Tazewell County, Virginia, Newspaper Articles: Clinch Valley News--October 14, 1921 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Michelle Burress http://www.cvnotes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 14, 1921 Pocahontas in the olden days - For several years in the distant part this section was terrorized by two outlaws, or horse thieves. They committed various acts of thievery and lawlessness, ravaging the country and causing much fear and indignation among the citizens especially during the civil war when so many of the men were away from home. They caused William REED to move his home on Laural over into Abb's Valley. The enraged citizens finally decided to put a stop to it at all hazards and by shrewd and united effort caught the villains. Near the site of the present Coaldale Tunnel strong men bent over some good sized saplings, tied their victims with a strong rope around the neck, tied the other end of the rope to the saplings and let them fly back with the villains hanging by the neck. There are two graves on the St. Clair place near Pocahontas, and there is a sort of tradition that these are the graves of the horse thieves, but this may not be true. Others say that one of the men was a federal officer. Out beyond the machine shops near Pocahontas are "Peeled Chestnuts" a familiar name to one who has ever spent much time in this section, but it may not be generally known that the indians are responsible for the name. It is said on good authority that they used the peeled chestnuts as a sign or guide to them in their travels through this section to and from points in Ohio. Their trail led from some point southwest of here, possibly in Pulaski County on up New River, via Bluefield, Graham, Falls Mills, the lower end of Abbs Valley and out by Peeled Chestnuts. This section was termed by them "The valley of sweet waters" on account of the delightful water, Chilicote was their rendezvous in Ohio. The well known Pinnacle Rock contains some of the Indian hieroglyphics. The above information is vouched for by Col. James S. BROWNING, who came to this section from Richmond on February 28, 1865, moving to Mrs. BROWNING's farm in Abb's Valley. He had graduated at Emory & Henry College in the class of 1876, entering the le gal profession after graduation. For a few years before coming to Pocahontas he had been private secretary to Governor Cameron. The discovery of the rich coal deposits on Mrs. BROWNING'S land led him later on to discontinue the practice of law in Pocahontas and develop in coal. In this business attempt he was successful, although somewhat overshadowed by his powerful rival, the Southwest Virginia improvement Company. some of the varied experiences would form an interesting story. The Colonel was an inveterate "scrapper" in the legal sense of the term and according to the opinion of his best friends was hardly satisfied unless he was in some legal battle. The writer and many others remember some of his scraps with Logan BULLITT, President of the S.W. Va. Improvement Company and the Pocahontas Light and Water Company. Colonel BROWNING bought from Mr. Alex ST. CLAIR the farm on the North side of his wife's farm in Abb's Valley, on which was the Abb's Valley Spring, which supplied the town of Pocahontas with water. In one of his scraps with Mr. BULLIT, col. BROWNING had his men to cut the pipe line which supplied the town with water, and also the works of the big coal company. Quite a serious predicament for all concerned but it was more or less an act of good humor on the part of the Colonel to show the company that they could not put anything, over on him. The pipe line ran through his land and he claimed that the had a right to cut the water off. Just how matters were settled I do no remembered at this time. Another incident is recalled of an exciting incident that occurred the day when the court house bell rang loudly, which usually attracted a crowd under ordinary circumstances but this time who should the officers and detectives have in charge but President Logan BULLITT, wanding their way with him to the same place where all prisoners had to go. If my recollection is correct President BULLITT retaliated when the water pipes were cut, by putting a force of men to work tearing up the railroad track to the Brown ing mines. Col. BROWNING started at the head of the trouble by having Mr. BULLITT arrested. When he was brought before the court under an escort of detectives and policemen and the hearing had proceeded a distance a disturbance or a near disturbance arose and pistols were drawn in an instant. At this the crowd scattered like rats with one exception. A gentleman who is now a leading professional man in the town jumped to the top of a big iron safe to see the fun, standing on top of the safe in the midst of the excitement over the pistol exhibition, Mr. BULLITT was admitted to bail, and the company and Col. BROWNING settled their difficulties afterwards. Mrs. H.L. BUSTON, of Tazewell and her brother, Garland LOWDER, of Coopers, West Virginia, have recently returned from a visit to their sister, Mrs. George W. FOX in East Tennessee, at White Pine, near Morristown. That they had a most pleasant visit is evidenced by the fact that they are looking forward to next year when they can visit that favored section again. Mrs. FOX'S husband, the Rev. George W. FOX has a fine church at White Pine, and thinks Tennessee is graciously smiled upon by the Almighty in many ways. He even goes so far as to say that it surpasses Virginia. Mrs. BUSTON was specially impressed with the progress made in Tennessee, and the enterprise and push of the people. Near White Pine, for instance, there is a cheese factory that makes the finest of cheese, the product for the factory being furnished by the coal dairymen. White Pine is only ten miles from Morristown, where the family of Al LITZ live on a fine farm, and Brother Ned WILEY has charge of the fine church in that town, where the conference recently met. The Methodist conference at Morristown, Tenn., has made the following appointments for the Tazewell district: Presiding Elder, H.E. KELSO; Belfast - W.D. LARROWE; Boissevane - Josephus HENBY; Burkes Garden and Tazewell - A.S. ULM; Carbo Mission - Edgar HURT (sub); Castlewood and Dante - J.M. PAXTON; Cedar Bluff - S.D. LAMBERT; Clintwood - L.D. OWEN; Coaldan Mission - J.N. GRAHAM (supply); Council Mission - R.J. WAMPLER (supply); Dickenson Circuit - A.M. QUAILS; Buchanan Mission - A.V. RUDY (supply Harvey HENSHEW, Jr. P. (sup); Graham Stat - H.B. BROWN; Graham Circuit - Walter HODGE; Grundy Mission - J.E. GRAHAM (sup); Honaker Mission - W.H. WALKER; Lebanon circuit - J.T. GUY; Maxwell Circuit - W.R. CARBAUGH; Pocahontas Station - C.R. JONES; Richlands Station - W.A. MCKEE; Rocky Gap Circuit - J.D. SPITZER (Sup); Tazewell Station - G.L. LAMBERT; C.R. BROWN, Superannuary; West Graham Mission - E.H. COLE; Whitewood Mission - B.C. WISE (suppl); Wilder Mission - J.L. SCOTT; St. Paul Station - J.A. EARLY. LOCAL NEWS ------------------------------ C.B. LINKOUS, of Graham, was a business visitor to Tazewell Tuesday. Albert MCCALL, War, West Virginia was visiting his mother here Sunday. Miss Grace JOHNSON, who is teaching school at Filbert, West Virginia, was visiting her mother, Mrs. D.R. JOHNSON, here last weekend. Mr. G.W. DOAK, who has been seriously ill for several weeks, was reported better Thursday evening. D.W. LYNCH is reported better. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter THOMPSON, a fine girl. Mr. and Mrs. W.G. KISER, Dante, Virginia, are visiting their parents here, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. KISER, and Mr. and Mrs. George W. LEWIS. Mr. W.E. HILT and Mr. C.W. ASBURY, of Tannersville, were here Tuesday on business. Mr. ASBURY has a son at Washington & Lee who belongs to the football team and in practice last week he broke a bone in one of his legs. He is getting on well, making a rapid recovery. Miss Georgie PEERY, daughter of James E. PEERY, left Monday for Elizabeth College, at Salem. Graham PRESTON, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry PRESTON of this town, has been signally honored at the University of Virginia by being offered the position of instructor in railroad engineering, but has declined the position on account of duties connected with his studies. Preston is making a reputation as a student at the old school. Mrs. W.A. SCOTT is in Pulaski this week as the representative of the Tazewell Womans Club at a district meeting being held there. Mrs. George W. ST. CLAIR, custodian of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for Virginia, and Miss Lyde TYNES are in Richmond this week attending a meeting of the Daughters. Mrs. Barnes GILLESPIE and Mrs. Henry PEERY were delegated to attend the Tazewell Chapter, but could not do so and Miss TYNES went as alternate. Captain J.D. ALEXANDER passed his 80th mile stone last Thursday, and pleasing to his friends is the fact that he is hale and hearty - Lebanon News. On Saturday, October 15th, 1921, at the home of the late S.C. PEERY, at 10 o'clock a.m., I will offer for sale at public auction, for cash, the following property belonging to the estate of S.C. PEERY, deceased, viz: 1 two horse wagon, 1 mowing machine, 1 disc harrow, 1 buggy, 1 hillside plow, 1 turning plow, 1 corn planter, 1 hay rake, 2 hogs (borrows), 2 ewes, 1 mare and suckling colt, 1 yearling colt, 2 milk cows, 3 haystacks, lot of foddler, feed in barn, 2 sets of harness. Nellie G. PEERY, Adm'x. Mrs. P.F. WITTEN, sister to Mr. W.L. PAINTER, Mrs. A.D. GERBRILK and Miss Mary PAINTER, all of Pearisburg, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. W.L. PAINTER. Mr. and Mrs. C.B. NEEL and their daughter, Miss Virginia, former citizens of Richlands, now living in Bluefield, were here last Friday attending the burial of James F. HURT. It was reported here recently that since Mr. NEEL has retired from the coal business he had entered the oil stock field. When he was advised of this report he vehemently denied it and threatened to fight. Mr. and Mrs. W.E. KISER, of War, passed through town Sunday enroute to Graham to visit relatives.