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 [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.