History of Asheville, (Buncombe County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

Alfred H. Belo, journalist, was born at Salem, N. C., May 27, 1839. His boyhood and youth were spent in North Carolina, and when the civil war broke out he volunteered for active service in the Confederate army, and was elected to the captaincy of the first company from his native county of Forsyth. He served during the operations in Virginia, earning a colonel's commission and the reputation of a brave officer. Twice he was severely wounded, at Gettysburg in 1863, and again the following June, when Grant made his fierce attack on the Confederate lines at Cold Harbor. He was with Lee when that general surrendered at Appomattox. Leaving the scene of the disaster, he determined to seek a home in the new southwest, and he rode on horseback from Virginia to Texas, reaching the latter state in June, 1865. He accepted a position on the Galveston News, which journal he purchased in 1875. In 1881 Colonel Belo formed a stock company, authorized by its charter to publish newspapers at Galveston and such other points in the state of Texas as they might select. He duplicated the News and issued it simultaneously at Galveston and Dallas. Each paper had its own local department, the same editorial writers, the same branch offices in New York, Washington, Chicago and elsewhere, and the same press service throughout Texas. Matter was consolidated at either Galveston or Dallas, according to convenience, and transmitted from one office to the other, three hundred and fifteen miles distant, by telegraph. The two journals wore thus enabled to command a complete equipment. He died at Asheville, N.C., April 19, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Robert Brank Vance, soldier and representative, was born in Buncombe county, N.C.; son of David Vance, and grandson of David Vance, who removed from Winchester, Va., to North Carolina; settled on the French Broad river, and took part in the battle of King's Mountain, Oct. 7, 1780. Robert B. Vance attended the common schools; became a farmer, and served as clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions, 1848-56. He was elected captain of a company raised for the Confederate States army in 1861; was twice elected colonel of the 29th North Carolina regiment, serving with the regiment in Tennessee from Nov. 17, 1862, and therefore took no part in the defense of his native state when invaded by Burnside. Upon the death of Gen. James E. Rains, while leading a charge at the first battle of Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862. Colonel Vance assumed command of the brigade, and was promoted brigadier-general in 1863. He was captured and imprisoned until paroled by President Lincoln, when he was sent North to obtain clothing and money for the relief of suffering Confederate prisoners. He was a representative from North Carolina in the 43d-48th congresses, 1873-85, and in the latter year was appointed U.S. commissioner of patents. He died in Asheville, N.C., Nov. 28, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Kimberly, educator, was born in New York city in September, 1818; son of David and Elizabeth (Ferris) Kimberly. He was graduated from the University of the City of New York, A.B., 1837, A.M., 1840, and taught school in North Carolina and Tennessee. He was married in 1840 to Caroline A., daughter of Tristam Capehart, and secondly, on Dec. 8,1858, to Bettie M., daughter of the Hon. Thomas Manly. He was professor of agricultural chemistry in the University of North Carolina, 1856-66, and in 1859 he visited Germany, where he studied chemistry at the University of Heidelberg. He was again professor of agricultural chemistry at the University of North Carolina, 1875-76, and removed to Buncombe county, where he engaged in farming, 1876-82. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from the University of North Carolina in 1846. He died at Asheville, N.C., March 6, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Zebulon Baird Vance, senator, was born in Buncombe county, N.C., May 13, 1830; son of David Vance. He was named for Zebulon Baird, a Scotchman, who immigrated to New Jersey, removing thence to North Carolina previous to 1790, and taking with him the first wagon seen in Buncombe county. Zebulon B. Vance attended Washington college, Tenn., and the University of North Carolina, 1851-52; was admitted to the bar in 1852, and began practice in Asheville. He served as solicitor for Buncombe county, 1852; was a member of the state legislature, 1854; was a representative from North Carolina in the 35th congress, having been elected to complete the unexpired term of Thomas L. Clingman, elected U.S. senator; and was re-elected to the 36th congress, serving from Dec. 7, 1858, to March 3, 1861 He raised a company in the 14th North Carolina regiment in May, 1861; was appointed captain; was promoted colonel of the 26th North Carolina regiment in August, and served throughout the Peninsular campaign. He was governor of North Carolina, 1862-66, and during his administration, through the purchase of a foreign steamship fitted out as a blockade runner, he provided both the state troops and the Confederate government with clothing, arms and general supplies. In consequence of his position as governor after the occupation of the state by the U.S. troops, he was arrested in May, 1865, taken to Washington, D.C., and was soon after released on parole. He was pardoned by President Johnson in April, 1867. He was a member of the Democratic national convention of 1868; re-elected to the U.S. senate in November, 1870, but was refused admission, resigning in January, 1872, and in the same year was the defeated Democratic nominee for senator, although congress had removed his political disabilities. He practised his profession in Charlotte, N.C., until his re-election as governor of the state in 1876, and was elected U.S. senator without opposition in 1878, and again in 1884 and 1890, serving from March 18, 1879, until his death. He introduced the sub-treasury bill in the 51st congress, and at the time of his death was a member of the committees on privileges and elections, finance, national banks, the University of the United States, and woman suffrage. He was succeeded by Thomas Jordan Jarvis. He has been classed with Murphy and Macon as one of the three great statesmen produced by the state of North Carolina. He was married, first, to Harriet Newell, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Empsy, who died, Nov. 3, 1878; and secondly, in June, 1880, to Mrs. Florence (Steele) Marten, daughter of Samuel Steele of Kentucky, who survived him. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Davidson college, in 1867. Senator Vance died in Asheville, N.C., April 14, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor