1870 Wise County Census -- The Robinson Township

. . . . .
86    Dotson, David     60    m     w     farmer            2000  750   Va
      Nancy             61    f     w     keeping house                 "
      Phebe             95    f     w     at home                       "
      Mary H            6     f     w     "                             "
      Justice, Peter    40    m     b     farm laborer                  Ky
. . . . .

From History of Scott County, Virginia by Robert M. Addington, page 13:

. . . . .
The Devil's Race Path Branch - Thomas W. CARTER, in a letter to Dr. Lyman
C. DRAPER, explains the origin of the name in these words: "About 1790, a
man by the name of James PAINE made a settlement at the mouth of said
branch and another man by the name of Simon DOTSON at the head. Paine's
house became the resort of bad men. Dotson made whiskey and sold to these
men until it became dangerous for travelers to pass through the gorge, and
it received the name of Devil's Race Path Branch."
. . . . .

In the "Family Burying Grounds of Wise County, Virginia", the following account is given: "Simon settled on the Guests River near where the village of Tacoma is now."