wealth and poverty Archives - Appalachian History

Father went to the county seat and bid in a pauper

The county had no poor farm those days; county officials let paupers out to live at homes of whoever of responsibility made the lowest bid.

It ought to be clear that poverty in the mountains of North Carolina is actually and relatively less than elsewhere in the state.

Extremes of wealth/poverty don’t exist & never have in Tazewell. There are many comfortably wealthy men in the county; but only 53 paupers.

Joe made his boast that he lived here 40 years, had as much to eat, was as well dressed as anyone else, and had never done any useful work.

Bramwell, WV, pop. 4,000 at the turn of the 20th century, was the richest town per capita in the US, with at least 14 millionaires there.