We, the members of the Wise County Historical Society, would like to take this opportunity to offer a tribute to our first president, Dorothy Hall Witt. Without her foresight and perseverance the Historical Society of Wise County would not exist today.
Dorothy Hall Witt our distinguished first president and charter member of the Wise County Historical Society was instrumental in the compiling and publishing of The Heritage of Wise County and The City of Norton, Volume 1 and 2, among other publications. She was also instrumental in the establishing of the Wise County Historical Society. She served as the President of the Historical Society the first years of its establishment.
While helping on the Lee County Book Committee in the creating of the Bicentennial History of Lee County Virginia published in 1991, Dorothy felt the need for the same in Wise County, and was instrumental in forming a group of Wise County historians who published their own Heritage of Wise County and the City of Norton Volume 1 in 1993. She was Chairman of the Book Committee and was elected President of the Wise County Historical Society when it was organized.
For the past 8 years Dorothy has served as recording secretaryfor the Wise County Historical Society and has worked a day or two a week at the office in the courthouse. She also is the editor of the Aging Gracefully segment of the Appalachian Quarterly published by Wise County Historical Society. She along with her friend and co-worker, Wanda Rose traveled over the county working on volume 1 of Wise County and the City of Norton, and installing lifelines for disabled and theelderly, she became interested in interviewing older people, which was the birth of Aging Gracefully in Appalachia.
Dorothy’s heritage is completely Appalachian as her father was a native of Lee County and her mother was a native of Russell County. Dorothy was born in Norton, grew up in Powell Valley, graduated from East Stone Gap High School, lived in Coeburn for twenty years and has lived in Wise for the past 33 years. She completed several courses at Clinch Valley College in English, Creative writing and Appalachian culture.
Dorothy worked for 14 years for the Department of Social Services, then worked as a medical transcriptionist and secretary at Wise Appalachian Regional Hospital for 19 years, retiring in 1989 to travel and pursue all the volunteer activities in which she was interested.
She has two sons, Hal Addington of Pinckney, Michigan, and Tim Addington of Atlanta, Georgia, and one grand-daughter, April Addington, a sophomore at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Dorothy is married to Harold Witt and they reside in Wise.
Dorothy is a dedicated member, wife, mother, and grandmother. She is good company and has a great sense of humor.
Patricia concentrated her Melungeon research on the medical maladies that are prevalent to this illusive group of people. She and S.J. Arthur were very thorough in their research with the Melungeon Ancestral Medical Task Force working with Clinch Valley College in Wise, Virginia, (now University of Virginia at Wise). Patricia was the proud owner of a Levant Waist Sash that had been in her family for 400 plus years- the origin of which is said to be-aTurkish Soldier in the mid to late 1400’s.
In Memory of Patricia Hopkins Baldwin
29 December 1057 – 16 November 2008
Patricia Hopkins Baldwin
Patricia Ann, daughter of Paul W. and Ada Carpenter Hopkins was born in Floyd County, KY and reared in Magoffin County until age 10. Patricia graduated from Barbeton High School, Barberton, Ohio with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psycology and Elementary Education with a minor in History from the University of Akron.
Patricia married Randy Baldwin. She leaves behind, in addition to her husband, a daughter, Francesca, and a son, Brad; and one granddaughter, Abby.
Patricia wrote short stories and poetry, some of which won awards. Patricia belonged to several area historical societies and has been very active in researching diseases. Patricia began, early on, to research her Melungeon ancestors who had migrated from Scott County, VA to Magoffin County, KY. The migration of these ancestors traveled into Southern Ohio-calling themselves the “Carmel Indian.”
Patricia concentrated her Melungeon research on the medical maladies that are prevalent to this illusive group of people. She and S.J. Arthur were very thorough in their research with the Melungeon Ancestral Medical Task Force working with Clinch Valley College in Wise, Virginia, (now University of Virginia at Wise). Patricia was the proud owner of a Levant Waist Sash that had been in her family for 400 plus years- the origin of which is said to be-aTurkish Soldier in the mid to late 1400’s.
Patricia served the Appalachian quarterly as Melungeon Editor since 1997 and later contributing editor from Kentucky.
We will miss you Patricia.
(Published in The Appalachian – Volume 14 No. 1 -April 2009)
Family Reunions, after the passing of her mother, inspired Fannie to delve further into researching her family history. Her first genealogy book, Country Roads and Lanes, was published in 1991 and five years later in 1996, The Crabtree-Stanley Collection: A Memorial, was in print. These two books cover both her Father and Mother’s families. She is currently working on and is nearing the completion of a book of old time recipes, stories, games, herbs, songs, etc., which will be called, Our Vanishing Heritage. (Can be purchased at Wise Historical Society office)
Fannie Lane Steele
Fannie grew up in the Hurricane section of Wise County and attended school at the old Wise High school. She is married to Letcher Steele and has six living children and one deceased, several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
After raising her family, Fannie decided to better educate herself, so she bought a used typewriter and borrowed a typing book and she was off! She hasn’t stopped since! She has gone through two typewriters, two outdated computers and almost through one purchased new. (This part was written a few years ago and does not apply today)
The love of writing was instilled in Fannie while a child from writing letters for her mother to her older siblings who lived away from home. One of her interests is writing poetry. She has some of her work published in an anthology of Our World’s Best Loved Poems. Shehas received the Golden and Silver poet awards from World of Poetry and was invited to attend their poetry convention in Reno, Nevada. She also has poetry in Blue Mountain Arts that can be found at their electronic greeting card site on the internet.
Family Reunions, after the passing of her mother, inspired Fannie to delve further into researching her family history. Her first genealogy book, Country Roads and Lanes, was published in 1991 and five years later in 1996, The Crabtree-Stanley Collection: A Memorial, was in print. These two books cover both her Father and Mother’s families. She is currently working on and is nearing the completion of a book of old time recipes, stories, games, herbs, songs, etc., which will be called, Our Vanishing Heritage. (Can be purchased at Wise Historical Society office)
Fannie joined the book committee of The Heritage of Wise County and The City of Norton, helping with stories and proof-reading. From the publishing of this book the Wise County Historical Society was formed and Fannie is a charter member. She volunteers at theSociety’s office and is the archivist, keeping a database of all the books and documents that come into the office and filing them in their respective places. Fannie has helped withand authored numerous articles for Heritage I and II, WWII Veteran’s Book and the Apple Blossoms of Yesteryear published by the Historical Society. When the Appalachian Quarterly was initiated, Fannie became the book review editor for On The Bookshelf. She also maintains the Historical Society’s web page.
Aside from the Historical Society some of Fannie’s interests are Church, family gatherings, photography, and making quilts.
Paul is knowledgeable in researching deeds, which are his particular speciality and has helped hundreds of folks coming to Wise County to research their families. In addition to his work in the court records, he has also visited and documented 95% of all the cemeteries in Wise County. If you happen to be in a Wise County Cemetery and meet a tall, thin man, with pencil and paper, that’s Paul. Ask him anything you want and chances are you can’t stump him with a question on Wise County History or its people.
Paul Kilgore
Paul is a charter member of the Historical Society and provided all the information from his personal research on the City of Norton Chapter for Heritage II.
Paul is knowledgeable in researching deeds, which are his particular speciality and has helped hundreds of folks coming to Wise County to research their families.In addition to his work in the court records, he has also visited and documented 95% of all the cemeteries in Wise County. If you happen to be in a Wise County Cemetery and meet a tall, thin man, with pencil and paper, that’s Paul. Ask him anything you want and chances are you can’t stump him with a question on WiseCounty History or its people. Paul keeps the Archives office open on Tuesday Afternoon. Paul and his wife Pat have one son, Paul Jr. and two grandchildren and have lived in Norton for many years. Paul retired from Sears after working for Cohens Department store in Norton for many years.
Paul is now researching and compiling a book on Norton, Virginia.
Rhonda has conducted many seminars on genealogy. Rhonda along with Wanda Rose worked exclusively on Wise County’s World war II Veterans. She assisted with the publication of Heritage of Wise County Volume I and was happily working on Wise County’s Civil War Veterans when her work was interrupted to help complete Heritage Volume II. Rhonda formerly was the Co-Editor and Co-Publisher of The Southwest Virginian, a magazine of history and genealogy.
Rhonda S. Robertson
Rhonda serves as the Editor for The Appalachian Quarterly, the Historical Society magazine which is mailed to 42 states, Australia, Canada and Great Britain. She is the author of various genealogies including The Descendants of William Addington and William Robertson of England and his Descendants. She also has compiled various county records such as marriage, census and death records, to name a few. She has assisted in the publication and preparation of numerous other volumes including Tales from South of the Mountain Volume 1 & 2, (by Elzie “Sock” Mullins) and Mountain Mists and Where The Eagle LIt (by Cossie Mullins, Jr.)
Rhonda has conducted many seminars on genealogy. Rhonda along with Wanda Rose worked exclusively on Wise County’s World war II Veterans. She assisted with the publication of Heritage of Wise County Volume I and was happily working on Wise County’s Civil War Veterans when her work was interrupted to help complete Heritage Volume II. Rhonda formerly was the Co-Editor and Co-Publisher of The Southwest Virginian, a magazine of history and genealogy.
Rhonda has now returned to her work on the upcoming Civil War book, documenting, researching, and typing information on each veteran. She is also working on the Early Settlers series, featuring histories and genealogies of the early settlers in Wise and surrounding counties. Rhonda along with Wanda Rose, Lil Gobble and Fannie Steele are currently involved in photographing and documenting all the stones for people born before 1900 buried in Wise County.
Rhonda is a Wise native, growing up near Wise and then moving to Norton where she has lived for the past 34 years. She is the office manager of Heritage Hall – Big Stone Gap, VA.
Bill’s first publication was William Lawson, A Scottish Rebel, a history of the Lawson and other allied families. His second publication was, School Bells From The Past, bits and pieces of Wise County School history. He is currently working on Volume II of School Bells and a book on Politics in Wise County. He also compiled Our Community Heritage-Banner, Virginia, which is now in its second printing. Bill provided information and articles for Coeburn, Virginia, area history published by the Coeburn Kiwanis Club.
Billy R. Porter
In school, Bill’s favorite subject was history. About three decades ago he started doing local and regional historical research and this led him to become acquainted with the area historians whose tremendous knowledge was a great help.
His first publication was William Lawson, A Scottish Rebel, a history of the Lawson and other allied families. His second publication was, School Bells From The Past, bits and pieces of Wise County School history. He is currently working on Volume II of School Bells and a book on Politics in Wise County. He also compiled Our Community Heritage-Banner, Virginia, which is now in its second printing. Bill provided information and articles for Coeburn, Virginia, area history published by the Coeburn Kiwanis Club.
Bill is a charter member of the Wise County Historical Society and volunteers several days a week to work in the office and bookstore. Bill copies and binds all our books for sale and all donated material for our archives and performs other various chores. He is indeed a valuable member of the Society.
Bill served four years in the Air Force, honorably discharged in 1965 and is married to Diann Perry. They have three children: Richard Porter, Kelly, married Paul Byrant; and Jane who married John Hall, Jr. The Porter family reside in the Banner community near Coeburn, Virginia.
Denver J. “Bud” Osborne is a charter member of the Wise County Historical Society, serves as its Vice-President and has held that position for several years. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Norton serving as Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He is an orchardist who enjoys teaching pruning and grafting of fruit trees. Bud is a member of 40 years with Suthers Lodge #259 in Norton. He is also an avid collector of fountain pens and Indian artifacts.
Denver J. “Bud” Osborne
Denver J. Osborne
Denver J. “Bud” Osborne is a charter member of the Wise County Historical Society, serves as its Vice-President and has held that position for several years. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Norton serving as Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He is an orchardist who enjoys teaching pruning and grafting of fruit trees. Bud is a member of 40 years with Suthers Lodge #259 in Norton. He is also an avid collector of fountain pens and Indian artifacts.
Bud is the compiler of the book, Apple Blossoms of Yesteryear, a history of the apple industry in Wise County. He can be found volunteering in the society’s office on Thursday afternoons. Bud is constantly on the lookout for rare books for our archives and due to his sharp eye for them, the archives is fortunate to have several rare books, photos and documents we otherwise would not have had. Bud refinishes copies of old black & white photographs in full color, stating the subjects were indeed in color at the time the picture was taken, but there was no color film then. He is a man of many talents.
He is married to the former Katherine McCamey of St. Paul. Kathy is a realtor with Century 21 in Wise. They have three children: Penny Osborne who lives in Charlotte, NC; Jackie who lives in Wiseand is married to Ed Withrow, and D.J., Jr. who lives in Santa Cruz, CA and is still single. Jackie and Ed are the parents of Bud and Cathy’s two grandchildren, Edward Denver and Alexander Logan. Bud and Cathy make their home in Wise.
Lillian, also a Wise County native, grew up near Wise and attended Wise High school. Lil is extremely knowledgeable on Wise County Families and genealogy and seldom is there a visitor to the Historical Society whom she cannot help trace their family.
Lillian Hamilton Gobble
Genealogist
Lillian C. Gobble
Lillian, also a Wise County native, grew up near Wise and attended Wise High school. Lil is extremely knowledgeable on Wise County Families and genealogy and seldom is there a visitor to the Historical Society whom she cannot help trace their family.
Lillian and her husband Bill has copied many Marriage and Death records from Wise County Court files and housed them in notebooks for the Historical Society Archives.
Lil is instrumental in locating and erecting stones for Wise County’s Civil War soldiers and spends hours documenting their service and ordering their stones from the Veteran’s Administration.
Lil, along with Rhonda Robertson is currently working on a book of the Wise County Civil War Veterans, our next project. She also serves as chairman of our Cemetery Committee, organized to locate, document and mark the graves of Civil War Soldier and early settlers.
Lillian Volunteers time at the Historical Society office. Her sincere effort in helping with research comes through to the researchers and they never forget her.
Emory L. Hamilton, born April 10, 1913 in Wise County and christened Emory Lee; he was the son of Jessee and Sarah Baldwin Hamilton. His love of history began at the feet of his
parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents listening to stories of his ancestors told around the fireplaces and porches of Wise County. Emory was a descendant of the earliest of pioneer families having settled on the frontiers of Southwest Virginia.
He often told of himself and his younger brother, J. B., studying by candlelight in the loft of their old log house in the community known as Hamilton Town. They poked holes in the daubing in the walls and roof so they could lie in their beds beneath feather ticks and look at the stars glinting in the dark sky. Beautiful as this was there was a drawback, and he laughingly told that in winter the snow would sift down through the openings and softly fall on them, making them keep their heads under the cover all night because they didn’t dare tell their parents what they had done.
Emory L. Hamilton
Emory Hamilton
Memorial Tribute by Rhonda Robertson
Emory L. Hamilton, born April 10, 1913 in Wise County and christened Emory Lee; he was the son of Jessee and Sarah Baldwin Hamilton. His love of history began at the feet of his
parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents listening to stories of his ancestors told around the fireplaces and porches of Wise County. Emory was a descendant of the earliest of pioneer families having settled on the frontiers of Southwest Virginia.
He often told of himself and his younger brother, J. B., studying by candlelight in the loft of their old log house in the community known as Hamilton Town. They poked holes in the daubing in the walls and roof so they could lie in their beds beneath feather ticks and look at the stars glinting in the dark sky. Beautiful as this was there was a drawback, and he laughingly told that in winter the snow would sift down through the openings and softly fall on them, making them keep their heads under the cover all night because they didn’t dare tell their parents what they had done.
When Emory graduated from high school there weren’t many opportunities for young men in Wise County so he traveled to New York to study navigation with the Merchant Marines. It was while living in New York and working on board the Merchant ships that the Depression came and everyone lost their jobs causing his return home to Wise. He worked odd jobs until he applied for and was accepted by the WPA. his assignment was to document and record the early settlements of Wise County. The only problem was that his investigation and recording of these settlements was limited by how far he could walk or with whom he could hitch a ride. The assignment only fueled his love of history and from this work came his manuscripts of Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers, The Early Frontier, Early Settlements and Early Houses. In addition to the hundreds of articles that appeared in various publications ad local newspapers.
After his enjoyable work in the WPA, World War Ii came and Emory enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 14, 1941 at Roanoke, VA and trained as an Administrative Specialist, being promoted to Technical sergeant in the 3539th Base Unit. He transferred on January 23, 1942 to Australia, and then on to the battles and campaigns of New Guinea and the Northern Solomons.
Emory related that it was so hot everyone had to sleep outside at night n hammocks strung between the trees. These hammocks were covered with netting that not only served to keep out the mosquitoes, but he also told that at night, things would fall out of trees onto the netting and roll onto the ground. Those things were snakes! Emory reenlisted in the 309th Army Air Force at Greenville, South Carolina on November 19, 1945 and was discharged from the service on January 11, 1947 in Greenville. He might have made a career out of military service, but he returned to care for his widowed mother.
When Emory returned home he worked for several years in the County Circuit Court Clerk’s office until a position opened in the Wise County Vocational School where he taught sheet metal and drafting until his retirement. Many are the men who took drafting and sheet metal under his tutelage.
Emory was a founding and charter member of the Historical Society of Southwest Virginia and served as its secretary for 30 years before giving up the position due to ill health. Emory answered hundreds of letters and phone calls each month from people searching out their family genealogy and the early history of Southwest Virginia. Had Emory lived to see the beginning of the Wise County Historical Society he would have been one of its most avid supporters and would have been in the office daily to answer questions and help out. He took great enjoyment in helping people in their quest and was a fount of knowledge which is sorely missed and cannot be replaced.
From his love of history came his passion for antiques and he had a most impressive collection of porcelain mustache cups and pattern glass pitchers and creamers. His pitchers and creamers are on display at the lonesome Pine Regional Library.
Along with his keen interest in history and genealogy, he also had a great interest in astronomy and harbored a secret desire to have been an archaeologist.
Emory contracted cancer of he lung, which recurred after a short remission and passed away on November 3, 1991 while hospitalized in Kingsport, Tennessee. He is buried by his mother and father in the Wells Cemetery in Esserville, VA
I Like to think of him like Indiana Jones, in a leather jacket with a battered fedora, turning to doff his hat in goodbye as he prepares to stride off to a new adventure.
Memorial Tribute to Emory Hamilton
by Rhonda Robertson
Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow,
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush,
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am in the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room,
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I do not die.
The Guest River Gorge is one of Wise County’s natural wonders. The Guest River plunges through a canyon carved through Stone Mountain as it flows to join the Clinch River. Rails to trails project that follows an old railroad right of way paralleling the Guest River, a Virginia Scenic River. Trout fishing is permitted in the river, as well as kayacking and canoeing.
During the early 1900’s when timber and coal were being hauled out of the remote areas of Dickenson County, this passage was used as a rail line.
The history of the Gorge shows that millions of years ago the Guest River eroded a passage through Stone Mountain on its way to join the Clinch River. Cutting through massive rock, it opened a deep rock corridor that is a scenic wonder. Many other curiosities exist along the six mile trail, including an old railroad tunnel, bridges using the remaining railroad trestles, waterfalls and rock outcroppings.
Located in the G.W/Jefferson Forest near Coeburn, Virginia.
The Trail was officially dedicated [intlink id=”251″ type=”post”] [/intlink] in 1994, after the N-S Railroad had abandoned the railbed and donated the land to the Forest Service. The railway had originally hauled coal. Coal and saltpeter were mined near the gorge – coal for heating and smelting, and saltpeter for gunpowder manufacturing.
Native Americans occupied areas in and around the gorge for hunting, fishing and implement making from about 9000BC to the mid18th century.
The Forest Service manages the Guest River Gorge area as a Special Area. The 5.3 mile section of the Guest River is designated as a State Scenic River.
Bicyclists, hikers and runners are invited to use the trail. Along your walk, there are numbered signposts indicating points we think you’ll find interesting:
Swede Tunnel – constructed in 1922
Cliff line – Rocks in this and the other cliffs are about 300 million years old.
“Big Shot” – This section came to be called “by that name because it took a lot of explosives to get through the cliffline during constructing.
Vista – This is one of several scenic spots on the Guest River Gorge Trail.
The Culvert
Concrete retaining wall
The Guest river-Clinch River Confluence – The rivers join here
Information: The National Forest Service; Clinch Ranger District
Hikers, Fishermen, kayakers, canoeists and bicyclists are invited to the Gorge to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, and the seeming isolation from the rest of the world.
