---

Sponsored by

Population in 1880-White 12,071, colored 997; total 13,068.

County Seat. Independence. -- Population 200.

Vote of county November 2d, 1886, Democrats 938, Republicans 1,088.

Value of real estate, 1886 $803,817.03
Value of Personal property, $240,259.00
Tax on real estate: $2,254.75
Tax on personal property: $961.03.
Captation Tax - White 2,183; colored 138.

This county was formed in 1793 from Wythe and borderes on the State of North Carolina. It was named in honor of Hon. William Grayson, who was a member of the Virginia Convention of 1788, which adopted the Federal Constitution. The Iron mountain range skirts it on the north and west and Carroll county is on the east. The New river and many of its branches extend through and water the county. The lands are quite fertile, and good crops of buckwheat, corn, rye, oats, wheat and the grasses are made. A great many horses, cattle, and sheep are raised. The dairy and orchard products are not reported as being of much value. The minerals reported are iron, copper, lead, asbestos and soapstone, and the timbers are pine (white and yellow), walnut, hickory, chestnut, and oak. There are no internal improvements. The nearest railroad station is Rural Retreat, 9 miles from the county line, on the Norfolk and Western railroad. Independence, the county seat, is located in a fertile valley, on a branch of the New river, and has a population of about 200. The area of the county is 389 square miles, or 248,979 acres, and the land has an average assessed value of $3.22 per acre.

Post-Offices

Ancella
Bridle Creek - C. Phipps.
Carsonville - Emeline Carson
Clem's Branch - Pilgrim B. Long.
Collins' Mill - H. Collins.
Comer's Rock.
Edgewater.
Elk Creek
Fairy
Fallville- Millie F. Fielder.
Flat Ridge.
Fox - J. Bryant.
Hampton X Roads - J. Kyle.
Independence C.H.
Looney's Gap - Jas. D. Phipps.
Major.
Meadow Creek.
Mouth of Wilson - Dr. A. W. Wagg.
North Branch - J. A. Welch.
Old Town - Alex R. Grubb.
Peach Bottom - Solomon Jennings.
Potato.
Rugby.
Rural Home - Geo. W. Atkins.
Saddle - W. J. Phipps.
Shamrock - F. P. McBride.
Spring Valley - Thos. C. Vaughan.
Steven's Creek - J. C. Carrico
Sweet Dale.
Trout Dale.
White Top.

Courts

The Circuit Court of the Sixteenth Circuit meets at Independence on the second Monday in April and Tuesday after third Monday in October.

Judge - John A. Kelly.
Clerk - F. J. Lundy.

County Officers

Sheriff - J. H. Higgins
Treasurer - D. C. Mallory
Surveyor - Troy Cox
Commissioners of Revenue - J. L. Anderson, J. M. Cornett, J. E. Phipps
Commonwealth's Attorney - J. D. Perkins

Attorneys at Law

Cornett, G. W. - Clem's Branch
Davis, J. A. - Clem's Branch
Hakcker, J. W. - Independence
Hale, W. S. - Elk Creek
Jackson, R. C. - Independence
Oglesby, N. P. - Old Town
Padgett, J. C. - Independence
Perkins, J. D. - Mouth of Wilson
Porterfield, G. C. - Independence

Coach and Wagon Builders

Bishop, Samuel - Clem's Branch
Brewer, F. H. - Rural Home.
Grubb, Jacob - Clem's Branch
Hale, J. C. - Shamrock
Jones Bros. - Stevens Creek
Jones, W. M. - Stevens Creek
Love, J. W. - Whitetop
Pope, Alfred - Potato
Reive, Thomas - Troutdale
Sayers, Hastin - Elk Creek
Sayers, Thos. - Troutdale
Shout, Chas. - Bridle Creek
Starney, Alex. - Meadow Creek.
Wysong, J. E. - Carsonville.

Dentists

Grubb, Alexander - Old Town
Kellem, I. W. - Meadow Creek.
Williams, W. E. - Stevens Creek.

Distillers

Dixon, W. S. - Potato
Horn, Thos. F. - Edgewater
Isom, William - Carsonville
Jennings, A. - Old Town
Reeves, G. R. - Long's Gap
Williams, H. - Old Town

Druggists

Atkins & Bayer - Independence
Carrico, C. W. - Stevens Creek
Thomas & Vaughan - Independence

General Merchants

Carrico, J. C. - Stevens Creek
Carson, E., Mrs. - Carsonville
Cox & Thomas - Potato
Delp, Joseph F. - Elk Creek.
Greer, E. W. - Troutdale
Grubb, J. - Clem's Branch
Hash, A. C. - Clem's Branch
Lacy, J. A. - Rural Home.
McMillan, F. J. & Son - Mouth of Wilson
Mallory, D. C. - Independence
Marshall, M. W. - Flat Ridge
Perkins, J. W. - Clem's Branch
Phipps, C. - Bridle Creek
Phipps, Z. A. - Saddle.
Pinion & Vaughn - Fallville
Reavis & Gordon - Old Town.
Ring, M. A. - Carsonville
Ross, A. J. - Troutdale.
Russell, J. T. - Clem's Branch
Swinney, Orville A. - Stevens Creek.
Shuler W. M. & E. R. - Comers Rock.
Sturgill B. - Whitetop
Vaughan, J. E. & Co. - Elk Creek
Vaughan, J. W. - Independence
Vaughan, T. C. - Spring Valley
Vaughan & Co. - Long's Gap.
Warrick, J. W. - Clem's Branch
Waugh, J. B. - Old Town.
Waugh, Wm. P. - Old Town.
Young, F. M. - Edgewater.

Hotels

Delp, John - Elk Creek.
Elliott, J. E. - Long's Gap.
Elliott, W. J. - Independence
Perkins, J. W. - Flat Ridge.
Reid, J., Mrs. - Independence
Waugh, Wm. P. - Old Town.

Iron Founders and Machinists

Reavis, J. C. - Old Town.

Mills - Corn and Flour

Atkins, Geo. W. - Rural Home.
Blevins, Houston - Peach Bottom.
Brooks, Smith - Troutdale
Cornett, F. B. - Comers Rock
Cox, J. R. - Independence
Cox, M. B. - Bridle Creek.
Cox, Samuel - Peach Bottom.
Cox, Wm. - Meadow Creek.
Cox & Ham - Potato
Cox & Phipps - Independence
Dawling Major - Steven's Creek.
Elliott, A. - Independence.
Hale, P. G. - Elk Creek.
Hale & McLean - Elk Creek
Hawkins, Calvin - Shamrock.
Jones & Hampton - Old Town
Martin, F. H. - Meadow Creek
Moore, A. B. - Carsonville.
Nelson, J. W. - Troutdale.
Osborne & Graham - Potato
Parsons, J. W. - Mouth of Wilson
Patton, M. S. & T. S. - Old Town
Phipps, H. - Whitetop.
Reavis, Alex. - Old Town.
Rector, J. E. - Shamrock
Reeves, R. B. - Shamrock
Rhudy, Wm. & Sons - Elk Creek.
Richardson, S. - Whitetop.
Ross, Jos. - Flat Ridge.
Spurlin, A. J. - Independence
Stamey, J. W. - Meadow Creek.
Taylor, A. L. - Comer's Rock.
Vaughan, Martha - Fall River.
Warren, Jno. H. - Edgewater.
Wells, A. H. - Edgewater.

Mills - Saw

Atkins, Geo. W. - Rural Home.
Bishop, J. A. - Bridle Creek.
Bryant, J. K. - Independence
Carico, Martin - Steven's Creek.
Cornett, L. K. & Co. - Elk Creek.
Cox, J. B. - Independence.
Collins, W. G. - Shamrock.
Copeland, Isaac. - Long's Gap.
Cox & Ham - Potato.
Hale, P. G. - Elk Creek.
Hale & McLean - Elk Creek.
Hash, Thos. - Troutdale.
Hawkins, C. J. - Shamrock.
Jones, A. - Independence.
Jones & Hampton - Old Town.
Long, Jarvis - Troutdale.
Moore, A. B. - Carsonville.
Nelson, Jas. W. - Troutdale.
Osborn & Graham - Potato.
Parsons, J. W. - Mouth of Wilson
Phipps, H. - Whitetop.
Porter, Geo. - Independence.
Reavis, Alex - Old Town.
Reeves, R. B. - Shamrock.
Rhudy, Wm. & Sons - Elk Creek.
Sutherland, Mac. - Comer's Rock.
Vaughan & Noblett - Spring Valley
Ward, Jonathan - Bridle Creek.
Wells, A. H. - Edgewater.
Werner, Jno. H. - Edgewater.
Wright, J. W. - Comer's Rock.

Mills - Woolen

McMillan, F. J. & Sons - Mouth of Wilson.
Reavis & Gordon - Old Town.

Millwrights

Collins, A. M. - Mouth of Wilson
Dildee, M. - Clem's Branch
Hawkins, B. - Long's Gap.
Jennings, Allen & Son - Meadow Creek.
Jones, A. H. - Whitetop.
Nelson, E. N. - Troutdale.
Nelson, Jas. W. - Troutdale.
Pierce, B. A. - Mouth of Wilson
Rieves, R. K. - Troutdale.

Mines - Gold

Hampton, A., Dr. - Peach Bottom.

Mines - Iron

Bartlett, A. G. - Steven's Creek.
Young, Andrew - Troutdale.

Newspapers

Grayson Gazette (weekly) T. L. White, editor - Independence
Grayson Journal (weekly) Will Wright, editor - Independence

Physicians

Atkins, R. A. - Independence
Blair, A. S. - Stevens' Creek.
Blevins, W. - Whitetop.
Bowyer, H. L. - Long's Gap.
Cooper, B. F. - Old Town.
Crawford, William M. - Meadow Creek.
Daniel, T. J. - Independence
Durphey, W. R. - Old Town.
Fielder, S. W. - Spring Valley
Halsey, G. R. - Mouth of Wilson
Hampton, Andrew - Peach Bottom.
Hampton, D. R. - Shamrock.
Mitchell, S. H. - Elk Creek.
Mitchell, Wm. M. - Elk Creek.
Phipps, John M. - Saddle.
Ring, J. - Carsonville
Thomas, F. S. - Independence.
Vaugahan, Thomas - Independence
Wagg, A. W. - Mouth of Wilson
Weiss, H. B. - Mouth of Wilson
Witherow, T. B. - Old Town.
Witherow, C. A. - Old Town.
Young, Roby - Edgewater

Saddle and Harnesmakers

Atkins, M. M. - Steven's Creek
Collins, James - Clem's Branch
Hicks, Wm. & Son - Elk Creek
Martin, H. - Meadow Creek.
Martin, W. H. - Elk Creek.
Rector, Fielding - Meadow Creek.
Venable, G. S. - Independence.

Schools

Davis, Robert - Independence
Elk Creek Academy - Elk Creek
Gentry, W. R. - Peach Bottom
High Point Academy - Independence
Independence High School - Independence

There are seventy-three white and six colored public schools in this county. Superintendent, William S. Hale, Elk Creek.

Tanners

Andrews, A. - Shamrock
Andrews, George F. - Long's Gap
Andrews, Wm. - Carsonville
Cornett, R. F. - Comer's Rock
Gilham, G. W. - Independence
Jenkins, H. M. - Clem's Branch
Rector, Fielding - Meadow Creek
Ward, B. F. - Bridle Creek.

Undertakers

Coons, George - Shamrock
Draper, Joel - Elk Creek.
Funk, P. C. - Elk Creek
Hawks, George - Shamrock
Phillips, George M. - Carsonville
Ring, A. F. - Spring Valley

Wool Dealers

Gwynn & Cheatham - Long's Gap
Phipps, C. - Bridle Creek
Pinion, G. L. - Fallville
Waugh, J. B. - Old Town.

Principal Farmers

Bridle Creek - Stephen Phipps, B. H. Phipps, A. Bryant, M. Cox, A. B. Cox, Enoch Ward, Stephen Ward, C. Young, B. B. Rose, Jos. Shaver, F. Ingoldsby, W. C. Martin, C. E. Bryant, Thomas Ward, Isaac Wingate, J. Osborn, Creed Phipps.

Carsonville - R. J. Durphey, Jefferson Ring, T. M. Jones, J. M. Ring, Andrew Carson, J. W. Warrick, Freel Brewer, H. Kennie Warwick, C. O. Wright, T. H. Hightower, E. L. Robbins, Benjamin Moore, Thomas F. Williams, N. P. Pool, K. C. Adams, F. J. Brewer, W. R. Edwards.

Clem's Branch - W. W. Roberts, B. P. Long, W. J. Cornett, J. Leansey, W. H. Heavington, D. J. Cornett, P. Zounce, F. B. Parks, J. Ross, J. F. Russell, W. S. Long, D. F. Robbins, J. C. Roberts, M. Nelson, N. Anderson, E. C. Long, F. R. Long.

Comer's Rock - H. Z. Clark, F. M. Sutherland, T. C. Cornett, H. C. Cornett, Joseph C. Yants, E. H. Livesay, T. R. Cornett, S. L. Wright.

Edgewater - Ezekiel Young, E. S. Trilton, W. H. Trilton, C. H. Senter, F. Pugh, John T. Young, Creed Young, W. G. Young, L. N. Perkins, J. N. Young, M. B. Young, J. W. Phipps, Robert Carson, James P. Hash, John M. Gore, Jas. L. Johnson, Allen C. Hash, Jesse Young, S. W. Young.

Elk Creek - John Delp, William Delp, P. G. Hale, Martin Hale, E. C. Hale, Sarah A. Hale, Alex Cornett, Sr., W. J. Cornett, S. S. Cornett, S. K. Cornett, F. A. Cornett, F. R. Cornett, S. M. Cornett, Saml. J. Sutherland, John S. Perkins, J. F. Thomas, P. H. Cornett.

Fallville - A. Byrd, G. W. Rhudy, J. A. Rhudy, J. L. Fielder, H. B. Vaughan, G. K. Fielder, B. H. Hall, B. F. Martin, B. Pool, T. Burris, J. Daniel, E. C. Rhudy, R. C. Fielder, J. R. Pinion, H. Graybill.

Flat Ridge - J. F. Russell, J. W. Haga, G. A. Rhudy, J. T. Ross, J. W. Rhudy, Jos. Ross, J. W. Perkins, W. T. Perkins, Zeb Hash, J. W. Ross.

Independence - L. H. Bryant, L. D. Bedwell, S. M. Dickey, M. Dickey, Jno. M. Dickey, Isaac Busic, J. Mc Cox, E. R. Cox, Isaac Wingate, R. G. Bourne, J. K. Boyer, Isaac Bedwell, E. R. Wiley, J. A. Phipps, W. Wingate, Jos. Bryant.

Long's Gap - Noah Long, K. C. Cornett, J. C. Jackson, James Catron, J. Boyer, T. J. Dickenson, W. W. Davis

Major - B. Lindsey, T. Hash, J. J. Parks, Calvin Russell, J. Lindsey, A. C. Hash, D. C. Parks, H. Haga, L. C. Barton, J. A. Hash, J. C. Hutchens, M. Perry, H. Phipps, D. Hash, J. F. Roberts, J. R. Cornett, A. Hash, R. C. Ward, G. Jones, W. W. Jones

Meadow Creek - Elias Davis, Berry Wilson, W. H. Jennings, R. M. Davis, Lemuel Wineset, J. B. Ledelle, R. Jackson, John Shuler, Wm. Melton, Floyd Branock, H. E. Higgins, Alvin Murphy, A. A. Hodges, J. H. Krupp, M. F. Murphy, J. C. Higgins

Mouth of Wilson - J. W. Parsons, J. C. A. Parsons, I. C. Parsons, R. M. Halsey, Wm. Halsey, Green B. Halsey, W. C. Parks, L. N. Perkins, Alex'r Young, Creed Young, L. E. Pugh, W. J. Neikirk, John Hash, John A. McMillan, C. H. Senter, Martin Halsey, F. J. McMillan, F. B. Halsey

Old Town - Preston Osborne, S. N. Nuckolls, B. F. Nuckolls, S. M. Hale, W. P. Waugh, John Brown, Houstin Edwards, Joshua Austin, T. J. McClamart, H. F. Williams, H. Williams, J. B. Coldwell, E. P. Givens, C. M. Howard, T. Patton, J. Higgins, J. Todd, M. D. Tarrowe.

Peach Bottom - Samuel Cox, Alexander Cox, Martin Alexander, David Moxley, Joshua Choat, Isaac Richardson, J. C. Shaw, A. M. Coomes, Samuel Billens, John Choat, Solomon Jennings, Sr., Solomon Jennings, Jr., J. D. Cox, J. Richardson, J. A. Robinson, A. Johnson, A. Moxley, Wm. Gentry.

Potato - Isham Osborn, Hardin Cox, John D. Cox, T. C. Phipps, John Cook, N. C. Cox, Elza Cox, Troy Cox, J. C. Phipps, J. D. Cox, Riley Ward, A. F. Phipps, J. C. Parsons, E. C. Osborn, G. W. Pratt, Caleb Parsons

Rural Home - John Dickinson, Jos. A. Cornett, Thomas M. Jones, Orville A. Cornett, Richard H. Dufphey, M. J. Delp, George W. Delp, C. D. Atkins, K. C. Brewer, G. W. Gray, J. E. Wysong, F. K. Warwick, Jno. A. Padgett, G. W. Atkins, T. Patton, W. S. Williams, J. Warwick, J. Troy.

Saddle - J. A. Phipps, T. Phipps, J. Ward, B. F. Cox, J. K. Bryant, J. A. Barton, Isaac Busic, A. Osborne, M. D. Cox, Z. Phipps, J. Mc. Phipps, L. Farmer, B. R. Rose, I. Ward.

Shamrock - F. Carr, H. J. Hackler, Daniel Isom, Z. A. Boyer, Jacob E. Rector, F. Vaughan, P. K. Hackler, S. Reeves, M. Vaughan, T. A. McBride, H. Rector, D. L. Moore, B. M. Todd, T. J. Hampton, B. H. Pool.

Spring Valley - B. E. Ward, Chas. Hale, Ephraim Boyer, Frank Tomlinson, Dr. John Walsh, A. B. Byrd, Jno. P. Byrd, E. C. Andis, H. B. Vaughan, L. Fielder, N. H. Tomlinson, F. H. Ward, H. S. Mallory

Steven's Creek - A. G. Bartlett, A. S. Blair, S. A. Williams, William Vaughan, James Byrd, W. S. Williams, Rev. Isaac Moore, Creed Carico, J. P. Williams, W. E. Williams, C. H. Moore, L. Hill, A. Carico, W. M. Jones, J. L. Hill, S. Byrd, J. Byrd.

Troutdale - Andrew Young, Jno. Conner, Milton Campbell, William Campbell, Thomas Bennett, Spencer Anderson, Abijah Anderson, E. H. Watson, Meredith Combs, Ezekiel Watson, Stephen Conner, Eli Conner, Jr., D. N. Nelson, Jno. Porter, Clark Porter, Sanders Pugh.

Whitetop - John Dolinger, C. C. Kilby, Alex Green, Wm. M. Baldwin, A. M. Osborn.