The History of Bland County was compiled in 1961 and published to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of the formation of Bland County. Largely comprised of interesting anecdotes concerning early settlers, it is one of the most valuable secondary source available for researchers of Bland County Virginia ancestry. Free to read and download.
In “History of Bland County,” published by the Bland County Centennial Corporation in 1961, readers are invited to embark on a comprehensive journey through the rich tapestry of Bland County, Virginia’s past. This meticulously written manuscript offers an in-depth exploration of the county’s evolution from its earliest days of settlement to the mid-20th century. The opening chapters delve into the era of the white man’s arrival, highlighting significant events such as the Indian Massacre at Drapers Valley, the captivating story of Mrs. Mary Ingles’ capture and escape, and the pioneering spirit of the county’s first European settlers. Through narratives of hardship, resilience, and community building, these sections paint a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs faced by early inhabitants.
Subsequent chapters chronicle the development of Bland County through the lens of its people, land, and culture. The detailed accounts of early explorations, pioneering families, and old homesteads offer readers a glimpse into the lives of those who shaped the county’s destiny. Fascinating stories of families such as the Justices, the Wilsons, and the Neels, among others, provide a personal connection to the past, revealing the social fabric and familial lineages that have contributed to the county’s heritage.
The narrative continues with an exploration of Bland County’s civic and social institutions, including its churches, schools, and medical practitioners, highlighting the community’s growth and its commitment to education, healthcare, and spiritual life. The manuscript also pays homage to the county’s military history, detailing its participation in conflicts from the Civil War through to World Wars I and II, and honoring the valor and sacrifice of its veterans.
Further, the book addresses the economic and infrastructural development of Bland County, examining its agricultural history, the establishment of banks, the evolution of transportation and communication networks, and the impact of civic and fraternal organizations on the community’s progress. Each of these aspects is meticulously researched, providing a comprehensive overview of the county’s advancements over the years.
Table of Contents Chapter I Title Page # The Coming of the White Man 11 The Indian Massacre at Drapers Valley and Capture of Mrs. Mary Ingles 12 Excerpts from History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia 20 Bettie Draper — Ransomed by Husband 24 First Settlements West of the New River 25 George Ingles Ransomed by Father 25 The Life and Adventures of Wilburn Waters 28 Captivity of the Davidson Family 31 The Capture and Escape of Jennie Wiley 33 The Massacre of the Sluss Family 53 John Goolman Davidson 56
Chapter II Title Page # Early Explorations — Walkers Creek and Walkers Mountain 61 Christopher Gist 63 Joseph Hicks 64 Phillip Gose 66 Thomas Witten 66 Samuel Shannon — Thomas Shannon 67 Betsy Davis — Daughter of James Burke, First Settler 67 Land Grants and Surveys 70 Early Pioneer Trails and Routes 71 Dress, Furniture and Customs of Bland County 74
Chapter III Title Page # Families and Old Homesteads 81 Robinett History 82 The Justices 82 The Wilson Family 83 The Neels 84 The Walkers 84 Green Meadows 85 Holly Brook 86 The Dunns 87 The Muncys 88 The Bruces 89 The Townley Family 91 The Groseclose Family 92 The Spangler Family 95 Finley Family and Land Warrant 95 Ambrose Grayson Homestead 96 The Newberry Family 97 Henley Chapman Newberry 103 Albert Lake Newberry 104 The Hudsons 104 Mountain Glen 105 Munsey Family History 107 The Davidsons 108 The Allens 109 The Will Davidson – Wright Thompson Home 112 Rev. Adam Quinn Harman 114 The Stowers Family 115 Mustard Family History 116 James Wayne Grayson and Emily Steel Grayson 118 The Crabtrees 119 Crabtree Home 120 The McNeil Family 120 The Frenches 121 The Staffords 122 Colonel John Compton Home at Holly Brook 122 The W. J. Bruce Home 123 The Bane Home 124 The J. M. Scott Home 125 Morgan House 126 The Wessendonck House 126 The Raymond Repass House 127 The John Kinser Home 128 The Morehead Family 129 Bird Family 130 The D. Woodrow Bird Residence 131 Mrs. J. S. Ashworth’s Residence 132 The Tickle Family 132 The Hornbargers 133 The Sallie Honaker Home 133 The Powers Family 134 Allen Taylor Newberry Home 136 The Updykes 136 Early Settlers of Dry Fork 138 The Harman History 139 William Neal Harman 142 Capt. Isaac Hudson 144 Capt. H. C. Groseclose 144 Alexander Suiter 145 Fulton Kegley 146 Judge Martin Williams 147 Ballard Preston Brown 148 William Lockhart Yost 149 Rev. A. A. Ashworth 149 Major Elias Repass 150 Samuel H. Bernard 151 Rev. James T. Taylor 151 Robt. N. French 152 Judge Samuel W. Williams 153 Berkley Dodd 154 William W. Compton 155 John Crowe Shannon 156 Hon. John A. Davidson 156 James Thompson 157 Thomas Wohlford 158 J. Newton Johnston 159 Henry G. Hicks 159 John Hoge Thompson 160 Charles Peery Muncy, Sr. 161 Thomas Jackson Muncy 162 John Wm. Shufflebarger 163 Raymond Clinton Repass 164 A. N. Thompson 164 John A. Barnitz 165 John Burton 166 W. A. Newberry 167 Gilbert Raymond Repass 168
Chapter IV Title Page # Doctors of Bland County 171 Dr. Stephen A. Repass 172 Dr. William Groseclose 173 Dr. John H. Hoge 174 Dr. William Edward Hoge 175 Dr. William M. Bishop 177 Dr. Lorenzo John Miller 178 Dr. Mitchell Kegley 179 Dr. A. J. Nye 179 Dr. Daniel Alexander Miller 180 Dr. James Washington Harman 181 Dr. Jacob Adam Wagner 182 Dr. Jasper Newton Walker 185 Dr. Andrew Bane Woolwine 187 Dr. James Joseph Davidson 189 Dr. George Barnard Kegley 190 Dr. James Lovell Muncy 191 Dr. Orrin King Phlegar 192 Dr. James Franklin Repass 193 Dr. P. P. Hayes 194 Dr. James Harvey Bogle 194 Dr. James H. Hare 194 Dr. James M. Hamilton 194 Dr. Albert Sibold 195 Dr. James Moore 195 Dr. Thomas Jefferson Hughes 195 Dr. Wilbur Hale 195 Dr. Fred Thomas Hoosier 196 Dr. P. P. Ferraraccio 196 Dr. James Lovell 196 Dr. Zeb Vance Sherrill 196 Dr. Robert F. Gillespie 196 Dr. Harry Steinberg 197 Dr. Karl E. Weier 197 Dr. S. C. Warner 197 Dr. L. W. Bryan 197 Dr. E. A. Holmes 197 Dr. Wilmer Johnson 198 Dr. James E. Tarter 198 Dr. John Chandler Darst 198 Dr. Heath A. Dalton 199 Dr. Cary D. Allen 199 Dr. Miller Shannon Allen 199 Dr. Andrew Muncy Groseclose 199 Dentists of Bland County 200 Walter Robert Dillow, Jr., D.D.S. 201 William C. Berry, D.D.S. 201
Chapter V Title Page # Birth of Bland County 203 Bland County Named for Revolutionary Patriot, Richard E. Bland 211 James Alexander Seddon 212 Organizational Meeting of County Officials, Aug. 15, 1861 213 Pleas Before the County Court of Bland, Sept. 12, 1861 214 Court House 214 County Jail 217 Bland County Officials, 1861-1961 218 Residents of Bland County in the House of Delegates 224 Residents of Bland County in the Senate 225 George Thomas Bird 225 D. Woodrow Bird 226 Governing Board — Welfare Dept. 226
Chapter VI Title Page # Towns and Villages 235
Chapter VII Title Page # Bland County and The Civil War 249 Molly Tynes, the Heroine of the Battle of Wytheville 254 Toland’s Raid 255 Communications Between Wives and Their Confederate Husbands 259 Rosters of Confederate Soldiers from Bland County 264 Listing of Civil War Soldiers and Companies 275 Interesting Incidents of the Civil War 277 Last Surviving Bland County Spanish American War Veteran 278 Deceased Veterans of World War I and II 279
Chapter VIII Title Page # Churches and Ministers of Bland County 283 Byrnes Chapel 285 Deeds for Churches 286 Methodist Churches in the Bland Area 289 Background of Churches of Ceres 294 Nebo Church History 301 Pine Grove Church 304 Rocky Gap Methodist 304 Mechanicsburg Christian Church 306 Hornbarger Chapel 307 Church of God 309 St. Mathews Lutheran Church 309 Sharon Presbyterian Church 311 Kimberlin Presbyterian Church 314 Bland Presbyterian Church 316 Leyburn Presbyterian Church 317 The Blue Grass Trail Larger Parish 320 Negro Churches 321 Ministers – Robert Sawyers Sheffey 323 Dr. William Elbert Munsey 325 Rev. Jacob Smith 328 Rev. Robert L. Newberry 329 James Edward Bruce 330 Erastus Harris Bogle 331 Margaret Geneva Morris 333
Chapter IX Title Page # Schools 335 Establishment of Public Schools 338 A Bland Native Recalls School Days 347 James Samuel Ashworth 349 George W. Penley 350 Timothy Elijah Mitchell 350 James Thomas Dunn 351 R. Lee Millirons 352 Marion Radford 352 Mark Hager 353 Miss Naomi and Effie Wagner 353 Mrs. W. S. Waddell 354 Haynes Hoge Bruce 355 Teachers Institute 356 Mechanicsburg District Schools 356 Lower Little Creek Schools 358 Crandon Community Schools 359 Hollybrook Area Schools 360 Point Pleasant and Walkers Creek Schools 364 Bogle School 365 Point Pleasant Academy 365 Valley View School 366 The Slide School 366 Rocky Gap District Schools 367 Rocky Gap Schools 369 Lower Wolf Creek Schools 370 Upper Wolf Creek Schools 370 Clear Fork Valley School 371 Dry Fork Valley School 371 Schools in the Hicksville Community 372 Seddon District Schools 374 Little Creek’s-Davis School 377 Hunting Camp Valley Schools 377 Bastian School 378 Sharon District Schools and Ceres Sharon College School 381 Ceres High School 382 Enrollment Bland County Schools 383 County School Teachers 1871-1910 384 Schools in Operation in 1960-61 385 Bland County School Directory 1960-61 388 Bland County School Board 390
Chapter X Title Page # The Banks of Bland County 393 Bank of Mechanicsburg 395 The Bank of Rocky Gap 396 Eulogy to John R. Stafford 398 History of Postal Service in Bland County 399
Chapter XI Title Page # 1861 — Bland County Roads — 1961 403 History of the New River-Holston and Western Railroad Company 406
Chapter XII Title Page # Early Telephones in Bland County 409 Newspaper in Bland County (1872-1961) 412
Chapter XIII Title Page # Bland County Agriculture History 417 The County Agricultural Extension Service Program 421 Home Demonstration Clubs 423 Agricultural Adjustment and Conservation Program 425 Skyline Soil Conservation District 426
Chapter XIV Title Page # Civic Clubs and Fraternal Organizations 427 Masonic Lodges 427 Henry C. Groseclose and the F. F. A. in Bland County 428 Twenty-Two Years of Progress with the F. F. A. in Bland County 438 Kiwanis 442 Ruritan 443 Bland County Fair Association, Inc. 444 American Legion Post No. 20 445 Veterans of Foreign Wars 447 Eastern Star 447 Fire Departments 448
Chapter XV Title Page # Miscellaneous History of Bland County 449 The Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1388 P-53-Va., Bastian, Va. 451 Bland Correctional Farm 454 Aunt Emma Clay 455 Griffin Page 456 Jimmie Surat 457 Contents History of Bland County 459
Source Bland County Centennial Corporation, History of Bland County , Bland County Va.: Bland County Centennial Corporation, 1961.
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