This section contains stories, lies, tales and whatever else is fit to be here. I will be adding more as I find them. There is no rhyme or reason for them being here, just for fun and information. So, take these for what you will, but here goes .......

Claude Powers

Everyone has or had a favorite Aunt or Uncle or cousin, etc. We had Uncle Claude. He was our favorite. Now don't get me wrong, all relatives are favorites, in their special way, but there will be one that has that special "thing", if you will, that sets them apart in their own special way. My family was no different. 

When you first met him you were not exactly sure how to take him. He was an imposing figure. However, once you got to know him, he was an honest, down-to-earth person as you ever want to meet. We quickly learned when he began with, "Let me tell you a lie", be forewarned as there was NO telling what was to come next. 

One such experience, of many,  was when the family had gathered, one Summer, at a state park for "all you can eat" catfish. I was sitting on one side of Uncle Claude and my brother, Jimmy, on the other side. Every so often Uncle Claude would elbow my brother and tell him to look at something across the room. This happen several times over a 30 minute period. It was not until Uncle Claude made mention of the huge pile of catfish bones on my brothers plate that I realize every time he had him look away, Uncle Claude had piled more and more, catfish bones on my brothers plate from his plate!

Think about it.

John Cooper Evans

John enlisted in the 24^th NC Regulars, Co. K, McMillian Guards, as a Private, on October 10, 1863. It is said he deserted in either February or March of 1864. When he returned home, to McDowell County, NC on June 19^th, 1864 he assisted two Union prisoners of war by guiding them across the Swannanoa Valley. The morning of June 27^th, 1864 the Confederates surrounding the house captured him in his home. He was then bound and tied and sent to jail in Asheville, NC and remained there for 11 days. From there he was sent, under strong guard, to Petersburg, VA. While in Petersburg he was assigned to work in the trenches rather than going to Castle Prison in Richmond, VA. He “permitted” himself to be captured by the Union forces on July 30^th, 1864. John was then shipped to Elmira, NY and confined until September 30, 1864. He was then released after taking an oath of allegiance to the Union. 

John Evans became a Methodist preacher and schoolteacher.  Also, he was the first County Commissioner of McDowell County, NC and a Justice of the Peace. He taught many years in a log cabin (Parker Hill School), which is now the site of the home of J. P. Parker.  

(Note: John Cooper Evans is the grandfather of Laura Ellen Powers, my grandmother)

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Andrew Jackson Powers, The Stone Mason

Numerous years ago my Aunt Essie, my dad's oldest sister, told me a story about their father Andrew Jackson Powers. I don't know if it is true, but here goes........

As a young man he worked many jobs including one as a stone mason. One warm spring day, a local merchant, with a habit of not paying his bills, approached Andrew about building a fireplace in his new house.

After agreeing on a price, Andrew set about gathering all the supplies necessary for the new fireplace. As he did, his friends and neighbors told him he would never see a penny of that money and he was wasting his time. Nevertheless, he went ahead with his plan to build the fireplace. Story goes, it was a very grand fireplace, worth twice than the agreed upon price. Upon completion of the job Andrew asked to be paid and true to fact, the merchant said he would pay him in 10 days. Ten days came and went and no money.  Those ten days grew into a month and then two months and then by the end of the Summer, still no money. 

Soon, the weather began turning cooler and then came the first frost of the year. The morning of the frost, the merchant came to my grandfather in a "fit of rage", as it was described. He complained the fireplace did not work and it was totally worthless as  it filled his new house full of smoke. At that, my grandfather told him if he paid what was owed, plus $20, he would make it work. Getting even more angry and having a crowd of folks around watching the "goings on" he agreed. 

My grandfather found a sack (for you Northern folks, a bag) and a ladder and headed to the new house. Along the way, and being trailed by an ever growing crowd to witness this event, Andrew picked up several good sized rocks and put them in the bag. When he got to the house he held out his hand and the merchant paid him in full, plus the $20. Without a word he then climbed to the top of the chimney, opened the bag and then dropped 3 large stones in. The next sound heard was of breaking glass. 

It seems Andrew Jackson Powers knew the reputation of the man and had a plan. As he built the fireplace and chimney, he cemented in some glass panes as not to be seen from below. All he did was drop the stones to break the glass and the fireplace worked as designed. 

Later, Andrew Jackson Powers quit the stone work and became a policeman for the City of Asheville. He was known as "Uncle Andy" for many, many years. To this day, you will find his photograph hanging, in a place of honor,  in the Asheville, NC Police Department.

Lon was a sawyer as a young man and in 1901 married Naomi Ruth (Oma) Young of Andrews, NC. From 1914 to 1917 they lived at 318 S. Main St. (later to become Biltmore Ave.) in Asheville, NC. In 1918 Oma died of breast cancer leaving two children, Clifford and Katherine, to be raised by Lon. After Oma's death, he married a woman named Bertha and they had a daughter named Helen Ann Powers. Lon became a policeman for the City of Asheville in 1920 and held that position until he died in 1937.