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Note: 13 AUG 1835 VOTED FOR CONGRESS 12TH CONG. DISTRIC OF N. C. VOTER #311900 AGE 102 YEARS OLD HAYWOOD COCENSUS RECORDS 1830 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. PAGE # 383 MESSER FREDRICK B. N. C. 1 MALE (5) 1 MALE(20 TO 30) 1 FEM(5) 1 FEM. (20 TO 30) FREDRICK IS NOT LIVING CLOSE TO ANY OTHER MESSERS AT THE TIME OF THE CENSUS1840 HAYWOOD CO. CENSUS PAGE 118 MESSER FREDRICK 1 MALE (5) 1 MALE (20-30) 1 FEM (5) 1 FEM. (30-40) 2 FEM.(5) 2 FEM (5-10) 1 FEM(30-40) FREDRICK IS LIVING NEXT TO GEORGE MESSER AT THIS TIME 1850 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. FAMILY # 237 MESSER FREDRICKAFE 57 B. N. C. FARMER HEAD ANNA AGE 34 B. N.C. WIFE JACKSON AGE 23 B. N. CV. SON ADRA AGE 18 B. N. C. DAU. SAMUEL AGE 17 B. N. C. SON C AGE 16 B. N.C, DAU. MARISSA AGE 14 B. N. C. DAU. CONRAD AGE 12 B. N. C. SON SUSANNAH AGE 9 B. N. C. DAURICHARD AGE 5 B. N. C. SON FREDRICK IS LIVING CLOSE TO DAVID MESSER AT THE TIME OF THIS CENSUS1870HAYWOOD CO. NC FINES CREEK TWP. FAMILY #415MESSER FREDRICK AGE 68 B. N. C. REV. $300.00 PPV. $145.00 FARMER ANNIE AGE 62 MARISSEY AGE 33 SUSSANNAH AGE 29 JOHN AGE 201860 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. FINES CREEK TWP. FAMILY # 415 MESSER FREDRICK AGE 65 B. N. C. ANNA AGE 46 SAMUEL AGE 25 MARISSA AGE 25 SUSSANNA AGE 18 RICHARD JOHN AGE 14 FED IS LIVING NEXT TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN AND REBECCA MESSER AT THIS TIME1880 HAYWOOD CO. FAMILY # 208 MESSER FREDRICK W/M AGE 78 B. N. C. FARMER ANNIE W/F KEPPING HOUSE AGE 76 B. N. C. SUSANNA W/F DAU. AGE 39 B. N. C. SAMUEL W/M AGE 47 NO OCCUPATION SON1900 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. WHITE OAK TWP. FAMILY #7 FREDRICK FED MESSER B. AUG 1798 N. C. IDLE SUSANNAH J. B. N. C. SEPT 1840 N. C. DAU.VOTERS RECORD AT AN ELECTION OPENED AND HELD AT THE PRECINCT OF JONATHONS CREEK IN THE COUNTY OF HAYWOOD ON THE 13TH OF AUG. 1835 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MEMBER FOR THE NEXT CONGRESS IN. THE 12 TH. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRIC OF N. C. VOTER 31 FREDRICK MESSERTHE GENEALOGICAL SCOCIETY OF OLD TRYON COUNTY P. O. BOX. 938 FOREST CITY N. C. 28043 PAGE 3 PUBLIC RECORDS 1838 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. LAND ENTRY BOOK 1 # 832 FREDRICK MESSER ENTERS 75 ACRES OF LAND IN AND ON THE PIEGON RIVER BEGINNING ON A LARGE WALNUT TREE NEAR THE RIVERINCLUDING THE VACANT LAND BETWEEN JONATHON PHILLIPS LAND FOR THE COMPLIMENT 3RD OF APRIL 18381849 HAYWOOD CO. N. C. DEED BOOK F PAGE 295REGISTERED THIS 31 DAY OF JULY 1849 THIS INDENTURE 8 SEPT 1847 BETWEEN FREDRICK MESSER OF THE ONE PART AND GEORGE MESSER OF THE OTHER PART THE SAID FED MESSER SOLD FOR THE SUM $50,00 UNTO THE SAID G. MESSER A CERTAIN PIECE OR PARCELOF LAND INHAYWOOD CO. N. C. CONTANING 50 ACRES BEGINNING ON A CHESTNUT AND WHITE OAK ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PIEGON RIVER ON BOTH SIDES OF A SMALLBRANCH THAT RUNS INTO THE RIVER ABOVE THE MOUTH OF STEVENSONS CREEK ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OF SIDE BRANCH AT 80POLES TO A STAKE THENCE FORTH 45 DEGRESS EAST 100 POLES TO A STAKE THENCE WITH 45 DEGRESS 80 POLES TO A STAKE THENCE TIO THE BEGINNING CONTANNING 50 ACRES WITH APPURTENANCES FREDRICK MESSER X HIS MARKWITNESS A. L. WILLIAMS NEWS PAPER ABSTRACTS N. Y. FEB. 21 1907ROCHESTER MONROE N. Y.DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLEFEB. 21 1907 OLDEST MAN IN NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE N. C. FEB. 20 FREDERICK MESSER WHO WAS THE OLDEST MAN IN NORTH CAROLINA DIED THIS MOTRNING NEAR WAYNESVILLE MR MESSER WAS 112 YEARS OLD HE HAD LIVED IN THREE CENTURIES AND WAS FAMILIARLY KNOWN AS UNCLE FED. THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY IS ONE DAUGHTER WHO IS 90 YEARS OF AGEHERE IS AN ARTICLE PRINTED IN THE CHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER NOV. 21 ABOUT UNCLE FED. MESSER OF HAYWOOD CO. N. C.9SOURCE BRENDA MESSER OFF THE MESSER LIST)THE ROAD TO FRED MESSERSHORSEBACK JOURNEY IN HAYWOOD H E C BRYANTCHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVERCHAROLLETE N. C. NEWSPAPER NON. 24 1901WHAT WAS SEEN ON A RRIP BY DELWOOD DOWN JONATHANS CREEK TO PIEGON RIVER . FINE FARMS AND SUBSTANTIAL HOMES A STREAM FULL OF DUCKS AND GEESE A WILD AND ATTRACTIVE ROAD A MEEK EYED BOY ON A MULE CAUSES FEAR TO CREEP OVER A POOR DEVIL- AN AGENT OFUNCLE SAMS 65 YEARS OLD WALKS 22 MILES A DAY- FRED MESSER THE CENTENARIAN- HE HAS PASSED 100 MILE POSTSSPECIAL TO THE OBSERVERWAYNESVILLE NOV. 23 MR FREDRICK MESSER OF HAYWOOD CO. WAS BORN IN LINCOLN ON THE SOUTH FORK ON THE 12 DAY OF AUGUST 1792 . THIS MAKES HIM OVER 109 YEARS OLD. I RODE OUT TO SEE UNCLE FED ONE DAY LAST WEEK. HE LIVES WITH HIS GIRL BABY SUSAn who ispast 58 herself. they own a farm on a small tributary to piegon river 21 miles nornt of here. later i SHALL WRITE A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE OLD MAN AND HIS DAUGHTER. BUT IN THIS STORY I WILL TELL OF WHAT I SAW ON THE WAY TOTHEIR DWELLING PLACE. HAYWOOD CO IS ONE OF THE GARDEN SPOTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA . THE LANDS ARE FERTILE AND RICH THE PEOPLE UPRIGHT STRONG AND INTELLIGENTTHE CLIMATE INVIGORATING AND THE SCENERY BEAUTIFUL.LAST THURSDAY MORNING WHEN I RODE OUT OF WAYNES VILLE MOUNTED ON TOPSY THE BEST SADDLE HORSE IN TOWN THE AIR WAS CRISP AND COLD. THE SUN HAD NOT YET COME INTO SIGHT AND THE SMOKE THAT ROLLED OUT OF THE CHIMNEY WAS THICK AND HEAVY FROM NEWLYLIGHTED FIRES.WITH MY BACK TO THE TOWN MY NOSE POINTED TO THE NORTH TO THE TENNESSEE LINE. THE WEATHER WAS FAIR AND FINE . I COULD NOT HAVE DESIRED A MORE DELIGHTFUL DAY. THE FIRST HOUR OF THE RIDE WAS THE MOST INTERESTING.THE FARMERS ALONG THE WAY WEREBEGINNING TO WORK. THE COWS AND THE SHEEP WERE LEAVING THE BARNS AND THE CHICKENS THE TURKEYS AND GUINEAS WERE LEAVING THEIR ROOSTING PLACE. THE RATTLING OF THE COW BELLS AND THE CLATTER OF THE CHICKENS MADE THE WHOLE COUNTRY SIDE MERRYI WENT TWO MILES WITHOUT MEETING OR PASSING A LIVING CREATUREIN THE ROAD. THE FIRST ANIMAL TO COME INTO MY PATH WAS A BLACK AND WHITE TOM CAT. I SAW HIM FAR AWAY TROTTING ALONG THE EDGE OF A PIECE OF TIMBER LAND. HE WAS EVIDENTLY LATE COMINGAFTER A NOCTURNAL PROWL FOR HE MOVED RAPIDLY WITHOUT EVER HALTING . SOON HE CAME INTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME AND HURRIED ON TOWARD ABARN YARD FENCE WHERE HE TURNED IN. THIS IS WHERE HE BELONGED.THE LITTLE TOWN OF DELLWOOD ISFOUR MILES OUT OF WAYNESVILLE. IT IS SITUATED ON THE BANKS OF JONATHONS CREEK. I MET TWO FARMERS AND INQURIED ABOUT THE DISTANCETO OLD MAN FED MESSERS. THEY KNEW HIM AS DID EVERY ELSE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ROAD TO HISHOMR WENT DOWN JONATHONS CREEK TO THE PIEGON RIVER AND THAT THE DISTANCE WAS WAS 13 MILES FROM DELWOOD. TOPSY SOONCOVERED THE MILE OR MORE TO DELWOOD. HE WAS IN SPLENDID FORM AND WENT AT A PEART RUNNING WALK OR FOX TROT THAT WAS BOTH GRACEFUL ANDEASY.AT DELWOOD I ASKEK A MERCHANT OR AT LEST I TOOK HIM TO BEHOW FAR IT WAS TO FED MESSERS. HE SAID IT COULD NOT BE LESS THAN 20 MILES AND IT WAS MORE LIKELY TO BE 22. I WAS UP AGAINST THE GUESSERS FROM THAT TIME ON..FINE FARMS AND ATTRACTIVE HOMESNEITHER MECKLENBURG NOR ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATECAN SHOW MORE ATTRACTIVE HOMES IN A RURAL SECTION THAN I SAW ON THE ROAD HERE FROM TO THE END OF TWELTH MILE OF JONATHONS CREEK. THE VALLEY LANDS ARE WELL ADAPTED TO CORN OTHER GRAINS ANDGRASSES. HUNDRED OF CATTLE GRAZE ON THE HILLSIDES. I SAW 90 HEAD OF FINE YOUNG STEERS AND HEIFERS IN ONE PASTURE THE DEVON COW SEEMS TO BE THE MOST POPLAR BREED WITH THE HAYWOOD FARMERS. THEY ARE RED IN COLOR AND HARDY CAN STAND THE COLD WINTERSAND CLIMB THE HILLS BETTER THAN THAN OTHER KINDS. LARGE DROVES OF SHEEP WERE SEEN IN SEVERAL FIELDS. AT ONE PLACE THE FLOCK WAS SO HIGH UP ON A MOUNTAINTHAT THE SHEEP LOOKED LIKE WHITE STUMPS.THE CREEK AND RIVER WAS FULL DUCKS AND GEESE. ALL OFTHEM WERE TAME. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY DUCKS ANY WHERE ELSE.THE FARMERS OF HAYWOOD DO NOT ONLY HAVE GOOD STOCK BUT THEY LIVE IN COMFORTABLE SUBSTANTIAL AND ATTRACTIVE HOMES. TWO THIRDS OF THE DWELLING HOUSES BEWTWEEN HERE AND COVE CREEK ARE TWO STORIES AND PAINTED WHITE. THE ARE PRETTY AND GENERALLYLOCATED AT THE FOOT OF A MOUNTAIN AND LOOKING OVER TRACTS OF BOTTOM HAULING LUMBER LUMBER IS BRINGING A GOOD PRICE NOW AND MOST OF THE PERSONS MET THIS MORNING WERE ON THEIR WAY TO WAYNESVILLE WITH WAGONS LOADED WITH PLANKS AND SQUARES. MUCH OF IT WAS BEING HAULEDABOUT 25 MILES . THE BIG LOADS WERE DRAWN BY FOUR HORES DRIVERN BYWHITE MEN. I DID NOT SEE A SINGLE NEGRO WAGONER.AT SHADY GROVE SHADY GROVE IS THE HOME OF A CHURCH AND NEW SCHOOL BUILDING. IT IS HARD BY JONATHONS CREEK. THE SCHOOL HOUSE WOULD DO CREDIT TO ANY VILLAGE. IT IS A DOUBLE DECKER LARGE AND ROOMY. AS TO WHY THE BUILDER SELECTED THE SITE THAT THEY DID FOR IT I AMNOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT.. IT IS ON THE VERY TOP MOST POINT OF THE HIGHESTHILL IN THE REGION. THEN TO THE HILL IS SMALL. A BOY COULD JUMP OUT THE FRONT OR BACK DOOR AWINDOW ON EITHER SIDE CUT THREE SUMMERSAULTS ROLL A QUARTER MILE AND LAND IN THECREEK. IF A PUPIL ATTENDS REGULALRY FOR A SINGLE SESSION HIS OR HER LEGS MUST DEVELOP INTO MUSCLAR GIANTS. BUT I HAVE LEARNEDTHAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING THIS SCHOOL HOUSE HAVE VOTED A SPECIAL TAX ON THEMSELVES. IT IS IN JONATHONS TOWNSHIPONE OF THE BEST RURAL DISTRICS IN TH`E STATEA GOOD TEACHER WILL BE EMPLOYED AND THE SCHOOL STARTED OFF IN IN CREDIBLE FASHION A ROSY VIEWSOON AFTER PASSING SHADY GROVE I CAME TO THE HOME OF A WELL TO DO FARMER THAT IS IF OUTSIDE APPEEARANCES INDICATE HIS CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WAS TIME TO ASK ABOUT THE ROAD AND DISTANCE. THE OPPURNITY PRESENTED ITSELF. A MOUNTAIN GIRL OF ABOUT17SUMMERS AND HER COUNTRY SWEETHEART WERE BY THE ROADSIDE. HE HAD COME FROM HIS HOME ACROSS THE CREEK AND PERCHED HIMSELF UPON THE PASTURE FENCE WHERE HE PRETENDED TO WATCH THE HOGSEAT THEIR BREAKFAST CORN. SHE HAD FINISHED MILKING THE COWS ANDSTOOD NEAR HER BEAU WITH HER ELBOWS RESTING UPON A STUMP. SHE LOOKED A PERFECT PICTURE . MAUD MILLER COULD NOT HAVE LOOKED SWEETER. SHE HAD HER SLEEVES ROLLED AND HER PLUMP FAT ARMS SHONE IN THE MORNING SUN. HER WOOLEN TOP SKIRT NOT SURE IF THISIS RIGHT WORD HARD TO READ WAS PINNED BACK WITH A SAFETY PIN AND HER STRONG DAINTY ANKLES PLAINLY VISIBLE. SHE WORE A RED JACKET ABOVE HER WAIST AND HER HEAD WAS BARE AND HER CHEEKS ROSY.BEFORE I RODE UP THE BOY WIISPERED SOMETHING SOFT AND CONFIDENTIAL IN HER EAR AND SHE WAS FLUSHED. THE YOUNG CHAP MUST HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULT WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW FAR TO FRED MESSERS HE PROMTLY ANSWERED OH ITS ABOUT EIGHT MILES.THE GIRL ACQUIESCED. THAT WSA A ROSY VIEW. I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE FRESH COURAGE BUT AFTER HAVING GONE A MILE FURTHER AND REACHED COVE CREEK. I WAS ADVISED BY A STRIPLING OF A BOY THAT I HAD TWELVE MILES TO GO THEN. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE WASNEAREST TO THE RIGHT FIGURE. I SO THOROGUHLY ENJOYED THE TRIP THAT DISTANCE MADE LITTLE DIFFERENCE. HOW EVER I WAS NOT LONG IN GOING TO WHEREVER OLD MAN FRED LIVES.COVE CREEKCOVE CREEK IS A INTERESTING PLACE. MR D, M. CAGLE HAS A STORE AND A MILL THERE. HE IS TWELVE MILES OUT OF WAYNESVILLE AND IS AT THE FORKS OF TWO ROADS THAT LEAD INTO MOUNTAIN SECTIONS PROPER. IT IS THERE THAT MANY OF THEMOUNTAINEEERS DO THEIRTRADING. THE MILL AT COVE CREEK IS AND OLD TIME ONE AND IS FORCED TO RUN BY WATER FALLING INTO BOXES ON A BIG WHEEL. I SAW SEVERAL BUT MUCH SMALLER ONES FURTHER UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. TEN BUSHELS OF CORN A DAY DOES WELL. . IT WAS HERE I SAW THEFIRST MOUNTAIN SLED IT WAS PULLED BY A SMALL HORSE AND LOADED WITH TURKEYS THREE LARGE GOBBLERS.JONATHONS CREEKAT COVE CREEK I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND FOLLOWED CLOSE TO THE WEST BANK OF JONATHONS CREEK. FROM THIS TIME ON I DID NOT SEE GOOD HOUSES BUT MY EYES FEASTED ON SCENERY THAT IS WILD ROMANTIC AND BEAUTIFUL. THE WATERS OF THE CREEK KEPT ME COMPANY.AT ONE PLACE IT GLIDED PEACEFUL LLY NOISELESSLY EVEN LAZILY OVER ROCKS AND CATARACTS BREAKING INTO BEAUTIFUL SNOW WHITEVMISTB. SOMETIMES IT SCURRIED BEHIND A WILDERNESS OF LAUREL IVEY AND HEMLOCK AND AGAIN PASSED THROUGH OPEN FIELDS IN FULL VIEWOF MAN AND BEAST. THE MEEK EYED BOY I DID NOT FEEL THE LEAST BIT LONESOME UNTILL I ENTERED A THICK BIT OF WOODLAND ALONG PIEGON RIVER IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE MOUTH OF JONATHONMS CREEK. THERE WAS A WAY SO NARROW AND THE COUNTRY SO RUGGED THAT I COULD NOT BUT THINK OF DEAR FRIENDS IHAD LEFT BEHIND. BUT I HAD FAITH IN TOPSY . HE WAS FLEET FOOTED FOR I HAD TRIED HIM . AT A SIGNAL HE WAS OFF LIKE A SHOT. I WAS LOOKING FOR BUGGERS WHEN A QUEER MEEK EYED BOY STUMBLED INTO THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME ON A MEAN CHEAP LOOKING MULE. HETURNED THE ANIMAL TOWARD ME AND RODE SO CLOSE THAT HIS KNEE FLUNG INTO MINE . THE ONLY HARNESS HIS MULE WORE WAS A BRIDLE MADE OF ROPE. I HAD TO STOP MY HORSE OR BE CARRIED OFF. I THOUGHT MY TIME HAD COME. THE STRANGER WAS EVIDEENTLY LOOKING FORTROUBLE. GRABBING ME BY THE LEG IN A FAMILIAR WAY HE SAID HELLO P A R DNER (WITH THE ACCENT ON PARD) WHEREYOU GYNE YOUS A STRANGER IN DESE PARTS. IT WAS UP TO ME YES SORTER I ANSWERED. WELL IS YOU LOST ANYTHING OR DOES YOU WANT TO HIRE ANYBODY.THAT WAS THE BLOW THAT HURT . I HASTENED TO DECLARE THAT I HAD LOST NOTHING AND DID NOT CARE TO HIRE ANYONE AT PRESENT BUT MIGHT. WELL DEN WHAT IN THE DEVIL IS YOU DOING WAY OUT IN DESE PARTS. BY THIS TIME MY KNEE WAS LOOSE AND TOPSY TOOK ME OUTOF SIGHT BEFORE THE BOY COULD HIS STUBBORN BEAST. BUT AFTER ALL SINCE I AM OUT OF THAT SECTION I DONT BELIEVE THE BOY MEANT ANY HARM.AN AGENT OF UNCLE SAMI LOST MY WAY AND DRIFTED TO TO A NEARBY HOUSE WHICH PROVED TO BE TEAGUE A POST OFFICE. THERE AN AGENT OF UNCLE SAM SET ME RIGHT . I FAILED TO LEARN THE NAME OF THAT KIND MAN BUT HE WALKS FROM JONATHONS CREEK TO TEAGUE AND BACK A DISTANCE OFOVER 22 MILES SIX DAYS EACH WEEK. HE IS PASSED 65. OLD MAN FREDUNCLE FRED LIVES NEAR TEAGUE. I HAD NO TROUBLE FINDING HIS HOME . I SAW HIM AND TOOK DINNER AT HIS TABLE. HE TALKED FREELY AND FRANKLY . I SHALL TELL OF HIM IN ANOTHER STORY H. E. C. B.FREDRICK MESSER IS MY 3rd. GREAT GRANDFATHERTHE METHUSELAH OF THE HILLS PANTHER CREEKTHEY CALLED HIM METHUSELAH OF THE HILLS . HE LIVED IN THREE CENTURIES AND DIED AT THE AGE OF 114 YEARS AND SIX MONTHS . HIS LIFE SPANNED AN ERA THAT BEGIN WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ENDED WITH THEODORE ROOSEVELT . HE CAST HIS BALLOT FOR JAMESMONROE AND VOTED IN MORE PRESIDENTAIL ELECTIONS THAN ANY MAN THAT EVER LIVED . HIS LIFE SPUN OUT HERE IN THE HILLS OF HAYWOOD COMADE HIM A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME. HE TRAMPED THE WILDS WITH HIS RIFLE GUN G]FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. WHEN HE WAS 107 YEARSHE SWAM THE PIEGON RIVER. AND UNTILL HE AWS 108 HE WALKED THE 22 MILES FROM HIS HOME HERE TO WAYNESVIILE AND BACK. HIS NAME WAS FREDRICK MESSER BUT EVERY CALLED HIM UNCLE FED. THE SON OF CHRISTIAN SARGENT MESSER A HERO OF THE AMERICIANREVOLUTIONARY WAR. HE FIRST SAW LIGHT OF DAY AUG. 12 1792 ON THE SOUTH FORK OF THE CATAWBA RIVER IN LINCOLN CO. N. C. AT THE AGE OF FOUR HE CAME WITH HIS FATHER TO DUTCH COVE ABOVE WHAT IS NOW CANTON. BUT THE MESSERS TARRIED THERE ONLY A SHORTSPELL. MOVING ON FARTHER INTO THE WILDRENESS TO THE MOUTH OF PANTHER CREEKWHERE THEY GROOVED TOGETHOR A CABINCLEARED A SPOT OF LAND AND PUT IN A CROP OF CORN.SOMETIME AROUND THE WAR OF 1812 FED MESSER TOOK UNTO HIMSELF A WIFE ASND RAISED A CABIN HERE ON PANTHER CREEK WHICH FLOWS INTO THE PIEGON RIVER . TO THE UNIONWERE BORN NINE CHILDREN FOUR BOYS AND FIVE GIRLS , THE BOYS DIED EARLY AND THE DAUGHTERS EXCEPT ONE WHO WENT WEST. FED FISHED HUNTED AND FARMED HE WAS KNOWN AS A MIGHTY HUNTER A MAN WITH A GOOD EYE. WHO WASANT ONE TO SQUANDER POWER OR LEAD. HISHOMESTEAD LAY IN A WILD AND RUGGED SECTION REACHED ONLY BY HORSE PATH SKIRTED WITH LAUREL HEMLOCK AND HOLLEY. THE HOUSE WAS OF LOGS THE ROOF OF RIVED BOARDS THE FLOOR MADE OF PUNCHEONS . FROM HIS HOME HERE TO WAYNESVILLE WAS 22 MILES. AND HE MADETHE TRIP TWICE A YEAR . EVER SIX MONTHS HE WALKED TO THE COUNTY SEATTAKING TWO DAYS FOR THE ROUND TRIP. WHEN HE WAS 109 YEARS HE TOLD A VISITOR HE MADE THE TRIP THE YEAR BEFORE BUT COMPLAINED THAT HIS ADVANCED AGE HAD SLOWED HIM DOWN AND IT TOOKTHREE DAYS FOR THE JOURNEY. IT WAS ON THAT TRIP THAT HE SAW ICE CREAM FOR THE FIRST TIME. A PROMINENT PHYSICIAN OF WAYNESVILLE INVITED FED TO TO HIS HOME FOR DINNER . ICE CREAM WAS SERVED FOR DESSERT THE OLD MAN WAS DELIGHTED WITH IT . SISSY HESAID WHAT KIND OF SASS WAS THAT YOU GAVE ME. IT WAS MIGHTY GOOD AND COOLING . IT COOLED ME DOWN DOWN MY THROAT AND CHEST INWARDS. NEXT TIME I COME GIVE ME THAT FIRST , HE USED TO RECALL THAT HE CAST HIS FIRST VOTE FOR JAMES MONROE . HE REMEMBEREDIT WEELL BECAUSE HE HAD A FIGHT AT THE POLLS WITH SOME FELLOW WHO WANTED TO DISFRANCHISE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A FREE HOLDER. BUT FED SAID I VOTED AND WALKED 12 MILES TO DO IT, WHETHER HE EVER MADE ANY LIQUOR HIMSELF HE NEVER SAID . BUT HE DIDLIKE A TECH NOW AND THEN. CHILD HE TOLD A VISITOR BACK IN 1901 IVE TAKEN A LETTLE SNIP BEFORE BREAKFAST FOR 90 YEARS IT TAKES THE FLASHES OFF MY STOMACH. HE WAS GROWN BEFORE HE TOOK A CHEW OF TOBACCO AND THEN ONLY TO STOP THE TOOTH ACHE. HE WOREHIS SHIRT OPEN TO THE WAIST WINTER AD SUMMER AS LONG AS HE LIVED. HE SAID HE NEVER HAD HIS SHIRT BUTTONRD BUT TWICE IN HIS LIFE WHEN I GOT MARRIED HE SAID THEY FASTEN IT AT THE TOP AND TIE A HANDKERCHIEF AROUND MY NECK. AS SOON AS I GOT FOOT LOOSEI JERKED IT OPEN . THE OTHER TIME WAS A COLD SATURDAY IN 1841 WHEN IT WAS FREEZING ALL DAY. IF YOU THREW UP A GLASS OF WATER IT WOULD BE ICE BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND. SHORTLY BEFORE HE DIED HE ADMITTED HE COULDNT READ OR WRITE AND THATHE DIDNTKNOW MUCH ABOUT BOOKS. BUT HE ADDED I CAN LEAD OFF HALF THE PREACHERS. I KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE THAN ANYBODY IN THIS SECTION. AND THEN HE PROCEEDED TO BET HIS VISITOR HE COULDNT SOLVE SOLOMONS RIDDLE. WELL THE OLD MAN EXPLAINED OUT OF STRENGTHCAME SWEET-NEES THAT ITS NOW SAMPSON PULLED THE JAWBONE OFF A LION AND DROPPED IT IN THE SUN BEES CAME CAME AND MADE HONEY IN IT THIS IS THE WAY IT RUNS. WHEN READ TO FROM THE BIBLE HE SAID I DONT FORGET THE GOOD MASURES. HALF THE EDUCATED DO ANDGO ON TO THE OLD SCRATCH . JACK MESSER ONE OF HIS KINSMAN WHO LIVES DOWN THE WAY AT CRABTREE TOLD ABOUT UNCLE FED SWIMMING THE PIEGON RIVER WHEN HE WAS 107 YEARS OLD. HE NEVER GAVE ANY REASON FOR IT JACK SAID . NOTHING EXCEPT THAT HE JUST WANTEDTO DO IT. HE WAS STRONG AND HEALTHY ALL HIS LIFE. HI MUSCLES WERE LIKE THE VINE OF THE WILD MUSCADINE. HIS MIND WAS SOUND AND QUICK RIGHT UP TO THE END. BUT IN HIS LAST YEAES HIS EYESIGHT BEGAN FAILING HIM . UNCLE FRD DIED GEB. 1907 LACKING SIXMONTHS BEING 115. THEY BURIED HIM HERE ON PANTHER CREEK.
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