Lee County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History - Books .....Lee County History From Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe 1845
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Alice Warner http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00015.html#0003503 February 25, 2008, 1:34 am

Book Title: Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe, 1845

Lee (p. 350-351)

[[Please keep in mind this was written in 1845]]

Lee was formed in 1792, from Russell, and named after Henry Lee, Gov. of Va from
1791 to 1794; it lies in the southwestern angle of the state, bordering on
Tennessee and Kentucky. Its greatest length is 75 miles; breadth 10 miles. The
Cumberland mountains run on the Kentucky line, the Powell mountain is on a part
of the SE boundary, and there are several other ridges in the county, known as
Stone, Chesnut, Wallens, &c. Powell's River runs lengthwise through the county
into Tennessee. Much of the land is of a very black, rich soil. The staples are
beef, pork, and horses. The people of this county make their own sugar and
molasses from the maple sugar tree, which grows in great abundance. Pop in 1840,
whites 7829, slaves 580, free colored 32, total 8841.

Jonesville, the county-seat, lies 284 miles from Richmond, 65 from Knoxville,
Tenn., and 60 from Barboursville, Kentucky, on one of the branches of Powell's
River. It stands on a beautiful eminence, in the midst of wild mountain scenery.
It was founded in 1793, and contains a church, 5 stores, and about 40 dwellings.
The following account of a duel which took place in this county in the year
1823, is from a newspaper of the time: 

A remarkable duel took place in Lee county, on Sunday, Dec. 7th, which has been
the subject of much conversation here...... Two negro men, belonging to two
gentlemen, had been smitten by the charms of a sable beauty, and neither being
willing to yield to the other, they determined, like gentlemen, to decide their
pretensions by a duel. The arrangement was accordingly made, and they met in a
distant and retired wood, unattended by seconds, and without the knowledge of
any other person -- each armed with a trusty rifle. Their proceedings appear to
have been conducted with a strict honor, the more remarkable in such case, as it
was exhibited by slaves. The ground was measured off about fifteen paces; the
antagonists took their posts; the word was given by one of them, and both
instantly fell -- one shot through the heart, and the other through the right
breast. The former expired immediately; the latter, with great difficulty and
pain, crawled to a small path not far from the scene of combat; but unable to go
further, he remained by it in the hope that some one would pass and find him. He
lay there, under all the suffering which his wound and exposure inflicted, until
the following Tuesday, before he was found. Depressed and debased as that
unfortunate race is, them above the sphere to which our policy compels us to
confine them. The strict observance of honorable conduct, and the cool,
determined courage of these negroes, afford an example which ought to make some
gentlemen of high condition blush 

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