Appalachias Escape Artist: Wilburn Waters Documentary

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

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[@NickedLips]

Thank yuh for telling this story! This is my kin Folk Wilburn Cullom Waters! His mamas name was Smiling Bird! I have more than one Catawba relative in my blood line so we kept the Indian blood in the family strong! I’m related to the Potter Family of Pottertown NC up off towards meat camp road! Many of us Melunjin heritage, having Spanish, French, Indian and good portion of Scotch Irish in us!

[@NickedLips]

I’ve kept our family traditions of hunting and fishing! I have visited Wilburn’s headstone many of time

[@JodiSones-o2u]

I just love all your stories, but mostly I love the way you narrate them. Thank you for making them come alive with your spoken words and visuals.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!

[@samlindsey1078]

I enjoy your recounting these all but lost true tales of Appalachia. I'm a native born Texan, and wouldn't want it any other way. However, I am just as proud that my grandfolk on both my daddy and mommas side, hail from East Tennessee and Arkansas respectively. My grand daddy on my daddy's side was born in 1875 in the mountains of East Tennessee and ended up in the vicinity of Plainview, Texas, where, in 1930, my daddy, the last of 11 kids, was born in a barn. That being so, I always figured daddy could leave the door open anytime he wanted. Anyhow, keep them stories coming, and thank you, for keeping these stories from being lost to time.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@thomasmyers9128]

East Tennessee here…. Yeah… Tennessee had a hand in starting Texas… always felt like Texas was a close neighbor….

[@samlindsey1078]

@thomasmyers9128 Definitely hardy Tennessee stock in many a Texas pioneer, a big part how Texas got it's independent, no BS, no surrender, come and take it, ride or die, reputation.

[@primesspct2]

rofl! How many times as a kid did i hear my father say " Were you born in a barn girl? Close that door,!" I guess he could just answer," why yes I was, I feel like a little fresh air right now, if you don't mind!"

[@blakestanley2490]

I've enjoyed everything you have posted keep up the good work, but I do have a request if possible! My great great grandpa James Madison "Big Jim" Boone has a great history and story and would love to have everyone know about him! Thanks again for the great stories

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

Mr Waters lived life with Gusto, and made the best of what he had, the picture of the farm you shown with the haystacks in the back ground took me back to a simpler time, haven't saw a haystack in 45 years... Great Video

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much Michael have a great Saturday, brother

[@FANTASMA58]

I’m Salvadoran, born and raised in the USA. For some reason I love everything to do with the Appalachian stories. Thanks for sharing all these stories and for making them come alive the way you narrate them. Go, APP State!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you!

[@primesspct2]

That's wonderful. I find it very interesting to learn of other countries and their history. It is amazing the things our forefathers and long ago ancestors accomplished. I know nothing of El Salvador, I should go learn a bit about it.

[@indysandmanas]

You are an American.

[@primesspct2]

You can tell Wilburn Waters had the true pioneer spirit. He may be knocked down or injured, but in the end he made those weaknesses his strengths. With his childhood he had a cross to bear, and it wasn't uncommon to sell children who were orphaned as slave labor. It is so shocking to me, but it happened routinely. That is exactly what happened to my grandfather too, who was orphaned at age 9.. His uncle took him in, never let him sleep in the house worked him 12 hours a day, and would not allow him to go to school. When he turned 18, he walked off his " uncles" farm without a cent to his name, for all those years of hard labor. He ended up figuring it out himself though. Taught himself to read and write, he knew just a bit from when his parents had been alive. He moved further north to Ky abd built his own house marries and had a son , he even sent his son to college. **** romantic foot note** The man I speak of was my second grandfather, he met my Mamaw when she was 62, and had lost my Papaw several years before, and he had lost his wife. They were married for 23 years too!! So if your feeling old at 60 take heart, there's still life and love in those hearts and bones!

[@NickedLips]

This is my kin Folk Wilburn waters! I’m a big part Catawba from both sides! 🙏 We’re from Meat Camp NC

[@jamessmith7691]

Down through time I've had many jobs, wanting to learn different skills. You seem to have settled into a profession that really suits you. Historian and story telling you are really good at. A wise person once said 'as long as you are doing what you really like you'll never work a day in your life."

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks brother!

[@neintoten6155]

Thank you for the time you put into these!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much for watching it. I really appreciate your support.

[@shirleygardner5483]

Truly a hard life he endured especially as a child. You are a great storyteller JD! You always have my attention. Thank you!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much, I appreciate the kind words!

[@Jane-b9k]

Thank you for sharing another very informational story. I can’t imagine surviving a childhood like his.😊

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I know, it’s hard to imagine.

[@maryanncarney]

The history of Wilbur will live on thanks to you! Thank you ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for watching!

[@bruiser1001]

We have a place in southwestern VA and have hiked and camped on Wilburn Ridge. Great story about a true legendary man!

[@randyhale1127]

I live near Wilburn Ridge and have hiked it as well. Saw many bobcat tracks as well as tracks of other bigger cats. However the experts say that the big cats aren’t in Grayson County Va.

[@RitaBrown-u6v]

Always a pleasure listening to your stories !

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@randlerichardson5826]

JD and Sarah hey to y’all

[@davidduff5123]

Thank you, JD. It is always a joy to see a new posting from you!!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much, I appreciate the support.

[@randlerichardson5826]

JD not that you was bad now but you’ve got so great telling these stories and i thank you 🙏 for that.

[@reneerollins4433]

Wilburn was quite a man! He didn't seem to be too scared of anything 😅. Thanks for tell his story and keeping his memory alive ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

He was quite a character, wasn’t he?

[@CrazyArt-r5e]

Great story. I had no idea about Wilburn. ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@katrinkaperkins1852]

Love your sharing these stories with us. Thank you for the time you put into these.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

My pleasure!

[@soniaclayton3563]

I do feel so sad for Wilburn how could his father just leave him and his 4 siblings but as always wonderful story thank you JD

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you, Sonia. I hope you have a great Saturday.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

Oh my word! JD this was a definite survivor. It’s so sad that they “sold” him here & there like he was a piece of furniture. Sometimes as the old saying goes what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and I believe that was the case with Wilburn. I love these kind of stories because it shows how people are resilient and can bounce back with so many things happening to them. The word true grit comes into my mind. Thank you so very much JD for all the hard work you do and everything that you do behind the scenes that we don’t see or know about. You make it look easy, but I know there’s a lot involved in making your videos. Blessings always to you, my dear friend!! 😊🙏❤️

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Have a blessed day, Miss Betty

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

@ Thank you so much JD!! 🥰

[@primesspct2]

well said. He certainly was resilient and stronger for it!

[@RuthCollins-g1g]

Good story as always Wilbur was a tough one from childhood to his death we need more like him today God bless you all

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

You too, Ruth hope you have a great weekend

[@bencapobianco2045]

JD I love your stories! It is truly the highlight of my day when you put out a new video. Maybe one day we’ll cross paths and I’ll get to thank you for all the joy you have brought me.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.

[@LaurenFerrell885]

It's never a dull moment with Wilburn lol 😂

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

He was a character for sure

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Well brother JD thanks to you Wilburn Waters is no longer forgotten.....He must have been one heck of a strong & tough man...... Thank you JD...... Shoe🇺🇸

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

❤️

[@Francosmartcarb1]

The "chicken guts" part of the story got my mind thinking. Thank you for another good story. Be well

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Me too I found that absolutely fascinating

[@diamondpaintingwithsweett]

That was an awesome story, JD! Have a blessed day!❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you! You too!

[@judyingram-kh1vm]

JD i really enjoyed this true story. I'm sure looking forward to all the true stories that you can bring us. You are a true story teller and i love your channel. Keep the stories coming JD❤❤❤❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Bless your heart, Miss Judy thank you so much. I hope you have a great Saturday.

[@Lisa1111]

I loved this story! My doggy loves the sound of your voice for he naps so sweetly by it! When I was little and had an injury, my grandmother used to wrap the wound with a peeled potato and gauze. It drew all the poison out. My granny told me about poultices! God Bless you always 🙏🏽 Seattle kin ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Awww, I love this

[@johnpeddicord4932]

Thanks again for sharing JD, he had an amazing life

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks John!

[@richardfarley7956]

Awesum! Just yesterday I had a yearning to take a trip up to Whitetop today. After reading this story this morning I can’t wait to get there!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

That’s awesome. I love it.

[@brianmaxie7925]

A true mountain man, Raw Grit !

[@nancyjackson9026]

I like all the stories you tell .it reminds me when I was a child the old folks would tell stories.thanks for the memories

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 😊

[@billypugh6361]

Great job thanks

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you too!

[@chelu4u]

@TheAppalachianStoryteller Aloha and Håfa Ådai thanks for another great video 👍👏👏👏

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Mahalo! I appreciate it.

[@karenh.]

Great story of a great man !!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much! I enjoyed putting this story together.

[@keithusace4352]

Good morning JD, thank you. And with a good story as this who needs coffee. Hey you have a good day now.🙏

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

You too! Have a blessed day.

[@teresitavanderploeg2471]

❤ Thank you ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@CarolLee-mq8er]

JD that was a wonderful story. It was really fun. Thank you. ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

You’re welcome!

[@tammyshean3868]

Enjoyed!! The OG grizzly Adam's 😊

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

He certainly was!

[@cherimolina2121]

Enjoy these old yarns. There's a grain of truth to them! 😊

[@Susan71105]

Thanks, great story 👍

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

You’re welcome!

[@carolinechemtai8161]

Listening to your stories from Nairobi Kenya. I loooove them❤❤❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 😊

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you! Have a great weekend! ✌🏼🥶

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks! Stay warm up there!

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

@ 👍🏻😊

[@dougdillon1271]

That young fella went through a lot of clothes! 😂. Keep 'em coming!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

he sure did!

[@rebeccasblingingboutique4762]

Thank you jd amazing as always

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you too!

[@ludwigderzanker9767]

Never heard about this unbelievable guy, I enjoyed it deeply. Ludwig

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Another story that was almost lost to the hands of Time comes back to life

[@ludwigderzanker9767]

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller If we don't know our past how can we understand the Now? Local history is sometimes highly underrated.

[@cbLassie]

❤❤❤ I think Wilburn lived a good life and handled every living situation the best a man could. Like a Hero!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

👍🏼

[@annabelleb.8096]

It takes a special kind of person to live that isolated. I wish I could do it!

[@jolenewitzel7919]

A great story. ❤

[@likhound]

That was a very good story.

[@sandrasmith7091]

I was hooked. I love your storytelling 😊. That was a very good one.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Yay! Thank you!

[@BrendaShipley-lf6fd]

Absolutely mesmerizing!!!!

[@uptownsquirrel1846]

I so enjoy your stories and the way you tell them. I am a native of Western NC and many of the places you reference are places I’ve lived or visited. If you not researched and wrote of Frankie Silvers, please do. She hailed from the Burke County NC. She was wrongly accused of the murder of her abusive husband and was subsequently found guilty of murder. She was sentenced to hanging, being the first and maybe the only woman hanged in N.C. She is buried in Burke County.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

I have told her story on this channel look up Appalachian deadliest wife

[@ericyoung1243]

Thanks so much for the story.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much, Eric

[@andrewrolfe4334]

What a great way to start a frosty Saturday off here in Ontario, Canada. Always look forward to this time with a hot coffee. Thank you, sir, for all your hard work.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

thank you so much, my friend. Stay warm up there.

[@terencegamble4548]

Great story, great storytelling.

[@heyokakoyeh]

This is my heritage. My great great grandmother was a Lenape child bride, traded to the mountain man for a beaver pelt. I'm in Mountain Maryland Appalachian Trail 🌹 born in Gettysburg PA.

[@michaelpage4199]

That is an amazing story. I have no idea how they did what they did…. But they sure did and survived. Amazing

[@condabogoff973]

Love your book and stories

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

[@marionbowler5440]

Love your story telling, have an amazing week ❤✨️🍁

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Stay warm up there in Canada

[@victoriatracey5919]

After such harsh treatment in his earlier years, any wonder he wanted to live out in the wilderness by himself, he probably figured at least you know where you stand with wild bears and wolves, even if you got nearly killed 😊 Thanks JD, always good to listen to you 😊

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Agreed!

[@johncarroll9489]

JD love the stories. Have to ask where you get the great shirts?

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

The Brand is “Redhead”

[@WillowsGarden]

Hi JD! This brings me back to my aunt and uncle that had a store with bait and tackle shop close to the dam and had a bear named Ruby. My uncle would get into the cage with Ruby and give her a RC cola and a moon pie as a treat. I was very young, but was fascinated by Ruby the bear. Eventually they came and got Ruby saying it was against the law to own a bear and they took her to Knoxville Zoo. My aunt and uncle would go to the zoo and visit Ruby till they traded her for a pair of pandas. I have a photo of my aunt and uncle with Ruby. Thank you for sharing this story with us, I really appreciate you keeping these memories alive. Have a blessed weekend with family and loved ones!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you for sharing that memory Willow. I hope you have a fantastic Saturday and you’re staying warm.

[@PamelaSpiker]

I always get excited whenever there's a new video. You do an amazing job at keeping these true stories alive. 😊

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much, my friend. I appreciate your support.

[@RyanFordham-g8v]

This is awesome

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you, Ryan. Have a great weekend, my friend.

[@RyanFordham-g8v]

@TheAppalachianStoryteller yes sir you too

[@sharonbeauchamp1836]

Thanks for another great story!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ellennoblitt7728]

Interesting

[@farrislaura]

Awesome story. It makes Danel Boone look small. That was life he had was a challenge. But he got through it, I cannot even imagine. Thanks for another great story!

[@robindick2317]

Thank you 🙏

[@marialabridis3804]

Oh yeah the wood 😊

[@benroosa2328]

Quite an amazing fella. Makes me wonder how much embellishing got twisted into the adventures he had in life!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

There were many many more adventures he had, there was a book written about his adventures while he was still living back in 1870s

[@stevegilbert8738]

Great story it was nice. Thank you keep it up 👍

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks so much, Steve. Have a great weekend, brother.

[@SusanFlynn]

He sounds like a remarkable man

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Yes ma’am, he was quite a fella

[@SamBroadway]

This was one heck of a yarn.... What a story

[@Joanla1954]

9:45 into the video you also could have called this the "Legend of the Nekkid Boy". Great job JD!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

🤣

[@LindaTrombley-m4n]

I love wolves and went in a pack for years. They always knew and greeted me. I was always happy to be with them. They are nothing like what people think they are.

[@lonnieeastridge442]

He rests up top of a low hill over looking big horse creek. The monument on top of a large rock in the middle of Big horse creek was nearly taken by the flood waters of Helena.

[@myerstalesofappalachia]

He was the true living example of mtn man

[@MegaJazzyjess]

His father was a horrible person. And people just let him down.

[@jennas2068]

I live very close to that mountain!

[@mistysmith9060]

Great story ❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks!

[@devodootie]

I really enjoy your history stories!

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thanks for watching!

[@dorisadkins2464]

I enjoyed this story.❤

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you Doris!

[@mnicholl93]

Normalising a 4 year old boy, abandoned by his father after his mother died, being sold off to any man willing to pay for him is incredible. Sounds like the poor boy was treated like a possession, sold on to any old man willing to hand over money for him, until he had no further need of him & sold him on. This isn't adoption but slavery, & from all his 'scrapes' it doesn't sound like the boy was the brightest, no doubt never given the opportunity to go to school & learn anything beyond doing whatever work he was told to do without complaint. As for his adult life being one of solitude, instead of believing he was living in the land he loved, have you not considered that maybe his motive was to escape the people who had treated him so badly since his mother died? Being half Indian, I highly doubt any Appalachian father would be happy about any of his daughters marrying Wilburn; seems his adult life of solitude was one more of escape & making the best of the bad hand he'd been dealt in life.

[@frostyfrances4700]

Amen to that, @mnicholl93.

[@chelu4u]

Poor little Wilburn😢

[@billywalker9223]

Great story! It reminds me of my great great great uncle, Archibald "Bear" Tolley, who killed over a hundred bears. He was born in 1801 and died in 1901, after getting tetanus from stepping on a rusty nail. He lived on Purgatory Mountain in Botetourt County, Virginia. He was a local legend, with monuments in his honor around the county.

[@southwesthistory1]

Another great stories, Thanks for sharing

[@MP-ef6mc]

He was a total legend

[@kristipeel7218]

He is my 4th great uncle

[@JimHayesHiking]

Mine too.

[@JanelleVocate-Ames]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rustylynch2]

Try to keep warm. First time in a long time that I've seen ice on the Kanawha River

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

we've been waking up to single digits each morning here in East Tennessee. Today got up to 42 this afternoon, it felt like shorts and flip flops weather

[@outdoorlife-j4h]

Another great story

[@bobbywallace8976]

Another gooden

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you so much, my friend. Stay warm.

[@donnaleak8098]

I used to spend my summers in W.Va. learned so much on those days. I lived in Michigan at they time. I've lived in N.C., W.VA, KY. I truly love the south! But I always come back to Michigan. I love the south ❤❤❤❤❤. I remember my Granny had a turkey on the table the next day when my husband an I got there just about dusk. My first love was there, of course the "for real " the wrong side of the tracks. We wrote each other for years between my visits down south. I've been up on mountains on my my motorcycle as he lead. The most beautiful places we went to bikes or foot. Still love Benny Bowens.

[@nate3240]

I love these stories!! Have you done one on Tom Dooley yet?

[@KathysTube]

He was quite the character.... did his own thing... good story JD 😎👍

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Thank you 😊

[@jeremybryant403]

I wonder where the Bryant man was from that is my last name and supposedly my 4 great grandpa killed a man in coal mine in WV and he brought his family to TN and now I’m here an still in the Appalachian mountains lol an love it raising my kids here now

[@staceyamerine7752]

Mr. Waters was a survivalist, and did what was necessary to survive! I commend him.

[@TheAppalachianStoryteller]

Sure was!

[@sharoncrommer2999]

❤