Hillsville in Carroll County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

John Carroll

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 9, 2017

1. John Carroll Marker

Inscription. During the 1842 session of the Virginia General Assembly, despite opposition, John Carroll successfully sponsored a bill partitioning Grayson County and forming a new county, thus fulfilling his campaign pledge. Local tradition holds that the controversy over the new county’s name was resolved when there was agreement to honor Charles Carroll of Carrollton in Maryland, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Carroll’s last residence, located nearby, was a plain two-story frame house with a gable roof. Carroll, born in Ireland in 1801, died in 1860 and is buried in Wytheville.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-27.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 36° 45.421′ N, 80° 42.525′ W. Marker is in Hillsville, Virginia, in Carroll County. Marker is on Danville Pike / East Stuart Drive (Old U.S. 58) just west of Snake Creek Road (County Route 670), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hillsville VA 24343, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9

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miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Carroll County (approx. one mile away); Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hillsville (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hillsville Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Woodlawn School (approx. 6.4 miles away); Woodlawn (approx. 6.8 miles away); The Stonemans (approx. 6.8 miles away); Wythe County / Carroll County (approx. 8½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hillsville.

Also see . . . A Brief History Of Carroll County, Virginia. 1984 essay by Ninevah J. Willis at The Mountain Laurel. “Mr. John Carroll, a native of Ireland, who came to America and settled at Dugspur, got himself elected to represent Grayson County in the Legislature in order to form a new county and have it named for himself. His opponent, James Blair of Galax, caused the bill to be passed which provided ‘that the new county should be called and known by the name of Carroll County, in memory of Charles Carroll of Carrollton’ the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (January 17, 1842). Two years later Representative John Carroll got a bill enacted naming the county seat Carrollton, but the inhabitants continued calling their village Hillsville. Historians disagree as to whom Carroll County [Virginia] honors with its name.” (Submitted on June 22, 2017.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 9, 2017

2. John Carroll Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 473 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.