Wythe County

By Karen Lynn Jones Hall

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia lies the historically rich Wythe County. The area was originally settled due to the proximity of the New River, one of few rivers in the world that flows north. The county is named after George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1863, the Civil War Battle of Wytheville brought federal troops into the heart of the county, hoping to interrupt the flow of necessary salt from the mines at nearby Saltville. During the 1800s, Wythe County was known for its mineral waters and as a mountain resort for wealthy residents of hot, humid areas who came for the summer to vacation. Having flourished throughout the 20th century, the county still retains its rural charm. Wythe County captures many charming scenes of country life, Virginia's train and travel industry, numerous long-forgotten vistas, some of Wythe County's finest citizens, and the area's most notable landmarks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439629581

Karen Lynn Jones Hall

Author Karen Lynn Jones Hall, Virginia historian and genealogist, has gathered this collection of almost 200 images from the W.R. Chitwood Collection and the Wythe County historical collection from the Kegley Library at Wytheville Community College.

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1940s.

One

AUSTINVILLE, IVANHOE, AND CRIPPLE CREEK

In 1756 Col. John Chiswell discovered lead deposits in a cave while hiding from a band of Native Americans. He was a British officer and an early adventurer of Southwestern Virginia. The mines, known as the Wytheville mines, opened that year and were later bought by Moses Austin in 1789.

Austinville was named by Moses Austin, father of Stephen F. Austin, who came to be known as the Father of Texas. Moses, born in 1761, and his brother Stephen, born in 1747, were from Durham, Connecticut. They were early American entrepreneurs who had a strong interest in lead mines. Stephen Fuller Austin, the son of Moses, was named after his uncle and was born in the New River in Austinville, where the historical marker stands today.

Before settling in Wythe County, the elder Stephen and Moses owned a furnace in New Jersey, a store in Philadelphia, and a store in Richmond. In Richmond, Moses established the first store in America that manufactured and sold shot. In August 1789 Moses came to Wythe County and, with his brother, founded the lead mines on the New River in Wythe County. Quickly, they began producing lead from the mine. By November, shot was produced.

Stephen Fuller Austin was born to Moses Austin and his wife, Mary Brown, of Philadelphia, on November 3, 1793. They also had a daughter, Emily Margaret, born in Austinville on June 22, 1795.

The elder Austins were excellent shot makers and miners, but they were not very good businessmen. Their businesses grew too quickly, and their finances were in disarray. In 1796–1797, Moses and a business partner ventured to Genevieve, Missouri. They almost starved to death before arriving at Whitesides Station. They made a business deal to buy the lead mines in Missouri and returned to Austinville to settle their accounts. James Austin, first cousin to Moses, became the supervisor of the mines and the first postmaster. He is the great-great-great-grandfather of the author. His descendants still live in the area today.

In the summer of 1798, Moses, his family, his slaves, his brother-in-law, and workers from the area—totaling 40 in all—left with supplies, nine wagons, and a coach for Missouri. In the fall of 1798, an economic depression hit the Austinville community when flooding caused the mines to fill up and crops to rot in the