In the North Carolina Alleghanies

              From: Guerrant, The Galax Gatherers ( 1910)
IN THE NORTH CAROLINA ALLEGHANIES
I guess you do not often get letters from this altitude, - this ‘ land of the sky,”- where
rivers are born. This may give my letter chance to see out into the world below.
For some years we have had a number of faithful missionaries ( of the inland Mission)
at work in these mountains-- notably, Rev. J. A. Harris, and a corps of lady teachers, as
fine women as ever ministered to the Lord. I had intended making them a visit in the
summer, but sickness prevented, so I had to postpone it until now.
A long ride from home brought me to Asheville, the capital of Cloudland, where I met
Mr. John K. Coit, colporteur of Synod.
On a frosty morning we took passage in his little wagon for the high mountains of
Yancey County. Ten miles down the beautiful French Broad River ( the Indian Tockie-
Oskie, or “ Racing Waters") brought us to Buncombe Hall, at Alexanders’s, where Mrs.
Gen. Robert Vance dispenses a generous hospitality and helps in a little Sunday school.
After a good dinner for man and beast, we left the river for the Big Ivy, which flows
from the bosom of the Big Craggy Mountain.
Our way lay across a wilderness of hills and valleys, big and little, the plateau of the
Alleghany Mountains. Evening brought us to Democrat, on the Big Ivy ( a post- office
named when Cleveland was President), where most of the voters are un- Democratic. We
found a good place to sleep, where the waters roar over the big mill- dam.
Brother Mac Davis, the Bishop of this Diocese, who lives five miles up the Big Ivy,
caught us next morning before we got started ( at 7 o’clock). He is the man for this region.
His new church was to be dedicated on Sunday, and it was a sorrow to me that my
engagements prevented me from being with him. Such men need help and deserve it,--
deserve it more than they need it. He has prayed and fought whiskey out of his parish.
To- day our journey led us through the clouds, from Big Ivy up the Little Ivy, a beautiful
mountain stream, which we followed to its source in the mountain. We passed out of
Buncombe County and journeyed through Madison County.
I found the roads much better than in the Cumberlands, as well as the houses and
farms. More land is cleared, and it is better cultivated. It is an older country, and nearer
the sources of education and refinement. The Cumberlanders are far away from the land
of their fathers, and on the “ wrong side” of the higher civilization ( which is west of
them).
At Democrat I was surprised to find a canning factory, where they were putting up
thousands of cans of fresh peaches, apples and tomatoes. ( The Cumberlands generally
lack the peaches, tomatoes and cans.)