Gate City, Virginia

 Looking back to the time when my people would have lived in Gate City, it is important to understand the history of that city. All of these places are mentioned in my family history. The below information was taken from Wikipedia. 

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Gate City, Virginia - Wikipedia

Gate City is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA. This combined area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

 In 1771, Silas Engart received a land grant of 200 acres that included the location of the future town. By the time of Scott County's formation in 1815, landowner James Davidson, Sr. donated approximately 13 acres of his plantation for establishing the county seat. The location of the town was such that it would emerge as an important commercial center for people and goods traveling through Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River.

 In 1817, the town was renamed Estillville (the place where most of my ancestors resided) in honor of Benjamin Estill, a local judge instrumental in the formation of the new county. As a result of the county seat's location near Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River, the town grew into a commercial center for people passing through on their way westward, for farmers hoping to sell goods, and businessmen in town for legal affairs. A regular wagon train and coach line service conveying people, mail, and commercial goods between Bedford and Estilville.

 Gate City received its present name in 1886, when Attorney General Rufus A. Ayers pointed out that proximity to Big Moccasin Gap marked the town as the "Gate Way to the West." The town was incorporated in 1892.

 By the beginning of the twentieth-century, Gate City was one of several "boom towns" located in southwestern Virginia. Although the streets were little more than dirt byways in the town, the area was a vibrant commercial and transportation center. Up to six daily passenger trains passed through Gate City. The town also had a railroad log yard where logs from all over the county were stored and then loaded to be later transported by train. Iron ore from the Snowflake and Nickelsville areas as well as glass sand from the south of Clinch Mountain were manufactured and shipped from Gate City. In addition, the town had a thriving manufacturing center in the area of Water Street where wood pumps, staves, sleds, and harnesses were built. By 1915, the town supported two livery stables on Willow Street and a blacksmith shop on Jackson Street, as well as a dentist's office, an ice plant, a casket shop, and a furniture manufacturing business.

 

Ira D. Quillin History Sheet

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Ira is from the generation that makes genealogy interesting. Substantiating ties to parents is more difficult since the early U.S. Censuses only have the names of the head of household, followed by the categories of the ages of persons living in that household. Ira was born in 1831 to John W Quillin and Rebecca (Lawson) Quillin. I’ve never seen a complete date for his day of birth. They were residing in Scott County, Virginia, and the 1830 census would match up to the number of people John would have had in his household with his mother Peggy (Nation) Quillin and possibly a sister living with them.

 

In 1850, census takers began to list every member of the family by name and their age. By that time (by only a year), Ira was married and out of the household. I feel certain, though, as to Ira’s family ties because he was included in family history books from that era. He is included in Quillin family history books, Vineyard Family history books, and Lawson Family history. Plus, Ira and his new bride are living next door to his parents in 1850. His story goes as follows:

 

The State of Virginia indexed all marriages from 1740-1850. This index was compiled from the information recorded by Jordan R. Dodd in “Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Jordan Dodd is a valid source, as he recorded much of the early history from that area. Dodd listed the marriage date of “Ira Quillin” and “Edna Vineyard” as 18 October 1849 and the marriage place as Scott, Virginia. I, of course, found the information on Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

 

In 1850, Ira and Edna Quillin lived next door to his parents, John and Rebecca Quillin. Also, next door and quite close in the vicinity are: Thomas Quillin (John’s brother, Ira’s uncle) and wife Polly; Thomas M. Quillin and wife Eleanor (Ira’s brother); Henry S. Quillin and wife Nancy (Ira’s brother). These families all live on nearly 3,000 acres of land. I believe this is the land that Ira’s grandfather, Teague 1772, purchased when he sold his property in NC and moved to VA. Ira and Edna would have had the support of extended family in the area. Their first child, Hannah Melvina Quillin, was an infant. They would eventually have 6 children; my great-grandfather, Beverly Johnson Quillin, was their third child.

 

When I widen the lens in 1860, I see that Edna and Ira live near her extended family, as well. Nearby neighbors include many Vineyards and Harts. Edna’s mother was Hannah Hart. Edna’s father was George Vineyard. But what was to come soon for Edna and Ira was the Civil War, which would change life forever, not only for them but for all the brothers and sisters of so many families. Many times, families found brothers fighting on opposite sides.

 

Ira died during the Civil War and Edna was left alone with 5 children, possibly 6. I have unsubstantiated information about Ira’s service to the Confederate army. It is by word of mouth, and I have yet to find the documentation. Sadly, records were destroyed during this horrendous war between the states, and I may never know Ira’s complete story, but what I DO know is what was told to me by the Quillens who stayed in the Gate City area.

That story is as follows: Please see the attachment about Joel Shelley. These stories were covered in my post on Sept. 15,16,17.

Family Is Family

 

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Top 85 Inspirational Family Quotes And Sayings - DP Sayings

Granny Hart Holding Me

 1956

Granny Hart (Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart) came over often to hold me.

Be The Bridge Between Them

 FAMILY HISTORY

builds bridges between

the generations of our 

families.

Bridges between generations are not built by accident.

If I want my children and grandchildren to know

those who still live in my memory, then

I MUST BUILD 

the bridge

BETWEEN THEM.

I alone am the link to the generations that stand

on either side of me. It is my responsibility to

knit their hearts together

through love and respect. 

~ Dennis B. Neuenschwander

Edna (Vineyard) Quillin's Potbelly Stove

 The Greatest Gift Turned Out To Be Robert "Bob" Haskell Quillen

Being an older person now myself, I can better understand why Bob always wanted to meet me. In our later years, there are things we say that we are ‘going’ to do…and then it becomes too late. He urged me so many times, and in every Christmas card, he reiterated how important it was for me to come to Bristol so that he could show me around the ‘old’ homestead. I could never visualize that as a young person…going to see what seemed to be a stranger. But Bob had already embraced me as family. He wanted VERY much for Derek and me to come for a visit.

Then one day, Bob totally surprised me. He phoned and said that he and Barbara, his wife, were coming on a tour through the Hill Country of Texas. I was shocked and didn’t know exactly what to do or how I would arrange a visit with him. Since he was touring with a company, we decided that Derek and I would go out on a Saturday morning to the hotel where they would be lodging for a couple of nights.

He embraced me from the ‘get-go’. He was an example of kindness and acceptance. It was a great lesson in humility for me, learning how to accept others. I totally misjudged him, viewing him more as a stranger than as a cousin. I practiced too much caution and less acceptance. I knew immediately when I laid eyes on him and Barbara how badly I missed the mark.  

Bob was so excited about his trip to Texas. It felt as though the trip was centered around the opportunity to meet me, as he would later say, “Where are the hills?” Being from Bristol, Virginia, bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains on one side and the Appalachians on the other, these were not even hills. He presented me with a gift. I was stunned! Bob had gone out to the old homestead and picked up the door of Edna’s potbelly stove. He had mounted it on wood to hang on the wall. This symbolic gesture serves as a reminder to me of how to accept others. I cherish the little time I had with Bob and Barbara, and yes, I look back and wish that I had taken the time to journey back to the old homestead.

Robert Quillen's letter 1995