Although Watauga County, North Carolina, was not established until 1849 from the existing counties of Ashe, Wilkes, Caldwell, and Yancey in northwestern North Carolina, “all of Watauga County on the waters of Watauga River was once a part...of the famous and immortal Old Watauga Settlement of Sevier . . . .” In his “History of Watauga County, North Carolina,” John Preston Arthur provides an invaluable study of the origins and early settlers of this area rich in genealogical history.

              Arthur’s “History” not only covers the topics standard to such histories—the first settlements, Indian raids, churches, Revolutionary and Civil War activities, geological facts, legislative and other officers, population and agricultural statistics, place names, schools, etc.—but also peppers his narrative with innumerable names of early settlers, biographical sketches, and anecdotes about county residents. One chapter of the book deals with Daniel Boone, who lived there before 1769. Of particular interest to genealogists are the scores of biographical sketches of pioneering Watauga County families.