Lee County

Lee County was know as Augusta County in the 1750s; Botetourt County, from 1770 - 1772; after that it was included in the southwestern tip of the state in Fincastle County. An earlier explorer was Dr. Thomas Walker and his men. William Tomlinson, Henry Lawless, John Hughes, Colby Chew and Ambrose Powell were in his crew. He and his party of men followed the Wilderness Trail from Blacksburg through Wytheville, Abingdon, Kingsport TN and on into Rogersville and Sneedville - following the Clinch River. They crossed the mountain from Blackwater Creek and through what was to become Jonesville, cross Powell's River (this river and the valley was named after Ambrose Powell).

Timeline: 1750 Dr. Thomas Walker explores region 1770 Daniel Boone and his followers left Yadkin Valley in NC and made his trip down the Wilderness Trail 1776 Governor Patgrick Henry sent Joseph Martin to assemble his men at Fort Patrick Henry (present Kingsport) then on into VA 1776 Martin's men were sent to Rye Cove on the Clinch River where Martin was Captain for Washington County; Martin was appointed Superintendant of Indian Affairs for VA. Martin lived at Long Island (Kingsport)and became friends with Nancy Ward, the Indian woman who helped white settlers. 1790 Indian Raids had ended 1800s Thompson Settlement Baptist Church was established west of Jonesville, near Flatwoods 1802 Powell Valley Methodist organization in Lee county 1810 , Methodist Camp ground was buildt west of Jonesville 1819 Green Hill Methodist Church organized near Dryden 1832 Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church organized at Rose HIll 1840 Pleasnat Hill Methodist was established at Sugar Run 1843 Deep Spring Baptist Church at Turkey Cove 1847 Blackwater Lick Baptist Church was built; was also used as a school 1851 Seminary Methodist organized in Turkey Cover 1852 Hardy Creek Baptist church was formed 1858 Long Hollow Church was formed..During War Between the States, Yankees used camp ground, fires destroyed old building

Article (excerpts) written by Vastine Stickley of Monroe County, TN Powell Valley News, November 8, 1937 "Jonesville was founded by Wiley Jones, the father of Samuel Jones, of Cumberland Gap, Tenn., and Mrs. Rebecca DAvenport and Mrs. Minerva Carmack of Jonesville. He (Samuel Jones) was buried under a tree near where the Methodist Church now stands. He donated to Lee County, the grounds where the Courthouse now stands. I do not know aht year Lee County was established. Neither do I know its area. It is bordered on the North by Kentucky, on the EAst by Scott and Wise Counties, on the South by Hawkins and Hancock Counties, Tenn.; on the west by Claburn County, TN. Powell River flows through the entire county, and it is known as Powells Valley. The county is noted for its rich lands, natural blue grass and fine cattle and coal fields. "Jonesville, the county seat, was known as a One Street Town. ....... "Back sixty-five years ago, Mr. Andrew Milburn owned all the land from the Courthouse and the old Penninbgton building to the Col. W. S. Martin farm, including the large brick buildings on the lower end of this large farm. ... The first lots sold off were sold by Milburn for the adademy and a lot to Dr. Turner. "I have lived under sixteen President Administrations. ...." Vastine Stickley Monroe County Madisonville, Tenn

Courthouse at Jonesville		Hensley Settlement


	Church Lee County, VA		View of Cumberland Gap Taken from the Pinnacle		Sign designating the white cliffs along the ridge near Hwy 58A through Lee County