Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-21
I'y r.. g. SVEN,
Librarian College Of william and

Horarian College Of William and
Mary
Students Of Virginia history have
i"ng fclt the need of an accurate
ana complete volume on the history
OF each county in the state Excel
rent ana standard volumes have been
written Of some Of the counties. but
the number is not large. In some
instances the destruction of county
records has prevented any one from
undertaking county history. For
'unatcly the history factories" of
New York and Chicago have had little
encouragement from Virginia. In
fact. so far as the present writer
Knows, there il not one county his
tory that has been prepared by the
factory method When the citizens
OF Tazcwcll County planned to nave
history written. they adopted n sem
siblc method by organizing "a local
association TO finance the writing and
publication. Then when they selected
TO undertake the work a local man of
literary ability. OF wide reading in
United states history and of careful
observation OF local affairs. they had
all the elements OF success. In nam
ing William G. Pendlcton. they could
not have made more excellent
choice.
Mr.. Pcndleton is a native of Taze-
well County, a student for many
years Of it's county records. a travel
lcr- over every part OF the county.
familiar from boyhood with every
spot, vcrscd in all its traditional lore,
and above ALL an enthusiastic lover
and admirer of his county.
Covers n Wide Field.
The title of the volume is History
of Tazcwcll County and Southwest
Virginia. l7iS-le20." but the author
ras covered a much larger field than
this. He gives in bis early chapters
a resume of our knowledge OF the
Indians ana OF Colonial United States
history. with special emphasis upon
Virginia. AS one purpose of the book
is it's use in the present and future
schools OF Tazcwcll County, this gem
eral sketch of history. in the first
$50 pages Is a valuable feature.
In the chapters entitled Pioneer
peri odS embracing discovery and set
Element ot the Shenandoah. ltoanoke.
New River, llolston and Clinch VAL
lcys and Kentucky" the author ~
entirely at home, and writes with
authority. basing his statement upon
tho records OF the different counties.
upon the archives of the State IL
| brary and upon the important printed
works upon the subject. Throughout
the book, Mr., Pendleton not only
writes with accuracy, but with cle-
gancc. The work is by no means
a mere throwing together of sue
ccssivc unrelated facts of the chron'
| icle type so familiar in many OF the
| county histories of the United States
| The style Is of distinct literary merit
and is worthy OF imitation by other
local historians. The author knows
his subject and therefore can write
LUMINOSITY and elegantly about IL.
Personal Touch Adds Charm.
Throughout the hook there is the
pcrsonal touch. duc to familiarity
with the county from boyhood. that
adds a conspicuous charm to the mar
rative. a noticeable feature is the
balance of the book. II is temp
tation to every historian TO stress A
certain event, or period, or some
family Mr. Pcndleton has been fair
in his estimate of the relative i'm
portance of individual families. and
particular incidents. y good instance
is the account of the Diapers Mead
ows Massacre. and the captivity and
escape of Mrs. Inglcs, faithfully
drawn, and yet not given more than
it's proper share of attention. The
captivity of Mrs. InGlcs is one OF the
most heroic incidents of frontier