Chapter III: Part 3

Pocahontas County created in 1821, a year after Morgan had been formed, and likewise a West Virginia county, lies in the southeastern section of the state opposite the Virginia county of Alleghany. Its name was a long delayed tribute to the fine character and achievements of the Indian maid Pocahontas. She both aided the settlers at Jamestown with gifts of sorely needed food, and by her marriage to John Rolfe secured eight years of peace for them. This period was vital to their survival.

Pocahontas lies in a mountainous region rich in bituminous coal deposits, so much so that Pocahontas coal is known everywhere. The description of the county's bounds notes the lines of Greenbrier, Bath, Randolph and Pendleton counties and "Randolph court House." This is the first mention of a courthouse anywhere in this area.

After discussing eight counties now in West Virginia, we come to a Virginia county, Alleghany, formed in 1822 from Botetourt, Bath and Monroe counties. It is the name the Delaware Indians gave both the Ohio and the Alleghany rivers, but its origin is uncertain. Presumably, the mountains took their name from the river. Within the bounds of Alleghany County the Jackson and the Cow-pasture rivers unite to form the James River, the longest river in the state and the most important in its early history.

Its bounds were thus described: "beginning at the top of the middle of Potts' mountain, where the road leading from Fincastle to the Sweet Springs crosses the same; thence with said road to the top of Peter's mountain; thence a straight line to the Greenbrier county line on the top of the Alleghany mountain so as to pass between the Sweet and Red springs; thence with the top of the Alleghany or Greenbrier line to a certain point so that a straight line drawn thence to include in the new county Captain Henry Massie's plantation in the Falling Spring Valley may also include Archibald Morriss's plantation on Jackson's river in said new county; thence a straight line from the said Massie's across the Cow-pasture river immediately below William Griffin's on said river to the Rockbridge county line; thence with said line to a point in the Rockbridge and Botetourt line so that a line drawn from thence will pass at or near the junction of Jackson's and Cow-pasture rivers to the nearest part of the Rich Patch mountain; and this line to be so run as to leave the house and yard of Captain John Jordan in the county of Botetourt; thence with the highest points of the said Rich Patch mountain next to Craig's creek so as to include the inhabitants of the Rich Patch in said new county, to a point at which it unites with Potts' mountain, thence with the top of the said mountain to the beginning."

In 1824 the county of Logan was formed from portions of Giles, Cabell, Tazewell and Kanawha counties. It lay in the southwestern part of the present West Virginia not far from the Kentucky line. The name derives from the Mingo Indian chieftain whose famous speech preserved by Thomas Jefferson was long a popular selection for young would-be orators.

1830-1840 LARGE INCREASE IN POPULATION NECESSITATES FOURTEEN NEW COUNTIES

For seven years, there was no further expansion until in 1831 when the Virginia county of Floyd was formed. This was taken from that part of Montgomery County adjacent to the counties of Franklin, Patrick and Grayson. The name is in honor of John Floyd, Governor of Virginia 1830-1834. It is a beautiful county of high mountains, fertile valleys and good blue-grass pasture land.

Its bounds were thus prescribed: "Beginning at the widow Litterell's, thence a straight line to John Thrasher's; thence a straight line to John Cooper's old place; thence a straight line to where the Waggon road crosses the Laurel ridge; from thence along the highest part of said ridge to Little river; and down the same to Mack's mountain; and with the same to the Grayson line and with the same to the Patrick line and with the same to the Franklin line and with the same to the line of Montgomery and Franklin, opposite the widow Litterell's; from thence a straight line to the beginning."

In addition to Floyd, Fayette County was also formed in 1831. This county, the second attempt Virginia had made to honor the Marquis de la Fayette, fell later into West Virginia. Taken from parts of Logan, Greenbrier, Nicholas and Kanawha, Fayette lies in the southeastern part of the state, and is traversed by the New River.

The lengthy description of its bounds notes several streams besides the New River; namely: Lick creek, Meadow river, Mill creek, Gauley river, Twenty Mile creek, Kanawha river, Guyandotte and Cole (Coal) river. For the first time we find mention of a turnpike, "the Kanawha turnpike." In the decade 1820-1830, a great interest in highways developed, and turnpikes and toll roads became numerous. In Virginia a well-known toll road ran through the Valley of Virginia called "the Valley Pike." National highway Route Number 11 largely follows its path.

The third county created in 1831 also is now a West Virginia county, Jackson. Formed from Mason, Kanawha and Wood, Jackson lies in the western part of the state along the Ohio River south of Parkersburg. It was named for General Andrew Jackson, then in his first term as President of the United States. A song popular at that time carried these two lines complimenting his exploits:

"Glory be to Jackson for the Battle of New Orleans
For there he gave the enemy the hot butter-beans"

referring to his victory over the British in the battle of that name.

We come back to Virginia now and discuss the fourth county created in 1831. Formed from Shenandoah and Rockingham counties, it lies in the Valley of Virginia with the famed Luray Cavern within its borders. It was named in honor of John Page, Governor of Virginia 1802-1805.

Its bounds are as follows: "Beginning at a point in the line of the counties of Rockingham and Orange on the top of the Blue Ridge opposite to the headwaters of Naked creek in the county of Rockingham; thence a straight line to the headwaters of said creek; thence with the meanderings of said creek to its junction with the South river; thence down the bed of said river to the upper end of Michael Shuler's island; thence a straight line to the mouth of Shuler's run; thence with the main branch of said run to its source; thence a straight line to the top of the Massanutten mountain; thence with the top of said mountain to its termination near Daniel Clem's; thence to the top of the eastern Fort mountain; thence with the top of said mountain to a point opposite to the mouth of Cunningham's run in the county of Shenandoah; thence a straight line to the mouth of said run; thence with the said run to its source; thence to a point in a direct line to the top of the Blue Ridge in the line of the two counties of Shenandoah and Culpeper; and thence with the top of the Blue Ridge to the beginning."

From Washington and Wythe in 1832 was established the new county of Smyth situated in the southwestern section of Virginia and extending to the North Carolina line. The name derives from General Alexander Smyth of Wythe County, Inspector General of the Army in 1812 and Member of Congress 1817-1825, 1827-1830. A portrait of him by Saint Memin is in the Corcoran Art Gallery.

The bounds of the county are set forth as follows: "Beginning on the main stage road at a bridge in a hollow at a point where the spring branch of Phillip Griever deceased crosses the same; thence a direct line, passing equidistant between Preston's and King's salt wells to the line of Russell county; and from the said point on the main stage road aforesaid where the said spring branch crosses the same running south twenty-five degrees east to the southern boundary of Washington county; and beginning on the main stage coach road leading by Abingdon and Wythe courthouse, ten miles by the said road dividing Washington and Wythe counties; running thence northwest to the northern boundary of Wythe county and southeast to the southern boundary of Wythe county. The said line through Wythe county running precisely parallel with the line aforesaid through Washington County."

In the above we note the great development that had taken place in this section, a "stagecoach road" and two towns, Abingdon and Wythe Courthouse, being mentioned for the first time. A road over which a heavy stagecoach could travel was a big advance over the bridle paths and "rolling roads" of the preceding century.

In 1833, Rappahannock also a Virginia county, was established. This was taken from Culpeper County and named for the river which traverses it, and which, likely took its name from the Indian tribe living along its banks. The settlers first called this river Pembroke in honor of William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke and brother-in-law of the famous Sir Philip Sydney. The Earl was a member of the Virginia Company of London and invested four hundred pounds sterling in the enterprise.

The bounds of Rappahannock County were as follows: "Beginning at the corner of Madison and Culpeper counties upon the top of the Blue Ridge of mountains and running thence with the line of said counties to the point where it is intersected by Hugh's river above the junction of Hugh's and Hazel's rivers; thence with Hugh's river to the junction of the aforesaid rivers; thence to a bend in the river near a point called the Giant's castle; thence to Horner's mill upon the Fauquier and Culpeper line; thence with said line to the corner of the aforesaid counties upon the top of the Blue Ridge, thence with said mountain to the beginning."

The next county established in this continuous effort to make due processes of law and order accessible to all lies now in the northern tip of West Virginia. It is called Marshall, honoring John Marshall who died in 1835, the year of the county's creation. John Marshall's career and achievements are too well known to be recounted here; suffice it to say that in his lengthy tenure as its Chief Justice he gave plan, directive and purpose to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The bounds of Marshall County were set forth as being "all that part of the lower end of the county of Ohio lying south of a line beginning on the Ohio river at a stone to be fixed on the bank of said river, one half mile above the mouth of Buggs' run; thence a direct line to the northern boundary of the town of West Union and thence continuing the same course to the Pennsylvania line."

In 1836 Braxton, also at present a West Virginia county, was created from portions of Lewis and Nicholas counties. Its name honors Carter Braxton, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, the last one of the Virginia signers to receive this distinction.

The description of its bounds though long is of interest because of the number of place names used and is therefore quoted: "beginning at Salt Works road at the head of Barbecue run and running thence with the dividing ridge of the Kanawha and Monongalia waters to the head of the Fall run; thence along the leading ridge to the forks of the Little Kanawha; thence up the right hand fork to its head; thence with the dividing ridge between Kanawha, Buchanan and Elk waters, to the corner of Randolph and Nicholas county line; thence with the said line to the top of the Point mountain above the Fork lick; thence along the top of the Point mountain to the end thereof; thence a straight line to Joseph Priam's (so as to include Joseph Priam's lands within the boundary of the new county); thence a straight line to the top of the ridge between Big and Little Birch rivers, and down said ridge to the mouth of Little Birch river; thence a straight line to the mouth of the Rock-camp fork of Big Buffalo (above Young's Bottoms); thence down the same to its mouth, crossing Elk river; thence to the Lewis and Kanawha county line at a point where a straight line to the mouth of the Long Shoal run will include Jacob Shock on Steer creek within the boundary of the new county; thence up the said Long Shoal run to the top of the ridge between the Sand fork and Little Kanawha; thence with the dividing ridge to the head of the left hand fork of the Three lick fork of Oil creek; thence to its mouth; thence to the main fork of Oil creek; thence up the Clover lick fork to the beginning."

From almost the center of the present state of West Virginia, we now return to Virginia and note the creation from Frederick of the new county of Clarke. Braxton, Clarke and Warren were all established in the year 1836. Clarke, though incorrectly spelled pays honor to that native of Albemarle County who won the Northwest Territory for the Continental Congress, George Rogers Clark. The county, cut from the eastern part of Frederick, adjoins Jefferson, Loudoun and Fauquier.

Its bounds are thus given: "Beginning at the point in the Blue Ridge where the line dividing the counties of Jefferson and Loudoun meets the line dividing the counties of Frederick and Loudoun, thence with the line dividing the counties of Jefferson and Frederick to the middle of the Opequon creek; thence up the middle of the Opequon to the mouth of Wright's branch; thence up that stream to the mouth of Nations Spring run; thence a direct line until it reaches Colin Leach's corner, next to major Seth Mason's land on the road to Nineveh; thence eastwardly by a direct line, passing south of the buildings and curtilages of doctor James Hay and James M. Hite, to a point on the Shenandoah river, at the mouth of Fauntleroy's mill run, on the north side of the Shenandoah river; thence from the mouth of said run a straight line to the nearest top of the Blue Ridge of mountains; and thence on the eastern boundary of Frederick county to the beginning."

Curtilage, used for the first time in any description, is a law term denoting the fenced-in area adjoining a dwelling house or a courtyard. The term often used now is dependencies.

Warren, the third county created in 1836, lies over the Blue Ridge from and a little to the south of Clarke. Its territory was taken from those portions of Shenandoah and Frederick counties that adjoined "the counties of Rappahannock and Fauquier in the southern part thereof." The name honors the brave soldier Major General Joseph Warren who fell in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The bounds of Warren County which mention some places noted in Clarke County's bounds are as follows: "Beginning at the top of the Blue Ridge where the counties of Shenandoah and Page corner on the Rappahannock county line; thence west with the Page line to the top of the southeast Fort mountain; thence north with the top of said mountain to its termination at the mouth of Powel's fort; thence a straight line from the top of said mountain to the nearest top of the Three top mountain; thence with the top of said mountain to the high peak opposite Strasburg; thence a straight line to Hoffman's ford across the north branch of Shenandoah river; thence down the bed of said river to the mouth of Cedar creek on the north side of said river; thence up said creek to where the Winchester and Staunton stage road crosses said creek; thence a straight line to Zion meeting-house in Frederick county; thence with the main road leading towards the White post until it reaches Colin Leache's corner, a point on said road; then eastwardly by a direct line passing south of the buildings and curtilages of doctor James Hay and James M. Hite; to a point on Burden's March run; thence by a direct line to a point on the Shenandoah river at the mouth of Fauntleroy's mill run on the north side of the Shenandoah river; thence from the mouth of said run a straight line to the nearest top of the Blue Ridge; thence a southwest course with the top of said Blue Ridge to the beginning."

The next year, 1837, Mercer, now in West Virginia but adjoining Giles County, Virginia, was formed. The Act authorizing its creation is as follows: "All that part of the counties of Giles and Tazewell contained within the following boundary lines ... shall form one distinct and new county and be called and known by the name of Mercer county in memory of general Hugh Mercer who fell at Princeton." Appropriately the county seat of Mercer County is Princeton.

In 1838 the Virginia counties of Greene and Roanoke were set up.

The Act for the former county is as follows: "So much of the county of Orange as it lies next to and adjoining the counties of Madison, Rockingham and Albemarle and west of a line beginning at Cave's old mill (now James Jackson's) on the Madison county line and running thence a straight line to where Whitelow's mill run intersects the Albemarle county line shall form one distinct and new county and be called and known by the name of Greene county in memory of general Nathaniel Greene who served his country in the revolutionary war."

It may be mentioned that this is the second county in Virginia honoring General Greene. The correct spelling for his first name is Nathanael.

In Greene County lies Swift Run Gap. This is the gap in the Blue Ridge mountains over which in September 1715, Governor Spotswood led his adventurous band into the beautiful Valley of Virginia. Westward expansion began at this date.

The second county created in 1838 was Roanoke composed of that portion of Botetourt lying next to the southwestern parts of Montgomery, Franklin and Bedford. Roanoke was the name applied by the early colonists to the shell-beads of different colors used by the Indians as a medium of exchange. The river had long been known as Roanoke, hence it seems likely that the county took its name from the river.

Roanoke County is thus bounded: "beginning at a point on the Blue ridge which divides the counties of Bedford and Botetourt, thence northwest to the house now the residence of John Bonsack on Glade creek so as to include the said Bonsack in the new county, thence a line to the house of Thomas Barnes including said Barnes in the county, and so as to leave John W. Thompson in the county of Botetourt, thence a straight line crossing the Catawba Valley at a point one mile due north of Mrs. Garwood's; thence crossing Craig's creek (passing the house of John Spessard on Craig's creek so as to leave the said Spessard in the old county) to the top of the mountain which divides the waters of Craig's creek and Sinking creek, thence westwardly along the top of the mountain to the point where the lines of Botetourt, Montgomery and Giles counties meet, thence with the line which divided the county of Botetourt from the county of Montgomery to the point at which the said line joins the Bedford line, thence with the Bedford line to the beginning."

In this same area in the following year the county of Pulaski was created from the western end of Montgomery and the eastern end of Wythe. Its name honored the Polish patriot Count Casimir Pulaski who, exiled from his homeland, came to America and joined General Washington's army. He participated in important engagements and finally fell on 11 October 1779 unsuccessfully defending Savannah, Georgia.

The bounds of Pulaski County are thus set forth: "beginning at a line dividing the county of Giles from Montgomery on New river, thence with same line to the head of a hollow above Hiram Davis's on Little Walker's creek; thence to a point on the main road between the lands of John T. Sayers and Harvey Shepherd including the plantation of David G. Shepherd, thence to the mouth of Pine run on New river, thence to the Grayson county line; including Sally King's plantation on Reed island; thence with the Grayson line to the Floyd line, and with the same to the mouth of Indian creek on Little river, and with the same including the farm of Creed Taylor to New river, and with the same to the beginning."

1840-1850 FLOOD TIDE, SIXTEEN NEW COUNTIES

Three years elapsed before another county was needed and it was not until 1842 that the county of Marion was formed from the southern part of Monongalia and the northern part of Harrison. The name given it was "in honor to and in memory of general Francis Marion who served his country in the war of the revolution." This county now lies in West Virginia.

Also in 1842, a new county in the southwestern area of Virginia was formed from Grayson. It was thus bounded: "beginning on the North Carolina line at or near Fisher's peak and running thence a straight line across the said county of Grayson (so as to cross Chestnut creek near the ford at major James Anderson's) to the line of Wythe county thence along said Wythe line to the line of Pulaski county thence along said Pulaski line to line of Floyd county, thence along said Floyd line to the line of Patrick; thence along the said Patrick line to the North Carolina line thence along said North Carolina line to the point of beginning ... and be called and known by the name of Carroll in memory of Charles Carroll of Carrollton." Charles Carroll, one of the Maryland Signers of the Declaration of Independence, had been the last survivor of this noble group, dying in 1832 at the age of 95 years.

The third county created in 1842, Wayne, taken from the western part of Cabell lay along the Ohio river and is now in West Virginia. This new division was to "be called and known by the name of Wayne county in memory and in honor of general Anthony Wayne."

Two counties destined to be in West Virginia were set up in 1843. The first of these was Ritchie in the western part of the state created from portions of Lewis, Harrison and Wood. The name honors Thomas Ritchie, "founder and long the able editor of the _Richmond Enquirer_ and 'father of democracy' in Virginia."

The other county, Barbour, lying in the northeastern part of the state was established from areas of Harrison, Lewis and Randolph. The description of its bounds besides mentioning the usual rivers and ridges names also several persons which always draws the reader's interest. Some of these are: "Rueben Davisson's farm," "the old farm now occupied by Samuel Bartlett," "William Bean's," "Samuel Black's residence" and "the widow Corley's corner tree."

The name of the county was "in honour to and in memory of Philip Barbour of Virginia." Appropriately the county seat is Philippi. Judge Barbour, a native of Orange County, Virginia, where his home "Frascati" still stands, achieved distinction as a Judge of the Supreme Court. He had died the year before the county was formed.

Taylor County, also in the northeastern part of West Virginia was formed in 1844 from sections of Harrison, Barbour and Marion. Its bounds mention "the residence of Anderson Corbin," "the residence of James M'Daniell," "the residence of Joseph Bailey," "the farm of John H. Woodford" and others.

The name of the county honors General Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the United States, a native of Orange County, Virginia. He had a distinguished military career, serving in the Black Hawk, Seminole and Mexican Wars.

The determination on the part of Virginia's General Assembly to render justice more easy and accessible to all its citizens was as strong in 1845 when parts of Lewis and Kanawha counties became Gilmer County as it had been two centuries earlier. It was the unifying purpose in all development.

The name Gilmer takes us to Albemarle County, Virginia, where Thomas Walker Gilmer, elected Governor of Virginia in 1840, was born. He was grandson of Doctor Thomas Walker of "Castle Hill," Albemarle County who was the first to explore Southwest Virginia and Kentucky.

At the same time that Gilmer was formed, the county which lies to the north of it was established. Both are now in West Virginia. The bounds of Doddridge County, as noted in the Act of Assembly creating it, list several waterways including Hughes's and Monongahela rivers but the most interesting land mark named is "the Northwestern turnpike road at tollgate number eleven." This shows steadily advancing development in transportation, for earlier there had been references to wagon roads, then to stagecoach roads and now to a turnpike with the regular tollgates to provide funds for maintenance.

The name honors the memory of Philip Doddridge of Brooke County, who was a prominent member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-30. He was an advocate of the wishes of the western portion of the state to have representation based upon white population exclusively. This motion failed and a compromise constitution was agreed upon. Philip Doddridge died in Washington, D. C. in 1832 while serving as a member of Congress.

After discussing six counties now in West Virginia, we come now to the county of Appomattox formed in 1845 from portions of Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte and Campbell. The name derives from the river which traverses the county.

Its bounds are thus defined: "Beginning at the mouth of David's creek on James river; thence a straight line to the head of Holleway creek; thence down the same as it meanders to Appomattox river; thence down the same to the Cutbanks; thence a straight line to the mouth of Cabin branch on Vaughan's creek; thence up the said creek to its head; thence a straight line to Merryman's or Land's; thence along the public road leading by M'Kinney's old store to the fork of the Lynchburg road about a mile north of the Red house; thence a straight line to the old mill formerly owned by William Harvey; thence along the Lynchburg road to the mill formerly owned by Samuel Branch, esquire, on Falling river; thence up the said river to the mouth of Reedy creek; thence a straight line to Hunter's old tavern (now Glovers); thence a straight line to Sterling C. Anderson's; thence a straight line to the mouth of Scott's branch about a mile before the mouth of Joshua's creek on James river; and thence down the said river to the beginning."

In 1846, in the northwestern portion of the present state of West Virginia, the new county of Wetzel was set up from Tyler. The following landowners are named as living within its bounds: "James Peden (or Paden), Richard Anchrom and Rueben Martin, esquire." The county was so called "in honor of Louis Wetzel, the distinguished frontiersman and Indian scout, the Boone of Northwestern Virginia."

As if feeling this action a little unfair, the Assembly next year, when a new county was to be created, named it Boone "in honor to and in memory of Daniel Boone the well known pioneer of the western frontier settlements." Boone was taken from parts of Kanawha, Cabell and Logan counties and lies south of Charleston, the state capital.

In this same year, the county of Alexandria was added to Virginia's jurisdiction. The Assembly enacted "That the territory comprising the county of Alexandria in the District of Columbia heretofore ceded by this commonwealth to the United States and by an act of congress approved on the ninth day of July eighteen hundred and forty-six retroceded to this commonwealth, and by it accepted, is hereby declared to be an integral portion of this commonwealth and the citizens thereof are hereby declared to be subject to all the provisions, and entitled to all the benefits, rights and privileges of the bill of rights and constitution of this commonwealth."

In 1791, to aid in establishing the Federal City, as Washington was sometimes called, Virginia gave to the United States certain land taken from Fairfax County to form a part of the District of Columbia. In the Act quoted above it has been seen that the United States retroceded to Virginia that part of the District of Columbia which comprised the county of Alexandria. The name in 1920 was changed to Arlington.

Across the state from Alexandria the new county of Highland came into being in 1847, being taken from parts of Pendleton and Bath. Its bounds are thus given: "Beginning where the North river gap road crosses the Augusta county line, and running thence to the top of Jackson's mountain so as to leave Jacob Hiver's mansion house in Pendleton county; thence to Andrew Fleisher's so as to include his mansion house in the new county; thence to the highlands between the Dry run and Crab bottom; and thence along the top of the High Knob; thence north sixty-five degrees west to Pocahontas county line; thence along said county line to the plum orchard on the top of the Alleghany mountains; thence to Adam Stephenson's mansion house on Jackson's river in Bath county so as to include Thomas Campbell's mansion house on Back creek and also said Adam Stephenson's in the new county; thence to Andrew H. Byrd's mansion house on the Cow-pasture river so as to include the same in the new county, and so as to leave the dwelling house of William M'Clintick, jr. in Bath county; thence south sixty-five degrees east to the Augusta county line and thence with said line to the beginning."

The name of the county is derived from its exceptionally high altitude, and the name of its county seat, Monterey, reflects the popular interest felt in the victory General Taylor had just won over the Mexicans at the Battle of Monterey.

After the formation of Highland County five counties destined to lie in West Virginia were established. The first of these, Hancock, created in 1848 out of Brooke, lies in the extreme northern tip of the present state between the Ohio river and the Pennsylvania state line. Its name honors the first Signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose distinguished signature is familiar through countless reproductions.

In this same year from portions of Jackson and Wood counties was formed Wirt. This is in the northwestern area of the state not far from Parkersburg. In the description of bounds, only three land owners are named, John Stephens, junior, John P. Thomasson and William Goff.

The name of the county honored the distinguished lawyer, William Wirt, who had died a few years before. He had served as Attorney General of the United States from 1817 to 1829 and had been a candidate for the Presidency on the Anti-Masonic ticket in 1832. He is best remembered for his life of Patrick Henry.

The third county created in 1848 was Putnam, composed of parts of Kanawha, Cabell and Mason counties, and lying to the west of the city of Charleston. Its name recalls a hero of the Revolutionary War, General Israel Putnam who distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill and became a popular hero.

1850-1860 EBBING TIDE, TWELVE COUNTIES

The year 1850 saw the formation of two more counties now in West Virginia. The first one, Raleigh, was taken from the southern part of Fayette. In its bounds, the lands of Isaac Sonners and Jackson Jarrell, and the New, Coal, and Guyandotte rivers are noted. The name was "in memory of Sir Walter Raleigh who made the earliest effort to colonize Virginia." It is pleasant to see that Virginia finally recognized her debt to this valiant soul, even though it was tardily done, for he died in 1618.

A few days after Raleigh became a county, the Virginia Assembly enacted that the county of Wyoming be erected out of the county of Logan. Wyoming lies in the southern central portion of West Virginia. The reason for the name is obscure, whether it was for the beautiful Wyoming Valley in north central Pennsylvania watered by the Susquehanna River, or for the brutal massacre of its inhabitants on 4 July 1778 by a British and Indian force is unknown.

Half of the nineteenth century has passed and our narrative has only a few more years to chronicle. In 1851, three counties were formed. One of these, Craig, remained in Virginia. It was taken from parts of Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles and Monroe.

Its bounds were as follows: "Beginning on the top of the Middle mountain at the corner of Monroe and Alleghany counties, near Achilles Dews, and running with the Alleghany line to the top of Peters' mountain; thence westward along the top of said mountain to a point nearby opposite to the house of Boston Rowan; thence crossing Potts' creek to a point one fourth of a mile below said Rowan's so as to leave said Rowan's in the county of Monroe; thence a southwestern direction to the top of Potts' mountain, so as to leave Armentrout, Fridley and Rose in Monroe; thence westward along the top of said mountain to a point opposite Colonel R. M. Hutchinson's on John's creek, and thence a straight line including said Hutchinson in the new county, and crossing Sinking creek valley to William Niday's, including said Niday in the new county, to the Montgomery line; thence eastward with the Montgomery line to the corner of Roanoke and Montgomery; thence with the Roanoke line to the top of Brush mountain; thence eastward along said mountain, crossing the Cove branch where John Carper formerly lived; thence along the same range of mountains passing near Lilburn Doss's, crossing Stone Coal gap; thence along the same range of mountains, crossing Price's turnpike road to a point opposite Daniel Sizer's; thence a northwestern direction crossing Craig's creek above said Sizer's to a point one mile from Craig's creek on the ridge; thence to Andrew Persinger's on Barber's creek; thence to the Alleghany line and with the same to the beginning."

The name of the county honored Robert Craig, member of Congress from Virginia 1829-1834, 1835-1841.

In the same month in which Craig was set up, the new county of Upshur was created from parts of Randolph, Barbour and Lewis, all now in West Virginia. The starting point in the description of its bounds reads as follows: "Beginning at a rock or milestone on the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike road ten miles east of Weston in Lewis County." This shows that transportation had developed sufficiently to connect places on the Ohio River with other sections of Virginia.

Upshur County took its name from Abel P. Upshur whom President Tyler appointed Secretary of State to succeed Daniel Webster. Upshur was killed 28 February 1844 by the explosion of a new type of cannon which was being tested on the U.S.S. _Princeton_.

Also in March 1851, from the counties of Tyler, Wood and Ritchie the new county of Pleasants was established. This lies in the area around Parkersburg in the northwestern part of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. The name honored the memory of James Pleasants, Governor of Virginia, 1822 to 1825, member of a family long resident and prominent in the state.

Five years passed and in the interval population had increased to such an extent in the western part of Virginia that four county governments had to be set up to take care of legal needs. One of these, Wise, formed from portions of Lee, Scott and Russell counties, remains in Virginia. The name honored Henry A. Wise, Governor of Virginia 1856-1860.

The bounds of the county were as follows: "Beginning at the break of Cumberland mountain on the Kentucky and Virginia line where the Pound fork of Sandy breaks through the Cumberland mountain; thence up the Pound fork to the mouth of Crane's nest, a water of said Pound fork; thence with the dividing ridge between the waters of Crane's nest and McLure's, to William Taylor's farm, including said Taylor's farm in the new county; thence a straight line to the mouth of Lick creek; thence down Clinch river to the mouth of Guest's river; thence up Guest's river one mile; thence a straight line to the Camp rock south of the High Knob; thence a straight line to the Pole fence on Little Powell's mountain, on the line dividing Scott and Lee counties; thence with said county line to the head of Stock creek including the farm of Zachariah N. Wells in the said county; thence a straight line to the Cedar gap near Powell's river; thence a straight line to the dividing ridge between the waters of Crab orchard and Pigeon fork; thence with said dividing ridge to the Kentucky line and thence with the Kentucky line to the beginning."

In the Act creating the county it was ordered that the "said seat of justice shall be known as Gladesville," but the present county seat is called Wise.

As has been said, Wise was the only one of the four counties erected in 1856 that remains in Virginia. The next county formed was Calhoun taken from the lower portion of Gilmer County beginning at the West Fork of the Little Kanawha River. The name derives from the great South Carolina statesman who succeeded Abel P. Upshur as Secretary of State and was long outstanding in politics.

At the same time that Calhoun became an entity, parts of the counties of Kanawha, Jackson, and Gilmer lying a little to the west of Calhoun became Roane County. The description of its bounds is startling when it mentions "the Ravenswood and California turnpike in Jackson county," but later we learn that California is a town in Jackson County.

With regard to Roane County, "its name and that of its seat of justice, Spencer, commemorate that of him [Spencer Roane] whose life and public services added lustre to the annals of Virginia jurisprudence." Spencer Roane was "judge of the Supreme Bench 1794 to 1822."

The next county was Tucker formed out of the northeastern portion of Randolph County and adjoining also the counties of Hardy, Preston and Pendleton. The county seat appropriately bore the name of Saint George. The county was "named in honor of Saint George Tucker the eminent Virginia jurist while the seat of justice derives its name from Saint George Tucker who was Clerk of the House of Delegates at the time the county was formed."

Two years later in 1858, three more counties were established, one of which, Buchanan, was destined to remain in Virginia, and the other two in West Virginia.

McDowell, one of the two, was taken from the northwest portion of Tazewell County and remains a border county between the two states, "The ridge between Abb's Valley and Sandy" is one of the bounding lines noted in the description; it recalls the Indian Massacre that occurred in that Valley and the many stories related about it.

The name of the county honors James McDowell, elected Governor of Virginia in 1843 and serving until 1846.

Clay County formed also in 1858 was created out of the southern part of Braxton County and the northern part of Nicholas. Among the property owners whose lands were mentioned as within its bounds, were Thomas Jarvis, jr., James Rogers, Charles Ruffner, who with others owned a twelve thousand acre tract "(near the farm of William Nichol, Sr.)," Strother B. Grose and Abraham Dilly.

The county was so named in honor of Henry Clay, the great Kentucky statesman who had died only a few years before its formation.

The Virginia county established in 1858 from parts of Tazewell and Russell was Buchanan, named for James Buchanan, President of the United States 1857-1861.

Its bounds were as follows: "Beginning at the state line between Kentucky and Virginia and with said line to its intersection with the line of Wise county, to the top of the dividing ridge between the waters of Sandy and Clinch and with said ridge eastwardly to the head of Dismal, a branch of the Lavica fork of Sandy river; then with the dividing ridge between the waters of Dismal and the waters of the Dry fork of Sandy and with the ridge between the waters of the Lavica fork and the Dry fork to the ridge between Knox creek and Bull creek to Tug river and down Tug river to the beginning."

1860-1870 RECESSION, TWO COUNTIES

In 1860, an Act was passed to create the new county of Webster from portions of the counties of Nicholas, Braxton and Randolph, all to be later in West Virginia. The name honored Daniel Webster, the prominent statesman who had died only a few years previously.

In March 1861, the new county of Bland, taken from portions of Giles, Wythe and Tazewell and named for Richard Bland of Revolutionary War fame came into being. Its bounds are thus set forth: "beginning at the top of Walker's Little mountain at the line between Wythe and Pulaski and running northwards with said line of Pulaski, to the top of Walker's Big mountain; thence eastward along the top of said last mentioned mountain to a point opposite the mouth of Kimberling creek; thence by a line northward passing through the mouth of said Kimberling creek to a point on the top of the mountain which lies south of Wolf creek, three miles east of the present county line between Giles and Tazewell counties; thence to a point on the top of East river mountain two miles east of the present county line between Giles and Tazewell so as to include the homestead of Madison Allen and his lands adjoining thereto; thence with the top of the said East River mountain westward to a point two miles west of George Steel's house on Clear fork; thence across and by a line as near as may be at right angles to the course of the valley between to the top of Rich mountain and westward along the top of said Rich mountain so far as to include the settlement of Wolf creek, thence across the top of Garden mountain; thence along the top of Garden mountain to a point through which the line between Wythe and Smyth would pass if prolonged; thence by said prolonged line to the said line between Wythe and Smyth and by the last mentioned line to the top of Walker's Big mountain; thence eastward with the top of said Walker's Big mountain to a point opposite the headwaters of Walker's Little creek; thence across to the top of Walker's Little mountain, thence to the top of said mountain eastward to the beginning."

Hardly was the ink dry on the Act quoted above when war precluded further settlements and expansion. Not for nearly twenty years would another and the last county be established.

FINIS--ONE COUNTY

In March 1880, out of the counties of Russell, Wise, and Buchanan was formed the new county of Dickenson, named for a prominent member of the Readjuster Party, then dominant in Virginia.

Its bounds noted in great detail are as follows: "beginning at Osborn's gap in Cumberland mountain on the state line; thence a straight line to the top of George's Fork mountain at a point where the road crosses said mountain; thence with the top of the mountain to the head of Lick branch, a tributary of Crane's nest creek; thence a straight line to the mouth of Birchfield creek; thence up Crane's Nest creek to the mouth of Lion's fork; thence up said creek to the forks of said branch; thence up the Fork spur to the top of Crane's Nest bridge; thence a straight line to Sandy Ridge meeting-house in the county of Wise on the top of Sandy Ridge; thence with the top of Sandy ridge to the James Porter farm at the head of Nancy's ridge; thence a straight line to Trammel gap on Sandy ridge, thence with the top of Sandy ridge with a line of Russell county to the James P. Kiser farm, thence a straight line to Henry Kiser's farm on the top of Sandy ridge at the Russell county line; thence with the Russell county line to James Rasnaker's farm, including said farm in the new county; thence down the Cany ridge to the mouth of Cany creek; thence down Indian creek to its mouth; including J. H. Duly's farm; thence down Russell's fork of Sandy river to the mouth of Panpan creek, including Andrew Owen's dwelling house; thence a straight line to the mouth of Greenbrier creek, a tributary of Prater creek; thence a straight line to the Big meadow gap; thence down a branch to Gressy creek; thence down said creek to the mouth of Russell's fork of Sandy river; thence down said river to the state line of Virginia and Kentucky; thence with the state line to the beginning."

The formation of Dickenson County in 1880 completed all the local organizations authorized by the Virginia Assembly from 1634 up to the present, though in many counties minor changes in bounds have been enacted from time to time.

We have seen the little feeble settlements along the James River extend like a rising tide now east, now south, now north and finally with great impetus to the west. Each settlement as it was established proceeded to put into effect the concepts of law and order as practiced at Jamestown, and handed down from father to son. The principle of representative constitutional government as evidenced in the first General Assembly of 1619 may be called the sacred fire each settlement took with it and carefully tended. It was the one thing all shared whether they lived by the James River or high on the Blue Ridge. A settlement, a county, a state, each one must have law, order, ready justice, representative government. That is the theme underlying the development of Virginia which we have traced step by step. It is the theme underlying the development of our nation. Every American is a debtor to Jamestown for his heritage of representative constitutional government.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

_Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia_, 1808-1880.

Daniel, J. R. V., _A Hornbook of Virginia History_, Richmond, 1950.

Hening, William Waller, _The Statutes at Large_, Being _a
Collection of All the Laws of Virginia_, 1619-1792, Richmond,
1809-1823, 13 Vols.

Robinson, Morgan P., _Virginia Counties, Bulletin of the Virginia
State Library_, Vol. 9, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 1916.

Shepherd, Samuel, _Statutes at Large_, 1793-1806. Continuation of
Hening.

Richmond 1835-1836. 3 Vols.

Stith, William. _History of First Discovery and Settlement of
Virginia._ Williamsburg, 1747.

Tyler, Lyon G., _Cradle of the Republic._ 2 ed. Richmond, 1900.

KEY TO CHARTS

No.

Accawmack, 1634 (Ex.) 1
Accomack, 1663 1
Albemarle 5
Alexandria (Ex.) 9
Alleghany 10
Amelia 2
Amherst 5
Appomattox 5
Arlington 9
Augusta 9, 10

Barbour (W. Va.) 10
Bath 10
Bedford 2
Berkeley (W. Va.) 9
Bland 11
Boone (W. Va.) 11
Botetourt, 10 11
Bourbon (Ky.) 11
Braxton (W. Va.) 10
Brooke (W. Va.) 10
Brunswick 2
Buchanan 11
Buckingham 5

Cabell (W. Va.) 11
Calhoun (W. Va.) 10
Campbell 2
Caroline 9
Carroll 11
Charles City 2
Charles River (Ex.) 3
Charlotte 2
Chesterfield 5
Clarke 9
Clay (W. Va.) 10
Craig 11
Culpeper 9
Cumberland 5

Dickenson 11
Dinwiddie 2
Doddridge (W. Va.) 10
Dunmore (Ex.) 9

Elizabeth City (Ex.) 4
Essex 9

Fairfax 9
Fauquier 9
Fayette, 1780 (Ky.) 11
Fayette, 1831 (W. Va.) 11
Fincastle (Ex.) 11
Floyd 11
Fluvanna 5
Franklin 2
Frederick 9

Giles 11
Gilmer (W. Va.) 10
Gloucester 3
Goochland 5
Grayson 11
Greenbrier (W. Va.) 11
Greene 9
Greensville 2

Halifax 2
Hampshire (W. Va.) 10
Hancock (W. Va.) 10
Hanover 3
Hardy (W. Va.) 10
Harrison (W. Va.) 10
Henrico 5
Henry 2
Highland 10

Illinois (Ex.) 10
Isle of Wight 7

Jackson (W. Va.) 11
James City 6
Jefferson, 1780 (Ky.) 11
Jefferson, 1801 (W. Va.) 9

Kanawha (W. Va.) 11
Kentucky (Ex.) 11
King and Queen 3
King George 9
King William 3

Lancaster 9
Lee 11
Lewis (W. Va.) 10
Lincoln (Ky.) 11
Logan (W. Va.) 11
Loudoun 9
Louisa 3
Lower Norfolk (Ex.) 4
Lunenburg 2

McDowell (W. Va.) 11
Madison, 1786 (Ky.) 11
Madison, 1793 9
Marion (W. Va.) 10
Marshall (W. Va.) 10
Mason, 1789 (Ky.) 11
Mason, 1804 (W. Va.) 11
Mathews 3
Mecklenburg 2
Mercer, 1786 (Ky.) 11
Mercer, 1837 (W. Va.) 11
Middlesex 9
Monongalia (W. Va.) 10
Monroe (W. Va.) 11
Montgomery 11
Morgan (W. Va.) 9

Nansemond 4
Nelson, 1785 (Ky.) 11
Nelson, 1808 5
New Kent 3
New Norfolk (Ex.) 4
Nicholas (W. Va.) 11
Norfolk 4
Northampton 1
Northumberland 9
Nottoway 2

Ohio (W. Va.) 10
Orange 9

Page 10
Patrick 2
Pendleton (W. Va.) 10
Pittsylvania 2
Pleasants (W. Va.) 10
Pocahontas (W. Va.) 10
Powhatan 5
Preston (W. Va.) 10
Prince Edward 2
Prince George 2
Prince William 9
Princess Anne 4
Pulaski 11
Putnam (W. Va.) 11

Raleigh (W. Va.) 11
Randolph (W. Va.) 10
Rappahannock, 1656 (Ex.) 9
Rappahannock, 1833 9
Richmond 9
Ritchie (W. Va.) 10
Roane (W. Va.) 11
Roanoke 11
Rockbridge 10
Rockingham 10
Russell 11

Scott 11
Shenandoah 9
Smyth 11
Southampton 7
Spotsylvania 9
Stafford 9
Surry 6
Sussex 6

Taylor (W. Va.) 10
Tazewell 11
Tucker (W. Va.) 10
Tyler (W. Va.) 10

Upper Norfolk (Ex.) 4
Upshur (W. Va.) 10

Warren 9
Warrosquyoake (Ex.) 7
Warwick (Ex.) 8
Warwick River (Ex.) 8
Washington 11
Wayne (W. Va.) 11
Webster (W. Va.) 11
Westmoreland 9
Wetzel (W. Va.) 10
Wirt (W. Va.) 10
Wise 11
Wood (W. Va.) 10
Woodford (Ky.) 11
Wyoming (W. Va.) 11
Wythe 11

Yohogania (Ex.) 10
York 3

CHART 1

Accawmack ---------- Northampton ---------- Accomack
1634-1642/3 (Ex.) 1642/3 1662

CHART 2

|- Hali- -- Pittsyl- -- Henry -- Patrick
| fax vania 1777 1791
| 1752 1767
|
| |-- Campbell
| | 1782
|- Bedford ---|
| 1754 |
|- Lunen- -| |-- Franklin
| burg | 1786
| 1746 |- Charlotte
| | 1765
|- Bruns- -| |
| wick | |
| 1732 | |- Mecklenburg
| | 1765
| |- Greenville
| 1781
Charles Prince |
City -- George -| |-- Prince Edward
1634 1703 | | 1754
|-- Amelia ----------------------|
| 1735 |-- Nottoway
| 1789
|
|-- Dinwiddie
1752

Abbreviations:

Ex.--Extinct
Ky.--Kentucky
W. Va.--West Virginia

CHART 3

|-- Gloucester ---- Mathews
| 1651 1791
Charles -- York --|
River 1642/3 |
1634-1642/3 | |-- King and Queen ---- King William
(Ex.) | | 1691 1702
|-- New Kent ----|
1654 |
|-- Hanover ---- Louisa
1721 1742

CHART 4

|-- Norfolk
| 1691
|-- Lower Norfolk ---|
| 1637-1691(Ex.) |
| |-- Princess Anne
| 1691
Elizabeth City -------- New Norfolk ---|
1634-1952(Ex.) 1636-1637(Ex.) |
|-- Upper Norfolk ---- Nansemond
1637-1646(Ex.) 1646

CHART 5

|-- Amherst ------- Nelson
| 1761 1808
|
|-- Albemarle -------|-- Buckingham ---- Appomattox
| 1744 | 1761 1845
| |
|-- Goochland ---| |-- Fluvanna
| 1728 | 1777
| |
Henrico ---| |-- Cumberland --------- Powhatan
1634 | 1749 1777
|-- Chesterfield
1749

CHART 6

James City -------- Surry -------- Sussex
1634 1652 1754

CHART 7

Warrosquyoake -------- Isle of Wight -------- Southampton 1634-1637(Ex.) 1637 1749

CHART 8

Warwick River -------- Warwick 1634-1642/3(Ex.) 1642/3-1952(Ex.)

CHART 9

|-- Caroline |- Augusta (See Chart 10)
| 1745 | 1745
| | Jeffer-
| | |-- son
| | | 1801
| | Ber- | (W. Va.)
|- Essex -| | |- keley -|
| 1692 | | | 1772 |
| | | Frede- | (W. Va.)|
| | |- rick -| |- Morgan
| | | 1743 | 1820
| | Spotsyl- | | (W. Va.)
| |- vania - Orange -| |
| 1721 1734 | |
Rappa- | | |
|- hannock -| | |
| 1656-1692 | | |
| (Ex.) | | | Dun- Shenan- War-
| | | |- more -- doah -- ren
| | | |1772-1778 1778 1836
| | | | (Ex.)
| |- Richmond -- King George | |
| 1692 1721 | |
Lan- | | |
|- caster | | |
| 1651 | | |-- Clarke
| | | 1836
| | |
| |-- Middlesex |
| 1669 |
| |
| | |-- Madison
| | | 1793
| | Cul- |
| |- peper -|
| | 1749 | Rappa-
| | |-- hannock
| | 1883
| |
Northum- | |
berland--| |
1645 | |
| |
| |-- Greene
| 1838
|
| |-- Loudoun
| | 1757
| |
| |- Fairfax -|
| | 1742 |
| | | Alexan-
| | |- dria --- Arlington
| | 1847-1920 1920
| West- Staf- Prince | (Ex.)
|- moreland -- ford -- William ---|
1653 1664 1731 |
|-- Fauquier
1759

Chart 10

(Continuation of Chart 9)