Birthplace
of Two
Governors
Ancient house in Buncombe,
built 140 years ago, occupied
an important place in the his¬
tory of North Carolina.
By W. C. HENDRICKS
The Swain House, birthplace of two cousins who became
Governors of two different states.
EORGE WASHINGTON was
still president and Tennessee
had not yet been admitted to
the Union when George Swain came
to Buncombe County, married Caro¬
lina Lane Lowrie. and built bis home
at the head of Beaverdam Valley.
The new county had been formed
in 1792 and about a year later the
log courthouse and half a dozen
straggling houses were named Mor¬
ristown. probably to honor Robert
Morris, the Revolutionary financier.
Not until 1797, when it was incor¬
porated by the general assembly, was
the village named Asheville for the
New Hanoverian who was then gov¬
ernor.
Swain had been traveling some
before he settled in Buncombe. Born
in Roxborough. Mass., in 1763, he
embarked for Charleston. S. C. at
the age of 21. When the vessel on
which he sailed encountered a storm
off Cape Hatteras, the cargo was
thrown overboard so that when
Swain got to Charleston he was with¬
out effects. He walked to Augusta,
Ga., then to Oglethorpe where he
set up as a hat maker. Later he was
elected to the Georgia legislature. In
1795. after serving as a delegate to
the constitutional convention in
Louisville, he made his way to Bun¬
combe.
Married to Raleigh Girl
The lady whom he married was a
daughter of Jesse Lane, one of the
founders of the city of Raleigh. Her
first husband, Lowrie. had been
killed bv Indians. Carolina was an
earnest and energetic woman of the
true pioneer type and she lent an
able hand in the heavy work entailed
in cutting, hauling, and hoisting the
logs that went into her home.
Thus was built the Swain house.
5V1> miles north and east of Ashe¬
ville. The original building stood
until a few years ago when, because
of deterioration of some of the tim¬
bers. it was pulled down and the
good logs were squared up and used
lor the present structure on the site.
To the right of the two-storied house
is a tiny log building now used as a
shell. This little shack was the
kitchen of the original Swain house
and has remained intact since it was
built by George and Carolina Swain
more than 140 years ago.
About the year 1800 the Swains
were joined in their home by Mrs.
Swain’s brother. John Lane, and his
wife. The latter, before her mar¬
riage. was Betsy Street, a resident
of Buncombe.
Niche in History
The log house earned a niche in
history the next year when it was
the birthplace of two cousins who
became the governors of two differ¬
ent states. Here David Lowrie
Swain was born, January 4. and here
Joseph Lane first saw the light of
day on December 14. 1801. Swain
became a judge, legislator, governor
of North Carolina, and president of
the University. Lane was appointed
governor of the territory of Oregon,
later was elected senator, then gov¬
ernor of the new state, and was a
candidate for the vice presidency of
the United States.
David Lowrie Swain grew to
young manhood in his Beaverdam
Valley home in a region that was
little better than a wilderness. It is
related that David was a sizable
hoy when he saw the first wagon
ever driven up the creek bed, which
was the nearest semblance to a road
that the valley afforded. At the
sight he “incontinently took to his
heels and rallied only when safely
entrenched behind his father’s
house.” George Swain was appoint¬
ed postmaster of Asheville in 1806
and the future statesman began at¬
tending Newton Academy under the
tutelage of the Rev. George Newton.
When, in 1832, David Lowrie Swain
was elected governor at the age of
31 years, lie was the youngest man
ever elevated to that office in North
Carolina, and his record still stands.
He served three one-year terms at
the conclusion of which he was elect¬
ed to the presidency of the univer¬
sity. a post that he filled for 33 years
with honor to himself and inestima¬
ble usefulness to the institution un¬
til his death in 1868.
Variety of Nicknames
Governor Swain’s contemporaries
described him as being tall and un¬
gainly in figure and awkward in
manner. During his candidacy for
the judgeship he was dubbed "Old
Warping Bars," a name that clung
to him until he became president of
the university. Then the students
gave him a new name — “Old Bunk."
Joseph Lane went to Indiana
while still n small lad; and in 1822.
at the age of 21. was elected to the
Indiana legislature. He served with
distinction in the War with Mexico,
rising to the rank oi brigadier gen-
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