Letters From Papaw: Stories From Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains

By Sarah Seaton Myers

Like most children, the Myers siblings were oblivious to their family's fascinating background. After receiving a history assignment from their mom, the kids send a letter to their papaw, Leon Myers, asking for details about his childhood. The responses, sent over the course of a year, result in numerous revelations about the children's true Cad

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Seaton Myers
• Release date: Jun 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781088053720

Sarah Seaton Myers

Sarah Seaton Myers resides in East Tennessee with her husband and four children. She is often found purchasing a new house plant and dreaming up home remodeling projects (both to her husband's dismay). She is a graduate of Maryville College and holds a B.A. in Business and Organizational Management. After spending some time as an HR professional, she felt God's calling, leading her to transition to a full-time homeschooling mom. When she is not teaching her children, she enjoys photography, nature study, reading, hiking, and traveling with her family.

Book preview

Chapter One

The children anxiously paced back and forth in their driveway, hoping to see the mail truck round the corner. The anticipation grew until they felt as if they would burst! 

Just one week ago, their mom had begun asking them questions that they absolutely could not answer. Questions like, Do you know your great-grandfather’s name? and What was it like to live in Cades Cove in the early twentieth century? as well as "Did you know your great-great-grandfather’s story was featured on The Heartland Series?" These questions created a stirring within the children. Lyla, Lincoln, Lorelai, and Luke knew that Papaw Leon was born in Cades Cove, Tennessee, but somehow they had missed these interesting and important details. 

Their Mom had taught the homeschooled children that the tucked-away valley of Cades Cove was established in 1821 and, at its height, the Cove was home to around 125 families and approximately 700 individuals. Even with that information stored in their curious brains, she had explained that they needed to fully understand their heritage in order to gain a full appreciation of those in the family who came before them. 

Mom suggested that the children write a letter to their papaw, Leon Myers, asking him about his childhood, ancestors, and interesting stories from Cades Cove. She even took the time to show them the proper way to address an envelope. No one wanted this important letter to miss its intended recipient.

And just like that, the children began a fact-finding journey that would lead them to unexpected locations, hilarious stories, and a deeper understanding of their rich Cades Cove heritage.

At last, the mail truck arrived! The children grabbed the mail and ran inside, where their squeals of delight frightened Clementine, their poodle puppy, who swiftly hid under the kitchen table. Mom quickly opened the letter from Papaw and Lyla, the oldest, began to read aloud to the other children.

October 31, 2019

My precious grandchildren,

I was thrilled to receive your letter! How happy I am to tell you young-uns about my childhood and your family’s Cades Cove history. I have so much to share that I’ll need to send you several letters as I recall names, dates, and details. Hopefully these facts and stories will give you a good education on your ancestors and provide some giggles along the way.

Let me start off by telling you about your great-great-great-grandfather, Charlie Garland. He was born in Cades Cove in 1859, over 150 years ago! Once he was a grown man, he acquired quite a reputation for being the strong man of the mountains. There are a good deal of stories I could tell that highlight his strength, but the most well-known tale is the one

Reviews for Letters From Papaw

[Däsha Miller Millson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this book while researching Cades Cove. What amazing stories of resilience and connection! I'll remember them when I visit the Cove.