July Monday 28th 1856
Virginia
        At a court held for Wise County on the 28th day of July, at the Baptist Church, it being the place selected for the purpose of holding court.
        Present: William Richmond, William Roberson, William H Dean, Nicholas Horn, Jessee Davis, Joseph Estep, James Buchanan, Isaac Willis, S H Senter, George H Gray, Jerimiah Powers, Hiram Riggs, James Holbrook, James H McCoy, Martin Kilern, John Creech, Daniel Short, John H Vanover, Wm Vanover, Charles F Bond, who are commioned justices of the peace for the county of Wise, personally appeared in the courthouse and severally took the oath to support the constitution of the United States, the fidelity to the Common Wealth, the prescribed oath, by law against dueling, and the oath of office.
        The court proceeded to appoint one of their munber to act as presiding justice, and William Richmond, William
Roberson, and James Buchanan being before the court in nomination for that Station.
William Richmond receied upon the first ballot the votes of 
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William Roberson received upon the ballot the votes of
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James Buchanan received upon the ballot the votes of
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Neither of the candidates having a majority, Buchanan withdrew his name, whereupon the final vote was as follows, 
for Wm Richmond
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for Wm Roberson
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        The said Wm Richmond having received a majority of the votes taken, he is therefore duly appointed presiding Justice of this Court.
        The Court preceding to clarify all the Justices commisioned for this county for the performance of their duty
in court, which is as follows
1856 July Joseph Estep and James Buchanan
1856 Aug Wm H Dean, Jerimiah Powers, and Jms H Vanover
1856 September Charles F Bond amd Stephen H Center
1856 October John Creech and Hiram Riggs
1856 November Daniel H Short and Jessee Powers
[december?]
1857 January Nicholas Horn and Jas H McCoy
1857 February Isaac Willis and Owen Roberson
1857 March Jas Holbrook and Wm Vance
William B Aston, elected Attorney for the Commonwealth came into court, and took the several oaths prescribed by law
Morgan T Lipps elected Clerk for the County Court, came into court, executed his bond with security according to law,
and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Morgan T Lipps clerk of this court having appointed Edward J Culberson as his deputy, whereupon he come into court and took the several oaths prescribed by law.

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Andrew J Dotson was appointed as crier for this county came into court and took the several oaths as prescribed by law. 
Andrew J Dotson was elected sheriff of this county, came into court, executed his bond with security according to law
and severally took the oaths prescribed by law.
The court doth recommend tothe Executive David Jessee and John Roberson,as fit and proper persons to be commisioned to execute the office of Coroner within this county.
William B Ashton, William J Dickenson, Patrick Hagan, A W Smith, John Stallard and Augustus F Henderson, who have
been duly licensed to practice the law in the courts of  the Commonwealth on their motion, have leave to practice in this court and therefore they took the oaths prescribed by law.
Ordered that Jerimiah Bolin sent to be released from paying county levy.
Ordered that Amous Boling sent to be released from paying county levy and coputation tax.
Ordered that John Baker sent to be released from paying county levy.
Joseph C Wells, John Gilliam, Jerimiah Boling, John N Buchanan, and Robert McCoy, who having been returned elected as overseers of the Poor, for the county, came into court and severally took the oaths prescribed by law, to wit: the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, the oath of fidelity to the commonweath, the oath prescribed by law against dueling and the oath of office.
The court proceeded to lay off the county in School Commisioners Districts, whereupon it was agreed that the county should be divided into five Districts, which Districts should coinside with magisteral Districts and be numbered just as they are.
The Court proceeded to the appointment of School Commisioners, whereupon Isaah Jones was appointed commisioner for the first district.
[Charles?] F Bond was appointed commisioner for the second District.
Adam G Robinson was appointed commisioner for the third District.
Stephen H Senter was appointed commisioner for the District fourth.
Robert P Dickenson was appointed commisioner for the fifth District.
Ordered that the court for the County of Wise be held in the Baptist church at Gladesville, until a new courthouse can be
built, therefore the said Baptist Church is adopted as the Courthouse for Wise County.
Ordered that the Clerks Office be kept in a small house a few feet west Charles H Bond's house whereupon the said house is adopted as the Clerks Office for the County of Wise at the present.

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Ordered that Russell Couny Jail to be adpoted as the jail for this county until one can be erected at this place.
Ordered that the sheriff of the County furnish the Clerk of the County two hundred dollars of the money that he collect of the County levy, to pay for the Book for the Courts of this Counrt and the carraige on them, but should the sheriff fail to furnish said amount within time to pay for said Book, then this Court authorizes said Clerk to borrow said money until the Sheriff can collect said amount and pay it over.
Ordered that the Clerk have two good working desks or tables furnished and large press and a sufficient amount of stationary for the use of the Clerks Office all of which shall be paid out of the levy of this County.
Ordered that John Bickley be appointed Commisioner of Roads for the west end of this County who came into court and  tuck the Several oaths prescribed by law [penciled in later - different handwriting]
Orderd that Rehimiah Henderson be appointed Commisioner of Roads of the east end of this county, who came into court,
and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Ordered that Morgan T lipps , Chalred F Bond and William H Dean be appointed as building commitee to superinted the
building of this new Court House for Wise County, and are to let the plan be known and let the job to contract to the lowest 
bidder, at the next August Court requiring of the contracter bond and security for the completion of said Court House with in the time and manner agreed upon and report procedings to the court.
Ordered that the New Court House be built of hewn logs, said house to be thrity feet square, 2 stories high, the upper Story
to be divided into room, it is to be covered with shingles, the cracks are to be pinted with lime, also 2 good brick chimneys with
2 fireplaces in each chimney said house to be set on the back part of the public Square.
Ordered that the Court be furnished 20 Code of Virginia, Mayors guides, 20 Magistrates recording books and 20 act for 1852-3. 1852-1854
Ordered that the minuted of this court be made up in a good Order Book and signed at the turn of this Court by the 
presiding Justice.
Ordered that a levy of one dollars and fifty cents be tax on each tithable in the county and collected by Sheriffs 
for the year 1856.
Ordered that two courts of Issue and 2 quarterly courts be held in this county, and that they be held at the August and March terms.
Ordered that court be adjorned  till tomorrow moring, 9oclock.

[signed by William Richmond]