W. Vance Brown Papers, 1779-1894

- StnlulntLof Archlutg atib fflantrurrlplB eialf Brpartment of £rr№?i~aBb-:Htatonj fialrtglj. Marti) (BaraUna t CoUection: BROWN, W. VANCE, COLLECTION Asheville, North Carolina Pf 121.1 - 121.13 Physical Description: Letters, diaries and journals, notebooks, account books, judgment book, autograph album, tax receipts, invitations, railroad passes, membership cards, broadsides, licenses, muster roll, certificates, commissions, and bank notes. 652 items, 2 letterbooks, 2 journals, 39 diaries, and 12 notebooks. Acquisition: Given by J. Fuller Brown, Asheville, North Carolina. Biennial Report, 1932-1931* • I i Description: These are the papers of four generations of Browns, who at one time or another lived in western North Carolina. They are: John Brown (1772-181*5), his son William J. Brown (1803-1881*), his sons William Caleb Brown (1832-1862), Samuel S. Brown (1837-1862), and John Evans Brown (1827-1895)* and his son W. Vance Brown. John Brown, native of Pennsylvania, was bom in Kishacoquillas Valley, August 12, 1772 but moved later to Lewistown, Mifflin County. In 1791* he made a trip to western North Carolina for the purpose of taking out land grants for himself and speculators William Cathcart and George and James Latimer. He returned north and engaged in a grist and saw mill business in Lewistown. From 1809 - 1813 he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and from 1821-1825 was a member of Congress from that state. He returned to North Carolina around 1827 and settled at Limestone (Skyland) in Buncombe County. From then until his death in 181*5* he acted as the agent of Cathcart and the Latimers. r . Before his death, John Brown wrote his son William J. in Sydney, Ohio, to come to North Carolina and help him in his work. i I ' f i » I