Some of the first families to come to the area of what is now called southeastern Roane County were John Kelly, Ware Long and Francis Garner. They with their families settled along Big Sandy Creek in 1809 about three miles below the mouth of Left Hand Creek. John Ashley and his family followed the next year and the area became known as Ashley's Settlement. These families probably came westward by the Kanawha and Elk Rivers and then up the Big Sandy.

Eleven Justices of Roane County met at New California and organized the first government for the newly formed county.

The story behind the names of Spencer and Roane.