USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > History of the Settlement and Indian Wars of Tazewell County, Virginia: With a Map, Statistical. > Part 1
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12.00
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Darbard College Library
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LLUM ACADEMIA
ET
ARI
JA
CHRISTO
3
ECCLESIA JAE IN NO
NG. SIGI
FROM THE FUND OF
CHARLES MINOT Class of 1828
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JEFFERSONVILLE.
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2.
HISTORY
OF THE
SETTLEMENT AND INDIAN WARS
OF
' TAZEWELL COUNTY,
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VIRGINIA;
WITH
Map, Statistical Cables, and Illustrations.
BY GEO. W. L. BICKLEY, M. D., COR. XEM. AMER. PH. 800 .; COR. MEM. WEST. ACAD. NAT. SOLENOID; BRO. JEFF. HIST. BOCKETT.
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"Who would not cherish the history of such men se our ancestors ?"
CINCINNATI : MORGAN & CO., 111 MAIN STREET. : 1852.
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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by GEO. W. L. BICKLEY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia.
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CINCINNATI: C. A. MORGAN & CO., STEREOTYPERS, HAMMOND ST.
CINCINNATI : Morgan & Overend, Printers.
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TO
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THE GENTLEMEN COMPOSING THE
JEFFERSONVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
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THIS VOLUME
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
BY
THE AUTHOR.
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PREFACE.
PERHAPS, no books need prefatory remarks so much as those of history. History, as such, is evidence for genera- tions who have yet to rise and figure on the stage of human affairs. This, then, being the proper definition of history, it becomes at once evident, that the reader should make himself thoroughly acquainted with all the circumstances under which the author wrote. Writing history from tradition is a very different thing from reducing to order a heterogeneous mass'; of recorded facts. While the one is a sure guide to historian, and from which he cannot depart; the other is full of uncertainty and apt to betray a writer into error and misrepresentations.
Authors have another object in prefacing their books, viz: they can refer directly to themselves ; and as it is natural for men to say more good things of themselves, tham they are willing to say of any one else, they naturally expect every body to put great stress upon the preface.
Be this as it may, I promise to leave myself out of the question, as soon as I have stated why I have been induced to take upon me the labors of the historian-labors more im- portant, and requiring greater skill in their execution, than (vii)
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most persons imagine. An error introduced is not to be re- called, for the pages of history are as undying as the existence of nations. So long as Tazewell county shall have a separate identity, will this book be a source of authority, unless it be found erroneous; and even then, it will be used and defended by such as can make its statements subserve their ends. I hope, in the honesty of my heart, that if errors are found, that they will be immediately exposed ; for it would be far from my purpose to fasten one false statement upon the noble people whose history I have written. That there will be objections to my book is to be expected ; men do not like to have their errors exposed, or yield old and cherished opinions; objections from such persons I shall not weigh. But, kind reader, you must know why I have written this history.
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When I returned to my native county (Russell) after an absence of more than twenty years, I rationally enough began to inquire something about the times of my birth, and of the men who were then figuring in the south-west. Few were to be found, whose knowledge seemed definite on any subject which extended beyond their own day and time. Occasionally I met with an old man whose mind seemed but little impaired, and whose eye would glisten with a tear as he rehearsed the deeds of those who were his companions in · boyhood, but most of whom, were now in the charnel house of the peaceful dead. Vivid scenes of border life were painted in still more vivid colors, till I felt myself in the presence of one of those spirits who, like Daniel Boone, had relinquished every claim to ease and safety, to enjoy the wild
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adventures of a backwoodsman, happy only in the pro- spective virtue and independence of his offspring. Many, indeed, have been the happy hours spent in listening to these rehearsals from men who are now sleeping quietly in the bosom of the earth.
My residence was eventually changed from Russell to Taze- well county, where, at the suggestion and assistance of my friend H. F. Perry, M. D., we succeeded in establishing a historical society, the avowed object of which, was to collect and preserve the history of the Settlement, and Indian Wars of South-western Virginia. The citizens of Tazewell joined us, and exhibited the same zeal which had actuated both myself and the worthy gentleman above referred to.
But we soon felt the need of an outline by which to be guided in our labors: gentlemen of the society requested me to undertake to furnish the needed guide, which has swelled, contrary to expectation, into a large volume. My greatest difficulty has been to distinguish the real from the ideal, and with this exception, I may say that I have been pleasantly engaged in endeavoring to furnish to the society the needed work. It is to be much regretted that this work had not been undertaken several years ago, when the chief actors who have been introduced were still alive.
I have assumed a style peculiarly my own, and which is, at once, plain and pointed : aiming at simplicity of style rather than beauty of diction has placed the work within the comprehension of every child. I have spoken plainly and fearlessly of any errors, virtues, disadvantages, or advan-
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tages which I have found to exist in Tazewell. Each subject has been taken up and treated at length before leaving it; so that the reader who would make any inquiry about Tazewell ", county, has only to turn to the table of contents, and refer to the chapter in which the subject is mentioned. I have been careful to give my authority on all questionable points, wish- ing my book to be found worthy of public confidence.
My object in first writing a history of Tazewell county, was to excite the members of the Jeffersonville Historical Society to action. The work will be continued in separate and distinct books, till the history of the whole south-west shall have been written, provided I meet with the same encouragement elsewhere, which has attended my labors in Tazewell. The local character of my work should convince the public, that mercenary motives have not actuated me in preparing this volume. Had the Jeffersonville Historical society not been established, I am quite confident that I should not have become historiographer. I feel deeply . interested in the fate of this institution, inasmuch as I might reasonably look upon its existence, as the fruit of my own labors conjoined to those of Dr. H. F. Peery.
I have long since declared, and still reiterate the opinion, that it is positively a serious injury to look alone to the north for that literary culture which must, in no small degree, tend to make certain impressions upon the minds of our children- the future men of the great south-which are not altogether congenial to our peculiar institutions. And feeling that Virginia has not been least in her quota of great minds, I
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believe that much talent may be called into action (which would otherwise remain in obscurity), by the general organi- zation of such institutions. A single instance will serve to illustrate my views.
There is in all south-western Virginia, scarcely a school boy who is not better acquainted with the history and geo- graphy of New York or Massachusetts, than of his own beautiful state, of mountains and hills, and valleys and streams.
The simple statement of having collected the facts, and written the following pages in the short space of seven weeks, will, I hope, be a sufficient apology for its many imperfections. ' That some repetition would occur, is to be expected from the local character, and detail in which the work is written. That a complete history of south-western Virginia is greatly needed, none will deny; and that to develop its resources is alone necessary to insure a dense population, all agree. Persons speak of settling western lands, because the eastern states, or those bordering on the Atlantic, are too densely populated. But how ridiculous is this idea, when we reflect that the day is not very distant, when every acre of land- east and west-will be occupied ! The population of Europe ex- ceeds 800,000 000; while the square miles are only 3,500,000, so that only eight acres of land are to be had for each person. One-third of this is inaccessible, which gives only a little over six acres to each soul. The population of Great Britain is upward of 20,000,000, while there is only about 83,000 square miles, one-third of which, is occupied for building
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purposes, and one-third devoted to other uses, than growing grain for the sustenance of her masses ; so we see less than eight-tenths of an acre supporting one man. Now let us apply this calculation to Tazewell county. This contains 3000 square miles, or 1,920,000 square acres, and admitting that the soil is only half so productive as that of England, and only one half of this accessible, we shall then see that Tazewell county is capable of supporting 300,000 persons.
Every requisite for supporting a dense population is here found ; and while queen Health continues to stretch out her inviting arms to the sick man, the country must continue to grow and enrich, till in process of time, 300,000 persons will be scattered over this beautiful county, to cultivate and make it bloom like a garden in the tropics. But the lands must pass into other hands ; the large tracts of one, two, and three hundred thousand acres, must have been cut up into small bodies; a circumstance which will take place as soon as the titles are positive. A city will then have grown out of Jaffersonville. The heavy sound of the dray wheel, and the rattle of the stage and omnibus over our fine roads, will be echoed back from our mountains, while the heavy stamp and scream of the machine-horse, will startle the wild eagle from his nest and awaken life and energy among the honest yeomanry settled along the verdant valleys. The coal-smoke from the iron-furnace and the mines, will be seen curling up- ward over the mountain-peaks, and losing itself in the clouds. Telegraphic wires will connect us with the capital of our state while the printing-press and loom, will no longer be
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objects of wonder. Should no political evil intervene, and the pillars of our nation stand secure, it will be seen that the above will be but a faint picture of what is now Tazewell, in 1952.
Before closing this already lengthened article, I beg to re- turn to my worthy friend H. F. Peery, M. D., my thanks for much valuable information respecting the early history of this county. While editor of the Jeffersonville Democrat, he had acquired much valuable information of the early settlers, which he has kindly imparted to me. To him, I am also indebted for the list of plants and forest trees contained in this book.
To Col. Rees T. Bowen, John Wynn, Esq., Thos. Witten, Samuel Witten, Maj. Henry S. Bowen, William Barnes, Esq., and to William Thompson, I am under obligations for valu- able information.
I owe an apology to the public, for not having furnished the fifteen engravings originally promised in the prospectus. If I had done so, the work could not have been sold at sub- scription price. If I shall have succeeded in properly setting forth the claims of Tazewell county, I shall be proud of my work, and still continue to labor for those whom I love and respect-the people of the south-west.
G. W. L. B.
Jeffersonville, Virginia, May, 1852.
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CONTENTS.
Book 3. CHAPTER I.
OUTLINE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA ...
PARK
From 1492-1606
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CHAPTER II. OUTLINE HISTORY CONTES Reasons for writing this outline history-History continued to 1752. 29
Book 33.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF TAZEWELL. Reputation of Tazewell-Why desirable-Possibility of the formation of a new State of which Tazewell would be a part - Objections answered - Pertinent questions - The south-west has been overlooked-Howe's and De Hass' · works-Local history a new feature - Proposed history of the S. W. 45
CHAPTER II. DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT. Difficulty of obtaining material-Why the early settlers visited Tazewell - Hunting companies described -War against the frontier in 1763-Shawanoes and Cherokees at war-War raging during the first years of settlement in (IV)
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Tazewell-First hunting company visits Tazewell in 1766- 1767 Carr and Butler settle-Indian battle on Rich moun- tain in 1768-Shawanoes beaten-Butler and Carr sepa- rate-Thomas Witten, John Greenup, and others move out in 1771-Settle in 1772-In 1773-Settlers of "74, '5, and '76 stop near others-Cresop's war and the revolution- Market in eastern Va .- Kept up a line of communication. 49
CHAPTER III. FORMATION AND OUTLINE GEOGRAPHY. Old boundary lines-Altered in 1835 and again in 1837- Map-How Tazewell county was named-Geography .... 58
CHAPTER IV. CLIMATE.
Winter in Tazewell - Business season-Christmas-Manner of celebration - Spring-Sugar-making-The process- Beauty of spring-Summer-Does not differ in appearance from spring-Autumn-Indian summer
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CHAPTER V. METEOROLOGY.
Little attention has been paid to it-Variety of climate in the county-Tables-Appearance of snow -Prevailing winds-General temperature higher, and less rain than formerly-Cause Sudden changes-Why meteorological observations should be made-Scientific farmers' school needed 69
CHAPTER VI. DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.
Mountains-Principal mountains in Tazewell-Clinch, East- river, Rich, Brushy, Paint Lick, Deskins, Great Flat-top- Valleys-Clinch valley, Abb's, Poor, Thompson's, Bap-
CONTENTS. xvii
PAGE tist, and Deskins' valleys-Rivers and Creeks - Clinch river-How named-Maiden Spring forked - Named- Sandy-La Visee-Why named-Tug river-Named- East-river, and Bluestone-Great Indian creek-Descrip- tion of particular localities - Cove - Richlands - Blue- stone-Burk's Garden-Country around Jeffersonville- Clear-fork settlement - Jeffersonville - Business direc- tory-Liberty hill 94
CHAPTER VII. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
Bottom lands described-Hill or upland described-Mountain lands described-Difference in north and south side lands- Soil tenacious-Encomiums on Tazewell land-List of plants and forest trees, and remarks 103
CHAPTER VIII.
LIVE STOCK. Horses-Different breeds referred to-Mules-Few in the county-Cattle-Adaptation of the county to stock grow- ing-Sheep-Too little attention paid to wool-growing- Hogs 107
CHAPTER IX. COMMERCE OF TAZEWELL.
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Formation and growth-Witten's prophesy-Markets change. Articles of export-Commercial prospects brightening- Home manufactures-Cannot be pursued with profit in Tazewell-Remarks 112
CHAPTER X. EDUCATION. Mr. Brittain, quoted from a report to the Jeffersonville Historical Society 118 2
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CHAPTER XI. SLAVERY IN TAZEWELL. Subject discussed-Number in the county-The condition of the slave-Salutary advice 121
CHAPTER XII. AGRICULTURE. Reasons why this subject should be studied-Agricultural prospects improving-Peculiarities of agriculture in Taze- well 125
CHAPTER XIII. CHURCH HISTORY -JUDICIARY.
First sermon-Methodists-Baptists -Presbyterians-Roman Catholics-Judiciary-First court-First court-house - Remarks 129
CHAPTER XIV.
LITERARY AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS - NEWSPAPERS. Formation of the Jeffersonville Historical Society-Richmond Examiner quoted-Reasons for fostering the existence of this institution-Its operation upon the community- Odd Fellows - Sons of Temperance B. U. (H. F.) C. A .- Masons-Influence of these associations-Newspapers - First press-Jeffersonville Democrat-S. W. Advocate ... 134
CHAPTER XV. MINERALS AND NATURAL CURIOSITIES.
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Kinds of minerals found-Mineral wealth of the county un- known-Great quantities of coal-Natural curiosities- Cave under Rich mountain described-Cave near Liberty hill-Lapidifying process still progressing -Illustrative incident - Another - Petrifactions and fossil remains- Fucoids-Manner of accounting for their collection. ..... 139
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CHAPTER XVI.
WATERS.
Great variety-Tazewell White Sulphur-Taylor's springs- Alum spring - Iodureted spring - Sweet spring - Saline springs-Warm spring-Common blue limestone water- Health of Tazewell-Tazewell not so healthy as it should be - Caused by want of proper dwellings - Climate healthy 144
CHAPTER XVII. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
Introductory remarks-Dress of the early settlers-Its manu- facture-House furniture described by Dr. Doddridge-A frontier wedding as described by Dr. Doddridge-Hunting a favorite sport with the early settlers-The science of hunting-Hunting profitable at an early day Manner of approaching deer-1200 bears killed by Ebenezer Brew- ster 153
CHAPTER XVIII. SCENERY - DIAL ROOK.
Its location-Why named-Manner of ascending the moun- tain-Clefts-Scene in the distance-Lasting impressions made upon the visitor to this rock-Day in the mountains- A sun-rise - Mountain blast - Rain - Snow - Budding frost-Sunset. 162
APPENDIX TO BOOK II.
TABLES. Table referring to population-Miscellaneous table-Table showing the wealth of the county-Table showing the
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number engaged in professions and trades-Table of live- stock-Table showing the value of lands-Table showing the productions of the county, and value-Kinds of birds in the county-List of fishes-List of animals-List of representatives in the Va. Legislature from the county .. .. 174
Book J33. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN WARS.
Difficulty of tracing Indian history - Its connection with European history-Discovery of America-An error has given rise to the name "Indian" now applied to the Ame- rican aborigines-The priesthood were the early histori- ans-The history of the American aborigines, from 1340 to the present time, may be gleaned from the writings of the priesthood-Sources of information-Documents re- ferred to-De Soto visited S. W. Va. in 1540-His route- Proofs-De Biedma quoted-Name of S. W. Va., in 1540, was Xuala-Indian forts-Several described-Roads and trails made by the Indians are not to be neglected by the historian-Several Indian trails noticed-Covenant pil-
.. 192 lars-Recapitulation and final remarks.
CHAPTER II.
INTRODUCTION CONTINUED - COMPEND HISTORY OF THE SHAWANOES. Orthography and true name-Curious tradition-Parting of the tribes-War with the Delawares-Their present resi- dence and number. . 196
CHAPTER III.
DEFENSIVE POSITION OF TAZEWELL DURING THE FRONTIER WAR. Forts, stations, and blockhouses-List of persons posted in these forts-Spies-List of spies-Character of James
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Witten-List of those citizens of the county who were en- gaged in the revolution-List of those who served the country in the war of 1812-14-Mexican war . 203
CHAPTER IV. EVANS FAMILY.
Their emigration to the county-John Evans taken prisoner- Jesse Evans' children murdered-Noble and heroic con- duct of Mrs. Evans-Cowardice of Goldsby-Preparations for burying the children, an affecting scene-Mr. Evans moves to Tennessee-Another fight-A son wounded- Bravery of Robert-Daniel in danger-Fortunate escape- Robert again among the enemy -- Brave feat-Robert and Daniel with Col. Crawford-With Gen. Jackson in his southern battles-Death of Robert-Jackson's care for his children 213
CHAPTER V.
JAMES MOORE AND THE MOORE FAMILY - JAS. TAKEN PRISONER. Taken from Howe's History of Va .- Massacre of Capt. James Moore's family - The horse Yorick - Suffering of Mrs. Moore '230
CHAPTER VI.
HARMAN AND PEMBERTON FIGHTS - BATTLE BETWEEN THE HARMANS AND SEVEN INDIANS.
Pemberton's fight-His devotion to his family . 235
CHAPTER VII.
CAPTIVITY OF THE DAVIDSON FAMILY, AND OTHER MASSACRES. Introductory remarks-Massacre of the Henry family-Death of Gilbert-Murder of William Whitley-Moffit's child- ren captured - Roark family massacred - Ray family killed-Capture and massacre of the English family-
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John Davidson killed-Skirmish on the islands of Guyan- dctte 250
CHAPTER VIII.
MOTIVES FOR WAR ON THE PART OF THE INDIANS. A plea for Indian barbarity-Speech of Laulewasikaw- Comprehensive words of Hautey-Our duty to see justice rendered to the Indians. 261
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NOTE TO BOOK III.
Reasons for not writing personal history, etc.
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BOOK I. OUTLINE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
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OUTLINE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
CHAPTER I.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
1492.] AMERICA was discovered by Christopher Columbus. Its discovery has since been claimed by the Icelanders, the Welsh, and the Norwegians.
1497.] Giovanni Gabota, or John Cabot, sailing under a charter, obtained from Henry VII, of England, discovered Prima Vista, or New Foundland, the island of St. John, and the rugged cliffs of Labrador on the continent. As was to be expected, Cabot declared he had found a New World, little dreaming that a vast body of land extended from Labrador to Cuba, the point at which Columbus had realized all his hopes. Nor is he justly entitled to share the merit which at- taches itself to the father of navigators; for the existence of land in the west, and the practicability of reaching it had been demonstrated by Columbus five years before.
1498.] This year, the Cabots (John and his sons), had their charter renewed, in consequence of which, an expedition was fitted out and placed in charge of Sebastian Cabot, who pursued a more northerly course than that taken by his father. The immense barriers of ice, and the severity of the weather, how- (25)
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"OUTLINE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
ever, forced him to abandon his scheme of finding a N. W. passage to the Indies; he accordingly changed his course and sailed south as far as Virginia.
1500.] The Spaniards were busily engaged discovering and colonizing Central America; the Portuguese were rapidly in- sinuating themselves into the interior of South America; while the French in Canada, and from the sources to the mouth of the Mississippi, were winning for themselves the admiration of Europeans, as discoverers in the New World.
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