Asheville North Carolina Genealogy

Address of Col. Allen T. Davidson at Lyceum Asheville, North Carolina

Extract from an Address delivered by Col. Allen T. Davidson, at Lyceum Asheville, N.C. Nov. 7th, 1890. “The most noted characters of the County who were in public life, were John Welch, General Thomas Love and Col Robert Love. These represented the County of Haywood for many years; preserved and maintained a high reputation until their death. Some of these had formerly represented Buncombe County in the Legislature; notably, Thomas Love, who represented Buncombe County from 1800 to 1808 (the sessions of the Legislature were then annual) afterwards served from Haywood form 1808 to 1828, perhaps, the longest service of … Read more

Biography of Natt T. Wagner

Natt T. Wagner manager of the bond department of the First National Bank of St. Louis was born in Asheville, North Carolina, June 12, 1883. His father, J. A. Wagner, is a native of Tennessee, while the latter’s father was a native of Virginia. J. A. Wagner became an architect, devoting his active life to the profession, but is now living retired in Asheville, North Carolina. He has been very prominent in community affairs and during the Civil war served as a captain in the Federal army. He married Emma Brown, who was born in Greene county, Tennessee, and has … Read more

Samuel Love and Dorcas Bell – Descendants

Dorcas Bell, m. Samuel Love July 3rd, 1759. Descendants 1) Robert Love, b. August 23rd, 1760 in Augusta County, Virginia, and d. in Waynesville, N.C. July 17th 1845. he was married to Mary Ann Dillard Sept 11, the year 1783. Said Mary Ann Dillard was b. 21st day of September 1767, and d. on the 25th, day of March 1842. 2) James Love, b. 3-10-1762, m. Winnesoppea Dillard 3) Thomas Love, b. Nov. 16th, 1766, m. “Patsy” Martha Dillard Jan 15th 1788, and d. in Macon Co. N.C., Nov. 3rd 1834, and left quite a list descendants, some of whom … Read more

Asheville, North Carolina History

Copied from an article in the Asheville Daily Citizen of 1898, the same being excerpts from an article by Foster Sondley in the same issue, headed “Asheville’s Centenary” to which reference is hereby made-F.D. Love, ——–o———–o——— In speaking of the Court House, he says “On January 23rd, 1807 deeds were made to the Commissioners, Samuel Murry senr., Thomas Foster, Thomas Love, etc., appointed by the General Assembly of the State (North Carolina) to purchase or receive by donation land sufficient for a Public Square in the Town of Asheville in the County of Buncombe and State aforesaid”. This Thomas Love … Read more

Biography of John S. Cairns

North Carolina has produced many men of genius whose lives gave rich prospects of fame and usefulness, who doubtless would have brought honor and glory to the shrine of the “Old North State;” but when life has seemed most hopeful to them, when their work has begun, as it appeared, to cast upon them the halo of success, they have been snatched away from the merited renown of this world to the rest and greater glory of the Unknown. The lamented Fuller, with his thirty ideal years of a faithful life, and the invalid Gillespie, struggling against the evils of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harold Graham Alexander

Alexander, Harold Graham; treas. National Screw & Tack Co.; born, Cleveland, Sept. 5, 1882; son of W. D. B. and Lida Graham Alexander; educated at University School, Cleveland; Asheville School, Asheville, N. C.; Yale Scientific School (B. S.); married, Cleveland, June 9, 1908, Eleanor Quayle; issue, one daughter, Eleanor May 4, 1910.

Letter from John P. Arthur to Franklin D. Love

Copy of letter from John P. Arthur to me. John P. Arthur Asheville, N.C. April 17th, 1903. Attorney at Law. Franklin D. Love, Esqr., Georgetown, Texas. Dear Sir: Yours of the 14th, inst., to hand. I spoke to Mrs. Hilliard this morning about writing a sketch of the life of her Grandfather, Robert Love, but she says that she is not in a position to give you as much information as I have already furnished, as she was but nine or ten years old when he died, and she has but a faint recollection of him. I suggest that before … Read more

Where was Hernando de Soto’s Guaxale?

Guaxale was a Native American village visited by the Hernando de Soto Expedition in late spring of 1541. De Soto and his small army of conquistadors explored what was to become the Southeastern United States between the years 1539 and 1543. Despite the fact that de Soto’s men only visited Guaxale briefly, and the village was not large, it’s location has been a major focus for scholars, studying the earliest Spanish explorers. In North Carolina one suggested location of Guaxale has even been a key element of tourism promotion.

Slave Narrative of Aleck Woodward

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Aleck Woodward Location: South Carolina Age: 83 “You knows de Simonton place, Mr. Wood? Well, dats just where I was born back yonder befo’ de war, a slave of old Marster Johnnie Simonton. Five miles sorter south sunset side of Woodward Station where you was born, ain’t it so? My pappy was Ike Woodward, but him just call ‘Ike’ time of slavery, and my mammy was name Dinah. My brother Charlie up north, if he ain’t dead, Ike lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Two sisters: Ollie, her marry an Aiken, last counts, and she … Read more

Harry Lavitt

Sergt., Inf., Co. K, 22nd Inf. Born in Buncombe County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Lavitt. Entered the service at Chicago, Ill., Nov. 1, 1916. Sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., then to Camp Douglas, then to Ft. Hamilton, Ellis Island, N. Y., Green Pt., Brooklyn, Syracuse, N. Y. Mustered out at Ft. Jay, N. Y., May 6, 1919. Now located at Asheville, N.C.

Slave Narrative of Sarah Gudger

Interviewer: Marjorie Jones Person Interviewed: Sarah Gudger Date of Interview: May 5, 1937 Location: Asheville, North Carolina Date of Birth: Sept. 15. 1816 Age: 121 Investigation of the almost incredible claim of Aunt Sarah Gudger, ex-slave living in Asheville, that she was born on Sept. 15, 1816, discloses some factual information corroborating her statements. Aunt Sarah’s father, Smart Gudger, belonged to and took his family name from Joe Gudger, who lived near Oteen, about six miles east of Asheville in the Swannanoa valley, prior to the War Between the States. Family records show that Joe Gudger married a Miss McRae … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis Stutson

Stutson, Willis; sales mgr. The Oldsmobile Co.; born, Lancaster, O., Jan. 28, 1884; son of Alverd and Emma Stutson; educated, Asheville schools, Asheville, N. C.; married, Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23, 1905, Ethel Crozier; issue, one daughter, Elizabeth Stutson; 1904-1905, special agt. New York Life Insurance Co., traveling out of Dayton, O.; 1905, 1906, 1907, has his own insurance business, writing general lines in Washington Court House, O.; 1909-1910, traveling salesman, out of Cleveland, for The White Co.; 1910-1911-1912, branch mgr. of The Winton Motor Carriage Co., at Columbus, 0.; at present sales mgr. for The Oldsmobile Co.; member B. P. … Read more

Biltmore Mound, Asheville, North Carolina

During the 1980s American scholars suddenly became interested in Spains efforts to colonize the North America. For 200 years American history books had generally ignored the Spanish and French presence in North America prior to the English colonies winning their independence. Generations of students here were under the impression that no white man had set foot on the continent until brave Englishmen founded a short-lived colony on Roanoke Island, NC in 1585. Well, while all the history books were being printed in Boston, probably most students had the impression that the first colony was founded by the Pilgrims in 1621 … Read more