Three generations later Bedent and his brother Zebulon established themselves in Buncombe County, bringing the first wagon up Saluda Mt., and following the early road roughly laid out by David McCarson and others. This road in essence is now Highway 25 to Asheville.

     Bedent and his brother joined with Daniel Reynolds in buying land and selling lots which helped the little town of Morristown (later, Asheville) to get started, and also with his brother operated the first store, and worked in town affairs.

     Bedent married Jane Welch, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Thompson) Welch, and they had four children:  Elijah, born 1769; William born 1772; Elisha, born 1774; and Jane Eliza, born 1779.

     Jane Eliza Baird married Montraville Weaver and they lived in Weaverville.

     Zebulon and his brother joined Daniel Reynolds in buying land and selling lots which helped to create the town of Morristown, now known as Asheville. They donated land for the first courthouse in the center of the town called "the Square."  It was built near the site of the present courthouse.

     They also purchased a grist mill on a branch of the French Broad River, be- low the mouth of the Swannanoa River.  This was probably the first grist mill in Buncombe Co.

     The Baird brothers were the first merchants in town.  They had a store near the present Northwestern Bank building.  They made trips to the coastal towns with furs, meat, flour, molasses, and other goods, trading for dry goods, cookware, shoes, etc. to sell in their store.

     The Bairds were noted for their ready wit, dynamic personalities, and good business sense.

     Zebulon served as a Captain in the Army during the Revolution.  Later he served in the House of Commons (1800-1803).  He was also in the Senate between 1806 and 1822.

     Zebulon married Hannah Erwin, daughter of Alexander and Sara (Robinson) Erwin.  They had seven children:  John, who married Laney Wilson; James, who married Isabella Walker; Andrew and Joseph, who both lived in Ashe- ville; Adolphus Erwin who married Lorretta Hunter; Myra Margaret who married David Vance and became the parents of Zebulon Baird Vance; Sara Ann, who married Bacchus J. Smith; and Mary Adelaide, born 1826.

     Zebulon lived until his death on the eastern side of the French Broad River about two and a half miles north of Asheville.  He became ill while riding the road between Reems Creek and his house and died March 9, 1824. 

     He married Mary Ann Tate (10/12/1805 - 07/19/1877) on April 4, 1825 at
Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina.  Her father was Judge Samuel Tate of
Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  According to Tate family traditions, the family
originated in France, with the surname LeTete.  They were French Huguenots who fled France at the time of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day in 1572.
They settled in what is now Londonderry County, Ireland.  Mary Ann's
grandfather, Samuel "Rock" Tate married Elizabeth Caldwell, a Scotch-Irish
girl and they sailed to Philadelphia in his ship and purchased large tracts of
land.  He then demonstrated his regard for independence by serving during the
American Revolution.  Although her grandfather subsequently moved to Augusta
County, Virginia, Mary Ann's father remained in Pennsylvania.  Mary Ann's
mother, Elizabeth Alexander Tate, was the daughter of Joseph Alexander, a
captain in the Revolution.

     In 1838 Israel Baird acquired some 40 acres of land on the west side of
North Broadway Street and built a two story brick house located in the
southwest corner of Cherry and Broadway.  During his lifetime, he was active
in the Methodist Church on the western side of Church Street in Asheville (now
Central United Methodist Church).

     Israel and Mary Ann Tate Baird had 11 children:
 1.  Susan Adelia Tate Baird, (04/19/1826 - 02/17/1915), she married the
overseer of her father's farm Daniel Reynolds (03/10/1809 - 01/21/1878) on
October 10, 1844.  Ten children.
 2.  William Bedent Baird, (04/06/1828 - 11/27/1905), who married a widow,
Cynthia Alice Harris Carter (07/20/1852 - 06/26/1900), on February 3, 1887.
Five children.
 3.  Mary Sophronia Baird, (02/11/1830 - 1898), who married James M.
Craigmiles on May 30, 1848.  They moved to Madison County, North Carolina in
the 1880s.  Six children.
 4.  Dr. James Samuel Taswell Baird, (10/23/1831 - 04/22/1913).  On August 19,
1857 he married Sarah Louis L. Abbott (01/04/1840 - 09/05/1895), in Roane
County, Tennessee.  Ten children.
 5.  Margaret Jane Baird, born 1835.  She married Augustus S. Merrimon
(09/15/1830 - 11/14/1892), on September 14, 1852 in Asheville, N.C.  He was a
North Carolina Superior Court Judge, served 6 years as a U.S. Senator and
Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court in Raleigh, N.C. [see
Heritage I, article #63].  Three children.
 6.  Emma Elizabeth Baird, (1837 - 02/11/1875).  Records reflect she died in
Williamtown, Kentucky and never married.
 7.  Harriet Newell Baird, born 10/27/1838.  She married Nathaniel Atkinson,
in Cleveland, Tenn. on Feb. 2, 1858.  He was duly admitted as an attorney at
the February 1868 term of Buncombe County Superior Court.  In 1879-1880 he
served as a member of the N.C. House of Representatives from Buncombe County. Ten children.
 8.  Annie Baird, (01/17/1842 - 02/11/1842).
 9.  Julia Matilda Baird, (11/28/1842 - 08/28/1858).  She died while at home
on vacation from college.
10.  Catherine Hardy Baird, (09/16/1844 - 1882).  She married Fletcher Sarah
Hayne Reynolds (01/30/1834 - 07/19/1892), son of Rev. John Reynolds and nephew
of Daniel Reynolds, on November 12, 1868.  Seven children.
11.  Charles Israel McDowell Baird, born April 9, 1847 and married on Sept.
29, 1868 to Jennie E. Harrison in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  Four children.

     Israel Baird died on December 16, 1848, in Asheville at the age of 48.
He and wife Mary Ann were buried on the east side of Church Street under the
present Presbyterian church.