Currently I am searching for families in Yancey, Madison, McDowell, and Buncombe Counties in North Carolina. I am the biological daughter of World War II U.S. Army Veteran, James Edward Clayton, Sr. (1920-1990). His biological parents are Orpha Mae Foster (1904-1994) and William Arthur McDowell (1895-1968). Orpha Mae Foster's parents are Zebulon Vance Foster (d. 1950, Buncombe Co., NC) and Nancy M. Hollifield, both born in Madison County and both died in Buncombe County. Nancy Hollifield's parents are William Reece Hollifield (d. 1913, Knox Co., KY) and Rachel Banks (d. in Buncombe County in 1928, I believe), both lived in Madison County in 1860, 1870, and 1880. Rachel Banks was an illegitimate child of Betsy Banks, she is the daughter of John Henry Banks. I have absolutely no information on Zebulon Vance Foster's parents as his daughter, Orpha, never knew who they were. William Reece Hollifield is the son of Sally (unknown maiden name) (b. 1800 in Virginia) and Isaac Hollifield (b. 1804 in North Carolina). Back to the paternal side, William Arthur McDowell's parent's are David Ulus McDowell and Ida Candler (no info for Ida Candler). David Ulus McDowell's parents are George McDuffie "Uncle Duff" McDowell and Eliza Clarissa Hughey (Huey) both of whom are buried in Jupiter Cemetery, Weaverville near my home.
On my maternal side I am a daughter of Virginia Ann Lamb, daughter of Hazel Nellie Minish (b. 1914, McDowell Co., NC - d. 1982, Buncombe Co., NC) and George Winfield Lamb (b. 1899, Greene Co., TN - d. 1972, Buncombe Co., NC). Hazel Nellie Minish's parents are Wiley Romulus Minish and Nora Lee Ward (d. at 103 years old). Nora Lee Ward was an illegitimate child of Minnie Ward and it is rumored her Father was a Proctor. Minnie Ward died sometime around 1900 and I have no further information on that line. Wiley Romulus Minish died in 1950 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and was buried in Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Nebo, NC, next to his wife Nora Lee Ward. Wiley Romulus Minish's parents are Wiley Sylvester Minish and Susanna Catherine "Katie" Denny. Katie Denny's parents are Susan and Steve Denny of Yadkin County, NC. The paternal side of my maternal side, George Winfield Lambs parents are Rufus Marion Lamb and Mary Theodosia Parkins, both of Greene Co., TN. Mary Theodosia Parkins parents are Solomon Thomas Parkins and Ellen Wills. Ellen Wills' father was a German immigrant named Lewis Wills (sometimes confused with Wells). I have no further info for Solomon Thomas Parkins. Rufus Marion Lamb's parents are Riley Harland Lamb (d. 1913, buried in Rabun Co. GA) and Elizabeth Varner (no further info on Elizabeth Varner). Riley Harland Lamb's parents are Nathan Marmaduke Lamb and Orpha Rollins (I believe they are from Randolph Co., NC and migrated to Greene Co., TN).
I had research on the Lamb family to 1458 that is documented on ancestry.com but I would like help tracing the McDowell family name. If you are interested in sharing info with each other feel free to contact me, I am always happy and willing to help.

Currently I am searching for families in Yancey, Madison, McDowell, and Buncombe Counties in North Carolina. I am the biological daughter of World War II U.S. Army Veteran, James Edward Clayton, Sr. (1920-1990). His biological parents are Orpha Mae Foster (1904-1994) and William Arthur McDowell (1895-1968). Orpha Mae Foster's parents are Zebulon Vance Foster (d. 1950, Buncombe Co., NC) and Nancy M. Hollifield, both born in Madison County and both died in Buncombe County. Nancy Hollifield's parents are William Reece Hollifield (d. 1913, Knox Co., KY) and Rachel Banks (d. in Buncombe County in 1928, I believe), both lived in Madison County in 1860, 1870, and 1880. Rachel Banks was an illegitimate child of Betsy Banks, she is the daughter of John Henry Banks. I have absolutely no information on Zebulon Vance Foster's parents as his daughter, Orpha, never knew who they were. William Reece Hollifield is the son of Sally (unknown maiden name) (b. 1800 in Virginia) and Isaac Hollifield (b. 1804 in North Carolina). Back to the paternal side, William Arthur McDowell's parent's are David Ulus McDowell and Ida Candler (no info for Ida Candler). David Ulus McDowell's parents are George McDuffie "Uncle Duff" McDowell and Eliza Clarissa Hughey (Huey) both of whom are buried in Jupiter Cemetery, Weaverville near my home.
On my maternal side I am a daughter of Virginia Ann Lamb, daughter of Hazel Nellie Minish (b. 1914, McDowell Co., NC - d. 1982, Buncombe Co., NC) and George Winfield Lamb (b. 1899, Greene Co., TN - d. 1972, Buncombe Co., NC). Hazel Nellie Minish's parents are Wiley Romulus Minish and Nora Lee Ward (d. at 103 years old). Nora Lee Ward was an illegitimate child of Minnie Ward and it is rumored her Father was a Proctor. Minnie Ward died sometime around 1900 and I have no further information on that line. Wiley Romulus Minish died in 1950 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and was buried in Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Nebo, NC, next to his wife Nora Lee Ward. Wiley Romulus Minish's parents are Wiley Sylvester Minish and Susanna Catherine "Katie" Denny. Katie Denny's parents are Susan and Steve Denny of Yadkin County, NC. The paternal side of my maternal side, George Winfield Lambs parents are Rufus Marion Lamb and Mary Theodosia Parkins, both of Greene Co., TN. Mary Theodosia Parkins parents are Solomon Thomas Parkins and Ellen Wills. Ellen Wills' father was a German immigrant named Lewis Wills (sometimes confused with Wells). I have no further info for Solomon Thomas Parkins. Rufus Marion Lamb's parents are Riley Harland Lamb (d. 1913, buried in Rabun Co. GA) and Elizabeth Varner (no further info on Elizabeth Varner). Riley Harland Lamb's parents are Nathan Marmaduke Lamb and Orpha Rollins (I believe they are from Randolph Co., NC and migrated to Greene Co., TN).
I had research on the Lamb family to 1458 that is documented on ancestry.com but I would like help tracing the McDowell family name. If you are interested in sharing info with each other feel free to contact me, I am always happy and willing to help.