Tom comes from the mountains of Western North Carolina. His family is steeped in history. He is related to Zebulon Vance. Part of my purpose in the genealogical search is to find out the exact relationship. I don't think Zeb was a rooster fighter but there were a bunch of them in Tom's family, especially his Poppa, T. B. (Junior) Vance, Jr. There are many tales about Poppa. I hope to fill this page, when time permits and when Tom will let me record his stories.
     Tom's Grandfather, T. B. Vance, Sr. had eight sons and one daughter. He was a successful merchant and entrepreneur. He had worked hard for his money and wanted each of his chilren to have their own bedroom, therefore he built the "big house", which it is called to this day. There are three floors to the house, with a large porch on all floors. The only duaghter, had not only her own separate bedroom but a sitting room, and dressing room.
       There were twenty rooms in the house. The present owners, Tom's cousins, Ethel Gail and Joan, have remodeled the home, decorating it with the old furnishings and keep it open for the family to use. They also lend the home out for community meetings, weddings, and receptions. Youth camps are held there often.
     The film, The Winter People starring Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis was filmed in the "big house". The funds for this shooting aided in the restoration of the house.

Tom's Poppa
The Vance Family Tree

The Ray Family Tree (Tom's Maternal Tree)

The Wiseman Family Tree (Tom's Grandmother's Tree)

				These geraniums are here because from Tom's earliest memory until now, there has always been geraniums on the front steps leading to the "big house".

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