The late Leland R. Cooper lived in the Pond Mountain community of Creston, North Carolina. The late Mary Lee Cooper lived in Columbus, North Carolina.

“fifth in McFarland’s outstanding ‘Contributions to Southern Appalachian’ series…wonderful…all levels”—Choice; “tells the story of the New River through its people”—The Jefferson Post; “the Coopers have done the best possible job of revealing what it means and has meant to be ‘from here’”—Ashe Mountain Times.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments“Newcomers” (Poem by Fred Chappell)Preface Introduction The InterviewsRose Gambill James Bard Pauline Price Tom Jackson Charlotte Stanley and Joyce Davis Irene Morphew Nellie Mae Edmisten Dean Colvard Mary Elizabeth Shepherd Colvard Carol Wade Colvard Noronowicz Ruby Trivette Beulah Blevins Marye Gambill Lineback Nell Graybeal Sutherland Gwyn Hartsoe Mae Hartsoe William Earl Farrington Russell Colvard Ben Harrison John C. Miller Bruce Eller Bob Cornett John Little Grace Ray Bruce Miller Edmund Adams Donald Sheets Sam Shumate Polly Jones Bill Severt John Jackson Thomas J. Smith Appendix: The Proclamation Bibliography About the Authors Index

The late Leland R. Cooper lived in the Pond Mountain community of Creston, North Carolina. The late Mary Lee Cooper lived in Columbus, North Carolina.

“fifth in McFarland’s outstanding ‘Contributions to Southern Appalachian’ series…wonderful…all levels”—Choice; “tells the story of the New River through its people”—The Jefferson Post; “the Coopers have done the best possible job of revealing what it means and has meant to be ‘from here’”—Ashe Mountain Times.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments“Newcomers” (Poem by Fred Chappell)Preface Introduction The InterviewsRose Gambill James Bard Pauline Price Tom Jackson Charlotte Stanley and Joyce Davis Irene Morphew Nellie Mae Edmisten Dean Colvard Mary Elizabeth Shepherd Colvard Carol Wade Colvard Noronowicz Ruby Trivette Beulah Blevins Marye Gambill Lineback Nell Graybeal Sutherland Gwyn Hartsoe Mae Hartsoe William Earl Farrington Russell Colvard Ben Harrison John C. Miller Bruce Eller Bob Cornett John Little Grace Ray Bruce Miller Edmund Adams Donald Sheets Sam Shumate Polly Jones Bill Severt John Jackson Thomas J. Smith Appendix: The Proclamation Bibliography About the Authors Index

The late Leland R. Cooper lived in the Pond Mountain community of Creston, North Carolina. The late Mary Lee Cooper lived in Columbus, North Carolina.

“fifth in McFarland’s outstanding ‘Contributions to Southern Appalachian’ series…wonderful…all levels”—Choice; “tells the story of the New River through its people”—The Jefferson Post; “the Coopers have done the best possible job of revealing what it means and has meant to be ‘from here’”—Ashe Mountain Times.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments“Newcomers” (Poem by Fred Chappell)Preface Introduction The InterviewsRose Gambill James Bard Pauline Price Tom Jackson Charlotte Stanley and Joyce Davis Irene Morphew Nellie Mae Edmisten Dean Colvard Mary Elizabeth Shepherd Colvard Carol Wade Colvard Noronowicz Ruby Trivette Beulah Blevins Marye Gambill Lineback Nell Graybeal Sutherland Gwyn Hartsoe Mae Hartsoe William Earl Farrington Russell Colvard Ben Harrison John C. Miller Bruce Eller Bob Cornett John Little Grace Ray Bruce Miller Edmund Adams Donald Sheets Sam Shumate Polly Jones Bill Severt John Jackson Thomas J. Smith Appendix: The Proclamation Bibliography About the Authors Index