Thursday, Jane tt. U73 The Newt-Record Page S
44
Uncle" Amos Ledford- A Remarkable Individual
By JIM STORY
Amos Ledford, 103 year-old
native of Yancey County, who
has made his home for the
past three years with a
daughter, Mrs. Margaret
Cole, in the Grapevine section
of Madison County, is a
remarkable individual. His
brilliant memory makes him a
most interesting con
versationalist and he
thoroughly enjoys visitors.
I discovered this last
Thursday afternoon when I
decided to visit "Uncle Amos"
for an interview at the
suggestion of another
daughter, Mrs Lora Parker,
also of the Grapevine section
As I approached the neatly
kept and furnished 10' x 55'
mobile home where he resides
I met one of his grand
daughters who lives in a home
adjacent to the mobile home
As I started toward the trailer
I asked if Amos ledford lived
there and she replied yes,
he's sitting inside" "Do you
think he'd let me interview
him?" I asked after in
troducing myself. "I'm sure
r
he would enjoy it very much.
He loves company", she
replied.
Although she was quite busy
with her farm chores, she took
a few minutes to introduce me
to her grandfather. Also
present was one of his sons,
Roy ledford, of Elizabethton,
Term., who was visiting there
for a few days. 1 was sorry
that Mrs. Cole, with whom he
reisdes, was not present 1 was
told she had gone for an ap
pointment with a doctor
Nevertheless, I could hardly
believe that Uncle Amos"
was 103 years of age Actually,
he didn't look a year over 80
He invited me to sit dow n and
stay a spell" and that's just
what I did- and enjoyed every
minute of it
He told me he was born in
the Roaring Fork section of
Yancey County in 1870 "Back
then the crowd around
Roaring Fork was pretty bad
to fight and cause trouble but I
never got into any real
meanness other than a few
fights and I've never seen the
man I was afraid of", he said
p mm) mwf f mm)
with a twinkle in his bright
eyes.
Amos likes to tell about his
28 years as a hard working
logger on the railroad.
"During those years I saw II
loggers killed in the dangerous
work", he said.
He was married to Miss
ljlhe Fender in February,
1902. Mrs. Ledford died in
1962. "She was a fine woman
and I still miss her", he
remarked. To this union were
born nine children, eight still
living "Guess how many
grandchildren I have ", he
asked He then said proudly,
"I have 360 grandchildren
spanning four generations.
They are scattered all over the
United Slates"
He then drifted back to
bygone days and said he was
the second person in Yancey
County to buy a Model "T"
Ford.
As we talked I could tell he
was enjoying the interview as
much as 1 was He said he was
a Free Will Baptist and
crediUed his good health and
longetivity to good good and
7
mm) m
WWW
wty r,ght ill
hard work. He goes to bed
about eight o'clock every
night and arises about 5:30 in
the mornings. He has access
to a radio and television and
enjoys "every minute of the
day". His vision is almost
perfect and does not wear eye
glasses. Asked about his
habits, he smiled and said, "I
chew a little tobacco but I quit
smoking years ago".
As the above picture was
made outside the trailer, he
said, "Shucks, let me put
down these two canes. I don't
need them". He laid down the
canes, crossed his arms, and
said, "Okay, shoot the pic
ture". One of the recent thrills
Amos talks about is a letter he
received from Congressman
Roy A. Taylor, who
congratulated him on his long
and useful life. "I sure was
proud to get a letter from such
an important person", he
commented.
He insisted that I stay the
rest of the afternoon but I had
to leave. However, I told him
I'd come back to see him soon.
i
And I expect to do Just that. It
is inspiring to talk to this good
man who, although he never
attended school, has more
knowledge through ex
perience than many college
professors.
Walnut News
Joyce Kilmer Forest Is
Memorial To Poof
ME
flBffil
PRICES GOOD THURSDAY, FRIDAY, & SATURDAY WHILE QUANTITIES LAST
NEW COLOGNE SCENT PALMOLIVE
RAPID SHAVE
SHAVE CREAM
OUNCE
AEROSOL
CAN
ONLY
n
EACH
LIMIT 2
PKG. OF 30 DAYTIME
- Pamirs
EACH
HUGE
SELECTION! GREAT SAVINGS!
U LniZLlA
I
(o)
TOP ARTISTS TOP SONGS
COMPARE AT $6.95
only tnfihfth
1 lT JV I
Am
AMMf MUftftAV
joov ami If m
Jtltnv MrCAIM
At IMAW ROTMI ft I
Mil Tin It
JAMtS SAOWM
CUftTlSMAVf If 10
CHAftllt WeCOV
BLKMPlCKf TT
IK I 4 TMUk TUAMf ft
VfMTUMI
. flMM BpWATBA
RtMOftTCM TM0
LOME TTA L VNM
CWAfl L I V MlOf
TAMMV WVNETTC
JCBBT Hf CD
JCBB.Y LEI LEWIS
tt a mot so
iAW MOW A AO
GtOftGf JOf S
JOHNNY CASH
tBIOOH HAUT
osnoanc noTHCns
MCKB ALPtAT
AC! CANNON
CM AM
AAVCMAALIt
f Wf M.V AOTMCH
UPOTMtXlV
MARTV AOeBiNS
CARL SMITH
HANK SNOM
Jf ANNIE C "HE v
NOAMA it AN
hank Thompson
me rle haggard
lvnn anderson
sammi smith
f(RLMH HUSKV
SHOOK NTOM
MRRANTt Tf ICHCR
GftOftGC MA AH I SON
FACffl
AOOtTHkAIIT
MOOCH SM4.M
HANK J"
EDOV ARNOLD
0ILLV CRASH CHAOOOCh
BUCK OWENS
TENNESSEE IPNtf fORO
REV CLEOPHUS ROBINSON
SOUl STIRRERS
JiMi HENDR'X
THREE OOG NIGHT
MOOOV BLUES
ISAAC HAVES
MELANIE
DOOMS
JERRY BUTLER
JOHN Lit HOOKER
JEANKNK3MT
f A RON VOUNG
JOHNNY PAVCMf C
WAVLON JENNINGS
SUSAN RAVI
I NO A RONSTAOT
HANK WILLIAMS
DONNA f ARGO
MEL TILLIS
tLOVO CRAMER
CH T ATKINS
BOOTS RANDOLPH
EOOV ARNOLD
JIM REfVfS
PORTER WAGONER
FOUM TOPS
CM ANA ROSS
cooo
TMU$OAY,
f R i A Y ;
$AT t 6 $AY
C ANJl-
- LAST.
I a
t
'z:i riAZA SHcrr..fG ccrrta
L i. HH 2S m4 7 it PASS MABHAll
C rvi f A.M. f ML Mlr ! P.M. tmrntm
.! TO THE UMi
II AIIMTl'IMJA UUUlti . 'I II 4
. S IS II, BALLOONS J
ft I IE I I A Kin J
- mt JTi i .
S "1
m r f m jtr' rvju k i
B PKG. OF 100
ACH ; .... U A 3
II i ou 71 I I rrm ft,
t CV .iL.
m NMM'' t V LIMIT 2
EACH l&gUlfil
i OUR REG. 27c J VIL jj
1 rVViM3
S L J LIMIT 2 I VI )
QUAKER STATE "WX
I rwOTOR OIL I
ftCCULAit HEAVY DUTY
i vri i.'j : ' it t
Miss America Capps, who
has been living in Melvindale.
Mich, for a few months, is
visiting Mrs. Pauline Chan
dler and relatives in
Weaverville, Asheville and in
South Carolina.
Mrs. A. S. Reeves and Mr.
and Mrs. Plumer Cody have
had the following relatives
from Port Huron, Michigan
visiting them last week and
part of this week; Mrs. Albert
Reeves and daughter, Aubrey
Reeves and Mrs. and Mrs.
Harold Reeves.
The Rev. and Mrs. George
Moore and two daughters, and
Mrs. Gussie Ray and a friend
fromn Reems Creek left on
Friday for Mexico where they
will attend a Bible conference
for a week and then go on to
the Grand Canyon before
returning home.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Guthrie
and Mrs. Almarie Cody from
Asheville spent Sunday in
Gas ton la with their sister,
Mrs. Mae Carswell.
Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Chandler
and their son in law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Vester
Waldrup and daughter from
Arden are spending this week
In Myrtle Beech S. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Mc-
Clure and son and daughter
from Minneapolis, Minn, are
spending this week with Mr.
and Mrs. Chester Thomas and
Mrs. Norman Pearson and
children and visiting relatives
In and around Walnut.
Mrs. Monroe Sawyer from
Hot Springs visited her son in
law and daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. Roy Cantrell over the
week end.
David Metcalf of Charlotte
is spending this week with his
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.
R. Tweed.
WHILE
THEY LAST
JOHNNY HOP TON
ROV ORB I CON
DOLL V PAP TON
CONWAY TWIT T Y
RED SIMPSON
P ITT V WCLLS
DOT! l Wf ST
STONEWALL JACKSON
BOBBY OOLOBBORO
JACK GREENE
ROILING STONES
JAWS JOPlIN
Nf II YOUNG
JOHN DENVER
LEO ffPPELIN
BUPRCMCS
QUANTITY tMMTS IBtlVtB
LOLLIPOPS A Cattlemen's
FHP All i
I thf k-mniFl Field Dav
On July 10
There will be a field day
held July 10, at the Buncombe
County Fire and Rescue
Training Center and Robin
son's Polled Hereford Farm.
Such interesting topics as the
influence of bull power,
nutrition requirements for
reproduction, herd health,
lowering protein and total feed
cost, and the influence of feed
frequency and performance
I will be on the program. These
upics win De discussed by
members of the Extension
Animal Husbandry staff and
several guest speakers. The
day will conclude with a tour
of Robinson's Polled Hereford
Farm.
All persons interested in the
cattle industry in North
Carolina should plan to attend.
For further information
concerning transportation,
etc., contact Maurice
McAlister at the County
Extension Office Phone 649-
2411
Hot Springs
Health Group
Meet July 23
Members of the Hot Springs
Health Program will hold
ftieir annual meeting on July
S at the Hot Springs high
school auditorium at eight
o'clock, it has been an
nounced.
At this time there will be a
report of the progress of the
pro grim and election of board
members of the next year.
Also, the public will have the
opportunity to meet Dr. Reese
Steen, dentist, and his wife,
Lynn; Alex Morton, druggist,
and his wife Sussane; and
Saaan Neil, new dental
bgienisL
S All members of the Hot
Springs Health Program will
bt digfclo to vote at the
meeting. However, you must
becomes member at least tea
tfars before the meeting. AO
persons who signed up over
nt past two rears continue to
3 bt members and do not need
, to sign up again. Wt will send
st personal tetters to all
members on our rolls prior to
J ta meeting. Please bring mat
letter to the meeting to show
- outCK.oui? ! t
A flail i k fltiaa tV ti riai
Deep In the North Carolina
mountains Is a 3,800 acre tract
of wilderness designated as a
memorial to the man who
wrote "Trees."
Joyce Kilmer Memorial
Forest typifies the vast
hardwood forests which
covered the Southern Ap
palachians many centuries
ago. It lies within Nantahala
National Forest southwest of
the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park and is
preserved in its primitive and
naturalstate except for access
roads and trails which make it
accessible to visitors.
The entrance to Joyce
Kilmer Memorial Forest is 15
miles northwest of Rob
binsville, and accessible from
U. S. 129 by a Forest Service
road terminating in a cool
glade where there is a picnic
area.
There are more than 20
miles of trails that slice
through the forest, and the
hinker can explore one of the
most impressive virgin forests
in America. Primitive
camping is permitted on the
outer rim trails. U. S. Forest
Service campgrounds nearby
are Horse Cove Recreation
Area and Cheoah Point
Recreation Area. Private
campgrounds are also located
near the forest.
On a plaque near the en
trance visitors read the poem
"Trees." On a trail beneath
the giant trees in Poplar Cove
is a bronze plaque bearing the
inscription:
JOYCE KILMER
165th Infantry
Rainbow Division
Soldier and Poet
Author of "Trees"
Born In New Brunswick,
New Jersey
December 6, 1886
Killed in action
In France France
July 30, 1918
The poem for which Kilmer
is best known might well have
been inspired by the trees in
the forest which now bears his
name. Some of the poplars,
hemlocks, oaks, sycamores,
beech and other varieties are
over 100 feet tall and more
than 80 inches in diameter.
In addition to the trees,
there is an outstanding variety
of shrubs, vines, ferns,
mosses, lichens, liverworts
and herbaceous plants.
Spring wild flowers take
advantage of sunlight which
will not be available after the
hardwood trees are covered
with shade producing leaves;
Rhododendron, mountain:
laurel, and azalea bloom in the.
late spring and early summer.;
At many places on the forest
floor are the remnants of
massive American chestnut
trees, which prior to 1925,
composed a large part of the
timber stand. The chestnut
blight disease has now killed
all of the mature trees.
Here in this protected area
one may see animal life that
includes: deer, bear, boar,
fox, bobcat, racoon, skunk,
squirrel, mink, weasel and
mice.
Songbirds share the area
with ruffed grouse, wild
turkey, owls, hawks and
ravens.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial
Forest was dedicated July 20,
1936. which was the 18th an
niversary of Kilmer's death in
France.
Waliking through the
cathedral-like grove of giant
trees it is quite easy to see it is
a fitting tribute and a living
monument to the memory of
Kilmer.
MONKKY BITKS BOV
bAKKRSFlfcXD. CALIF.
Erie Haddox. ae 2. has bt
Kiin rallies treatment after
beiriM attacked bv a small
spider monkey in the back
yard of his home. The youth
will have to undergo 16 ra
bies shots if the monkey was
not found.
BRANDT Ri: ELECT LD
HANOVER. WEST GER
MANY -- Chancellor Willy
Brandt has been re-elected
chairman of his Social Dem
ocratic party by an over
whelminn vote. Mr. Brandt
received 404 of the 428 bal
lots. BOYS BLACKMAILED
WINSTON-SALEM. N.C.
Two 9-year-old boys paid
three classmates, who threat
ened to beat or kill them,
nearly $1,000 in extortion
payments. One of the boys
told his parents of the threat
after taking $100 from his
lather's wallet.
Dm mis
GAS CLOTHES DRYERS
with
Special-Care
Cycles for
Today's
Fabrics!
an
with Permacote
Steel Drum
f hoic Of COlOf )
Ginl in-door lint tcrn
Time Bnr durable prsi cycles
Temperature selection
Model DG37M Wnlie IW. 1M tS
Coporton fte. UMM
gofe suss88"
-.
rSPEED QUEEK
with Lifetime
Stainless Steel Drum
Giant in-door Nf wm.
nmovabM lor ) doming
TomporMuro oMociion
Automatic, am and duratna
Modal DOeotl (WMM)
Modal 00601
(Copponona. Avocado
Motetuf axhauai kM
vailabla at
additional eoat .
(Your cftoaca at cetor) '
Sail price luliifa fcDrerj ni ctutctiii
ti Salwtai Prepni ps ttnrict
AtknhoHt our Bmigrt Payment Plan
SUDUKSAN PROPANE
-'-' ;. - t
II IMmm, if, AtlkavUU
Cat Smic Aitrnana at 344, J .
SALES CrriCE CPEH EVENINGS IT APPOINTMENT
A' A A
AAA
-'--
A A
BNsriBaftkJiNaAjA.
AAA AAA A A
AAA 4 rhcl M mph. ;
i i mm nill