Center Ledford's Deal

Date: 1900 to 1917
Location: Hiawassee, Georgia, United States of America
Surnames/tags: Ledford, Center_Ledford, Clara_H_Gregory

a family story written down by Clara H. Gregory around 1995 (before she lost her vision)

Cinter Ledford was an old country farmer. He had a good team of work horses. After he got all of his crops gathered in, he sowed his wheat and rye and turned his corn ground so it would freeze and pulverize. Bill Burch was logging for a sawmill nearby.

Bill Burch asked him to buy his team (of horses) for $100 each and promised to pay $200 in payments.

Cinter had to break a pair of oxen to make his corn crop with. He plowed the steers all summer and Bill failed to pay him.

So, after the corn was laid by, Cinter went up to Hiawassee, GA and entered a suit in law to collect the debt for his horses. Bill told the judge, "Why, he is crazy. I don't owe him anything. He doesn't know what he is doing."

The judge said, "Mr. Ledford, the defendant Mr. Burch says you are crazy. Are you, Mr. Ledford?"

Mr. Ledford replied, "Why, yes, Your Honor. You know a man is crazy to sell his horses on credit and plow a damn BULL."

After the crowded courtroom stopped laughing, the judge rapped for order. Cinter won his case. Burch had to pay for the horses and the cost of court.

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Note: Center Ledford died a few months before Clara Henson Gregory was born. Center Ledford was Clara Henson's great grand uncle.