The story behind the names of Spencer and Roane.

Judge Spencer Roane, Judge of he Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia (1785-1822) had the distinction of having the new county of Roane and the new town of Spencer named in his honor in 1856 and 1858. The story is related that this eminent jurist once helped a Virginia farm boy extricate a wagon that was mired in the mud. Years later, this boy, John P. Thomasson, now a man and leading the cause to form a new county in this section, remembered this act of kindness, and when the county was formed and a name needed Mr. Thomasson suggested Judge Roane thus giving the county its name. A short time later when there was a movement started to change the town's name from New California, again Mr. Thomasson asked the Virginia Assembly to further honor his friend by naming the town "Spencer".

Source: Times Record/Reporter; CENTENNIAL; Section 5 1856-1956; Roane Beginning; Spencer, W. Va.- October 11, 1956Source: Times Record/Reporter; CENTENNIAL; Section 5 1856-1956; Roane