Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-07-19
A RICH SECTION OF
A RICH COUNTY
"The Cove" a Part of Taze-
well That Has Had Little
Newspaper Advertising.

ished desire gratified at last-to visit
the Cove" in the West end of the
county. He had the time of his life.
To meet "the boys" on the street, is
one thing. To meet them in their
homes and at church, is another, and
very ditfe rent thing. Thanks to
Rev. Mr.. Carson and Rev. MIR. King,
the men who preach in the Cove, and
to Superintendent, w. o. Barns.
am due the pleasure of one of the
most tiresome and pleasant visits |
ever had. The "tiresome" part of il
was, of course. due to the roads. But,
l am not going to spoil the recollec-
tion of this visit by recalling or re
membering tie deep. ston e-filled
bitches called roads, in certain
stretches between Tazewell and the
Cove. Perish the recollection of them !
l made few feeble remarks" on
Sunday to crowd that filled the
house respectfully full for hot day.
They were kind enough to listen, and
with the thermometer reaching for
the top, warmed up as l proceeded
with my remarks" The school is lead
by Mr.. w. o. Barns, as supernten-
dent, assisted bv nu mber of intelli-
gent women and a few men, as teach
ers and helpers. Revs. Carson and
King are the preachers there. They
alternate, each going twice a month.
l heard pleasant things said of both
of them, and a.number expressed the
wish that preacher lived in the
community.
The church, very neat wooden
structure, is located conveniently, in
a beautiful grove of original, large,
spreading oaks-just such a grove as
is suggested by the poet who wrote ::
"The groves were Gods first tenn
Piles" The neighborhood was we'll
represented at church, and | tried to
show that the work of the Sunday
School demands and justifies the sup
port and help of the men-the bald
headed and grey-haired crowd, as we'll
90 hhS JOobB OiSoy anu Oul lilS
best case l could. and l hope good
was done. Rev. Mr.. Carson drove
down from town on Sunday morning,
and was present to lead the singing
and help otherwise. and get fine
dinner. In this community both the
visitor and his horse are fed to the
full.
1t was Napoleon Bonaparte's first
drive of consequence, and he did it
we'll. bringing me back home safe and
sound short time after nightfall,
Sunday evening, Notwithstanding con-
tact with number of automobiles.
Both horse and master slept the sleep
of the tired on Sunday night, and on
Monday hauled and put up fine alfalfa
hay to beat the band
Wards Cove, one of the most
beautiful and fertile valleys in all
the country, is about 5x1O miles,
fenced in by Clinch Mountain on the
South, and Paint Lick Mountain on
the North. Clinch Mountain, at the
Western end curves gracefully around,
extending one arm back eastward,
called the Short Mountain. This forms
cove. At Maiden Spring the Short
Mountain has broken away into low
hills and beautiful valleys. In the
head of the Cove, West, rises the
stream known as Maiden Spring
Creek, lower down. Shortly after
leaving the fountain-head the stream
disappears. and is seen no more until
it gushes out from a great bluff,
forming what is known as Maiden
Spring. This stream runs in an under
ground channel for at least three and
ahalf, perhaps four, miles. Nothing
just like it is known anywhere.
Where it issues from the hills, al
Maiden Spring, is large mill, ant
the stream, evidently reinforced il
its silent, underground journey by
numerous others streams, become.
quite little river, and flows OF
Northwestward, through bluffy can
yons and dark gorges, emptying it.
cool waters into the Clinch. TIL,
Cove might appropriately be called
Lost River Valley.
But no change will be made in tn
name. "Ward's Cove" is historic. i
gets its name from pioneer Ward
who settled there century and
half or more ago. The descendants o
this pioneer are there yet, splendi
citizens. owning fine bluegrass es
tates. George and Sam live in tn
West end, sons of the late A.
Ward. George and Sam have abou
$500 acres and fine residences, an
far too small number of children.
The Barns and Bowen families ar
prominent and numerous in this beat