bkreviews.htm

**BOOK REVIEWS**
**Doris Cline Ward** **Clicking on an underlined title below will take you to the BookStore page where price and ordering information is given. Those not underscored are not available through OBCGS at the moment.**
THE KINGDOM OF MADISON Manley Wade Wellman One of North Carolina's best known authors has written a most compelling story about Madison County, which we are pleased to add to the stock in our bookstore. Published by the University of North Carolina Press at Chapel Hill, in 1973, Hard Bound, 6x9, 222 pp with index, besides the great text, it is so graphically portrayed by artist Frank Holyfield in such an appealing way that it is a book that anyone with attachments to this area of Western North Carolina will want to own. It concerns the history of the area, its early settlements, its military involvement's, and its people. A run- down in the index will show the presence of the towns and villages, the churches - Baptist, Methodists and Presbyterians , with their colorful early preachers; the growth of Mars Hill College and the Rumbough Hotel; while names will lead you to prominent families - Davidson, Asbury, Lusk, Allen, Vance, Chunn, Barnard, Rice, Merrimon, Merrill, Roberts, Edwards, Holcombe and Blackstock to name only a few.
Madison County, North Carolina, Early Marriages, 1851 - 1869 Over 1100 marriages transcribed from microfilm of original bonds and marriage register. Separate alphabetical listings for brides and grooms. Explanatory notes. For an excerpt of Mr. Riddle's Book Cost: $12.00 (NC residents add 6 % state tax) plus $3.00 shipping/handling Order from: Winston A. Riddle, P. O. Box 1086, Bryson City, NC 28713
*McDowell County, North Carolina Marriages, 1912-1929.* Williams, Edward P., Huntsville, AL. Three volumes in a series. Vitally important for persons researching McDowell County families. $27. 50 postpaid. Order from the author 109 Chris Hoover Circle, Harvest, AL 35749
Cemeteries of Madison County, NC Vol. 1 Vol. 1 covers Grapevine, East Fork, Halewood, Petersburg, Gabriel's Creek, Bull Creek(s), Mars Hill Rd. and on toward Yancey. By no means, complete from Mars Hill to Yancey. Cemeteries of Madison County NC Volume 2 contains 30 cemeteries and 3529 entries. It starts at the Buncombe County line on both Hwy. #25-70 and the old Leicester Rd., #1001, covers Marshall, Davis Chapel, Roberts Hill Rd, and a few down the old Sweetwater Rd. It ends about 3 miles out of Marshall at the Henderson Cemetery. Cemeteries of Madison County, North Carolina, Volume 3 contains 111 cemeteries and 330 entries and covers the geographical locations of Hot Springs, Laurel, and Stackhouse. Communities included in the Laurel area are: Belva, Ben Cove, Big Laurel, Carmen, Chapel Hill, Culvin Creek, Cutshall Town, Doug Cove, Foster Creek, Franklin Mountain, Hurricane Mountain, Lewis Branch, Lonesome Mountain, Low Gap, Lumptown, Peachtree, Revere, Rice Cove, Rock Branch, Shelton Laurel and Spillcorn. Cost $18 plus $3 handling/tax = Total $21. Jan C. Plemmons 1028 St. Clair St. Jacksonville, Fl. 32254 904-388-1291 janplem@tu.infi.net For an excerpt of Ms Plemmons's Book Although not reviewed here, Volumes 1, 4 and 5 are now available.
*Towns County, Georgia Cemeteries* by Ted O. Brooke Towns County was created 6 March 1856, taking land from Rabun and Union Counties and giving land back to Rabun County. The text in this book is clear and easy to read. The illustrations are fitting to the subject matter, and the map of Towns County has the cemeteries included in the book noted by name and number. Surnames are fully capitalized, and female maiden names, where apparent, are fully capitalized. These are included in the index to aid researchers. Mr. Brooke has included a description of the site of each cemetery, and in which section of the cemetery he began the survey. The mortality census for 1860, 1870 and 1890 give the name, age, birthplace, month and cause of death. The copyright date is 1996, and the book is available from Mr. Ted O. Brooke, 2055 Foster Drive, Cumming, GA 30130-3549. The cost is $32.00 plus $3.00 postage (total ($35.00 by mail.). Mrs. Muse will be donating her personal copy to OBCGS. -(Mrs.) Wilma L. Muse
*My North Carolina Heritage Volume 5* *Colonel Ambrose Mills - His Ancestry and Descendants 1650-1995.* Marshall L. Styles Published by the author, Duncan, SC, 1995; softbound, Index, 108 pp. This is an exceptionally useful book for the Old Buncombe area as it includes the primary families of Edney, Towe, and Styles as well as all the Mills history. Quality research was done into the affairs of all the author's direct ancestry, with additional allied material included as well, to set the various family scenes and relationships. Many original documents have been reproduced to substantiate claims made, and the narrative sections hold the reader's interest. The full name index is in the front of the book followed by their genealogical numbers - not by page numbers. Look for this book in the Families shelf under MILLS. For details in purchasing a book, contact the author at 1915 East Main Street, Duncan, SC 29334.
Meet Our Ancestors by Alexander, Shelby J. L., Hardbound, 8 x 11, 513 pages, over 350 photos, charts, documents, etc. - $51.50 postpaid - from author- 7673 Shields Rd. Louisburg, OH 45338 "It is an experience to say 'Hello" and to get to know those who have gone on ..." says the author at the beginning of this great collection of family histories for the many branches of her family tree. Prominent names included are: Louden, Thomas, Baird, Hembree, Hamby, Walden, Rains, Muse, Owens, Ayers, Crowley, Rose, Archer, Bowlin, Siler and Wilson. Coming from the Atlantic coast, these families emerged in early Campbell County, Tennessee, but while the author delineates origins of names and lists early immigrants, the research doesn't always connect the Tennessee family to an early immigrant; but the author has successfully preserved memories and family connect- ions from early Tennessee to the present. For an outside reader the weakness of the book lies in there being no index, and the Table of Contents not telling where in the book to find blocks of family names. Accordingly, this is not a book to be scanned in a hurry. Take time to read the anecdotes for their southern flavor. We thank Mrs. Alexander for this contribution to the OBCGS Library, and it may be found in the "FAMILIES" shelf under "Louden".
*Our McDaniel Family* Roper, Julia F.; Joseph O. Fleming. A family of WNC in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Descendants of James Washington McDaniel and his wife Mar- garet Phipps McDaniel. The group lived in Burke, Rutherford and McDowell Counties, N.C. before spreading west. This is a genealogy with an easy- to- follow numbering system, short, inform- ative biographies, and liberally illustrated with quality produced photos of family members. Hard Bound. Available from Julia F. Roper, 1^st Street NW, Hickory, NC 28601-4903. Price $45.00, $2.70 NC tax; $2.00 p/h. TRYON COUNTY, NC CROWN DOCKET JULY 1769 -- APRIL 1776, OCTOBER 1777-1779; LINCOLN COUNTY NC STATE DOCKET APRIL 1779 -- APRIL 1780 compiled by Judson and Jeri Crow, re- printed from the Bulletin of the Gene- alogical Society of Old Tryon County, Inc. with their permission. These are court records of cases that appeared during the periods stated, invaluable for genealogical study. Our ancestors were human beings with ups and downs in their lives. A great portion of the book are pages of repro- ductions of the early records in the original handwriting, thus preserving in duplicate these valuable details. We thank Judson and Jeri Crow for this book.
NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS (1861-1865) A ROSTERby Weymouth T. Jordan and Louis H. Manarin, published by the NC State Division of Archives and History in 1975, reprinted in 1990. The OBCGS library has volumes V, VI, VII, XII, and XIII, containing records of soldiers who fought in the Civil War from North Carolina in the 11th, 15th, 16th through 18th, 20th through 21st; 22nd through 26th, the 49th through the 52nd and the 53rd through the 56th Infantry Regiments. This second printing contains additional material that has been collected since the first printing so it is well to consult the Addendum at the back of each volume. These books contain information about the soldier and his county of enlistment, as well as quite often, the county of his birth, besides a brief account of his service record. In some cases, the dates of death are included. These may be found on our shelves for NC General - Dir-Military, 1861-1865 Jordan. They were an OBCGS purchase.
THE ALLENS OF YANCEY COUNTY, NC -- Carol Allen. This book again reflects the computer technique of gathering information and printing it out, group sheet by group sheet, and to its credit, it does have an index. The index enumerates many allied family names, making this a very worthwhile book to consider when hunting for families of Yancey and earlier Buncombe County who appear to have entered this area from Wilkes and Surry Counties. The computer program used fortunately asks for sources, so there is much detail here in a concise format, and the areas for notes do give informative narrative details which add to the interest of the collection. It would help researchers if compilers using this type of format would include a Table of Contents in the fronts of their books, outlining the structure of the family groups that are discussed. [Contributed to OBCGS Library by Mrs. Robert T. Allen, 1806 Maxwell Ave., Baltimore, MD 21222.]
Williams, Ed. P., McDowell Co., NC Marriages 1894-1912 Volume 2. Alphabetized by groom and bride. A great addition to Volume 1, bringing records up to 1912 - transcribed from microfilm, much easier to read and research. In many cases it lists both parents of the groom and the bride, as well as date and place and official presiding. You can find this on our North Carolina shelf, under McDowell Co. - and also on our sales table.
FRANKLIN, THE STILLBORN STATE: by Dave Foster. A fresh look at the reason why the pioneers of WNC wanted to set up a new state in the area we know as East Tennessee and why their efforts failed. Easy to read account of the political intrigue surrounding John Sevier and John Tipton - softbound, 26 pp ~ available at the OBCGS Library in Tennessee General - History and for sale (see back page).
OURFRENCHCANADIANANCESTORS, Volumes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 by Thomas J. Laforest is a great collection of research into French Canadian families that date to early days in Quebec. Since many descendants migrated into the upper American States, this is a rich source of material to investigate when American origins seem obscure.

The Pickens Sentinel ~ Favorite Newspaper of Pickens Co., SC ~ 1872-1893 ~ Historical and Genealogical Abstracts Vol I & II. Softbound, 8 x 11, approx. 1100 pages of genealogical data about families of this time period. This was a special OBCGS purchase to help fill the gap of information in this upper South Carolina County, contiguous to Old Buncombe County of WNC and some source of many early settlers who became part of WNC families. ~A gold mine of information ~. Find it in South Carolina Co.- Pickens -. Compiled by Peggy Burton Rich and Marion Ard Whitehurst; published by Heritage Books, Inc. Bowie, MD.

"You're more Irish than you know. If you hate pretense, love personal freedom, have a lingering resentment of authority, are fond of good music and a tall tale, you might look to your genes. Your heritage is showing, it may be just below the surface, but it's there.Eileen McCullough's love of Appalachia and Ireland brought all this sharply into focus for her, and now she shares that knowledge with you. --It's More Than Blarney
Eileen McCullough moved from California to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia and made her first trip to Ireland in that same memorable year. She has a B.A. in Speech and Communications and an MA in Literature, both of which were mere preparations for her real love, Celtic Vulture. She found it in Ireland and she found it in Appalachia. Since that time, she has steeped herself in Appalachian and Celtic history, literature, music, dance, and the fascinating tales that are told by the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic." -- book jacket MORE THEN BLARNEY
IS AVAILABLE FROM OBCGS -- PRICE: $14.95 NC RESIDENT TAX: $.90 POSTAGE AND HANDLING: $2.00 Total for NC residents -- $17.85 Total otherwise -- $16.95

FAMILY HISTORY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA,
by Joyce Justus Parris, 220 North West Avenue, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Softbinding 8X11, 218 pages. Appendix includes alphabetized list of all queries published in Ms Parris' "Family History" column that have appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times Sunday edition over the past 12 years. This is an extensive how-to-do-it book on researching family history. As the title indicates, it highlights Western NC records, but much of the information would be useful anywhere. The first chapter is Basics. Experienced researchers will only want to scan this. However it would be invaluable to beginners. A number of existing how-to books are listed and reviewed briefly. The value of using computers to arrange and store your data is stressed. Sources of records are covered with fine detail. This includes court records, county, state and national archives and the LDS. Another chapter deals with newspapers, census records, microfilms and vertical files. There is a compendium of WNC covering the people, schools, religion and cemeteries. One section tells where and how to obtain military records from the Revolutionary through the Spanish-American wars. There is also a list of addresses for major publishers of ancestry books. This is a welcome addition to the OBCGS shelves. Personal copies may be purchased from the writer. -- Stan Robinson

Rankin, Hugh F. The North Carolina Continentals. Chapel Hill, UNC Press, c.1971, repr. 1973. An interesting comment written on the flap of the dust cover: At the time of the outbreak of the American Revolution it was generally assumed in England that North Carolina was the weakest colony in America. Other colonies shared this opinion, one Pennsylvania loyalist writing, " North Carolina is in general the poorest country on the Continent, Nova Scotia excepted, and one of the Floridas. With very few honorable exceptions, much of the same character must be given of the people. The bulk of them are renegades from other colonies." Yet by the time the war was over, the North Carolinians, particularly those who served in the Continental army, had won the respect of many, including the redoubtable general from New England, Nathaniel Greene, for their persistence and spirit in the face of unnumerable hardships and defeats.
    In this thoroughly researched and well-written account of the experiences of the NC Continentals, Hugh F. Rankin provides one of the very good studies of the Continentals in individual states. Chapter 1 is a superb narration of the events leading to war in North Carolina....continuing on to deal with all the campaigns and battles in which the NC Continentals took part - Brandywine, Germantown, Charleston, Savannah, Camden, Eutaw Springs and others.
    The author has used every possible source, and this study will be of great value to both scholars and general readers interested in the Revolutionary War, as well as for students of NC history.
    For patrons of OBCGS who had revolutionary ancestors, this is an excellent source of a vision of their participation. Spend some time here in the library reading. [Howard Jones Collection] Find it in the NCGen - Dir Military section.

Wilma L. Muse reports on some recent acquisitions:
Some Early History of Rims Creek Valley This speech, written by Blanche H. Robertson, was given at the DAR meeting, 13 Jan 1999. It was presented by Pamela Ballard. Some of the names mentioned are: Biffle, Deaver, Hyatt, McDowell, Moore, Penland, Rims, Shelby, Vance, and Weaver. This is mainly the story of the Biffle Family who left their land in Rowan Co., NC, in 1769, traveled west thru the Yadkin valley, and crossed the mountains to the newly formed Sullivan Co., NC. They then entered land on the south side of the Holston River. Thru this account, we become acquainted with the Weaver family, whose daughter Elizabeth (age 13) married John Weaver (age 21), and learn when they traveled across the Blue Ridge Mountains to Weaverville. They built the 2nd permanent white settlement southwest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They also established the first white settlement in the north part of present Buncombe County, NC. The other families are mentioned as the history develops, giving the reader a sense of the pioneer spirit of those early settlers. It may be found in the Family History Files under WEAVER and Family History Files under BIFFLE

Rich Without a Cent by Billy Hugh Campbell, Jr. (c) 1997 This is a collection of stories from the forgotten town of Garbers and the Settlement of Cherokee Creek, Washington Co., TN. Donated by Bill Allen.
    The title comes from a quote by Calvin Hoss (1812-1870)"I would delight to give my children an enduring heritage and genuine religion. With this in their possession, they would be rich without a cent. But if they forsake this, all the gold in California and all the pearls in the ocean won't make them wealthy." Garbers is located a few miles south of Jonesborough, TN, in the settlement of Cherokee Creek. Part One of this book tells the history of Cherokee Creek, of Hossville, Garbers, and Union Grove. Cherokee Creek and Mountain derive their name from the Indian uprising in mid-July, 1776.
    Concerning Hossville, the earliest business was a water-powered mill established in the early to mid 1800's by Calvin Hoss (1812-1870). Garbers beginnings reach back to the 1820's with the establishment of a grist mill on land owned by John McAllister. Union Grove, now called Union, became a community in itself with the formation of the Union Church of Christ in 1836. The author has illustrated the people and buildings of these areas in order to give the reader a glimpse of those settlements in the 'olden days.'
    Part Two contains fifteen folk tales, some with intriguing names such as "Alice's Encounter," The Shadow, and Gold Fever. The first one, The Jackarhinus, leaves the reader wondering what kind of beast this was ! In Alice's Encounter, she makes contact with the Jackarhinus, a grizzly encounter. In The Shadow, the story of a huge bird is related, with the sudden end to its raids on local farms. Gold Fever deals with three young men who set out for California. Having made their fortune, two of these men came back to establish their own lives in Garbers. A thorough search was made for the gold of one man, but it was never found. (Read the story to learn what that "gold" was !) The author has included a map of Garbers and Hossville, TN, with the residence's occupants listed. Also, this book is indexed, a wonderful aid to those looking for specific information about the families included in these stories.

Ancestors and Descendants of Charles Zachariah and Laura Roberts Netherton by Belle Netherton Shelton. Donated by Bill Allen. Some of the names mentioned in this Ancestor Chart Book are: Alexander, Boone, Crane, Davis, Justus, Moore, Moorman, Netherton, Roberts, Terrell, Shelton, Sluder, Smith, Suttles, Thornhill, Tweed, Warren, Williams and Candler. The original home of the Candlers in England was at Colhester. Daniel was the grandson of Lt. Col. William Candler, and the son of Thomas Candler. Daniel Candler was the first of the name to come to America: this was in 1735. He came from Ireland with his wife, Hannah, from Kilkenny. A brief history of the Candler family is given, and their connection to the Netherton family is outlined. Charles Zachariah Netherton was born in Candler, NC, but later moved his family to Asheville, NC. Zachariah was a noted land surveyor and land owner who owned vast acreage in Western North Carolina. His granddaughter, Mary Candler, wife of Col. Virgil Lusk, sold hundreds of acres to George W. Vanderbilt. This land is part of Biltmore Estate. Due to the relationship of the Candler family to many others in Western North Carolina, the facts given will offer added details to other who are searching both the Candler and Netherton families.

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