The bounds of Scott County are as follows: "Beginning at the head of Reedy creek where the wagon road crosses the same in the county of Washington thence down the Tennessee line to the south fork of Clinch river thence northward passing the Flag Pond to the top of Powell's mountain in Lee County and along it to the county of Russell and with it to the Kentucky line, thence along Cumberland mountain to the head of Guese's river thence down the Clinch mountain thence to the western end of Samuel Hensley's plantation and thence to the beginning."
"The wagon road" mentioned in the above description is most likely the so-called "Wilderness Road" over which many west bound settlers laboriously toiled. The other route west that was often used was north to the present Pittsburgh and down the Ohio river. Powell's Mountain and the river of that name commemorate Ambrose Powell of Culpeper County, one of the earliest explorers of Kentucky who accompanied Doctor Thomas Walker there in 1749. In Scott County is the Natural Tunnel, a rare formation through which the trains of the Southern Railway Company pass regularly en route to Tennessee.
Tyler, the next county established, lies now in the northwestern part of West Virginia along the Ohio River but commemorates a Tidewater Virginian, John Tyler, Sr. He was born at "Greenway" Charles City County and served as Governor 1808-1811. His fame has been somewhat obscured by that of his son, John Tyler, junior, President of the United States.
The next county formed, Lewis, which was cut from Harrison, also lay later in West Virginia in the north central area. It derived its name from a heroic soldier, Colonel Charles Lewis who was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. Point Pleasant, situated near the confluence of the Great Kanawha with the Ohio River was the scene of a day-long bloody battle between the Virginia troops and Indian warriors led by Cornstalk and Logan. General Andrew Lewis, brother of Colonel Charles, was the commanding officer. The battle was hardly decisive and General Lewis wished to follow and annihilate the fleeing enemy. Lord Dunmore, in command of another detachment which arrived later, forbade this and allowed the Indians to escape. This may have been one of the reasons that influenced the Indians throughout the Revolution to espouse the British cause.
The establishment of Lewis County in 1816 was followed two years later by that of another county, Preston, formed from Monongalia, lying in the northeast corner of West Virginia, and adjoining Pennsylvania and Maryland. Preston County honored James Patton Preston, Governor of Virginia 1816-1819.
Parts of Greenbrier, Kanawha and Randolph were made into the new county of Nicholas in the same year that Preston was organized. Nicholas lies to the east of Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. Its name derives from Wilson Cary Nicholas, Governor of Virginia 1814-1816, and predecessor of Governor Preston.
1820-1830 Transportation and Communications Improve,
Four New Counties
The next county to be created was taken from Hampshire and Berkeley and represented a northern rather than a western expansion. It received the name Morgan from General Daniel Morgan, one of the outstanding generals of the Revolution who defeated Colonel Tarleton in the Battle of the Cowpens.
The bounds of Morgan County are thus set forth: "Beginning at the mouth of Cherry's Run at the river Potomac in the county of Berkeley, thence up the middle of said Run to its source, thence due west to the top of Sleepy Creek Mountain, thence along the top of said mountain to the line that separates the counties of Frederick and Berkeley, thence with the said line to the county of Hampshire, thence a direct line until it strikes the river Potomac opposite Mitchell's Rock and thence by the river Potomac to the beginning."
Pocahontas County created in 1821, a year after Morgan had been formed, and likewise a West Virginia county, lies in the southeastern section of the state opposite the Virginia county of Alleghany. Its name was a long delayed tribute to the fine character and achievements of the Indian maid Pocahontas. She both aided the settlers at Jamestown with gifts of sorely needed food, and by her marriage to John Rolfe secured eight years of peace for them. This period was vital to their survival.