The love story of James Alberto and Delilah McDowell
James Alberto McDowell was born May 30, 1849, probably in the old Buck Hotel on the northeast corner of Broadway and College Street in Asheville, NC. There is a parking garage on this site now (1990). He was the second child of William Wallace and Sarah Lucinda Smith McDowell. He lived with his family on the large farm two miles south of the public square in what is now the Smith McDowell House on Victoria Road, from the late 1850s until 1880 when the family moved to a large house on S Main St, now Biltmore Ave, where St. Joseph’s Hospital is.

He was not quite 13 years old in April 1861 when his father, Captain William Wallace McDowell led the Buncombe Riflemen from Buncombe County to join other Confederate troops in the Civil War. He, along with his mother, four younger brothers and one sister, remained on the farm, because he was too young to serve. His older brother, Gaston did enter the Confederate service in July 1864 at 17 and served until April 1865.

Following the war, James’ father was in very poor health as a result of his war experiences. The boys had to help run the farm and adjust to the many hardships of the reconstruction. In 1880, the McDowells lost their home on Victoria Road and moved to Biltmore Ave where they opened an exclusive boarding house for their many out-of-town friends and extensive family.

It was about this time that James McDowell met Delilah Holcombe. Clara McDowell Harris, great granddaughter of James and Delilah McDowell, pieced together James and Delilah’s incredible love story after interviewing Florence Duncan Ballew and Rhonda Westall, Bessie McDowell Ballew’s daughter-in-law and son-in-law.

Delilah Holcombe was from South Carolina. Her parents had both died when she was young. Her brother raised her and was not kind to her. When she was 18 she ran away from her brother and came to Weaverville, NC to stay with an aunt. She got a job in Asheville as a cook for a Mrs. Vicksbeard (?).

She met James and they fell in love. Because Delilah was a servant girl, the McDowells evidently did not consider her good enough for their son to marry. So James moved Delilah into a slave house where he took care of her. He was working for the railroad and wasn’t home much, but when he came home, he always brought provisions. Delilah learned to be a midwife while helping an elderly African-American woman. She continued her midwife practice the rest of her life and delivered many of her grandchildren as well as neighbor’s babies.

James and Delilah had six children while living in Asheville. Three of the children died. Delilah delivered her children with James’ help. The three surviving children were Leslie Dean born November 2, 1883, Bessie Eliza born February 23, 1885 and James Albert (Bub) born February 2, 1888.

In October 1893, following the death of James’ father, Major William Wallace McDowell, his mother Sarah Lucinda McDowell put James and his family in two wagons with provisions and sent them to the South Toe River in Yancey County to look after the McDowell property there. James’ younger brother Arthur went with them to help them get settled.

A preacher followed on horse back until they got to the Madison County line and then married James and Delilah. They already had three children and Sarah Lucinda didn’t want the neighbors to know they weren’t married. Bessie, herself, didn’t know they weren’t married until the preacher said “I pronounce you man and wife.” Bessie was eight years old at the time.

James and Delilah had five more children after moving to Yancey County, including twins who died. The other children were: Sarah Maybelle (Sis) born April 24, 1894, Annie Kate born June 30, 1896 and Margaret Louella (Maggie) born May 9, 1901.

The three older children had gone to school on McDowell Street while living in Asheville. They continued their schooling on South Toe River. As the younger children grew up they also went to school on South Toe River.

James had a bad drinking problem before he left Asheville, but had gotten it under control after moving to Yancey County. He farmed and ran a grist mill on the River to provide for his family. He was well liked in the community and his neighbors thought highly of him. His brothers came to visit regularly. They camped under the “big tree on the property” and hunted. His nieces and nephews also visited. After James’ death the family continued to camp on the river near Bessie Ballew’s.

Bessie could remember when she found out there was no Santa Claus. Her father went to Asheville to get provisions and Christmas presents, but didn’t get back in time. Delilah stayed up all night making cookies. The next day James made it back with dolls, toys and goodies from Granny McDowell (Sarah Lucinda).

In later years, galax picking was a way they could make money. Delilah had been out gathering galax and had gotten cold. She contracted pneumonia. Bessie sat up with her mother and had to read her lips to know what she was saying. Delilah died March 5, 1905.

After her death James practically grieved himself to death over losing the love of his life. He was a very sick man so his people bought him a house and property in McDowell County. He took his three youngest children, Sis, Kate and Maggie, and moved to Old Fort.

James cut wood for sale as a livelihood. One day after he had been out clearing new land, he came in that evening bad sick. He had a heart attack while the girls were washing dishes and died April 23, 1909. His brother, Arthur, buried him in an old established cemetery behind Bob Greenlee’s, on a hill overlooking Old Fort.

Someone rode by horseback to South Toe River and told his son James (Bud) of his father’s death. Bud hurried by horseback to Old Fort, but James was already buried.

The following is from an article in The Asheville Citizen Times, April 29, 1909

Death of James A McDowell at Old Fort
The funeral services over the remains of James A. McDowell, whose sudden death occurred at his home near Old Fort Friday night, were held yesterday, attended by many friends and relatives. The internment was at the burying ground near Old Fort. Mr. McDowell was a son of the late Major W.W. McDowell, and had a brother, Gaston McDowell, of Asheville. He was 60 years of age at the time of his death and for many years resided in Yancey County. Early in January this year he moved with his family near Old Fort where he had since resided.

Mr. McDowell had been in ill health for the past two or three years, but was apparently as well as usual Friday. The immediate cause of his death was heart failure. Surviving are five daughters and one son.

From the McDowell Democrat Newspaper, Marion, NC
April 26, 1909