Orr was born on Sugar Run near Jonesville, September 4, 1856. He was the son of John Preston Orr, and Priscilla Wynn Orr. His parents removed to Green Hill section south of Dryden soon after the close of the Civil War.

He attended Seminary elementary school in the Turkey Cove. He graduated from Vanderbilt University Theological School at Nashville, TN. He was an excellent hymn singer. He taught school two years before entering Vanderbilt University.

He was licensed to preach at the age of 22, at the Camp Ground, by the Fourth Quarterly Conference, Jonesville Circuit, signed by G. Taylor, presiding Elder, and by W. W. Woodward. He was admitted to the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church in 1886. He was a minister for fifty years, retiring in 1936. He taught Bible several years at Emory and Henry College. He was president of Sullins College until it burned in 1916.

Rev. Orr married Miss Ida Ferguson of Waynesboro, NC, in 1891. They had two sons: John B. and Robert B., and two daughters: Helen and Margaret Ruth. Helen married Rev. Jack Anderson of Savannah, GA. Margaret married a Dr. B. Denton of Abingdon, VA.

Rev. John C. Orr died in Florida, March 9, 1950. The body was cremated. At the time of his death, he held the record of being one of the oldest pastors in the history of the Holston Conference. Many of hymns are preserved in Southwest Virginia Museum at Big Stone Gap.

The End