Elizabeth Burnett (Ray)

James and Elizabeth lived on a farm in the Burningtown-Tellico section of Macon Co., NC for several years. In 1888 James W. purchased 359 acreas on Rattlesnake Creek in Swain County, for the sum of $300.00, and moved his family to Swain Co., NC.The entire family moved with all household belongings in a wagon drawn by a team of oxen. Roads were not food in any of the area at that time, but the High Lonesome bluff looked especially dangerous. Because of the narrowness and steepness of the road, he had all the family, one of them being a baby in arms, get off the wagon and walk while he guided the wagon containing the household goods past the bluff. Land was cleared for corn and wheat fields, pastures, apple and peach orchards.In addition to cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks and geese raised on the farm the forest was full of deer, small game and wild turkey. The small creek that ran by the home was full of the small speckled trout. The Little Tennessee river, only a mile away,was teeming with catfish. In 1907 James W. purchased property in the town of Almond near the railway depot and started a mercantile business and served as postmaster for a number of years. He boarded in Almond and would ride a mule home and back on the weekends. The family remained on Rattlesnake Creek until 1926 when those that remained at home moved to Almond. The business did well and "Dad Burnett", as he was fondly called by young and old alike, remained in business until he had to leave Almond because of the building of Fontana dam. After selling the Almond property to TVA, James and Elizabeth bought property in Skyland on Long Shoals road in Buncombe county, where they lived with their two unmarried daughters, Louada, and Genevieve.