Documents Add to a Family's Story for Genealogists

The Local History Room at the Transylvania County Library has a rather random collection of County Commissioner documents from 1899-1940 that include a variety of papers.  There are bills, certifications, invoices, notices, petitions, receipts, reports, and numerous miscellaneous items.

In 1910 J.J. Miner was the manager of the
"only newspaper in Transylvania County", the Sylvan Valley News.

Most of the information is handwritten on plain writing paper.  However numerous documents are on printed letterhead, stationary, or forms.  These offer information about the agency, business or company.  For example Transylvania County Register of Deeds stationary from 1899 includes the name of W.M. Henry as the Register, a receipt from 1910 W.E. Bishop lists his services as plumbing, sewer building, tin and sheet iron work, products include hardware, stoves, etc. 

A 1910 statement from Dr. A.E. Lyday contains a printed address of Broad Valley, NC but it has been marked out and changed to Penrose. The Broad Valley post office only operated for one year between June 1902 and June 1903 so that indicates he had the statements printed during that time.

Another 1910 invoice for “services as night watchman” has the name of Coleman Galloway and the year of 1906 printed on it.  However the name and date are crossed out.  A.M. Paxton is written above Galloway’s name.  The date range penciled in is February 2, 1910 to March 3, 1910.  Paxton’s fee was $1.00 for the entire month.

The Miller Supply Company had one of the fancier receipt
forms.  It was printed in color and advertised that they
carried The Tubular Cream Separators.

There are numerous receipts from Miller-DeVane Supply.  A search of the Sylvan Valley News indicates J.A. Miller and Frank DeVane were in business by March 1906.  They had a warehouse on N. Caldwell St. and sold everything from metal roofing to lace curtains.  Advertisements list items including barb wire, blankets, and buggy whips.  A Certificate of Dissolution was taken out by Miller in January 1910.  Apparently DeVane was ill and unable to continue in the business.  Miller Supply continued to operate for several more years.

While these items often seem insignificant they can offer an interesting addition to a family’s story for genealogists.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.