Archibald Borders, son of John and Catherine (Sellards) Borders and grandson of Hezekiah Sellards, was born May 20, 1798 in Giles County, Virginia and died November 12, 1886 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He is buried in a small enclosed cemetery atop the hill down river from where his large log home once stood on the old river road above the present Belle Chapel. His gravestone is the spire type or Washington monument style resting upon a square pedestal and approximately ten feet in height.

On December 14, 1820 he married Jane "Jency" Preston, born about 1799 in Virginia, daughter of Moses and Fanny (Arthur) Preston.

Though the youngest son in the family he became the wealthiest and best known of the eight children. Lawrence County Court Records reflect numerous land transactions and leases of property up to 3000 acres per parcel. His usual signature was simply "A Borders".

Archibald served as a magistrate in this area, when it was part of Floyd County, Kentucky. When Lawrence county came into being in 1822, he continued in this position until the 1st County Judge was elected in 1851. He ran for office winning the election and served as the first county judge until 1858.

At first he and Jane settled at White Goose Shoals. Shortly after their first two children were born they moved to the large farm situated on River Road, between Borders Chapel and Belle Chapel.

Upon a visit to the old homeplace of Archibald you find evidence still exists of Archibald's many and varied activities.

Just behind the field where the residence stood, are two small hollows. The right one, just below the cemetery, is referred to as tan bark hollow. Sink holes or depressions still exist where once ground pits were located for leather tanning operations. On the front slope of the ridge separating the two hollows, and directly behind the old residence location there remains a flat shelf which had been excavated for his combination saddlery and shoe shop.

In addition to these activities Archibald engaged in timber and tan bard sales. About 1860 he built the "Sandy Valley", a steamboat most popular on the Sandy prior to the Civil War and one that played an important part in the development of the community of Peach Orchard. When Colonel Garfield came into the area to head the Union Forces, he commandeered the Sandy Valley while the river was at flood stage, forcing the crew to take the craft from its docking, turn it in the heavy current and move up river as a supply ship for his troops.

Up river from Archibald's home and just around the bend on the River Road is the large brick dwelling on which Archibald used slave labor in construction of a home for his son, David. Bricks for the residence were fired in the area between the residence site and the Levisa Fork.

One of the surprising things is the Judge Archibald died intestate. In Lawrence County Deed Book 45, page 61, is recorded a Commissioners Deed, at the direction of the May 1891 term of court to settle a portion of his estate. This deed carries 43 signatures of the next of kin.

After Archibald died, Jane married McDonald Preston.