A Narrative History of
Wise County, Virginia
By Charles A. Johnson
Published 1938, by The Norton Press
428 pages, indexed
Recent reprints of this book are selling for up to $100
Bonus #1 – Henry A. Wise Biography
(Details below)
Bonus #2 – Virginia Counties & Cities Timeline
(Details below)
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Wise County is located in the southwest portion of the state of Virginia. The county was formed In 1856 from land taken from
Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time.
As of 2006, the population was 41,905, making it the largest jurisdiction in terms of population outside of any metropolitan area
in Virginia. It is the home of Mountain Empire Community College and the University of Virginia's College at Wise (originally named
Clinch Valley College).
Its county seat is Wise. Constructed in the town of Wise in 1896, the present day County Courthouse is the third. The first one was burned by Union troops
in 1863, and not rebuilt until 1876. New wings were added to the current structure in 1926 and 1980.
Wise County families experienced more World War II military deaths than all except two Virginia counties.
The county includes Norton, the smallest city in Virginia, and the towns of Wise, Pound, Coeburn Appalachia, Big Stone Gap and St. Paul.
Other communities include Addington, Almira, Andover, Arno, Banner, Beamantown, Big Laurel, Blackwood, Bondtown, Burtons Ford, Cadet, Carfax, Crab Orchard, Cracker
Neck, Cranes Nest, Derby, Dewey, Dixiana, Dooley, Dorchester, Dorchester Junction, Dry Fork, Dunbar, Dwina, East Stone Gap, Esserville, Exeter, Flat Gap, Flatwoods,
Gilley, Glamorgan, Haddonfield, Harper, Hurricane, Imboden, Inman, Irondale, Josephine, Kent Junction, Laurel, Laurel Grove, Linden, Lipps, Lower Exeter, Lyons, Maytown,
Meade, Needmore, Oreton, Osaka, Pardee, Phipps, Riverview, Roda, Round Top, Roundstone, Stephens, Stonega, Sutherland, Tacoma,Toms Creek, Vicco, and Virginia City.
Author Charles A. Johnson was associated with the office of the Clerk of Court in Wise County for some forty years. He assembled
material about early Wise County history, and consulted with people who were present when Wise County was formed. There was a large
gathering on the first session of court in 1856. Johnson describes some events of that day:
"On a mossy boulder west of the little courthouse were a younger set, eating, drinking and making merry, to the tune of 'Sourwood
Mountain' ringing from an old fiddler's violin…Out near the spring old time hoedown dancing to the tune of 'Shortnin' Bread,'
rattling off from the catgut strings of a homemade banjo…"
Wise County Narrative History
Table of Contents
Front matter
Title page
Dedication
Picture acknowledgements
First edition subscribers
Table of Contents
Introduction
Greetings
Chapter I. Birth of the county
Chapter II. The big day
Chapter III. Organizing the county
Chapter IV. The first tragedy
Chapter V. First courthouse; demands for roads
Chapter VI. Road working in 1856
Chapter VII. The first county jail
Chapter VIII. Early Wise County post offices
Chapter IX. Elections in 1856
Chapter X. School system in 1856
Chapter XI. The county's first highway
Chapter XII. Wise County, instead of Dunn or Roane
Chapter XIII. More post offices
Chapter XIV. Captain Christopher Gist
Chapter XV. The shifting of the Court
Chapter XVI. The black man
Chapter XVII. Court systems existing in 1856
Chapter XVIII. Reminiscences
Chapter XIX. Mother, childhood and home
Chapter XX. The Wise County bar
Chapter XXI. Wise County at the age of four years
Chapter XXII. This and that
Chapter XXIII. Scott County's first public hanging
Chapter XIV. Reminiscences of Mrs. Mattie Q. Ewing
Chapter XXV. Lovers Leap
Chapter XXVI. Swifts Silver Mine
Chapter XXVII. Black without, white within
Chapter XXVIII. Only a willow tree
Chapter XXIX. Sleep walking
Chapter XXX. Out of the old Courthouse, into the new
Chapter XXXI. The Lipps Family
Chapter XXXII. The Pound Massacre
Bonus #1 –
The Life of Henry A. Wise 1806-1876
450 pages, Indexed
By his grandson Barton H. Wise
Published 1899
The youth of Barton Wise was passed in Richmond, Virginia, amid scenes of change and mourning, which could not fail to make a deep impression upon him. His grandfather
Wise, at whose house he was a frequent visitor, was no longer the fiery and impetuous Harry of by-gone days, but the boy knew him as an old and broken man, who, after a stormy
and dramatic career, in which he had gained prominence and honor, had been overtaken by disasters, political and domestic, which had nearly conquered his indomitable spirit.
Yet one strong trait was as prominent in his grandfather's old age as it had been throughout his life, for no man ever more thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of children.
Bonus #2 – Virginia Counties & Cities Timeline
This is a 21 page chart summarizing, in date order, the formation of all 180 Virginia counties now located in the present day states of Virginia, West Virginia and
Kentucky. Also includes information on the 90 independent cities of Virginia.
Begins in 1634 with the eight original shires, continues through 1776 with the first county in present day Kentucky, and 1779 with the first county in present day
West Virginia.
Dickenson was the last new Virginia county, formed 1880. In 1920
Alexandria County was renamed Arlington County.
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