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The four brightly colored panels -- 12 feet square murals -- show four different scenes from the historical novel, Separate Fountains, by Jonesboro native Patti Wilson Byars. The $47,000 mural project reflects four scenes from the town's past: 1950s Main Street with the author (at age 12) and her 5 year old brother standing in front of the drug store, a gypsy woman at the gypsy camp, the legendary nomadic "Goat Man" who traveled all over the South
http://www.pattiwilsonbyars.com/murals.htm
Photo by John Griffin added to facebook by Mr. Jimmy Hammett
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/photo.php?fbid=1119849069964&set=o.67432045964
The Goat Man died in Eastview Nursing Home in Macon Georgia. He was believed to be 97, but was rumored to be as old as 120. No one really knows. More than 65 friends and acquaintances gathered to bid him farewell.
NY times article detailing life of Goatman
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/23/us/charles-mccartney-known-for-travels-with-goats-dies-at-97.html
Found murdered behind his bus, the crime was never solved
http://www.thegoatman.com/story.htm
Duane Branam first saw the Goat Man when he was about 6 years old. Over the years, Duane never saw the goat man again, but he never forgot him either. Early into 1997, Duane started looking for inspiration to write a song about Ches McCartney, the Legendary Goat Man. After learning that Ches was still alive in a nursing home in Macon, GA, and that there was a video documenting The Goat Man's life. After watching the video and talking with God, the pieces started coming together. That is when Duane wrote "The Legend", a tribute to the unorthodox lifestyle the Goat Man lived.
http://www.thegoatman.com/legend.htm
produced and deirected by Mr. Jimmey Hammett
Gene McCartney, Ches' son in front of the bus he lived in alone after his father went to the nursing home. Some say that the graves of goatmans parents are on the same property.
1985 -- Enjoying his retirement years, the Goat Man lived in a school bus on his property in Jeffersonville, Georgia. After losing two toes to frostbite in February 1987, he moved to Eastview Nursing Home in Macon.- Note Bus windows in background
http://www.pattiwilsonbyars.com/goatman.htm
In August 1985, Ches McCartney mysteriously disappeared from his home area and law enforcement officials issued a missing persons bulletin. He was located in October in a Los Angeles hospital. He said he’d gone west to romance actress Morgan Fairchild, but he ended up getting mugged instead. When asked how he got to California, he replied: "On the bus and the plane. You know, I’m always on the go. He flew home a few days later.
http://www.eaglevilletimes.com/Backintime/GoatMan.htm
Hanging on my wall in my living room - one of my FAVORITE pictures - The Goat Man.The artist is Larry K. Martin. If you want to try and find thiis, it's entitled "Reminiscing" a study of Ches McCartney, 1984. I love it!!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/photo.php?fbid=10150240535620313&set=o.67432045964&pid=13301210&id=505085312
I saw him come through Loudon TN on Hwy 11, sometime in 81 or 82. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the video "Goat Man - the Life and Times of Ches McCartney?" Please e-mail me if you do.
Example of controversial late 70's and early 80's sightings, aminly in Soputh carolina this one is Tennessee
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
Cormac McCarthy's 1979 novel Suttree, set in Knoxville, Tennessee, features a character based on McCartney.
Raymond Grant Snow
I remember in the early70s he come down old tucker rd in trickum,ga an my dad an his freind stoped to talk to him an was there several hours. you could here him comeing. he got everybodies attention.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Becky+Forrester+Garrison+He+always+stopped+at+Mill+Creek+on+Hwy+140+in+Hickory+Flat%2C+GA.+The+Lands%2C+who+lived+across+140+would+call+us+and+tell+us+he+was+there+and+we+would+go+visit+them+and+see+(and+smell)+the+Goat+Man.+I+loved+the+sound+of+him+going+down+the+road+-+pots+rattling%2C+goats+bleating%2C+all+kinds+of+sounds+you+didn't+hear+every+day.+Great+memories!
I saw the Goat Man as he came through Collegedale, TN (near chattanooga) two times in the 60's and probably early 70's. He burned tires in the middle of what is now a very busy road and camp for the night. Locally it known as four corners. All of the post bring back memories. The sound of all the pots and pans, goats, bells, etc., and smell was hypnotic. A lot of the post talk about their dad or mom hearing about GM at work and taking the kids to see him. Me too. It is amazing that one man, a bunch of goats and a pile of gunk on a old beater wagon can have such an effect so many people. Enjoyed reading the post.
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
Donna 16-Jun-2006 03:28
An interesting story. I am originally from a small town 30 mls north of Chatt. Tn. I moved to Florida in 1976 and I as met and kept friends over the years, I told many here my version of the Goat Man. Of course none of my friends, most of them having hailed from the north, believed me.
My story is similar to others. I would say the time was the late 60's, I would have been 10 or 12 yrs old. I can cleary remember my grandparents takin us to Sale Creek to see this strange site. Many were always gathered around. I remember a wagon, maybe with pots and pans hanging from it. Did he sell them? I can't remember. The smelly goats and that dirty looking man with a overgrowth of facial hair. As kids we were scared, yet thrilled to view this once a year happening. I would say he came along in spring or summer.
Now to 2004, as my parents were visiting myself and friends here in Ft Lauderdale we began to talk of growing up a child in the south. Can't talk about that without talking about the Goat Man. Thank God for the computer age. We began to Google and came upon your site. My non-believing friends finally had to give it up. Yes my friends, there was a Goat Man.
Here, here, to all of "kids" who went down to see the Goat Man.
http://www.pbase.com/image/10370238
I saw him once that I recall. I was traveling close to Maggie Valley, N. C. once, and came across him and his wagon at the crest of a mountain top. He was pulled over on a wide spot off the road taking a rest I assume. It was a bleak, foggy day, and I'll never forget the sight of him and those goats. I still have vivid memories. That must have been either in the late 60's or early 70's.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449764338754&set=o.67432045964#!/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=9485
Wanda Martin Browning
We saw him for the last time pulled off the road on Duluth Hwy between L'ville and Duluth, parked under a shade tree. I never knew he was so famous until later.
Wanda Martin Browning We saw him for the last time pulled off the road on Duluth Hwy between L'ville and Duluth, parked under a shade tree. I never knew he was so famous until later.
John Chatham The last time I recall seeing The Goat Man must have been around 1968. We were driving from Norcross to Waleska, through Roswell. He was parked just north of downtown Roswell. We made a quick pause on the side of the road, and then continued on our way.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Kerry+Wilson+I+remember+him+stopping+several+times+in+Milner+at+the+old+filling+station+where+the+building+that+Rudy+built+is+now.+I+remember+seeing+him+while+traveling+in+south+Ga.+He+was+a+sight.
From Myra I, remember The Goat Man! He hit Wilkes County and Washington on the same trip, I guess, but maybe a bit later in the 60s. I was in high school from 64-69 (eighth grade was HS then.) When he rolled into town (along highway 378), there would be traffic jams of people going by to look at him. And when he rolled past our high school on the way into or out of town, everything would come to a halt while we gawked at him! I think he came through more than once.
http://likethedew.com/2009/09/07/remembering-the-goat-man/
While traveling through Chattanooga, Tennessee late one night in 1968, the Goat Man was violently mugged. He later awoke in a hospital with a gash in his head that required twenty-seven stitches to close. His goats were not so lucky; eight were found dead, their throats slashed.
http://themoonlitroad.com/the-goat-man/
http://themoonlitroad.com/the-goat-man/
Karen Wilbanks Wilson
I remember he would come through Bishop and he would stop near my Great grandmother's home there on 441. My Dad talked about him. He ended up in a nurseing home somewhere around Macon I believe.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Kerry+Wilson+I+remember+him+stopping+several+times+in+Milner+at+the+old+filling+station+where+the+building+that+Rudy+built+is+now.+I+remember+seeing+him+while+traveling+in+south+Ga.+He+was+a+sight.
Jerry Daniel We used to get excited when we heard he was in town. He was fascincating and like a celebrity to kids. I last saw him in Orchard Hill, GA, maybe in the late '60s or early '70s.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/group.php?gid=67432045964
Doug Whitehead Saw him come through Athens twice when I was very young,mid sixties or so.You could hear him coming with his caravan long before you would see it.
Sheila Frachiseur Howington
I remember when the Goat Man would come through Loganville, Georgia. He would pass by our school and my class would be at recess, everyone would stop playing and say here comes the Goat Man. I would watch until you could not see him anymore.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Wanda+Martin+Browning+We+saw+him+for+the+last+time+pulled+off+the+road+on+Duluth+Hwy+between+L'ville+and+Duluth%2C+parked+under+a+shade+tree.+I+never+knew+he+was+so+famous+until+later.
Shiela Bishop Owens
I remember he always stop on HW 53 in Shannon we always went to see him....
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=I+remember+he+always+stop+on+HW+53+in+Shannon+we+always+went+to+see+him....
I remember when I was about 13 years old my daddy took me and my sister to see the Goatman near our house in McDonald, Tn at some picinic tabels. He was a jolly man and his goats were well trained. He could talk the horns off a billy goat. I have fond memories of him, I will never forget him, someday we will see him in heaven. Sleep tight and sleep well with your goats Rachel Thurman Goodwin
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
What Cheer 100 Years
1965 Centennial Book
Page 199
Chess McCartney
It was in the late 1930's or 40's that Chess (or Charlie) McCartney hitched up his goats and left the What Cheer community. His home had been a 20 acre farm east of town, where he and his wife and little son, Albert Gene, lived among their goats, pet chickens, and hundreds of pigeons. He was born in 1901 east of What Cheer.
McCartney wore a beard and his reddish brown hair was long. He and the boy wore goatskin caps and coats. He built the house, an addition to a log cabin that stood on the farm longer than anyone could remember. The fences and furniture were built from saplings and bits of lumber.
Once he had a good team of horses. They died and he could not borrow money for another team. Then he started using goats for transportation and to pull his homemade farm implements. The family would go to What Cheer, Keswick, or Sigourney for groceries, riding in a wagon pulled by goats.
With his goats he has traveled thousands of miles and in most of the states, including a trip to the New York World's Fair. He was anxious to see once more the city where he sold papers for two years after running away from home and where he married a 24 year old Spanish Castilian knife thrower when he was 14. In her sideshow act she threw 25 knives around Chess. His second wife returned to Chicago after five years on the little farm. Then he married the Sigourney girl.
Now he travels on the east coast alone. His third wife is no longer with him and his son went to college. His goat wagons make a strange cavalcade as he travels with two carts pulled at tandem, with younger goats following behind or riding in a box which he calls the “maternity ward.” Hanging from the carts are pans, wash tubs, lanterns, and miscellaneous utensils. It takes him about seven weeks to go from his headquarters at Jeffersonville, Ga., to Washington, D.C. He sells postcard pictures of himself and his “Presidential Handbook” to make a living.
He has had some problems with humane societies who deplore his uses of goats for transportation, and with the highway patrol because of the traffic snarls he causes. It was reported once that he had cashed a personal check for $100. Officers thought a bad check charge would be a good way to get him off the highways. They called the bank and were informed the check would have been good to any amount up to $38,000.
About women, Chess said: “The Good Lord gave me three, which proved to be three too many. The Good Book says there'll be seven women for every man. Someone can have my other four.” Near Macon, Ga., he preaches at the “Free Thinking Christian Mission” and preaches any time and place he can find an audience.
http://www.respectourdead.com/index.php/history/keokuk-county-2/keokuk-county-people/the-goat-man/1965-chess-mccartney
Goatman Making Camp in a Carrillton Georgia field in 1965. the film features Florence Mcpherson, who owned the lkand the goatman liked to camp on when he was n town
Unfortunately, the Goat Man’s herd proved irresistible to vandals. One of the worst violations occurred on a snowy Christmas morning in 1964 when the Goat Man awoke to find Old Billy, his oldest goat and so-called “companion of companions,” wounded by a hunting arrow. Kind passers-by helped bring the goat to a veterinarian, but he died of complications four months later. The Goat Man later eulogized him in one of his autobiographies with the heartbreaking poem, “In Memory of Old Billy.” The vandals were never found. From the www.moonlitroad website bio
http://themoonlitroad.com/the-goat-man/
Deborah Gunn Faulkner: I seen him 2 times. He came thur Lithonia GA. I have a post card of him. That he gave me. He went into Peoples Bank to get a check cashed the first time I got to see him. they told him to leave cause they thought he was a bum. I can remember the stink to this day.
Oh memories!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449764338754&set=o.67432045964#!/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=9485
Vicki Hayes Eidson
I also remember seeing him. I lived in Covington, Ga. as a child. He came thru Covington every summer. Word got around town that he was there. Everyone wanted to see him. I had forgotten all about him untill I saw this group...Fun memories....
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=16734
Gregory Thomas In the mid 60's the goatman would come up 441 highway and stop by my dads paint & body shop in Dublin, Ga. I was about 5 or 6 years old then. the goatman would use our grease gun to lube his cart although it had no grease fittings. I loved to hear his story's and even drank some goats milk once! It was horrible!! the t...imes were great back then the world seemed so simple!
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Becky+Forrester+Garrison+He+always+stopped+at+Mill+Creek+on+Hwy+140+in+Hickory+Flat%2C+GA.+The+Lands%2C+who+lived+across+140+would+call+us+and+tell+us+he+was+there+and+we+would+go+visit+them+and+see+(and+smell)+the+Goat+Man.+I+loved+the+sound+of+him+going+down+the+road+-+pots+rattling%2C+goats+bleating%2C+all+kinds+of+sounds+you+didn't+hear+every+day.+Great+memories!
I REMEMBER SEEING THE GOAT MAN AS WE TRAVELED TO JACKSONVILLE FLA. FOR VACATION IN THE EARLY SIXTIES. HE CAME THUR MY HOME TOWN OF REDAN, GA. WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF ATLANTA IN I963 OR 1964 AND STAYED OVER ONE NIGHT. WHAT A THRILL. HE CAMPED ONLY 300 YARS FROM OUR HOUSE, AND I STAYED UP THERE AS LONG AS MY PARENTS WOULD LET ME. TWO NIGHTS LATER SOME LOCAL HOODS DID SOME DAMAGE TO HIS WAGON. I HOPE THEY WERE REPAID BY SOME HORRIBLE TRADGEDY OF SOME SORT.
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
Walter Baker
I remember in the early 60's he would come by my grandfathers house in albertville al and he would always camp at short creek bridge next to their house on what is now hustleville road. my grandfather and i would go down there and take him something to eat and talk and visit with him. the goats would be everywhere. i w...as ten years old and i thought he was very nice.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Becky+Forrester+Garrison+He+always+stopped+at+Mill+Creek+on+Hwy+140+in+Hickory+Flat%2C+GA.+The+Lands%2C+who+lived+across+140+would+call+us+and+tell+us+he+was+there+and+we+would+go+visit+them+and+see+(and+smell)+the+Goat+Man.+I+loved+the+sound+of+him+going+down+the+road+-+pots+rattling%2C+goats+bleating%2C+all+kinds+of+sounds+you+didn't+hear+every+day.+Great+memories!
Charles Pinkney
t was in the early 60's when my parents took us to see the goat man. He had camped in a stand of pine trees just a few miles from where we lived in Williston, South Carolina. I recall the goats and a wagon but no campfire. I was 8-10 years old. It has always been a very fond memory.
http://www.pbase.com/image/10370238
The Goat Man spoke with me and my brother in Glencoe Alabama sometime in the early 60's. We were wading or fishing at a spring on Hwy 431 and he stopped for the goats to drink and cool off.
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
Donna Trotter Brumby
I saw the Goat Man on Hwy 411 in Benton, Tennessee, probably in the 60's. His entourage was exactly as Jackie Raburn described, such a mass of stuff, especially goats!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449764338754&set=o.67432045964#!/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=9485
Jerry David McElreath My Dad always took us to see the Goatman when he would pass through Danielsville Ga. in the early sixties. I can remember the pots and pans clanging on the side of the wagon,and a three legged goat. I think it got to ride on the wagon. I have some old newespaper clippings stored away somewhere with his picture. There will never be another gaotman.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/group.php?gid=67432045964
Billy W. Capps
I remember the Goat man was camped out in Selma, N.C. right off 301 hwy. That was back in the early 60's. I was a young teenager, and that was the talk of the town.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449764338754&set=o.67432045964#!/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=13631
I remeber the goatman coming through Aiken , SC off US Hyw 1 in the early sixties. my dad carried the entire family out to see him we all sat and talked for what seemed like hours.
http://www.velociworld.com/Velociblog/Oldvelocity/000725.html
I remember seeing the goat man in Marion, NC many times, writes Gail Parker. We would go wild over the whole mess. I was told, (don't quote me), his wife was not far behing a new Cadallic.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449764338754&set=o.67432045964#!/topic.php?uid=67432045964&topic=9485
I remember seeing him in the 60's as a kid when i was with my family in the Smokey mtn's he was traveling on hwy 441
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=265990
Juanita Wallis Dewberry
When the "Goat Man" came through Grayson, Georgia he would camp at the Intersection of Highway 20 & Hillside Drive. My family visited him many times when he journeyed through Grayson.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Kerry+Wilson+I+remember+him+stopping+several+times+in+Milner+at+the+old+filling+station+where+the+building+that+Rudy+built+is+now.+I+remember+seeing+him+while+traveling+in+south+Ga.+He+was+a+sight.
Cheryl Allen McFarland
I remember the Goat Man from the 60's and 70's. He came down Birmingham Hwy through Birmingham Community (now the city of Milton) when I was growing up. Everyone watched for the Goat Man and had stories to tell about him.
http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4cc6d36c&v=6.010.006.004&i=29&tp=ab&iy=&ychte=us&lng=en-GB&q=Becky+Forrester+Garrison+He+always+stopped+at+Mill+Creek+on+Hwy+140+in+Hickory+Flat%2C+GA.+The+Lands%2C+who+lived+across+140+would+call+us+and+tell+us+he+was+there+and+we+would+go+visit+them+and+see+(and+smell)+the+Goat+Man.+I+loved+the+sound+of+him+going+down+the+road+-+pots+rattling%2C+goats+bleating%2C+all+kinds+of+sounds+you+didn't+hear+every+day.+Great+memories!
Marlene Bearden
I saw him once on Sand Mountain in Alabama. It was in the 60s I think and I was under 10...and I thought he was FASCINATING! He was eating a mixture of veggies from a jar that smelled of vinegar. He made it look as if they were the finest cuisine! Still makes my mouth water when I think of it. :-)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/group.php?gid=67432045964
Vanita Smith Fitz-Gerald
The goat man is such a nice childhood memory for me. My parents would always take me to see him when he came to the Birmingham area. I have and signed, numbered and thumbprinted print by an Anniston, AL artist. I believe it's the one mentioned byt Jimmy Hammett below. It hangs in my living room now and give me a gr...eat story to tell when people ask why I have it there. He was, I believe 102 when he signed this print,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67432045964#!/group.php?gid=67432045964
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