We are excited about our new genealogy books focused on Western North Carolina listed below. They are now available in our eBay bookstore! You can find many genealogy and local history books in our eBay store:
Click here for our eBay Bookstore
You can search by name, author or subject by using the white search box at the top of the eBay bookstore page. All proceeds of these book sales go to the support of our library and website so your purchases will benefit the Society for years to come. If you have any questions, please call us at 828-253-1894.
Here is the list of our newest books for sale (since Jan 2023):
“Descendants of Jacob Wetzel of North Carolina,” by Edward D. Bolden (August 2024). This book combines good old-fashioned research with the use of DNA to prove his ancestor Jacob Wetzel was his sixth Great Grandfather. Jacob died between 1824 when he wrote his will and 1836 when his inventory was presented in Buncombe County Court. It includes both original documents as well as transcription of original documents. Many early WNC settlers are mentioned. Extensive research and well sourced. 204 pages, spiral bound, full name index. Price: $35.00, NC Tax: $2.45, P&H: $7.00 (Item # G-11)
“Dateline: Small-Town, USA – My years as Editor & Publisher of Small-town Newspapers and How I Got There,” by Clint Parker (2024). Clint grew up in the Deaverview & Emma sections of Buncombe County & shares his life as a young man through his time as the editor of two newspapers and finally as a resident of Madison County. Perhaps the book is best described by Jerry VeHaun, former Woodfin Mayor & Former Buncombe County EMS Director – the stories “offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of the local area’s history along with never-before-revealed insight into the person who informed newspapers regularly.” 216 pages, soft bound. Price: $19.99, NC Tax: $1.40, P&H: $6.00 (Item # G-10)
“Life’s Little Dash: The Life and Times of Alexander Wiseman,” by Tense Franklin Banks & Marie White Bost (2020). William Wiseman was born in England and came to America in 1754. He settled in the Toe River Valley and raised his family there. His son, Alexander, inherited his father’s estate and this book documents his descendants in Avery County, NC. Contains many photographs, newspaper articles, and images of original documents. It provides a real insight into the time period. 201 pages, soft bound, illustrated, a good table of contents but no index. Price: $30.00, NC Tax: $2.10, P&H: $7.00 (Item # G-09)
“African American History of Kenilworth, NC” by Linda B. Brown (2024). Linda was driven by a desire to preserve the history of this African American community. Her previous book looked at the South Asheville Cemetery, but this one looks at the entire community including Brackett Town, Clayton Hill and Clayton Town. Intensive research that is well sourced. 275 pages, ring bound, index and illustrated. Price: $35.00, NC Tax: $2.45, P&H: $8.00 (Item # G-08)
“The Whole Country Has Gone Up, History of the Second North Carolina Mounted Infantry, October 1863 – August 1865” by David P. Smith (2024). There were two regiments of the Federal Army raised in the mountains of western North Carolina and Tennessee in 1863. This book focuses on the Second NC Mounted Infantry but also includes documentation for the Third NC Mounted Infantry due to their entanglement in history. Smith was driven by a desire to tell the truth about these regiments and the men who served in them. Not only does he tell the regiment history, he also provides details about the men who served. Sources are well documented and there is an index in this 4ll page book. Price: $29.95, NC Tax: $2.10, P&H: $8.00
“Fear In North Carolina – The Civil War Journals and Letters of The Henry Family,” compiled and edited by Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell (2008), reprinted by OBCGS (2024). This book compiles Cornelia Henry’s three journals, written between 1861 and 1868, into a single volume, supplemented with additional family letters, documents and photos. Newspaper advertisements and period photos provide historical perspective. The journals provide an excellent source of information on Western North Carolina prior to, during and following the Civil War. Her writings express her thoughts and fears as she describes her daily routines, rumors and news of the war, raids, and occupation of Asheville by Union troops, and finally, troublesome times after the war. These entries also provide genealogical information for families living in the Sulphur Springs/West Asheville area during that time, information not available in typical genealogical sources. (Item # G-02) 442 pages, sb, illustrated, full name index. Price: $50.00, NC Tax: $3.50, P&H: $8.00
“John Patterson of Jenkins Branch, Buncombe County, North Carolina,” by Wes Patterson (2024) This is the first Volume of the “Butterfly Biographies,” a series of books on the Patterson family. This first volume addresses John Patterson, the author’s 4th Great Grandfather. John Patterson married Margaret “Peggy” Black in South Carolina and they had seven children. By 1798 they were in Buncombe County. Their neighbors there and in Haywood County include many well-known WNC families. The family migrated to Union County, GA and that is where John died. There are many images including maps identifying the location of the Patterson family. Wes also provides QR codes that allow you to “visit” many locations in person. A few of the other surnames in this book include Kincaid, Dunkin, Wilson, Chastain and Denton. Sources are well documented. (Item # G-03) 405 pages, sb, full name index. Price: $55.00, NC Tax: $3.85, P&H: $8.00
“John Paul Barringer Family of Cabarrus Co., NC and Its Connection with The Chariker Family of Graham Co., NC and York Co., SC, Volume 1 (The Chariker Concentration),” edited by Larry O Nichols, Sr. (2024). Doug Sigmon and Larry Nichols worked together on several family history books over the years. When Doug passed away, they were working on this branch of the Barringer family. Larry has finished the book and divided it into two volumes. This first volume focuses on the Barringer/Chariker family relationships. They trace the family from Germany in the 1600’s to North Carolina and points west. Among other surnames of interest in this volume are Brock. Eisenmann, Funkhouser, Gibson, Harrison, Martin, Nivens, Orr, Wuethrich, Bost and Smith. (Item # G-04) 334 pages, sb, full name index. Price: $36.00, NC Tax: $2.52, P&H: $8.00
“John Paul Barringer Family of Cabarrus Co., NC and Its Connection with the Chariker Family of Graham Co., NC and York Co., SC, Volume 2 (The Barringer Concentration),” edited by Larry O. Nichols (2024). Volume 2 of the John Paul Barringer family book concentrates on the Barringer family and their connections with the Jacob Alfred Smith family. John Paul Barringer’s daughter Leah married first David Holton & then Jacob Alfred Smith in 1820 in Cabarrus County, NC. (Item # G-05) 402 pages, sb, full name index, Price: $36.00, NC Tax: $2.52, P&H: $8.00 P&H for both volumes bought together is $10.00.
“The Coleman Family of 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina,” by Jane Zimmermann
Slaton and Sandra Samz, (2024). The Coleman family lived in the historic district of Montford in Asheville, NC from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Their home was at the entrance to Montford Avenue and was sometimes referred to as a “castle.” This book shares their story through personal family letters and photographs, but names of other Asheville residents are mentioned in the letters. We also have a glimpse of life in Asheville during this time – the paving of streets, the flu epidemic, the celebration of the end of WWI. The family story is combined with the story of the home and its fate. Softbound book of 144 pages, illustrated, full name index. Price: $25.00, NC Tax: $1.75, P&H: $7.00 (Item # G-01)
“Fallen Heroes, Transylvania County, NC – Remembering Our Soldiers,” by Jan C. Plemmons (2019). Reprinted by OBCGS in 2023. This is a 146-page softbound book with lots of photographs. Jan and a group of volunteers researched those from Transylvania County who gave their lives in service during the “recent” wars. Soldiers are listed alphabetically with their information, and many have pictures. Price: $25.00 NC Tax: $1.75 P&H: $6.00
“Walnut School, Years to Remember,” by Jan Plemmons (2000). Reprinted by OBCGS in 2023. This is a 95-page softbound book. Jan attended Walnut School in Madison County and remembers that time as being full of fun and adventure. This book brings both the history of the school and the people to life with many photographs. She includes pictures of the faculty and students through 1962. Price: $20.00 NC Tax: $1.40 P&H: $6.00
“Madison County, North Carolina Tax Record 1898,” compiled by OBCGS Volunteers (2023). This book is composed of scans of the original pages of the tax record book. Taxpayers are listed by township. Some new names in this book. 300 pages, full name index. Price: $28.00, NC Tax $1.96, P&H: $7.00
“Madison County, North Carolina Tax Record 1897”, compiled by Sandy Samz and other OBCGS Volunteers (2023). Looking for someone in Madison County, NC at the turn of the last century? This book might help. It is composed of scans of the original pages of the tax record book. The taxpayers are listed in one of the fourteen Townships in existence in 1897. The Tax Collector recorded their payment (or lack of payment) as well as making notes by some of the names. Words like “gone” or “dead” are found. He also wrote different locations by some of the names – Buncombe or Tennessee, for example. There are 339 pages & a full name index. It is listed on our eBay bookstore or you may purchase a copy in our library. Price: $28.00, P&H: $5.50, NC Tax: $1.96
“Buncombe County Heritage Book, Vol. 1, Second Edition” by OBCGS Volunteers (2023). The original edition of this book was published in 1981 and has been out of print for some time. OBCGS volunteers have scanned the book to make it available again. You will find an exact copy of the original book with one exception that may be an improvement. There are two fold out pages at the back of the book – a WNC county formation chart and an 1891 Birds Eye View of the City of Asheville. These were both cover liners in the original copy instead of fold out pages. There are 249 pages that provide an excellent history of the area, including many pictures. The remaining pages are paragraphs of specific family histories and more pictures. Contains 495 pages, is soft bound and has a name index. Price: $45.00, NC Tax: $3.15, P&H: $9.00
“Where Two Paths Converge – The Union of Vernie Edwin Burleson, Jr. and Stella Louise Ramsey” by Louise Burleson (2021). Louise published this book earlier but has recently given us permission to combine the two volumes into one book. We share a quote from her introductory pages.
“With over 4,000 people in my family tree, many will not be included in this story. Each holds a piece of my discovery in their own way. I discovered that Mom, Stella Ramsey, and Daddy, Vernie Burleson, Jr., are fourth cousins on the Davis line. They are probably related along other lines as well, since surnames Davis, Sawyer and Ramsey are very common on both sides and our families lived in the mountains of North Carolina for hundreds of years.”
This book combines the two volumes she previously published into one book, but we kept the content of each volume as it was originally. Volume, or as Louise calls them, Path I follows her Fathers line. Path II follows her Moms line. In addition to the Burleson and Ramsey surnames, you will find many other familiar WNC family names – Bailey, Barnes, Carter, Buckner, Davis, George, Hensley, Holcombe, Thompson, Greenwood, Roberts, and Sawyer, to name a few. Each volume has its own Table of Contents and Index. There are a total of 284 pages in this soft bound book. Price: $25.00, P&H: $8.00, NC Tax: $1.75
“A Heritage Revealed, The Early Biddick Family of Southwest England”, by Randy Biddix. (2023). The author has written this book as a follow up to “Legacy that Endures: The Story of my Biddix Ancestors of Western North Carolina” which tells the story of his 5th great grandfather, John Bittick, who came to America from the British Isles sometime before 1753. This second book expands on the earlier research by tracing the origins of the family back to England. A number of records which explore the surname and its usage, locations and movements, occupations, and the likely progenitor of the family back to the 12th Century are presented. A detailed review of the parish records and a Y-DNA analysis are also highlighted. Original research for this book was conducted in England by the author. There are 114 pages including a number of pictures, maps, graphics, and documents. The book is soft bound, sources well documented, and includes an every-name index. Price: $32.00 NC Tax: $2.24 P&H: $5.00
“Joshua Jones of the Misty Blue Mountains”, by Kenneth Davidson Israel & Evelyn Peace Campbell (2023). This set of three volumes is the second printing of the original book published in 2003. That hard bound book was about 1000 pages. Volunteers at OBCGS kept the original content but separated it into three softbound volumes. There is a table of contents in each volume, but the index is at the back of Vol 3. The page numbers are the original page numbers.
Documentation for this book begins with Joshua Jones’ birth in Albemarle Co., VA in the mid 1700’s. In 1778, the family moved from Virginia to North Carolina and lived in the counties of Burke, Albemarle, and Buncombe. Each child of Joshua and Elender Medley Jones is presented with a descendant chart showing three generations to include grandchildren. The children are Steven Jones, Mary Jones, Jackson Jones, William Jones, Russell Jones, Thomas Jones, Nancy Jones, and Joshua Jones, Jr. The ancestors of these offspring are traced to recent times. These volumes include the original photo galleries, family maps, and kinship charts. Total number of pages in the three volumes is 1,114. Sold only as a complete set.
Entire set of three volumes: Price: $80.00, NC Tax: $5.60 P&H: $10.00
“Early Northeast Buncombe County, NC Land Records, Including portions of Madison & Yancey Counties Volumes 1 – 4”, by Dorinda Whitley (2014). Back by popular demand – this 4-volume set contains the author’s work to identify the land owners and participants in all the early deeds executed in the northeast area of Buncombe County at its time of settlement. All four books are hard bound and sold as a set. Below are explanations of each volume:
Volume 1 begins with a chapter of North Carolina County formation, migration, political and Cherokee treaty history and is illustrated with color maps (both antique and newly-drawn). The second chapter gives detailed descriptions and illustrations of surveying, mapping, the land grant process, and little-known resources for discovering where people actually lived. Color endpapers offer orientation maps and instructions on how to use this multi-volume set. The bulk of Volume 1 is an alphabetic index (for letters A-H) of every name mentioned in 7300 early grants and deeds in the northeast portion of Buncombe County, NC. It covers the area north of Beaverdam Creek in Asheville and east of the French Broad River. Deed book and grant file number references are given for each name, with a brief location description. Also, the role each person played in each transaction, such as grantor, grantee, chain bearer, etc., and biographical information contained in the source document is included. Each property is identified by an “Item Number” and map grid number where the property locations can be found on topographic maps in Volume 4. The item numbers were assigned by DeedMapper (software from DirectLine Software) during several years of research. The item numbers can also be used to discover all the participants in a given transaction (in Volume 3). 674 pages
Volume 2 continues the alphabetic index (for letters I-Z) of every name mentioned in 7300 early grants and deeds in the northeast portion of Buncombe County, NC. Color endpapers illustrate an original land entry, grant, survey and county recorder’s notes, and the same grant as found on microfilm. 597 pages
Volume 3 contains deed transactions by “Item Number” as assigned by DeedMapper software. This volume presents all of the names contained in the “Every Name Index” in Volumes 1 & 2, reassembled to show all the participants in a given transaction. Source references, biographical notes, DeedMapper item numbers and map grid numbers are preserved. Color endpapers show topographic maps of the area from 1900 and 1901, and the original southwestern border of Yancey County. 712 pages
Volume 4 has each deed and grant (documented in Volumes 1 & 2) drawn (platted) using DeedMapper. The outlines of the properties appear on 1940s-era topographic maps which have been enhanced for easier reading. The large area covered by the project map (the area north of Beaverdam Creek north of Asheville and east of the French Broad River) has been divided into page-size grids. The properties are labeled with the DeedMapper item numbers. Readers can begin with this volume if they are focusing on a geographical area rather than a name. Armed with the item number shown on the map, the reader can consult Volume 3 to discover the people associated with that piece of land on the indicated date. 343 pages
These books are only sold in a set since the reader will need all four volumes to do their research.
Entire set of four volumes: Price: $170.00, NC Tax: $11.90, P&H: $18.00
We have a limited quantity of these books so order yours now! If your family lived in Northeast Buncombe or Yancey County, these are the books for you.
