From the introduction of the Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County Virginis

It is with unfeigned pleasure that I write these lines to introduce this modest volume to the reading public. I have known the author and the people of whom he writes for more than a half-century. The author himself is of one of the old pioneer families who, by their courage and stalwart virtues, made Southwestern Virginia the garden spot of the world-“The land of the free, and the home of the brave.” He was brought up among them and is by blood akin to hundreds of them. He writes what he knows, and knows what he writes is true. The book is a recital of facts with but little embellishment a garner for preserving for posterity, a history of the brave doings of the men and women of the generations gone by. This is clearly the author’s purpose in writing it, and as such it is worthy of the hearty endorsement of the children of a noble ancestry. And it will be read by this and coming generations, not only in the happy homestead, the hills and valleys of Southwestern Virginia, but in many other states, for the sons of this hill country are spread far and wide over the South and West. Many men and women in the far off western plains will read with thrilling interest story after story of the early days of their fathers and grandfathers who felled the forests and drove the wolves and bears from their lurking dens, and built their log cabins by the spring. The springs of laughing waters are still there, but the log cabins of the pioneers are gone-and beautiful homesteads, waving harvests and lowing herds tell of the comfort and good cheer of the country. The ramshackle school house, in which the children learned their a b c’s in the years long gone, are replaced with academies and high schools of architectural taste and adapted to educational purposes. And instead of the log cabin or humble private home of the settlers in which the “circuit-rider” used to conduct divine services, now the “church-going-bell” in every neighborhood calls the people to worship in elegant houses of worship.

This book tells the how of all this change, and the worthy author merits the hearty thanks of all for putting the story in permanent form for preservation. I cordially commend it to book lovers of the day.

D. Sullins
Knoxville, Tenn.
October, 1913.