Wise County Historical Society has more than 5000 items in its archives
consisting of books, manuscripts, old marriage record ledgers from the court, pictures, and numerous other sources of help to the researcher. We have researchers from all over the United States visiting throughout the year. You will find a friendly volunteer to help you get started in your family research. Some of the of the items we have are listed in the categories below.
African American books
Area History books and manuscripts
Files of area towns and communities
Genealogy books and manuscripts
Books on Presidents and Generals
Melungeon books
Virginia Courthouses
Native American books
Area Fiction
Books to aid you in your research
Books by local authors
Birth Records-Wise and other Counties
Folklore and Legends
Census Records-Wise,Scott, Russell and other counties
Wanda Rose is a charter member of the Historical Society and was instrumental in the compiling of the Wise County Heritage Book and The City of Norton Volume 1, and was Vice Chairman of the Book committee. She helped compile the book WISE COUNTY, VIRGINIA’S WORLD WAR II VETERANS: A Tribute, which consists of 928 pages, 6000 stories and 3000 pictures. She is now treasurer of the Historical Society, a job which she fills with great dedication.
It can truthfully be said, “Wanda is a gift to the Historical Society.” She can do most anything, and if we need help in solving a problem, Wanda is the one to call upon. You name it, she does it! She serves as our Circulation Manager and maintains our photo archives which was amply used in Heritage volume II. Wanda proof’s our Appalachian Quarterly and oversees the quarterly mailing of the issues to our many subscribers. She takes book orders and mails them out.. She is constantly on the phone, making trips to the post office or bank, and looks out for our financial status.
Wanda was a volunteer at the Wise Appalachian Hospital and was Gift Shop Manager and buyer for 20 years. She, along with Dorothy Witt, installed Lifelines in Wise and Dickenson counties for disabled people. She served as Director of the Arts and Photographer exhibitions for the Virginia-Kentucky Fair for several years. She currently belongs to the Wise Quilt Group which she helped organize.
Wanda is married to Stuart Rose, formerly of Banner, and they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are the parents of three sons: Benjamin of Charlottesville, VA; Joe Fred of Wise and Steven, deceased, of Wise. They have four grandchildren, Penny, Autumn, Patricia “Trish” and Wesley and 1 step-granddaughter, Kate, and five great-grandchildren, Leah, Alexandria, Grayson, Damon, Shane and a step-granddaughter, Anatasia. Wanda and Stuart live in Wise, Virginia.
Wanda is very dependable, has a wonderful personality, and is great company.
The Petition of the undersigned citizens of Russell County, respectfully represents that you petitioners labour under great disadvantages and inconvenience in relation to the exercise of the right of Suffrate; that they or most of them live a considerable distance from any place of holding an election; in fact many of them live between thirty and forty miles from any place where an election is held, and cannot exercise rights conferred on them by the Constitution of our State from the facts as above stated, and from others that might be given. The Prayer of your petitioners is that at the Home of William Robertson Esq. at a place called the Pound Fork of Sandy River in the County of Russell and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray, etc.
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA
Lebanon Russell County, Virginia October 1844
The Petition of the undersigned citizens of Russell County, respectfully represents that you petitioners labour under great disadvantages and inconvenience in relation to the exercise of the right of Suffrate; that they or most of them live a considerable distance from any place of holding an election; in fact many of them live between thirty and forty miles from any place where an election is held, and cannot exercise rights conferred on them by the Constitution of our State from the facts as above stated, and from others that might be given. The Prayer of your petitioners is that at the Home of William Robertson Esq. at a place called the Pound Fork of Sandy River in the County of Russell and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray, etc.
Heritage of Wise County and The City of Norton- 1856-1993 Volume 1 – SOLD OUT
Wise County Historical Society’s First Publication.
515 Pages, including index.
Contents:
The Wise County Historical Society
Formation of Wise County
Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War
Wise County “Technical School, Lonesome Pine Airport
D.A.R, Order of Eastern Star, Wise Co. Shrine Club, Wise Co. Photographers and Jesse Stuart.
Towns and Communities
Family Histories, Tributes, Memorials, Businesses
Frontier Forts, Family Record, Family Tree
Wise County Virginia’s World War II Veterans: A Tribute – SOLD OUT
A Collector’s Item. This book is a wonderful tribute to our World War II Veterans. This is not only a record of our military veterans, but is a book of the history of that terrible war, as well as family history. For anyone researching families in Wise County and some in Dickenson County, this is a good source of information. Very interesting and intriguing stories as told by the veterans themselves and their families. Some of the sources used: Discharges, and stories submitted by the veterans and their families. This book was submitted to Tom Brokaw of NBC news during his series of broadcasts of WWII Veterans. It has been placed in the Library of Congress and the Virginia State Library, among others. 6000 Individuals, 3,000 Photos, 9 1/2 x 12 , 929 pages, hard cover.
The Heritage of Wise County and The City of Norton, Volume II
If you liked The Heritage of Wise County and The City of Norton, Volume I, You will LOVE Volume II. More History, more photos, more folklore, full of surprises! This book is a MUST for Wise County researchers, or if you have ties with Wise County whatsoever. It will intrigue you with its many stories of Wise County’s early days, its towns, communities and people who made it all happen. 1133 pages, $65.00 plus $7.00 postage.
Between Brothers – Edited by Rhonda Robertson and Lillian Gobble
Soldiers of the Civil War in Wise and surrounding counties in Southwest Virginia.
A beautiful book about the Civil War Soldiers who were from Wise and Dickenson Counties in Virginia. 490 pages, 8 x 11, soft-bound. Many pictures of the soldiers, military records, and other information. Price: $35.oo plus tax and S&H.
Wise County’s Apple Blossoms of Yesteryear – By Denver Osborne and the Apple Book Committee.
This beautiful book brings back the nostalgic days of Apple growing in Wise County, the people who owned Apple orchards and worked in them or the visitors who passed by and smelled the fragrant blossoms. Beautifully illustrated, 214 pages, hardback. stories, recipes, data, gorgeous dust jacket showing apple blossoms from one of Wise County’s Orchards. As one book reviewer exclaims, “So real you can smell the blossoms!” $20.00 plus postage.
A Calendar of Events for 1996.
Events that took place in and around Wise County.
WWII Calendar. Pictures and events that took place during WWII.
150 Years in Wise County Virginia -1856-2006
In Commemoration of the 150th year of Wise County.
William C. “Bill” Gobble-President of Wise County Historical Society
William "Bill" Gobble
Bill is a native of Wise County, Virginia although he has spent considerable time living outside Virginia. Bill was born in Appalachia and grew up in Norton. He was in the U.S. Air Force when he married Lillian Hamilton. They spent the first three years of their marriage in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After his discharge he spent the next 33 years in Indianapolis, Indiana. Finally in 1987, he and Lillian moved back to Wise County, winding up in Crackers Neck, near Big Stone Gap. Bill and Lil have two children, Karen and Russ.
Bill was elected as the second President of the Wise County Historical Society and has served in that position from 1996 to the present. He maintains our PDF file of Wise County families and can generally connect anyone who visits the office back several generations. He has thousands of surnames on his database. He connects many to his wife Lil’s family and jokingly remarks that she is related to everybody.
Bill and Lil have conducted seminars on tracing your family and how to locate records. He has served as Librarian for the Family Life Center in Kingsport and still occasionally volunteers time. He serves as Treasurer for the Historical Society of Southwest Virginia.
He and Lil have copied and archived in the Historical Society office many volumes of records from the Wise County Courthouse. He has transcribed several census and marriage records into book form for sale at the Historical Society Office. He volunteers twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays for work in the office.
Bill makes our meetings fun and interesting with his good-humored manner and anecdotes.
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)
It is with much sadness that we submit this (last) issue of the Appalachian; and a profound sense of pride in what The Appalachian and the Appalachian Quarterly has accomplished.
It began as a composite of historical events, people, places in five states; Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We believe that we have achieved our goal of projecting a positive image of people and places in the Appalachian mountains. The heritage that has been handed down to the present generation is a great one and one for all of us to be proud of.
Special Focus
Ralph Stanley-VA Legend
Dr. Ralph M.Stanley
From the Desk of the Editor
It is with much sadness that we submit this (last) issue of the Appalachian; and a profound sense of pride in what The Appalachian and the Appalachian Quarterly has accomplished.
It began as a composite of historical events, people, places in five states; Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We believe that we have achieved our goal of projecting a positive image of people and places in the Appalachian mountains. The heritage that has been handed down to the present generation is a great one and one for all of us to be proud of.
We, at the Wise County Historical Society, have tried to, through this magazine, be able to elevate the stero typical ‘mountain person’ image, and preserve our heritage and history of the Appalachian Mountains.
Our first efforts passed ‘muster,’ however, over the fourteen years that we have worked on The Appalachian Quarterly and then The Appalachian, we have learned that LOTS of people were willing to help us along the way. We have found people who we thought were strangers,were not strangers, but friends we had yet to meet.
All in all, in looking at our first efforts, and then looking at the April 2009 issue of The Appalachian, we really had a lot to learn, and learn it we did. It is really amazing how well tht first effort looked, even though we didn’t know ANYTHING about publishing a magazine. Ben and Deborah Rose and Jennifer Rose set us on the right path when they guided us in those first issues. We want to give special thanks to Wanda Manicure and Mildred Hughes for their help with distribution. We are proud of the finished product-The Appalachian Quarterly – The Appalachian.
Of all the books published by the Wise County Historical Society, “Between Brothers,” the biographic history of the Civil War soldiers from Wise and Dickenson Counties, Va., was instrumental in preserving not only their service records, but their photos as well. All counties in the U.S. should produce Civil War Biographical histories before all the stories and photos are gone.
The Appalachian Volume 13 No. 3 – October 2008
Dunkard Church, Antietam
Special Focus: The Dunkards
A Glimpse of Mary Jenison
Old Things considered
Children Made Their Own Fun
Quantrill’s Bones
Abraham Childers
Down By the Riverside
Esther Clark Short
From the Desk of the Editor
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our subscribers who responded so positively about our decision to reduce to two issues per year (April and October) rather than cease publication of the magazine. It was a hard decision to make, but unfortunately a necessary one. So, this issue is the last issue of 2008.
We have also received responses from our subscribers with stories they have written and submitted. Jett Croy has shared a photo of her Civil War Grandfather and we would like to encourage all our readers to share the history of their ancestors, along with photos.
Of all the books published by the Wise County Historical Society, “Between Brothers,” the biographic history of the Civil War soldiers from Wise and Dickenson Counties, Va., was instrumental in preserving not only their service records, but their photos as well. All counties in the U.S. should produce Civil War Biographical histories before all the stories and photos are gone.
We hope you enjoy this magazine as much as we have enjoyed preparing this issue. Merry Christmas and We’ll see you next year.
