Everyone who is interested in Franklin County, Virginia history and genealogy will recognize the name Essie Wade Smith, "Miss Essie", a great historian and antiquarian. Much of her work is spread throughout various volumes in the Mann Room in the Franklin County Library in Rocky Mount, Virginia. All I ever heard about Miss Essie was that she loved history and worked as the local librarian in from 1943 to 1954. Miss Essie passed away in 1963 but it was not until 1977 that an unfinished manuscript was published by the Franklin County Bicentennial Commission. Harold W. Ramsey "consulted with some knowledgeable people after which it has been decided to reproduce it 'as is' rather than attempt to edit or revise to any extent".