USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > History of the Settlement and Indian Wars of Tazewell County, Virginia: With a Map, Statistical. > Part 9
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" But to return. It often happened that some neighbors or relations, not being asked to the wedding, took offense; and the mode of revenge, adopted by them on such occasions, was that of cutting off the manes, foretops, and tails of the horses of the wedding company.
" On returning to the in-fare, the order of procession, and the race for black Betty, was the same as before. The feast- ing and dancing often lasted several days, at the end of which, the whole company were so exhausted with loss of sleep, that many days' rest were requisite to fit them to return to their ordinary labors."
I have quoted this account, written by Dr. Dodridge, be- cause nothing could be more correct, and it was beyond my power to tell an original tale so well.
HUNTING.
This constituted one of the greatest amusements, and, in some instances, one of the chief employments of the early settlers. The various intrigues of a skillful hunter-such as
152
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MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
mimicking a turkey, owl, wolf, deer, etc .- were soon learned, and the eye was taught to catch, at a glance, the faintest im- pression left upon the earth by any animal. Marks, which would be, by any but a hunter, overlooked, were easily de- tected. The times, and ground on which deer, elk, etc., fed, were soon learned, and then the important lesson of prevent- ing spells or enchantments by enemies, were studied ; for it is a singular fact that all hunters are, more or less, superstitious. Frequently, on leaving home, the wife would throw the ax at her husband, to give him good luck. If he chanced to fail to kill game, his gun was enchanted or spelled, and some old woman shot in effigy-then a silver bullet would be run with a needle through it, and shot at her picture. To remove these spells, they would sometimes unbreech their rifles, and lay them in a clear running stream for a certain number of days. If this failed, they would borrow patching from some other hunter, which transferred all the bad luck to the lender, etc.
Game was plenty at the time this county was first settled by the whites, and accordingly, the woods furnished most of the meat. Considerable bear still exists in various parts of the county. Deer are scarce, and elk and buffalo extinct. The elk and buffalo were generally killed at the licks whither they repaired to salt themselves ; and even yet, deer licks are watched with profit to the hunter.
Animals were hunted there not merely for their meat, but for their skins and furs. These served to pay for powder, lead, or anything else, being nominally the currency of the country.
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MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
Neither was hunting, the mere pastime, devoid of skill, which it now is. The hunter might be considered somewhat of a meteorologist ; he paid particular attention to the winds, rains, snows, and frosts ; for almost every change altered the location of game. He knew the cardinal points by the thick bark and moss on the north side of a tree, so that during the darkest and most gloomy night he knew which was the north, and so his home or camp. The natural habits of the deer were well studied; and hence he knew at what times they fed, etc. If, in hunting, he found a deer at feed, he stopped, and though he might be open to it, did not seek to obscure himself, but waited till it raised its head and looked at him. He remained motionless till the deer, satisfied that nothing moving was in sight, again commenced feeding. He then began to advance, if he had the wind of it, and if not he retreated and came up another way, so as to place the deer between himself and the wind. As long as the deer's head was down he continued to advance till he saw it shake the tail. In a moment he was the same motionless ob- ject, till it again put down its head. In this way, he would soon approach to within sixty yards, when his unerring rifle did the work of death. It is a curious fact that deer never put their heads to the ground, or raise it, without shaking the tail before so doing.
The quantity of game will be apparent when it is known that Mr. Ebenezer Brewster killed, during his life, upward of twelve hundred bears in this county. He died in the summer of 1850, and this statement occurred in an obituary notice.
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SCENERY - DIAL BOOK.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SCENERY-DIAL ROCK.
DIAL ROCK is one of the three heads of East river moun- tain, and is about three miles east of Jeffersonville. How it came by its name cannot be accurately determined ; though tradition tells that there is, on the rock, a natural sun-dial. I shall not deny its existence, but must own that I was unable to find it when I visited the rock. These rocks are elevated in the air to about the height of fifteen hundred feet above the valley of Clinch river, which flows gently along near the base of the mountain. The ascent to the foot of the cliffs is gentle, and may be easily rode over by such as care more for themselves than their horses. Nothing re- markable exists, to attract particular attention, till the base of the naked cliffs is reached. These cliffs are from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty feet above the common level of the summit of the mountain; and seem as if some internal commotion had started them from the bowels of the earth, to awe and affright the eye that should dare look from their tops.
The first rock -to the west being reached, the ascent is begun by climbing its steep and rugged sides, which, owing to the clefts is easily done. When this is done, the eye is involuntarily turned to the east, when a still more naked rock appears, towering still higher in the air, and looking still more sublime and awful. Passing on over the top of the
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SCENERY FROM DIAL ROCK.
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SCENERY - DIAL BOOK.
first rock, the visitor soon finds himself upon the very brink of a cleft about ten feet wide, the sides of which are perpen- dicular, and not far from one hundred feet deep. This must be passed, or the second rock cannot be gained. Turning now to the left or north, he finds that he may descend to the bottom of this gulf, by means of other irregular clefts break- ing into it. This- descent begun, and the visitor begins to feel the wild grandeur of the scene around him. Huge rocks, lying on thin scales so loosely that seemingly the slightest blow would sever the props that uphold them, and let them down with a crash, from which nothing could escape, and caverns of all shapes and sizes, filled with dark- ness impenetrable, seem to stand gaping for the victims of the rocks above, should they give way.
Descending into one of these dark pits, over loose rocks of immense size, from the hollows of which you expect, every moment, to see the head of a rattlesnake hissing and bidding defiance to your further progress, you find your- self soon at the bottom of the first cleft in the mountain ; and then the painful and tedious ascent of the second rock begins, after which the visitor imagines all farther troubles are comparatively light. A few yards to the eastward, after the top or summit is gained, will dispel this fond hope, and instead of affording an easy passage, opens to view another cleft still more grand and awful. Here is seen the same wild confusion of rocks (themselves mountains), thrown together, as if nature had, at this place, collected the rubbish of her materials, in mountain-making. This defile must be passed
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SCENERY - DIAL BOOK.
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before the third rock can be scaled ; the task of which having been accomplished, the visitor finds that on and on, to the east, the cliffs rise higher and higher, and he eagerly hunts & passage of the defile that he may gain the most elevated of this beautiful yet terrific array of rocky monuments. Soon it is "found, the third and fourth rocks are passed, and he- finds himself, tired and thirsty, upon the summit of the fifth. A basin of clear, ice-cold water invites him to quench hia thirst, and proceed to the sixth rock, from the top of which he casts his eye down the beautiful Clinch valley, when lo ! beauty indescribable presents itself. Mountains rise above mountains, in endless succession, till far in the smoky dis- tance his vision ceases to distinguish the faint outline of the Cumberland and the Tennessee mountains. Looking to the north, he sees the great Flat-Top, from which others gradu- ally fade into indistinctness, and imagination seems to say, There, there is the valley of the beautiful Ohio - the garden of commerce and industry. To the west rises Morris's Knob, the highest point of Rich mountain, its summit kissing the very clouds, and seeming to bid defiance to the storms of heaven. To the right, rise Paint Lick and Deskins' mountains, and nearly behind them, the rocky peaks of House and Barn mountains, in Russell county. Far in the distance are seen ranges of Clinch mountain and its various spurs. To the left is seen Wolf Creek knob, a continuation of Rich moun- tain. Close at hand, the rocky sides and top of Elk-horn, and far in the distance, ridges of the .Alleghany range. From this beautiful scene the eye is directed down to the
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SCENERY - A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
valley beneath, when a disposition to shrink back is felt. The visitor now sees himself standing on the pinnacle of Dial Rock, overhanging the valley, fifteen hundred feet below him. The scene, in the distance, is beautiful beyond descrip- tion. The scene around him is sublime .beyond conception. It is beyond the power of the wildest imagination to picture half of its grandeur.
It is here I felt the disposition to bring the infidel, and ask him, "Is there a God?" The works of nature speak more than ten thousand printed volumes, and though innate, their eloquence is adapted to the comprehension of every tongue.
I have taken the scenery from Dial Rock, as being suited to my purpose, not because there is no view so fine, but be- cause it is well know by persons who have visited the county. Very many such views are to be had. To appreciate the above, and the following, they must be seen.
A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
The dawn of day found me on my feet, in the piazza of a friend (with whom I had stopped the previous night, in a beautiful valley, surrounded by lofty mountains), gazing eastward, to watch a rising sun in this region of beauty. The brilliant stars shone brightly in the western sky, while those in the east were growing dim and faint amid the gray beams of light which were shooting up from the hidden sun, and resembling the flitting lights of the icy north made per- manent. As the sky became more lighted, the rough out- line of the huge mountains became visible, and cast their
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BORNERY-A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
long shadows far down the valley in which I stood. The bright rays shooting from the morning sun, now fell upon the boughs of the forest-trees which towered above the mountains, giving to the pearly dew drops suspended from the smaller twigs, the appearance of so many diamonds hung as orna- ments on the leafless branches.
"I know of a drop where the diamond now shines, Now the blue of the sapphire it gives; It trembles-it changes-the azure resigns, And the tint of the ruby now lives. Anon the deep emerald dwells in its gleam "Till the breath of the south-wind goes by;
When it quivers again, and the flash of its beam Pours the topaz-flame swift on the eye. Look, look on yon grass-blade all freshly impearl'd, There are all of your jewels in one:
You'll find every wealth-purchased gem in the world In the dew-drop that's kissed by the sun."-E. Coom.
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A part of the disc of the sun was now seen slowly rising above the summit. At this instant, the scene was beautiful beyond description; the whole top of the mountain seemed in a blaze-a moment and its beauty was lost. Aurora rose brightly above the mountains, casting her gentle beams upon the valley below. In this were many cottages, from the chimneys of which, soft columns of smoke were seen ascend- . ing in the clear, still atmosphere, presenting a scene worthy of the most refined pencil-work. Horses, cattle, and sheep, might be seen scattered over the rich meadows, while the merry notes of the cartman, and the deep-toned bay of the fox-hound, and the shrill ring of the huntsman's horn, were
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SOUMERY -A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS. 161
heard echoing in a thousand variations, among the glens and gorges of the surrounding mountains. The tender emotions excited by the loveliness of this scene, and their deep.im- pressions were such, as to defy the atheistical reasonings of either Thomas Paine, or of my own insensible heart. Deity was stamped upon everything.
Breakfast being over, I soon found myself upon the road, intending to visit a distant part of the county: But now, the wind had risen, and a mistiness was spreading itself over the mountain-tops. As I rode on, the heavy murmur of the winds in the timber on the mountains, convinced me that there would soon be a change of weather. None but those who have either been at sea and heard an approaching storm, or have listened to the roar of the mountain-blast, can have anything like a correct idea of this awful sound. Soon a yapory cloud was seen enveloping the mountain-summits, and in four hours it was raining in torrents, The little rippling rivulet, was now converted into the roaring mountain-torrent: how different the scene from what it was a few hours before!
Soon the wind changed to the N. E., and it became colder; presently it was in the north, and the white flakes of snow were falling thick and fast. This continued for several hours, when the wind changed to the west and it was clear. The sun was now nearing the western horizon, and casting back . his bright beams upon the snow-capped mountains, which looked indescribably grand and imposing. Not a single dark spot was to be seen, but everywhere the same unsullied white mantle was thrown over them, till they looked like vast 11
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162 SCENERY-A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
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monuments reared in the air emblematic of purity. Any attempt to describe a mountain in this State, known here as the "Budding Frost," must fall far short of correctly portray- ing the scene. Nothing but painting, executed in the highest style of art, can give the remotest idea of the original. I have seen something as grand, but nothing as beautiful as a mountain in this state.
In a short time the sun was seen sinking behind the western mountains, and here again was such a view, as would fix the attention of the most unobserving, and on which the artist would dwell with pleasure. The rays of light falling through the sunny crystals on the hill-tops, looked like so many brilliant pearls. A single streak of cloud shot out from behind the mountains, crimsoned with the setting sun, while its edge, or border, seemed belted with electricity itself. Though this scene was viewed from the town of Jeffersonville, where from the bustle of business, few stop to contemplate scenery, I observed crowds gazing with intense interest, and admiring the gorgeousness of a setting sun in a mountain-country.
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APPENDIX.
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APPENDIX.
TABLES.
TABLE REFERRING TO POPULATION.
PERSON'S over 100 years of age in county, June 1, 1850, 1
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90
66
66
4
80
18
66
66 70
60
50
40
30
20
66
10
2201.
under 10
8330
Slaves in the county
1060
Total, including 56 free negroes, 9932
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
No. of blind persons in the county
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8,
" deaf and dumb
13
" " idiots
24
" " paupers
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24
66
66
126
214
66
66
543
66
955 1410
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66
40
. The above table has been compiled from the census books for the year 1850. It is the opinion of Mr. William O. Yost, the gentlemanly marshal of (165)
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APPENDIX
No. over 20 years of age who can neither read nor write 1490 No. of children attending school 694
State tax on county
$ 2000
County tax
" 786
receives from public fund for school purposes " 546
cost of supporting paupers ·
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" 605
TABLE SHOWING THE WEALTH OF THE COUNTY.
Value of lands
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$ 3,189,080,00
" farming utensils
36,390,00
" live stock
517,330,00
agricultural productions
226,579,95
mechanical productions 7,000,00
" slave property
530,000,00
" stock in trade
85,000,00
Total wealth of the county
$ 4,581,379,95
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TABLE SHOWING NUMBER ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONS, TRADES.
No of physicians in the county
10
" " lawyers
8
" " teachers
36
merchants 66
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22
clerks
9
saddlers 66
10
painter
66
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the county, that there was, at the time he took the census, very near 11,000 persons in the county. . It was his duty, however, to report only such as were in the county on the first of June of that year.
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LIVE, STOCK-KINDS AND VALUE.
167
No. of printers
2
" " hatters
66
66
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" " shoemakers
.66
10
" " brick-masong "
7
carpenters
66
41
millers
wagon-makers
66
11
blacksmiths
21 6
66
cabinet makers
18
66
tailors
8
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TABLE LIVE STOCK - KINDS AND VALUE"
SPECIFIED KINDS.
NUMBER.
VALUE.
Horses
5,150
$ 309,000 00
Mules and asses
127
8,890 00
Milch cows
4,576
" 54,840 00
Working oxen
117
" 2,340 00
Other cattle
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10,260
" 102,600 00 .
66
barber
66
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watchmaker
1
" " farmers
. 1922
" tanners
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gunsmiths
2
coopers
88
" tavern keepers
8
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. There were slaughtered in the county, during the year 1850, animals to the amount of. $38,062:
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APPENDIX.
APROIFIED KINDS.
NUMBER.
VALUE.
Sheep
. 19,530
$ 19,530 00
Swine
. 20,130
" 20,130 00
Total value live stock,
$ 517,330 00
TABLE SHOWING VALUE OF LANDS.
KINDS ETO.
AMOUNT OF EACH.
VALUE.
Improved land
58,110 acres
696,320 00
Unimproved .
· 220,530
441,060 00
Unentered or in large
surveys
1,641,360
" 2051,700 00
Farm'g implements*
value
" 36,390 00
Total am't of land 1920,000 value
$3,225,470 00
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TABLE SHOWING THE PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTY AND VALUE.t
NAME OF ARTICLES.
AMOUNT RAISED.
CASH VALUE.
Indian corn
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. 244,430 bush. $ 97,772 00
Oats
. 124,710
" 31,177 75
Wheat
. 28,020
" 21,020 00 .
Rye . .
· 4,110
" 2,055 00
Irish potatoes
2,279
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1,139 50
Sweet
772
386 00
Buckwheat
3,108
1,864 80
. I have added the value of farming implements in this table, for want of a more convenient place.
t Calculated from the census book. It is highly probable that the actual production, is considerably greater than is shown by the table.
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KINDS OF BIRDS IN TAZEWELL COUNTY. 169
NAME OF ARTICLES.
AMOUNT RAISED.
CASH VALUE.
Hay
1,824 tons $ 18,240 00
Grass seed
48 bush. "
192 00
&
Flax
. 19,350 lbs “
1,935 00
Maple sugar
. 41,344
66 4,134 40
Beeswax and honey
. 12,248
1,837 20
Tobacco
· · 300
30 00
Butter
. 102,287 "
10,228 70
Cheese .
6,006
66 400 60
Wool
. 25,360
7,608 00
Flax seed
910 bush. "' . 919 00
Value of home manufactures
" 25,480 00
Total value
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KINDS OF BIRDS IN TAZEWELL COUNTY.
(COMMON NAME.) (SCIENTIFIC DESIGNAT.)
(COMMONT NAICH.) (ACHTENTIFIC DESIGNAT.)
Common eagle Falco fulvus.
American robin. .. T. migratorius.
Bald eagle. .F. leucocephalus. Blackbird T. merula.
Turkey buzzard. .. Vultur aura.
Missel thrush T. viscivozes.
Common owl .Strix otus.
Mocking-bird T. polyglottes.
Screech owl Strix effraie.
Dipper Circlus American.
Hooting owl Strix Syrnium.
Ant catcher O. Myothenis. :
Horned owl Bubo virginianus.
Golden thrush or
Gos hawk Falco astur.
robin .. .... .Oriolus Baltimore
Sparrow hawk .Falco nisus.
Virginia nighting.Mat. virginianus
Secretary . F. serpentanns.
House wren Sylvia domestica.
Fly-catcher Museicapa. . '
Winter wren T. hyemalis.
Cedar bird
.Bombycilla caroli-
nensis.
Lark. Alauda arvensis.
Cave martin .Hirundo urbica.
Summer red-bird . . Tanagra æstiva.
Chimney swallow .. H. rustica.
Common thrush. . . Turdus musicus.
Swifts
H. cyprelus.
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(COMMON NAME.) (SCIENTIFIC DESIGNAT.) (COMMON NAME.) (SCIENTIFIC DESIGNAT.)
Common martin. .. H. apus. > Belted kingfisher. . Alcedo alcyon.
American
goat-Caprimulgus Am- Golden
winged
-sucker ... .
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ericana.
woodpecker .. Picos duratus.
Whip-poor-will ... C. vociferus.
Red-headed wood-
Tomtit or titmouseA. parus.
pecker
.P.erythrocephalus.
Bob-o-link.
.Emperizo oryai-
Rain crow or cuckoo Cuculus American.
Wild turkey ...... A. meleagris.
Common sparrow .Fringilla domes- tica.
pheasant ..... Tetrao umbellas.
American goldfinchF. tristis.
American partridgeT. ortyz.
Common snowbird.F. hyemalis.
American quail ... Coturnix Virginia.
Orow
. Corvus American.
Raven
O. corax.
Magpie
C. pica.
Blue jay
C. cristatus.
White crane .
... Grus Americana.
American woodcockScolopax minor.
Snipe
S. gallinago.
Water hen
.F. gallinula.
Wild goose
A. anser.
TABLE SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL KINDS OF FISH FOUND IN TAZEWELL.
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Salmo san
2 to 4 R. ...
.20 to 30 lbs.
Trout Olmo faris 1 at 2 ft ...... 8to,j lbs.
Pike
Esox lucius.
3 to St ....
to LA ..... 10 to 16 H.
Minnow
Cyprinus astronasses
1 to 3in ..... $1 to & oz.
Flounder
Ploleta flesus.
6to15 in
14 21bs.
Common cels
Anguila
2 to 4 ft 3 to 61bs.
Myxine
4 to 6 in.
. 4to 10 oz.
"Lamp
Petromyzon fluviatilis . . 16 to 20 in. . . 1 to 12% lbs.
Oubitis
American dove .... C. Americana.
Great crow
black-
bird Quiscalus maior.
*Humming bird . .. . Trochilus colubris. Common bee eater. Merops apiaster. Duck (severkt kind) Anas.
(BOLENTIFIC DESIOMINION.) ((LENGTH AND WEIGHT.)
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Perch
Perça fluviatilis
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Ruffled grouse or
American pigeon. . Columba · migro-
taria.
MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. 171
TABLE SHOWING THE KINDS OF ANIMALS FOUND IN THE COUNTY.
(COMMON NAME.) (SCIENTIFIC DESIGNATION.)
Horse
Equus.
Ass.
.E. asinus.
(COMMON NAME.) (SCIENTIFIC DESIGNATION.)
Flying squirrel .. . . Pteronys.
Sq'rel (sev'l kinds)Sciurus.
Mule.
Opossum
Didelphis virgin.
Elk Cervus alces."
Common cat. .Felis catus.
Domestic goat .... Capra hircus.
Panther
.F. parens.
Domestic sheep.
. Avis aries.
Common ox
.Bos taurus.
Domestic dog.
.C. familis.
Buffalo
B. American
Wolf.
C. lupus.
Stag.
Cervus elephus.
Lutra vulgaris.
Hog ..
Sus.
Weasel
Mustela vulgaris.
Poleca
M. putorius.
Beaver.
Castor fiber.
Black bear
Ursus americana.
Water mouse
Mus amphibus.
Raccoor
. Percyon.
Field mous
M. aricola.
Mole.
Lalpa.
Mouse
M. musculus.
Long-eared bats. .. Oreillard
Domestic rat M. ratteus.
LIST OF GENTLEMEN WHO HAVE REPRESENTED THE COUNTY 'IN THE VIRGINIA LEGALATURE. 1 ..
1800-1.
Thomas Witten, David Ward,
1801-2.
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1802-3.
Henry Bowen, John Grills; . Henry Bowen, James Thompson, William Neal, James Thompson,
1803-4.
¥1804-8.
' Andrew Peery, James Thompson, . Andrew Peery, James Thompson,
1805-6.
1806-7.
John Cecil, James Thompson,
1807-8.
John Cecil, James Thompson,
1808-94
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7
· Extinct.
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Thomas Witten, David Ward,
Fox.
Canis vulpus.
Rabbi Lupus cuniculus.
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APPENDIX.
John Ward, James Thompson, . 1809-10.
John Ward, James Thompson,
. 1810-11 John Ward, J. D. Peery, 1811-12.
Rees B. Thompson, James Thompson, . 1812-13.
Rees B. Thompson, James Thompson, ·
. 1813-14.
John B. George, Rees B. Thompson, . 1816-17.
John B. George, Thomas Harrison, ·
. 1817-18.
Thomas Peery, John B. George, 1818-19
Henry P. George, William Gillespie, 1819-20.
Hervey P. George, William Shannon, 1820-21.
John B. George, Jas. C. Davidson,
1821-22.
John B. George, William Thompson, ·
1822-23 .
John B. George, John Ward, 1823-24. .
John B. George, Thomas Peery, 1824-25.
John B. George, - Deskins,
1825-26.
John B. George, Deskins,
1826-27.
John B. George, John Ward, 1827-28.
Thomas I. George, William Barnes,
1828-29.
Thomas I. George,
1829-30.
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The convention of 1829-30 was now in session. Col. John B. George was' the representative from this county. This convention altered the constitution so as to admit but one representative from the county.
The following are the gentlemen elected under the new ·law, in the order of their names.
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MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE. .173
1831-32.
Robt. Gillespie,
1832-33.
Robt. Gillespie,
1833-34.
Henry George,
1834-35.
Jas. W. M. Witten,
1835-36
Robt. Gillespie, .
1836-37.
Jas. W. M. Witten,
1837-38.
Addison Crockett,
1838-39.
Jas. C. Spotts,
1839-40.
Jas. C. Spotts,
1840-41.
Henry Bowen,
1841-42.
Jas. C. Spotts,
1842-43.
Alexander Harrison,
1843-44.
.Hervey G. Perry,
1844 45.
Samuel Laird,
1845-46.
Thomas H. Gillespie,
1846-47.
Thomas H. Gillespie,
1847-48.
Henry George,
1848-49.
Henry George,
1849-59.
Jas. W. M. Witten,
. 1850-51.
The right of suffrage was extended in 1851, and James W. M. Witten was again elected.
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BOOK III. INDIAN WARS.
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CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN WARS OF TAZEWELL.
I HAVE thought proper to trace the history of the Indians, who have, since 1539, inhabited south-western Virginia. These have been the Xualans, Shawanoes, and Cherokees, the latter of whom will not be noticed at length. History, indeed, throws but little light on this interesting subject, yet, I imagine, more than is generally supposed. All who have written upon this subject, seem to have depended much upon · their own warped imaginations, to fill a vacuum which will ever exist, to some extent, in the history of the nations of the earth. If I am not mistaken, however, I shall show that some important facts remain unnoticed, and which lead to im- portant conclusions.
Everything said with reference to the early history of In- dians on this continent, is more or less connected with the discoverers of America, and, consequently, with the different conquering powers of Europe. The only chronological infor- mation respecting the Indians who inhabited the continent in the sixteenth century, is derived from this source.
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