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LOCAL HISTORY OF
TAZEWELL REBELS
Raiders Routed and Captured by
Our Troopers ? Interesting
Reminiscences.
Messrs. Leslie,
Editors of the Clinch Valley News,
Tazewell, Va
Dear Sirs:?
I am more than pleased that you
showed me the manuscrirrt letter to
you, written by Mr". J. R East, of
LaFoilette, Tenn.. of the 5th instant.
This letter gives a history of an in?
cident of the war between the states,
which is of more than ordinary local
interest, for it was by prompt pur?
suit of a cavalry company of this
county that the daring squad of fed?
eral invuders found their undoing.
"Dick" East's recollection of the ex?
ploit must be as accurate as one's
memory will permit at this time.
My recollection is that the daring
invasion was undertaken by a band of
young men, made up somewncre in
the Ohio valley, composed of thirty or
forty soldiers. They marched on foot,
directed by compass and kept in the
mountains in as near a straight line
as possible, destined to destroy the
railroad, it was supposed, near and
about Marion, Va. The first our com?
munity knew of their npproach was
caused by their coming up with Chas.
Taylor, then an old man, in Horsepen
Cove. They administered an oath to
him and let him go. They nlso en?
countered an old peripatetic cloth
weaver, about the same place, by the
name of Patsey Hall, whom they also
put under oath and let go. Patsey,
however, soon scattered the news far
ami wide.
Dick and I were neighbor boys, liv?
ing close together, and we did go to
inform the Tazewell Troopers, who,
or at least, a part of them, were sta?
tioned in Abbs Valley. The "Cap?
tain" Moss, of whom Dick writes, was
not a captain, but a lieutenant in the
company, and was Joseph S. Moss, a
gallant and brave soldier, who pur?
sued the invaders with the same cour?
age and energy which he displnyed
in after life.
The trooper, who halted Dick and
I, was Frank Hash, another neighbor
boy, but older than I, whom I knew
well. He had a deep, peculiar voice,
which I readily recognized. This
raid, I think, was made late in the
summer of 18G3.
This letter of Mr. East's is mainly
valuable as a part of Tazewell's local
history, recording the daring invasion
of these young men; and may arouse
the memory of some yet living who
will recall the excitement that this
stealthy raid created.
Yours truly,
S. C. GRAHAM.
MR. EAST'S LETTER.
It was in old Tazewell and Smyth
-counties, Va., in the latter part of
August, in the year 1862. All the
men of lawful age in the .neighbor?
hoods had responded to the first call
to arms, and were at the front.
Samuel C. Graham and myself were
the only boys in the entire neighbor?
hood that were anything near the
lawful age, both being about the same
age. We were just entering our 18th
year.
' My father lived at that time on the
head of Clinch, on what was known as
the James Peery place, on the road
leading from Tazewell courthouse by
way of the head of Abbs Valley to
Wyoming courthouse, and being situ?
ated on what was then called the
border, made it a noted place for
camping and lagging of soldiers and
refugees as they went in and out of
the border country.
All was quiet on that particular Au?
gust evening. Nothing had occurred
to disturb the quiet of the neighbor?
hood for some time. Even the travel
along the public road had slacked up
?no news of bloody battles had been
reported to increase the anxiety for
fathers, brothers and sweethearts
that were at the front.
I was in the kitchen, and had just
finished cleaning up my gun, getting
ready for my usual evening hunt at
that time of the year. I had just
commenced loading and had put in one
charge of powder, when I heard my
father call my name at the front door
in an exciting tone. I hastened with
gun in hand to see what the trouble
was, and when I reached the door
there was the entire family, all in a
blaze of excitement, my father telling
them that a large force of Yankees
had just a few hours ago been seen in
the Horsepen Cove, marching through
the woods in a straight line that
would land them right in the neigh?
borhood, and that before night, if
they did not stop or change their
course. He then turned to me and
said: "You get on a horse and scat?
ter the news," I then spoke to a
younger brother and asked him to
catch the horse while I finished load?
ing my gun. I then poured down an?
other charge of powder and nine buck
shot. I then mounted the horso and
started, after my father had told mo
to tell the people to hide out their
horses.
I had not gone but a short distance
until, to my delight, I met up with
Samuel C. Graham, on the same er?
rand that I was, he having learned
the news through the same source
my father had.
We were not long in setting the
neighborhood in a high pitch of ex?
citement, and sending the blaze into
othrrr parts. We then returned and
found seven or eight of the father1- of
the neighborhood standing in the read
in front of my father's home, with
anxious faces, discussing the situa?
tion. Espuire Robert Graham, the
father of Sam, was the acknowledged
lender.
We soon learned from conversation
that pilfering was believed to be the
object of the Yankees. Just at that
moment some one else came up?at
this late day I do not remember who
?and stated that he had understood
that the Tazewell Troopers were in
camp somewhere near the head of
Abbs Valley. After a few questions
had been asked as to how the news
had been conveyed, etc., the ques?
tion was then asked who would go to
Abbs Valley and hunt up the Taze?
well Troopers, and notify them and
bring them back into the neighbor?
hood ?
The words had scarcely lied away,
when Sam and myself both answered,
"we will go." A few words of in?
struction as tu where we would prob?
ably find the Troopers, and we were
oc at a brisk gait. It was then dark,
the moon still below the horizon, but
the stars were shining dimly through
the murky ski?s.
The h?.;u! of Abbs Valley was about
five miles north of our home. The way
was nearly all through woods, and
two large ridges to cross. We had
reached the top of the Big Stoney
Ridge. It was then, as with one ac?
cord, we both reined up our horses nt
the same time, as if to survey the
deep, dark gorge that lay between us
and the top of the Valley ridge. A
wild cat, or some other varmint, per?
haps, which had stopped for us to
pass, bounded off down the mountain
and was soon out of hearing. It was
then that Sam spoke, and said to
me: "Has it ever occurred to you,
that we are just as apt to ride right
into the hands of the Yankees as we
are to find the Tazewell Troopers?"
At that moment I did not answer. I
could not. It was like a flash of
lightning. It put every faculty of
my being into nction, even my heart
seemed to swell within. The entire
custom of war seemed to stand up
before our faces, in proof of the
truth of what he had said, and more,
the geography of the country, the
place where the Yankees had been
seen, and where the Tazewell Troop?
ers were supposed to be in camp, all
went to establish the assertion that
Sam had made, and the Tazewell
Troopers, and not pilfering, was the
object of the maneuvering of the
Yankees.
It- was after the above flash had
come into our minds that I said to
Sam, as we had assumed the role of
soldiers, a soldier's fare we must
accept.
It was then and there that we
passed through the gate that either
makes or unmakes a true soldier. It
was then and there, on the top of the
Big Stony Ridge, that we laid our
lives upon the altar of the grand
old country in which we lived.
We then passed on down into the
dark gorge that lay between Stony
Ridge and the Valley ridge, \vi*h
eyes and ears wide open, though we
could not see anything but foxfire.
About the time wo got to the sulphur
spring in the deepest part of the
gorge, two old owls got into a very
exciting conversation as to ''who, who
we were," and "where, where are you
going?" though we did not accept
their conversation as an omen, from
the fact we had often enjoyed the
same kind of conversation while liv?
ing in the woods with them.
We soon reached the top of the
Vulley ridge. The moon was just be?
ginning to show itself above the east?
ern horizon. Wo quickened our pace
and were soon out from under the
timber and into the open Valley, ex?
pecting at every turn and crook of
the road to be stopped by the blue
coats. We had travelled perhaps a
mile and a quarter down the Valley,
when from under some trees by the
road side, a strong, firm voice rang
I out on the stillness of the night,
"halt!!" We, as quick as lightning,
reined up our horses, leaning forward
in our saddles, anxious to know "the
result," It was then that the same
voice rang out with the command to
"advance and give the countersign."
It was then that Sam laughed out
and said: "Yes, we will give you the
countersign when we get to you." He
(Continued on Local Page)
[CH \
TAZEV
Friday are
IDEAL DAY FOR THE
SUNDAY SERVICES
The Secretary Spends Pleasant
and Profitable Sabbath With
People of Wittens Mills.
The editor had the pleasure of
spending last Sunday in the country
with his friend, E. K. Crockett, and
a rare treat it was on this beautiful
spring Snbbnth day. It was such a
day us poets write about, memories
stirred dreams dreamed and air cas?
tles built?an ideal day in an almost
ideal country. It was a fit day,
therefore, for Sunday school and
speech-making and going to church
und for worship.
The Sunday school at Harman's
Chapel is one of the best of the good
schools in the county. Mr. C. II. Har?
mon is the efficient and popular su?
perintendent. His sisters und other
valuable helpers make up a strong
force of good workers. Mr. Harman
the superintendent, is a son of Mr.
R. P. Harman. The people say,
"they are all good people, and are
doing a fine work in this community,
n/>t only in Sunday school, but in the
church work generally."
The superintendent has the gi:'t
of Song as well as of speech?two
very essential qualifications, and he
uses them, too. Other people have,
perhaps, just ns good, probably bet?
ter qualities of head and heart, but,
what good, unless they use them?
"Charlie Harman," as the people
all him, is an useful man in his
church. Here, just across the fence,
lives Mr. S. A. White, an intelligent
earnest man, whose influence is for
good in this school und church. The
editor, ns secretary of the County
Sunday School Association, h a d
not had the pleasure before of visit?
ing this school. On this occasion he
was given the right of way, and in a
few "occasional remarks", explained
the work of the county convention,
and urged the school to send repre?
sentatives to the annual convention,
which meets hero June 17-18th. The
school will be represented. In the
nfternoon, at 3:30, the pastor, Rev.
J. E. Spring, preached a thoughtful
sensible sermon to n good sized
congregation. Besides this and Wit
ten's Mill appointments, he has some
six or seven other preaching places,
and is, of course, kept busy. His
praise is on the lips of all the people
whom 1 heard speak of him. If I
am not mistaken, he is a cousin to
Rev. Vnnce Price, once pastor here.
I had dinner with that gcniul, hos?
pitable citizen, Mr. E. K. Crockett.
Of this elegant dinner I will not
speak. What's the use? I couldn't
describe it, and even if I could what
good would be done the hungry read?
er of these lines? It would only be
tantalizing. Suffice to say, it was
all any mortal could ask in variety,
or any epicurean, however fastidious,
demand in its serving. And nfter it
was all over, although we hod made
a decided "impression" upon this
bounteous dinner, there still remained
enough for supper and breakfast next
morning. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett
are genial hosts, and their friends,
and even the needy stranger, finds
welcome shelter and hospitable en?
tertainment in this wayside home.
I will not speak of the roads this
time?will wait until the results of
Good Road Days show up. I neg?
lected to speak at the time, of a lit?
tle Sunday evening meeting, held in
the home of Mr. John Hall, in Dry
Town, the Sunday before this. It
was an enjoyable occasion for those
who attended, and will be repeated.
?urkes Garden.
Burkes Garden, Va., May 13th.
Mr. Isaac Spracher is very ill with
pneumonia.
Miss Lucretia Mahood is looking
after her farming interests and vis?
iting her friends here this week.
Several parties here have been suf?
fering considerably from vaccination
which they submitted to recently.
The many friends of Dr. S. L.
Lawson will bo glad to hear that
his health is improving some since
his recent scvero attack of inflamn
tory rheumatism.
Miss Etta Grecver has had a se?
vere cold for several days, but is
better now.
Mr. and Mrs. J.. W. Long were the
guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Rhudy
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Moss are out
of quarantine now.
Mr. J. T. Suiter spent Monday night
at the home of Mr. C. H. Greever.
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rhudy visited
the sick folks in the east end of the
Garden Sunday.
Mr. L. D. Snapp has his auto in
running order again, and can go
from here to Tazewell in a little
more than an hour,
, ELL, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, MA
"Good R<
Personals From Pounding Mill.
Pounding Mill, Va., May IS.
Mr. and Mrs. B. K. Gillespie were
called to Tazewell yesterday by the
illnes of the former's father, Mr. G.
W. Gillespie.
Claude and Mercer Thomas of
Williamson and Roanoke, respective?
ly, were called here this week by
the serious illnes of their mother,
Mrs. G. R. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas'
condition is somewhat improved but
she will have to submit to an opera?
tion at an early dale.
Rev. John Williams, of Wichita,
Kansas, an ordained preacher of the
holiness faith, preached here on last
Monday night to n goodsized congre?
gation.
Mr. A. G. Ruskill, of Richlands.
gave a most interesting lecture on
Biblical history and references in
the Union church ut this place on
last night.
Mrs. Elizabeth Carbaugh is here
spending some time with friends.
Rev. W. S. Bullard, of Tazewell,
will preach here next Sunday at 11
o'clock it. m. Rev. Thomas Gpie, of
Graham, will preach at 7:30 p. m. of
the same day.
Mrs. R. K. Gillespie spent the day
Saturday visiting Mrs. W. B. F.
White at Richlands.
The style of the firm of Steele,
Hurt & Co., has been changed to
W. B. Steele & Co.
Several of I he colored men here
who have been quarantined on ne
count of having had the smallpox,
have been released and have resumed
their work at the quarry, Two while
men, tenants on the farm of R. K.
Gillespie, have the disease in a very
mild form.
Mrs. Mary Mulkey. of Graham,
was the guest of her mother, Mrs.
Susan Ringstaff, hero Sunday.
One of the Saddest accidents to
occur at this place in years was the
death on Saturday morning of Will
Reese Christian, commonly known
as "Buster"?the son of Mr. Lewis
Christian, of this place. On Friday
afternoon nbout (i o'clock he was
taking a horse to pasture, and was
riding at a gallop, when the horse
stumbled and fell, throwing the lad
over its head, falling on him, break?
ing both collar bones and causing in?
ternal injuries, which resulted in
his death. He would have been six?
teen years old on the 12th, he having
died on the 0th. The parents, sis?
ters and brothers are almost heart?
broken and his many friends deeply
grieved at his untimely death. His
remains were laid at rest on Sunday
afternoon. As the preacher failed to
arrive in time to conduct the ser?
vices, Mr. R. M. Sparks read John
11 chapter: "Let not your hearts be
troubled", etc., and Mrs. W. B. Steele
offered a prayer, as did also Mr.
James Osborne. "Buster" was an
obedient son to his parents, anil
they will miss him greatly. , as will
his numerous friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Christian,
of Williamson, were called here Sat?
urday on account of their brother's
death.
Sad Derith of Little Boy.
William, the twenty-eight months
old son, and only child of Mr. and
Mrs. Firm Weaver, died nt the homo
of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Hankins, at this place about
3 o'clock last Sunday afternoon. The
little fellow had been critically ill
for several weeks; in fact, since the
beginning of his illness the doctors
in attendance saw but little chance
for his recovery. Dr. Margaret Bow
en, of the Cove, was called during
the latter days of the little fellow's
illness, nnd resorted to heroic meas?
ures to stay the ravages of disease,
but without avail.
Funeral services were conducted
Monday afternoon nt the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Hankins, and interment
was in Maple Shade cemetery, Rev.
W. S. Bullard, of the Christian
church, conducting the services.
Cedar Bluff, Richlands, Baptist Valley
Dailey's Chapel, Bust head, Etc.
Next Sunday, and for severnl Sun?
days following, the forces of the Coun?
ty Sunday School Association will be
heard in many sections of the county.
Rev. C. R. B:-own, the president of
the county association, will spenk at
Cedar Bluff in the morning nt 11
o'clock, and nt Richlands at night.
The secretary, Mr. J. A. Leslie, will
speak in Baptist Valley, at the church
near Mr. Bandy's, where he will meet
representatives of Dailey's Chapel,
the school near Busthcad, and other
schools near enough to come. The
main object of these meetings is to
boost the meeting of the Annual
Convention, which meets here on
Wednesday and Thursday, Juno 17
and 18th. Largo crowds are ex?
pected at all the meotings. Every?
body invited.
Saturday before the 4th Sunday a
Sunday school meeting will be held
at the White church in Thompson
Valley. All the schools of the Val?
ley will participate.
I
by N:
lY 15, 1914.
>ads Days'1
EVERY MAN MUST
HELP IN THE WORK
Volunteers Wanted in the Fight
Against Mad Roads, One of the
Farmers Worst Enemies.
Pursuant to u proclamation issued
i>y tho Governor, appointing a Good
Road Day in the state, an enthusi
astic meeting was held here on Tues?
day, to arrange a program for carry
inj; out the idea, which is that every
citizen of the county give at least
one day's work on the roads of the
county. The suggestion was heartily
received, anil committees, foremen,
etc., were appointed in each neigh
borhood. The ladies were also in?
cluded, nnd respectfully "invited" to
prepare nnd serve dinner to the men
working on the roads.
The meeting was called to order
by Supervisor Daniels, who was also
made chairman. W. (5. O'Brien was
made secretary. A number of prac?
tical addresses were made. K. 1>.
R. Hnrmnn, president of the Taze?
well Pair Association, Henry S.
Powen, Robert Moss and others made
addresses nnd suggestions. One was
that all the towns in the county be
urged to co-operate; another, that
those unable to give a day's work
be asked to contribute in money.
George A. Martin, county road en?
gineer, was appointed supervisor of
the work. The board of supervisors
agreed to furnish tools, etc., free,
but everybody is urged to bring such
tools as they have.
The shortness of the time for prep?
aration makes it necessary for those
appointed to go to work at once, nnd
not wait to lie called upon further.
Thursday and Friday, the 21st und
22nd, were agreed upon as the days
on which the work is to be done.
The following foremen were ap?
pointed for the dice rent precincts,
sections of roads, etc., in the county:
Clear Pork District.
Pocahontas: A. 10. Moore and S.
P. Mustard; Palls Mills: C. .1. Hale
and C. M. Wagner; Graham: .lames
P. Dudley and David Spracher; Bluo
Stone: .1. W. Shannon and Wade
Nash; Tiptop to St. Cluir: McTecr
Satinders; Tiptop and Divides west
In district tin: 11. S. Bowen, ('has.
Crockett and K. King Crockett; Tip?
top to Springville: G. P. McMullin
and It. P. Harmon; St. ('lair to
Bailey: C. A. Wagner and K. 10.
French; Hockmun to Mrs. David?
son's: Henry Harley; Mrs. Burgess'
to Graham: II. S. I.efller; Burkes
Garden: J. R. Meek und II. R. Stow
ers; Cove Creek to Bland line: Rob?
ert Shulllebarger; Mud Pork: C. J.
Hale; Clear Fork: Dr. .1. R. Hicks
and William Pruettj Divides east to
macadam road: S. A. White.
Jcffersonville District.
Poor Valley: William Corell; Clinch
Mountain: Robert Neel; O'Possum
Hollow: D. W. Lynch; Scales east:
G. J. Lambert; Scales west: Sam B.
Ward; O'Possum Hollow to Pleasant
Hill Church: C. A. Lynch; D. W.
Lynch's to Benbow: W. A. Thomp?
son; J. B. Witten's to Brick House:
Joe Nenl; R. P. Buchanan's scales to
G. S. Thompson's:G. S. Thompson;
Plum Creek: Dr. M. B. Crockett;
Fincastle Road east to district line:
A. J. Steele; Fincastle Road west:
J. A. Crockett; North Tazewell to
Burkes Garden Siding: C. II. Peery;
Whitley Brunch: John Jones; North
Tazewcll to J. 10. Pcery's: O. E. Hop?
kins; J. E. Peery's west to John
Peery's: A. J. Iligginbothnm; Bap?
tist Valley: John Kecsee and Norman
Dailey; J. E. Peery's to George
Peery's: J. E. Peery; Cavetts Creek:
L. C. Neel and Peel Iiarman; End of
Grade to Shrader's Gap: Will May;
Adria to foot of Jump: Frank Crouso
Healing Springs to top of Stony
Ridge: J. H. Peery; Top of Stony
Ridge to Horsepen: J. S. Meadows;
Dry Fork, Gco. Lambert; Dix Creek:
George Jones; Laurel: Thomas Mc
Cali; J. B. Witten's to Burnt School
House: W. T. Buchanan.
Maiden Spring District.
Poor Valley: Win. Taylor; Little
Valley: M..C. Osborne; Thompson
Valley: J. A. Higginbothani; Ward's
Cove: W. O. Barns; Hog Back: JefT
Brown; Bowen's Valecy: Henry Co
penhaver; Paint Lick: W. J. Lester;
Top Claypool Hill to Pounding Mill:
Reese Elwick; End Paint Lick Moun?
tain: Wm. Neel; Pounding Mill to
forks of road near Liberty: Charles
McGuire; Witten's Valley: Peery Mc
Ncel; Porks Fincastle Road to Cedar
Biiiff: Henry Ascue; Gray's Branch:
Henry Hooker; Pounding Mill up
river to district line: W. B. Steele;
Smith's Ridge: J. W. Benvers; Bap?
tist Valley: Wm. Bandy; McGuire's
Valley and Lick Branch: S. F. Alli?
son; Forks of road at Scales to Bap?
tist Valley: D. P. Earl; Busthead to
mouth of Laurel: H. G. West;
Mouth of Laurel to Young Brothers'
store: J. M. Lambert; Young Bros',
store through Sinking Waters Vul
ley to district lines J- A. Vernon;
Young Brothers' store up Indian: F.
M. Elswickj Whitaker'a Ridge: John
Bandy; Bearwallow Ridge: J. H. Ris?
wick; Laurel Creek: I/. D. Hankins;
Mouth of Laurel down Indian: T. H.
Wheeler; Middle Creek: J. K. Brown;
Cedar Bluff to Richlands (old road)
Win. Wilson; Big Creek: B. V. Els
wick; Burke Ridge: W. L. C. Burke;
Richlands to Raven: R. W. Shrove;
Roil Root Ridge: Drewry Smith;
Road Ridge: Pant Klswick; Raven to
Mill Creek: Ceo. W. McCall; Mc
Glothlln Valley: C. M. Horton.
Arrangements Committees.
Clear Fork?G. J. Hale, Robert
Moss and McTeer Saunders.
Jeffersonvillc?D. IL Daniela, C.
F. Kitts and Joe Cregar.
Maiden Spring?D, C. Lowe, W. J.
Gillespie and 0. H. Harns.
To Solicit Knuds.
clear Fork?H. S. Bowen, J. F.
Dudley and John 1'. Goso.
Jcffcrsonville- L. A. Tynos, II. G.
Peory and W. Archie Thompson.
Maiden Spring?W. B. F. White.
Chapman Poory and S. J, Thompson.
Ladies' Committees.
Clear Cork MosdnmOB Henry S.
Bowen, Vide A. Burgess, T. J. Shuf
flobargor and Mollio Harrisson.
Jeffersonville?Mosdames D, W.
Lynch and Lena Hall and Miss Mary
Turk.
Maiden Spring Mesilames Joe C.
Bowen, Goorgo li. McCull and R. K.
Gillespio.
A I'h .e. mi Visitor.
Mrs. B. E. Gard, of St. Joseph,
Mo., returning to her home from nn
extended trip through the south,
dropped off at TnZOWoll, and spent a
week aa the guest of Mrs. J, A.
Leslie, leaving yesterday for St.
Louis and other points, onrouto home.
Mrs. Gard is the widow of the late
Professor Gard, president, for 20
years of the St. Joseph Business Uni?
versity. At Iiis death, two years ago,
hi son, a teacher in the university,
was made president, which position
he now holds. Mrs. Gard, his ninth
or, is secretary ami treasurer. .Sin
is u lady of culture, and prominent
in many departments of church work
in her home city, and enthusiastIc
Baptist in religion ami a Republican
in politics.
Mrs. Gard was pleased with her
visit to Tazewell. The beautiful
green hills and blue mountains and
all delighted her, on this, her first
visit to Virginia. She greatly ap?
preciated the attention shown her
while here by the ladies of tho town,
many of whom called to see her; ami
the shortness of her visit is regret?
ted on all sides.
Items From Tiptop.
Tiptop, Va., May 12th.
Mrs. Fannie Catron, wife of Freel
Catron, near Tiptop, is seriously ill
of rheumatism at this time. Mr. Ca?
tron himself is sick, and hardly able
to be- about or wait on his sick wife.
Mr. John Rye, nn old Confederate
soldier, is desperately ill at his homo
near the Gum Spring, on Mud Cork.
He is over eighty years old, and his
recovery is thought to he impossible.
His son, William, has been with
him for severnl dnys, but returned
to his own home this morning. He
says his father has been unable to
take any nourishment! for several
days, and is gradually weakening.
Farmers are terribly busy at this
time trying to get corn plnnted. The
prospects aro fine for a good crop of
wheat and also of fruit. If we miss
thin year, a lot of us will fuel liko
leaving Tazewell.
News of Cove Creek.
Cove Creek, Va., May 11th.
Mrs. Gcncvn Steele entertained n
number of her lady friends at a quilt
in on last Friday. All report an en?
joyable time.
Mr. Noah Cowell, who has been
visiting nt Mr. B. P. Stevens' for
severnl weeks, returned home Satur?
day.
Mr. Hormon Shufflebarger, of
Wolf Creek, was visiting friends and
relatives nt this place Saturday and
Sunday.
Mr. Howard Stowcrs, who has
been in Bland county for the past
month, returned to his home in St.
Joseph, Mo., Thursday.
Miss Lizzie Compton and brother,
Will, visited relatives nnd friends on
Laurel Fork Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Dave Fox, of Shawver Mill,
visited friends at Sunny Point, in
Blund county, Sunday.
The Sundny school at Mt. Ncbo is
progressing nicely. Prayer meeting
and singing every second amj fourth
Sunday evenings nt the church.
Miss Bessie Steele spent Suturday
and Sunday with her cousins,. tho
Misses Fox.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. A.
S. Shannon was very ill the latter
part of last week. He is some bet?
ter, however, at this time.
RICHLANDS LOTS.
A number of lots, adjoining, in the
town of Richlands, for sale, or rent
for gardening. Write Clinch Valley
I News, Tazewell, V*
$1 per Year
ell County
ONE SURE WAY OF
GETTING THE ROADS
Dry Fork People Pitch in and
Make the Dirt Ply?Plans are
Made for Another Day.
Ceilnr Bluff, Va., May 1 Ith.
The people of this community had
set aside Saturday, May 9th, as a
day for every man in the community
to work the roads free. It happened
to be raining Saturday morning, nnd
consequently, no one came out ex?
cept C. G. Poo, (!. J. Lambert and A.
R, Beavers and the men who work
for them, whose names follow: Da?
vid Graybeal, Noah Asbury, three
POO boys, ('. J, Lambert, J, M. Hooth,
Hoy Bogle, Kd Lambert, jr., Tom
Haitians, colored, Otis Smith and
two sons of A. R, Heavers', Ilarmnn
and ROBS, jr.
Ili-avers, Poo and Lambert all had
their teams, which are as good as
any farmers' in the county, and each
man tried to sen if his team couldn't
handle the scraper a little faster
and better than the other man's team.
Poe, Lambert and Boovora were each
armed with u pick mid shovel, nnd
it was a sight to see the dirt lly.
About four-thirty they were all
hungry, dirty and tired, when Mrs.
A. R. Heavers came riding up with
a large basket of ham, eggs, pies
und cakes. It took us about fifteen
minutes to empty the basket, as all
Seemed to have a good appetite. All
were now refreshed and anxious for
work, nml we did not stop until
someone said il was seven-fifteen.
('. (!. Poe then told the crowd an old
fnshionod yarn, which provoked a
hearty laugh from everyone, and
aided digestion for supper. Three
hundred nnd thirty-six foot of as
good graded and well drained road
as I la-re is to be found anywhere hud
been built, and it did not coat tho
county one cent either, except tho
use of the tools.
The good ladies of the neighbor?
hood have promised free dinner to
all who will work another day on
the roods, ami we have chosen Mon?
day the trlth day of May, on which
to again engage in thin good work.
The people of l)iy Pork are always
in for anything that will help build
up the county nnd community in
which they live, and in this wo aro
setting mi example that should bo
followed by the rest of the county,
from one end lo the oilier.
Tho people met Sunday, the 10th,
at mouth of |ii\ ('red. and organ?
ized n Sunday school, with an en?
rollment, of forty-four members, nnd
this will be doubled in a ahort time.
W. H. Monk, of Sayersville, ia tho
superintendent; nnd wo anticipate
building u new church at mouth of
Dix Creek this fall
Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Reavora and
family attended tho organization of
tho Sunday school at mouth of Dix
Creek Sunday; as did also Miss Clara
and Edward Lambert.
G. J. Lambert has purchased a
handsome new buggy, and ho and
Mrs. Lambert were "trying it out"
over the good roads in this commu?
nity Sunday.
A Good Roads Man.
Geo. W. Gillespie Better.
Mr. Ceorgo W. Cillespiu, president
of tho Tazewell National Bank, was
Uiken suddenly ill at his home hero
Monday night, and for several hours
his family was very apprehensive
of his condition. Ho was removed
early Tuesday morning to the Gil?
lespie sanitorium, and Dr. W. H. St.
Clair, of Bluefield, summoned in con?
sultation with Dr. R. B. Gillespie.
It was feared that an operation
would be necessary to relievo him,
but he responded lo trcntment, and
soon rallied from the effects of opi?
ates that had been administered to
relieve his suffering, He is now im?
proving, and it Is believed will re?
cover rapidly.
Graham Local Mention.
Grnham, Vn., May 13th.
The little five months old child of
John Warden had a needle two
inches long removed from its body
one day last week. In 1892, Dr.
Crockett removed one from the leg
of Robert Mahood, then a year old.
How or whero they had entered tho
body no one knows.
Mr. Tobe Neel was injured con?
siderably at the saw mill last week
by a log rolling on him. Nothing
serious, however.
Mr. Ralston, of the Key's Planing
Mill, was at Richlands on business
Tuesday.
Wm. Baugh has about completed
the Barger homo, which was recently
destroyed by fire.
James Dudley, C. J. Hale and oth?
ers from Graham attended the road
meeting at Tazewcll on Tuesday. A
number of lower Clear Fork people
were also there, and came away dis
| appointed that no steps were taken
to complete the road across tho
1 mountain to this place,
