USA > Virginia > Washington County > Washington County > History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 > Part 70
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THOMAS J. CAMPBELL.
The subject of this sketch is a son of Wm. B. Campbell, and was rearel on the Jonesboro road, about nine miles west of Abingdon. Has been
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farmer all his life. Was elected a member of the House of Delegates from Washington county in 1897.
JOHN W. PRICE.
John W. Price, a son of Rev. Wm. H. Price, was born at his father's home, on the Middle Fork of Holston river, in this county. Was educated at Emory and Henry College. Studied medicine and gradu- ated with high honors. Afterwards studied law, and settled and began to practise his profession in Abing- don in 1894. Was an unsuccessful candidate for Commonwealth's Attorney in 1895. In the follow- ing year removed to Bristol, where he has since practised his profession with success. Was elected a member of the House of Delegates from Washing- ton county and the city of Bristol in 1899, and was recently elected judge of the Corporation Court for the city of Bristol for the term beginning February John W. Frice. 1st, 1904.
C. H. McCLUNG.
The subject of this sketch was born on a farm in Greenbrier county (now West Virginia), April 30th, 1841. Was educated in the common schools of his county. Entered the Confederate service as a pri- vate in Company C, Nineteenth Virginia Regiment of Cavalry, in 1861, and served as such until 1864, when he became adjutant of his regiment. Was cap- tured in the fall of that year, and remained a pris- oner at Camp Chase, Ohio, until after the close of the war. After the war he began farming, and a.t. times managed hands in the grading of the Chesa- C. H. McClung. peake and Ohio railway on New River, West Virginia. Was appointed sheriff and treasurer of Fayette county, West Virginia, in 1877, and at the following election was elected to the same office for the term of four years. In 1888 he removed to Meadow View, Washington county, Virginia. In 1895 was a candidate for treas- urer of Washington county, but was defeated by S. M. Withers. Was elected a member of the House of Dele- gates from this county in the year 1899; since which time he has been farming and merchandising.
A. J. Huff.
A. J. HUFF.
The subject of this sketch was born in Roanoke county, May 27th, 1865. He has been an extensive farmer and stock-raiser since maturity ; is a part owner of the Byars' farm, in the upper end of this
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Washington County, 1777-1870.
county, and has lived in this county since October 15th, 1901. Was elected a member of the House of Delegates from this county in the year 1901.
J. W. MORT.
Was born in Strasburg. Shenandoah county, Virginia, September 10th, 1855. Moved to Bristol in 1876. Was appointed Commissioner of the Reve- nue for the city of Bristol in 1890. Was afterwards elected to succeed him- self four times in that office, and served ten years. Was twice elected a member of the City Council. Was elected a member of the House of Delegates from Washington county and the city of Bristol in 1901.
CHARLES STUART BEKEM.
Charles Stuart Bekem was born in Abingdon, Vir- ginia, December 25th, 1802, and died in his native town, August 19th, 1875, in the seventy-second year of his age. He was the son of William and Jane Bekem, who came to America from Ireland before the J. W. Mort. close of the eighteenth century and settled in Abing- don. Mrs. Bekem was a sister of Lieutenant John Carson, of the First Continental Artillery, who died the 12th of September. 1781. of wounds received at Eutaw Springs. South Carolina, 8th September. 1781, and of Chas. S. Carson, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and who figured conspicuously in the business affairs of Southwest Virginia. The subject of this sketch was a graduate of Washington College. Tennessee. Mr. Bekem was a prominent lawyer, distinguished for his honesty and in tegrity, and was called upon often to represent his county in the Legislature. which he did with great fidelity. He was Commonwealth's Attorney for the counties of Washington and Russell, and achieved quite a reputation in this capacity for uprightness of conduct and fair dealing with those he had to prosecute. Mr. Bekem had as his contemporaries at the bar such men as James W. Sheffey, Samuel Logan, Arthur C. Cummings, John W. Johnston, John A. and Jos. T. Campbell, and others equally as prominent. Mr. Bekem was a promi- nent Mason. In politics he was a Whig, and was an ardent admirer of the principles of that party, his coun- sel often being sought in regard to party affairs. Mr. Bekem had three sisters-Margaret C., who never mar- ried; Sallie K., who married Wm. King, of Saltville, and Chas. S. Bekem. Jane Eliza, who married Rev. Lewis F. Cosby, D. D .: two brothers, John C. and James C., who died unmarried. In religious belief the Bekems were Presbyterians.
JOHN CAMPBELL.
The subject of this sketch was the son of David Campbell, and was born in Augusta county. In about the year 1765 he accompanied Dr. Thomas
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
Walker to the waters of the Holston, and with his father and brothers pur- chased a valuable tract of land on the waters of the Middle Fork of Holston river, called the "Royal Oak," now about one mile east of Marion, Virginia. He was a captain of militia and took part in the battle of Long Island Flats. He was a member of the County Court of Washington county, became clerk of the court of the county in the year 1779, and served until 1815, thirty-six years. About the beginning of the nineteenth century he purchased from Jacob Young a valuable tract of land in the lower end of this county, since known as "Hall's Bottom." This Jacob Young came directly from Germany with a large household; was a wealthy man, and lived and ruled his household and tenantry like a lord. To this tract of land John Campbell removed and lived for many years, and reared a large family of children, many of whom became distinguished. John Campbell, his son, was for ten years treasurer of the United States, and represented this county in the Legislature before he was twenty-one years of age. David Campbell, his son, was for twenty-two years clerk of the County Court of this county, member of the Senate of Virginia for four years, and Governor of Virginia from 1837 to 1841. A grandson, Wm. B. Campbell, was Gover- nor of Tennessee, and a brother-in-law, Archibald Roane, the husband of Ann Campbell, was judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Tennessee and Governor of that State from 1801 to 1804. Another son, Edward Camp- bell, was a distinguished lawyer, and lived in this county.
COLONEL JOHN PRESTON.
The subject of this sketch was the son of Robert Preston, the first sur- veyor of this county. He was born in Abingdon in 1781, and died at Walnut Grove in 1865. He was educated for the law, but never practised his profession. The landed estate inherited by him from his father was immense, and he devoted his life to farming pursuits. He was for many years presiding justice of the County Court for Washington county, and exercised great influence in his time. He left a large and highly respectable family of children.
COLONEL JOHN CAMPBELL.
The subject of this sketch was the son of John Campbell, and was born at Royal Oak in about the year 1791. He was educated at the Abingdon Academy, and in the year 1811 was elected a member of the House of Dele- gates from Washington county, became a member of the Council of State, and acquired an excellent reputation. In the year 1818 he decided to settle in Alabama, and President James Monroe, when informed of that fact, ad- dressed the following communication to Governor Bibb, of Huntsville, Ala- bama, in regard to Colonel Campbell:
DEAR SIR :
LOUISVILLE, June 24th, 1819.
Had I seen you when at Huntsville I should have spoken to you and recommended to your kind attention Major John Campbell, lately of
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Washington County, 1777-1870.
the Council of State in Virginia, now a resident of Alabama. I consider him a young man of great merit for integrity, strength and correctness of judgment and purity of political principles. In his welfare I take great in- terest. Well knowing his merit, I have thought it proper to communicate to you the sense I entertain of it, in the hope that it might be of some ser- vice to him.
With great respect and esteem, I am, dear sir,
Yours,
JAMES MONROE.
Gov. BIBB, Huntsville.
Colonel Campbell did not remain long in Alabama, but returned to this county, and in April, 1829, he was appointed Treasurer of the United States by President Jackson, and discharged the du- ties of that position with distinguished ability until 1839, when, finding himself opposed to many of the policies of President Van Buren, he resigned his posi- tion, returned to his home, and ever afterwards advo- cated the policies of the Whig party.
COLONEL JAMES WHITE.
The subject of this sketch was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, February 22d, 1770, of Scotch-Irish pa- C'ol. Jno. Campbell. rents, and when quite young was a clerk in the con- cern of Talbot, Jones & Co., of Baltimore, Maryland, with whom he remained two or three years. This firm advanced him a small stock of goods, with which he made his first trip to Southwest Virginia. On the 4th of January, 1798, he married Miss Eliza Wilson, and settled in Abingdon. All of his undertakings seemed to pros- per, and at the date of his death, which occurred Oc- tober 20th, 1838, his estate was estimated to be worth more than two-thirds of a million dollars. He was over six feet in height, of broad shoulders, deep chest, and that symmetry of limb that indicates agility and strength. He left a very large and dis- tinguished family of children.
WILLIAM KING.
Col. James White.
Was born in Ireland in 1769, and came to America at the age of fifteen years, landing at Newcastle, Delaware, August 17th, 1784, and was for five years engaged with a mer- chant at Philadelphia, his father, Thomas King, having previously to that time settled in Fincastle county. William King remained in Philadelphia until 1791, when he joined his father at Abingdon. (The home of Thomas King was near to and a little east of the present residence of Dr. Wm. White.) He received a legacy of 100 pounds from his grandmother, Eliza- beth Davis, and with this capital he started as a pedler to make his for-
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tune. His success was rapid, and he established stores along his line of travel and stocked them with such merchandise as best suited the people of the country. In 1799 he married Mary Trigg, and built the first brick house in Abingdon. (This house is still standing on Court street opposite the court- house.) He died in 1808. The crowning act of his life- was the devise of $10,000 to the Abingdon Academy.
JOSEPH W. DAVIS.
Joseph W. Davis was born in what is now Smyth county, Virginia, in 1798. Moved to Washington county in 1846 from his former home at Pleasant Hill. For several years he represented Smyth Jos. W. Davis. county in the Legislature, and after the war was State Senator for two years. He did much as a magistrate, surveyor and civil engineer. Became manager of the Emory and Henry College boarding-house and farm in 1846, holding this position for six years. Subsequently engaged in merchandising, and finally in farm- ing. He was a trustee of Emory and Henry College for about twenty years. Major Davis was a man of deep and earnest convictions, and few men have exerted a more positive influence on others.
ROBERT W. HUGHES.
Judge Robert William Hughes was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, June 16th, 1821, and was reared by Mrs. General Carrington, daughter of General Francis Preston, of Abingdon. He was edu- cated at Caldwell Institute, Greensboro, North Caro- lina. Was tutor in Bingham High School, Hillsboro, North Carolina, 1840-1843. Was a practising lawyer in Richmond 1843-1853. Was editor of the Richmond Examiner 1850-1857, and joint editor of that paper from May, 1861, to April, 1865. Upon the close of the war he aligned himself with the Republican party, and edited first the Richmond Republic and after- wards the Richmond Journal. In 1873 he was the Re- publican candidate for Governor of Virginia, and in January, 1874, he was by President Grant commis- sioned United States District Judge for the Eastern Robt. W. Hughes. District of Virginia, in which position he served with marked ability and distinction till February 22d, 1898, when, owing to his advanced age, he tendered his resignation. On June 4th, 1850, at the Gov- ernor's Mansion, in Richmond, he married Miss Eliza M. Johnston, daughter of Hon. Chas. C. Johnston and Eliza Mary Preston, niece of General Jos. E. Johnston. For many years he occupied as a summer home his fine estate, about three miles southeast of Abingdon. He was the author of biographies of General Floyd and General Joseph E. Johnston, published in "Lee and His Lieutenants," 1867; a volume entitled "The American Dol-
:
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Washington County, 1777-1870.
lar," 1885, and of five volumes of United States Circuit and District Court reports, entitled "Hughes' Reports, 1879-1885." In the year 1866 Judge Hughes fought a duel with Wm. E. Cameron, afterwards Governor of Vir ginia, which resulted in Cameron's receiving a broken rib at the first fire. He died December 10th, 1901. His remains were interred in Sinking Spring Cemetery.
REV. LEWIS F. COSBY.
Rev. Lewis F. Cosby, D. D., was the son of Dabney Cosby, deceased, of Staunton, Virginia. Was born the 15th day of January. 1807, and le. parted this life the 6th day of July, 1883, in AAbingdon. At the age of eleven years he was converted, and some years afterwards became a minister of the gospel in the Methodist Protestant church, serving many charges in Eastern Virginia. He came to Abingdon and assumed charge of the church here. During a revival in said church 2 very accomplished young lady (Miss Jane Eliza Bekem) professed religion, and on the 13th day of January, 1833, she became the wife of the young preacher, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. David R. Preston, of the Presbyterian church. To this union seven children were born, four of whom are yet living. After this Dr. Cosby re- turned to Eastern Virginia, but in the year 1844, with his family, removed to Washington county, Rev Lewis F. Cosby. and settled at "Oakland," where he farmed success- fully and preached in Abingdon and often in the surrounding country. Mrs. Cosby departed this life June 13th. 1853. He was married the second time. his last wife being Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery, who survived him a few years. Dr. Cosby was noted for his kindliness of heart, his generosity to the poor and suffering, and for the purity of his life. He was a fluent speaker, and had a voice in song that was unexcelled. He lived honored and re spected by all. He took great interest in public affairs, and gave much of his time and talents for the good of the public. His dust lies in Sinking Spring Cemetery.
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
APPENDIX.
JOURNAL OF DOCTOR THOMAS WALKER- 1749-'50.
Having on the 12th of December last been employed for a certain con- sideration to go to the westward in order to discover a proper place for a settlement, I left my home on the 6th day of March, at 10 o'clock, 1749-'50, in company with Ambrose Powell, William Tomlinson, Colby Chew, Henry Lawless & John Hughes. Each man had a horse and we had two to carry the baggage. I lodged this night at Col. Joshua Fry's, in the Albemarle, which county includes the Chief of the head Branches of James River on the east side of the Blue Ridge.
March 7th. We set off about 8, but the day proving wet, we only went to Thomas Joplin's on Rockfish. This is a pretty River, which might at a small expense be made fit for transporting Tobacco; but it has lately been stopped by a Mill Dam near the Mouth to the Prejudice of the upper inhabitants who would at their own expense clear and make it navigable, were they permitted.
March 8th. We left Joplin's early. It began to rain about Noon. I left my people at Thomas Jones's and went to the Reverend Mr. Robert Rose's on Tye River. This is about the size of Rockfish, as yet open, but how long the Avarice of Millers will permit it to be so, I know not. At pres- ent the Inhabitants enjoy plenty of Fine fish, as Shad in their Season, Carp, Rocks, Fat-Backs which I suppose to be Tench, Perch, Mullets, etc.
March 9th. As the weather continues unlikely, I moved only to Baylor Walker's quarters.
March 10th. The weather is still cloudy, and leaving my people at the Quarter, I rode to Mr. John Harvies', where I dined and returned to the quarter in the evening.
11th. The Sabbath.
March 12th. We crossed the Fluvanna and lodged at Thomas Hunt's.
13th. We went early to William Calloway's and supplied ourselves with Rum, Thread, and other necessaries & from thence took the main wagon Road leading to Wood's or the New River. It is not well cleared or beaten yet, but will be a very good one with proper management. This night we lodged in Adam Beard's low grounds. Beard is an ignorant, impudent, brutish fellow, and would have taken us up, had it not been for a reason easily to be suggested.
We went from Beard's to Nicholas Welche's, where we bought corn for our horses, and had some Victual dressed for Breakfast, afterwards we crossed the Blue Ridge. The ascent and descent is so easy that a Stranger
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Washington County, 1727-1870.
would not know when he crossed the Ridge. It began to rain about Noon and continued until night. We lodged at William Armstrong's. Corn is very scarce in these parts.
March 15th. We went to the Great Lick" on a Branch of the Staunton & bought corn of Michael Campbell for our Horses. This Lick has been one of the best places for Game in these parts and would have been of much greater advantage to the Inhabitants than it has been if the Hunters had not killed the Buffaloes for diversion, and the Elks and Deer for their skins.
This afternoon we got to the Staunton where the Houses of the Inhabi- tants had been carried off with their grain and Fences by the Fresh last Summer, and Lodged at James Robinson's, the only place E could hear of where they had Corn to spare, notwithstanding the land is such that an industrious man might make 100 barrels a share in a seasonable year.
March 16th. We kept up the Staunton to William Englishe's. He lives on a small branch, and was not much hurt by the Fresh. He has a Mill, which is the furthest back except one lately built by the Sect of people, who call themselves of the Brotherhood of the Euphrates, (17th) and are commonly called the Duneards, who are the upper inhabitants of the New River, which is about 400 yards wide at this place. They live on the west side and we were obliged to swim our Horses over. The Duncards are an old set of people who make it a matter of religion not to shave their Beards, ly on beds, or cat Flesh, though at present, in the last they trans- gress, being constrained to it, as they say, by want of a sufficiency of Grain and Roots, they having not long been seated here. I doubt the plenty and deliciousness of the Venison & Turkeys has contributed not a little to this. The unmarried have no private property, but live on a Common Stock. They don't baptize either Young or Old, they keep their Sabbath on Saturday, & hold that all men shall be happy hereafter, but must first pass through punishment according to their Sins. They are very hospitable.
March 18. The Sabbath.
19th. We could not find our Horses and spent the day in looking for them. In the evening we found their track.
20th. We went very early to the track of our Horses & after following them six or seven miles, we found them all together. We returned to the Duncards about ten o'clock, and having purchased half a bushel of meal and as much small Hominy we set off and Lodged on a small Run be- tween Peak Creek and Reedy Creek.
March 21st. We got to Reedy Creek and Camped near James McCall's + I went to his House and Lodged and bought what Bacon I wanted.
22nd. I returned to my People early. We got to a large Spring about five miles below Davis's Bottom on Holston's River and Camped.
23rd. We kept down Holston's River about four miles and Camped; and then Mr. Powell and I went to look for Samuel Stalnaker, who I had berg
*Now Roanoke.
+Now Max Meadows,
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
informed was just moved out to settle. We found his Camp, and returned to our own in the Evening.
24th. We went to Stalnaker's, helped him to raise his house and Camped about a quarter of a mile below him. In April 1748, I met the above mentioned Stalnaker between the Reedy Creek Settlement and Holston River, on his way to the Cherokee Indians, and expected him to pilot me as far as he knew but his affairs would not permit him to go with me.
March 25th. The Sabbath. Grass is plenty in the low grounds.
26th. We left the Inhabitants, and kept nigh West to a large Spring on a Branch of the North fork of Holston. Thunder, Lightening, and Rain before Day.
27th. It began to Snow on the morning and continued till Noon. The Land is very hilly from West to North. Some Snow lies on the tops of the mountains N. W. from us.
28th. We traveled to the lower end of Giant's Ditch on Reedy Creek.
29th. Our Dogs were very uneasie most of the Night.
30th. We kept down Reedy Creek, and discover'd the tracks of about 20 Indians, that had gone up the Creek between the time we Camped last Night, and set off this Morning. We suppose they made our Dogs so rest- less last Night. We Camped on Reedy Creek.
March 30th. We caught two young Buffaloes one of which we killed, and having cut and marked the other we turn'd him out.
31st. We kept down Reedy Creek to Holston where we measured an Elm 25 feet round 3 feet from the Ground. We saw young Sheldrakes, we went down the River to the North Fork and up the North Fork about a quarter of a mile to a Ford and then crossed it. In the Fork between Hol- ston's and the North" River, are five Indian Houses built with loggs and covered with Bark, and there were abundance of Bones, some whole Pots and Pans, some broken and many pieces of mats and Cloth. On the West Side of the North River, is four Indian Houses such as before mentioned, we went four miles Below the North River and Camped on the Bank of Holston's, opposite to a large Indian Fort.
April ye Ist. The Sabbath. We saw Perch, Mullets, and Carp in plenty, and caught one of the large Sort of Cat Fish. I marked my Name, the day of the Month, and date of the year on several Beech Trees.
2nd. We left Holston & travelled through small Hills till about Noon, when one of our Horses being choaked by eating Reeds too greedily, we stopped, having travelled seven miles.
3d. Our horse being recover'd, we travelled to the Rocky Ridge. I went up to the top to look for a Pass, but found it so Rocky that I concluded not to attempt it there. This Ridge may be known by Sight at a distance. To the Eastward are many small Mountains, and a Buffalo Road between them and the Ridge. The growth is Pine on the Top and the Rocks look white at a distance. We went Seven miles this day.
4th. We kept under the Rocky Ridge crossing several small Branches to the Head of Holly Creek. We saw many small Licks and plenty of Deer.
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Washington County, ITT7-1870.
April 5th. We went down Holly Creek. There is much Holly in the Low Grounds & some Laurel and Ivy. About 3 in the afternoon, the Ridge appeared less stony and we passed it and Camped on a small Branch about a mile from the top. My riding Horse choaked himself this Even- ing and I drenched him with water to wash down the Reeds, and it an- swered the End.
6th. It proving wet we did not move.
7th. We rode 8 miles over broken Land. It snowed most of the day. In the Evening our dogs caught a large He Bear, which before we could come up to shoot him had wounded a dog of mine, so that he could not Travel, and we carried him on Horseback, till he recovered.
8th. The Sabbath. Still snow.
9th. We travelled to a river, which I suppose to be that which the hunters Call Clinche's River, from one Clinch a Hunter, who first found it. We marked several Beeches on the East side. We could not find a ford Shallow eneugh to carry our Baggage over on our horses. Ambrose Powell Forded over on one horse, and we drove the others after him. We then made a Raft and carried over one Load of Baggage, but when the Raft was brought back it was so heavy that it would not carry anything more dry.
April 10th. We waded and carried the remainder of our Baggage on our shoulders at two turns over the River, which is about one hundred and thirty yards wide. We went on about five miles and Camped on a small Branch.
April 11th. Having travelled 5 miles to and over a High Mountain, wo came to Turkey Creek, which we kept down 4 miles. It lies between two Ridges of Mountains, that to the Eastward being the highest.
12th. We kept down the Creek 2 miles further, where it meets with a large Branch coming from the South West. and thence runs through the East Ridge making a very good Pass: and a large Buffalo Road goes from that Fork to the Creek over the West Ridge, which we took and found the ascent and descent tolerably easie. From this Mountain we rode four miles to Beargrass River. Small Cedar Trees are very plenty on the flat ground nigh the River, and some Barberry trees on the East side of the River. On the Banks is some Beargrass. We kept up the River two miles. I found some Small pieces of Coal and a great plenty of very good yellow Flint. The water is the most transparent I ever saw. It is about 70 yds. wide.
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