Surnames mentioned: Campbell, Buchanan, Henry, Preston, Russell, Adams, Madison (A couple of pages from A History of Saltville, Virginia, by William B. Kent, 1955) (Practicing with my new hand held pen scanner :) ) In 1748 Charles Campbell surveyed land in Buffalo Lick and a patent was issued by the governor of Virginia on October 25, 1753. This Patent covered the lower portion of the valley and reached up to what is known as "the old store," or the sight of the first shaft well. Part of this was swampy and some was good rich soil. Charles Campbell died in 1767 and his widow, Margaret Campbell (sister of John Buchanan, progenitor of the Rich Valley Buchanans), with four daughters and one son, William,came to Aspenvale, near Seven Mile Ford, and built their home in 1768. This William CampbelI who became the husband of Elizabeth Henry, [sister of the famed Patrick Henry] Inherited the Salt Lick tract from his father. At this time, there were yet some Indians - peaceful ones,however - making salt from the saline springs on the edge of the lake. John Buchanan and Charles Campbell were surveyors ; both of them had the spirit and courage of the early Pioneers with the attributes of physical strength and endurance to withstand the hardships incidental to the primeval conditions of that period. William not unlike his father, endeared himself to the hearts of not only those who followed his leadership in civil and military life, but also those who depended upon his protection from the wiles of savage Indians and hostile renegades. His successful military achievements at the King's Mountain have so immortalized his fame that he is regarded as one of the greatest military leaders of this section of the State. General William Campbell left this valuable property to his children. Sarah and Charles Henry. Charles Henry died at five years of age, but previous to his death the Virginia Assembly gave him five thousand acres of land for the valuable service his father had rendered to both state and nation. Colonel Arthur Campbell, the boys guardian, selected land adjoining the Salt Lick tract, and when Charles Henry died, it all passed to his sister, Sarah, who married General Francis Preston on January 10, 1'793. General Campbell's widow became the wife of General William Russell, who was previously married to Tabitha Adams, daughter of Samuel Adams of the Northern Neck region of Virginia; and they with their family moved to Salt Lick in 1788 and built what was afterwards known as "Madam Russell" house. [The Methodist Church in Saltville is Madam Russell Methodist Church.] General Russell engaged in the production of salt by building a furnace and salt houses. The furnace he used was an open shed, and the kettles were the camp kettles of eight to ten gallons capacity. A controversy arose between General Russell and the Guardian of Sarah Campbell as to the use of her property, and the court appointed Colonel Thomas Madison, an uncle of Sarah, as her guardian. Colonel Madison came to Salt Lick in 1790, and built a log cabin later called the "Preston House." He dug a well and began the manufacture of salt. General Preston, who had married Sarah Campbell, built an addition to the cabin in 1795, moved his family there and began the production of salt by digging another well, enlarging the furnace and kettles, thereby increasing the output. In the meantime General William Russell died at the home of his son, Robert L. Russell, in Shenandoah county, on the14th of January, 1793. General Preston made his home in Salt Lick until the year 1810, then moved to Abingdon. Jane A Virginian living in Florida