First Car in Clay County, NC

The Ledford family lived way back in the country in the Matheson Cove.  They seldom went to the mountain town of Hayesville, NC.  It took almost half a day to get there on wagon or horseback in the early 1900's.


But this was a special day.  Reuben announced to the family at breakfast, "Pa, I heard there's one of those motorcars coming to Hayesville today.  Can we go?"


Pa saucered his coffee to cool it.  Then he took a long sip of Ma's fresh-ground coffee.  He winked at Ma and said, "Good coffee, Minnie."


She giggled and blushed like a teenager.  "Bob, why don't you let the young'uns go to town?  I need to stop at my brother's store and get some provisions."


Bob smiled and said, "I reckon we can go see the motorcar.  After morning chores, we'll load up the wagon.  Won't hurt to lay aside farm work for one day."


"Yea!" shouted Rondy, Reba, Ralph, Rena, Robert, Robenia, Reuben, and Ray.


So Pa and the young'uns joined a crowd on the town square while Ma Minnie shopped in Luther Matheson's country store.  Folks lined up on both sides of the street waiting for Dr. Samuel O'Neil to drive into town.


He was the first optometrist in Clay County.  Dr. Sam, his wife Ollie, and son, Sam, lived in Clarksville, Georgia.  It took seven hours to reach Hayesville.


"There was not a foot of paved road," said Ollie O'Neil.  "The roads were so narrow tree branches from either side almost met in the middle of the road.  We had about six flat tires on the way, maybe four."


When Dr. Sam chugged into Hayesville in his Ford roadster, it caused an uproar.  Chickens squawked, horses spooked and ran off the road.  People cheered and chased the motorcar through town.


Some folks had never seen an automobile.  It was like the apocalypse when the O'Neil family rackety-put-putted in their horseless carriage through the remote Blue Ridge Mountains.


After the motorcar spectacle, the Ledford family headed home in their wagon.  The young'uns were wound up tighter than a ball of twine.


"Pa, can we get a motorcar?" asked Reba. 


Pa shook his head.  "I wouldn't have a motorcar if they gave me one.  My little mules are reliable.  Just feed them some grain and they'll work to anything.  Motorcars are expensive, tear up, and have flat tires.  My mules won't ever go flat.  Those horseless carriages won't last."


by:  Brenda Kay Ledford