| Birth: | Dec. 2, 1883
Union County
Georgia, USA | | Death: | Mar. 6, 1971
Macon County
North Carolina, USA | 
Robert Lee Ledford's roots run deep. His ancestors were in Clay County as early as 1830 and lived neighborly among the Cherokees. His parents were Thomas Lafayette Ledford (1850-1902) and Amanda Teressa McClure (1853-1898). His grandparents were Thomas Ledford (1802-1875) and Eliza Waters (1809-1877); Andrew McClure (1816-1900), and Margaret (Peggie) Rogers (1818-1886).
The family worked long hours on the farm because of their love for the land. Thomas Lafayette "T.L." was a large land owner in Clay County, NC, and Union and Towns County, Georgia. During the winter months "T.L" mined and accumulated money that way. Many ancestors died an early death because of hard work and the need for medical care.
Robert Lee Ledford and his siblings James, Jessie, Graydon, Callie, Angeline, Mae, Laura and Donnar lost their parents at a young age. Graydon was four years old when his mother died Dec. 14, 1898. Four years later Thomas Lafayette Ledford died. The older children reared the younger ones. Now the farm is covered by the waters of Lake Chatuge.
In 1915 Robert and his cousin, Norman Alexander caught a train to LaVeta, Colorado. Before this time other relatives had gone there and wrote back encouraging Robert and Norman to join them. Robert was a cowboy on Mr. Campbell's ranch. Norman worked for Harold Groves in the beet pulp and potato fields.
It wasn't long before Robert Lee Ledford returned to Clay County and married his sweetheart, Minnie Lee Matheson. They lived at Minnie's father farm, Elisha Dallas Matheson, in the Matheson Cove. They bought Minnie's brothers share of the land and increased their farm.
Their children's names all started with R's: Ronda, Robie, Ralph, Reba, Rena, Robert, Reuben, Robenia, Ray.
Robert cleared the farmland and worked long hours by himself until the sons began working in the fields.
Chickens,cows, pigs and horses had to be cared for. What land wasn't in pasture was planted in corn, potatoes, cane, and a huge vegetable garden. Robert believed in keeping his land clean and plowed often with the team of horses to keep the rows clean of weeds. He never owned a tractor. Dallas had planted many varieties of apple trees on the Shew Bird Mountain above the frost line, and there was plenty of fruit.
He was a good man, and provided well for his family. He worked until the very end of his life, and lived his last days in a nursing home in Franklin, Macon County, NC.
Family links:
Parents:
Thomas Lafayette Ledford (1850 - 1902)
Amanda Teresa McClure Ledford (1853 - 1900)
Spouse:
Minnie Lee Matheson Ledford (1891 - 1969)
Children:
James Ronda Ledford (1917 - 1988)*
Robie Ledford (1918 - 1918)*
Ralph William Ledford (1919 - 1993)*
Reba Ila Ledford Rigsbee (1921 - 2012)*
Rena Mae Matheson (1922 - 2011)*
Robert Lafayette Ledford (1924 - 2011)*
Reuben Matheson Ledford (1927 - 2013)*
Robenia Martha Ledford Merritt (1929 - 2012)*
Ray Andrew Ledford (1931 - 2007)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Myers Chapel United Methodist Cemetery
Hayesville
Clay County
North Carolina, USA |
Maintained by: Barbara Wright
Originally Created by: nala
Record added: Dec 04, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 81528507 |
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Cemetery Photo
Added by:
Judy Llamas
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