The Edwards family came across the southern part of the state of Virginia and finally settled in the area now known as Dickenson County. Dickenson County was formed in 1880 from Buchanan, Russell and Wise Counties. In 1882, Holley Creek became the county seat. Holly Creek was later named Clintwood and remains the county seat today.
In the late 1700's and early 1800's the area was wilderness. Many hunters passed through the area, although none of them became permanent residents. Like many other areas of the Cumberland Mountains, it is rumored that Daniel Boone was one of these hunters. In 1910, Richard Colley settled in the area that later was to become Sandlick. Consequently, Sandlick is the oldest settled point in Dickenson County. Most of the Edwards ancestors later settled in the Sandlick area.
The early settlers owned small farms and lived off the land. When the railroad came to the area, industry became a possibility. Coal mining and lumbering became prominent industries. Coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Many men have lost their lives due to mine explosions or cave-ins. There is a memorial located in Clinchco dedicated to the coal miners who have been lost due to the mines. Even if men survived the mines, many of them were later to succumb to black lung from breathing the coal dust years before.
The first established church in Dickenson County was at Sandlick. It became known as Sandlick Primitive Baptist Church. It was formed in 1837. Ancestor Lewis Edwards was an elder of the church, as was his son, William Lewis Edwards. Several male descendants of Lewis Edwards have also been deacons in the church that still sits near the site of the original log structure.
