In 1793, there were also three counties formed. One of these, Grayson, was taken from Wythe as follows: "Beginning in the Washington line where it joins the Iron Mountain, thence along the said mountain to a spur of the same that forms Ewing mountain, keeping the ridge that divides the waters of Cripple and Bush creeks to the top of the said mountain, thence a straight course to the Popular Camp mountain by Rose's mill thence to the mouth of Greasy creek thence a straight course to the Montgomery line." Grayson took its name from Colonel William Grayson, an officer in the Revolution, member of the Continental Congress and one of the first two senators elected from Virginia after the adoption of the Constitution to serve in the Congress of the United States. Unfortunately his tenure of office was short; he died 12 March 1790.
Also in 1793, Russell County was divided and all that part "which lies westwardly of a line beginning on the top of Clinch mountain, one mile eastwardly of big Maukason gap, thence a direct course to the mouth of Stock creek thence up the same to Powell's mountain, thence due north to the Kentucky boundary shall form one distinct county and be called and known by the name of Lee." The name honored General Henry Lee who was Governor of Virginia 1791-1794. He is more often called "Light Horse Harry Lee" from the fact that he commanded, during the Revolution, light horse cavalry. He was the father of General Robert E. Lee. Lee is the county farthest to the west and adjoins Tennessee and Kentucky.
Also in 1793, the county of Madison was formed from Culpeper. Its bounds were within a line "Beginning at the mouth of Robinson river thence up the same to the mouth of Crooked run, thence up the said run to the mountain road where Tennant's church formerly stood, thence a straight course to the head of Hugh's river in the Blue Ridge, thence the same course continued to the top of the ridge and to the line of Shenandoah county, thence westwardly on the top of the ridge with the lines of the counties of Shenandoah and Rockingham to the line of Orange county to the beginning." One may wonder that the name Madison was used again, but at this date the earlier Madison County lay in Kentucky. When in 1792 Kentucky achieved statehood, it was composed of nine counties formerly in Virginia; namely: Fayette, Lincoln, Jefferson, Madison, Mercer, Nelson, Bourbon, Mason and Woodford.
Four years after Madison County, Virginia was formed, Brooke was cut from Ohio County. This name was for Robert Brooke, Governor of Virginia 1794 to 1796. He was a grandson of the Robert Brooke who, in 1716, accompanied Governor Spotswood on the famous expedition across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Both Brooke and Ohio are now in West Virginia.
In 1798, Wood was established from Harrison County. It is named for James Wood, Governor of Virginia 1796 to 1799, and son of Colonel James Wood, an early settler in the Valley of Virginia, and founder of the city of Winchester. Wood and Harrison are also West Virginia counties.
The next county created, also destined to lie in West Virginia, was Monroe. This was formed from Greenbrier County and named to honor James Monroe. Born, like General Washington, in Westmoreland County, he had a long political career culminating in the Presidency of the United States. The creed he expounded, called the "Monroe Doctrine", is still followed by our government.
The New Century Brings Six New Counties 1800-1810
As the new century, 1800, came in, Tazewell was formed from Wythe and Russell counties. Its bounds were all that part of the aforesaid counties "beginning on the Kanawha line and running with the line which divides Montgomery and Wythe counties to where the said line crosses the top of Brushy mountain, thence along the top of the said mountain to its junction with the Garden mountain, thence along the top of the said mountain to the Clinch mountain, thence along the top of the said mountain to the head of Cove creek, a branch of the Maiden Spring fork of Clinch river; thence a straight line to Mann's gap in Kent's ridge; thence north forty-five degrees west, to the line which divides the state of Kentucky from that of Virginia; thence along said line to the Kanawha line and with said line to the place of beginning." The name honored Henry Tazewell, United States senator from Virginia 1794-1799.
In 1801, Virginia made a second attempt to honor Thomas Jefferson by naming the new county taken from Berkeley in his honor. The Jefferson County formed in 1780 was, in 1801, a part of Kentucky and this new county was destined to fall in West Virginia; hence no county within the present confines of the state honors this great Virginian.
Harper's Ferry, situated in Jefferson County at the confluence of the Shenandoah with the Potomac River, is as well known for the beauty of its location as for being the site of John Brown's Raid, the prelude to civil warfare. Incidentally it may be noted that the Shenandoah afforded an outlet to market for the produce of the Valley of Virginia since boats could pass down its waters into the Potomac and thus to Chesapeake Bay.