Delia D'Ambra

Sometime in the winter of 1901, or some sources say 1903, a man who was in his 60s named Jasper Mellinger set out from his home along the Roaring Fork Creek near modern day Gatlinburg, Tennessee to travel on foot through the Great Smoky Mountains and into Western North Carolina.

Sometime in the winter of 1901, or some sources say 1903, a man who was in his 60s named Jasper Mellinger set out from his home along the Roaring Fork Creek near modern day Gatlinburg, Tennessee to travel on foot through the Great Smoky Mountains and into Western North Carolina.

Jasper and his wife Martha's children were all grown up, so it was just the two of them and their animals living on the family farm. The couple's only means of income was selling their crops and Jasper's trade skill as a blacksmith.

Jasper and his wife Martha's children were all grown up, so it was just the two of them and their animals living on the family farm. The couple's only means of income was selling their crops and Jasper's trade skill as a blacksmith.

But in the wintertime, with no harvest on the horizon for a while and demand for metal work in Roaring Fork not super high that time of year, Jasper decided to take a trip across the border because he'd learned that there might be more work for blacksmiths in North Carolina.

But in the wintertime, with no harvest on the horizon for a while and demand for metal work in Roaring Fork not super high that time of year, Jasper decided to take a trip across the border because he'd learned that there might be more work for blacksmiths in North Carolina.

And his assumption was right because there were a handful of small mining communities in and around the Hazel Creek area that regularly needed blacksmith services. So before departing his house, Jasper tucked a little bit of money into a purse, slung his rifle around him, grabbed his pocket watch and whatever other provisions he needed, and set out in the direction of Hazel Creek.

And his assumption was right because there were a handful of small mining communities in and around the Hazel Creek area that regularly needed blacksmith services. So before departing his house, Jasper tucked a little bit of money into a purse, slung his rifle around him, grabbed his pocket watch and whatever other provisions he needed, and set out in the direction of Hazel Creek.

He told Martha that he would return as soon as he was able to. Now, I don't know what the terrain or route was like back in the early 1900s, but if you look on Google Maps today and input that you want to walk from Roaring Fork to Hazel Creek, it estimates it should take you about a day.

He told Martha that he would return as soon as he was able to. Now, I don't know what the terrain or route was like back in the early 1900s, but if you look on Google Maps today and input that you want to walk from Roaring Fork to Hazel Creek, it estimates it should take you about a day.

In his book, Death in the Great Smoky Mountains, author Michael Bradley explained that when Jasper made this trip, he would have trekked the backbone of the Great Smoky Mountains in the direction of the Elkmont, Tennessee area and Cherokee, North Carolina. which would have put him on trails he was familiar with and lessened the amount of elevation he had to climb.

In his book, Death in the Great Smoky Mountains, author Michael Bradley explained that when Jasper made this trip, he would have trekked the backbone of the Great Smoky Mountains in the direction of the Elkmont, Tennessee area and Cherokee, North Carolina. which would have put him on trails he was familiar with and lessened the amount of elevation he had to climb.

Basically, it allowed him to cross the high peaks of the Smokies and be on a more direct path toward Hazel Creek. One of the first farms he stopped at to rest and get out of the snowy weather was owned by the Owenby family, who was known for taking in travelers. Jasper stayed the night there, got a good meal, and caught everyone up there on the latest news from back in town.

Basically, it allowed him to cross the high peaks of the Smokies and be on a more direct path toward Hazel Creek. One of the first farms he stopped at to rest and get out of the snowy weather was owned by the Owenby family, who was known for taking in travelers. Jasper stayed the night there, got a good meal, and caught everyone up there on the latest news from back in town.

The next morning, he left the Owenby's and made his way further up into the mountains, likely following a number of streams toward Hazel Creek. Meanwhile, back in Roaring Fork, Martha waited patiently for her husband to return and went about her normal daily activities on their farm. When Jasper failed to return after a few days, Martha began to worry.

The next morning, he left the Owenby's and made his way further up into the mountains, likely following a number of streams toward Hazel Creek. Meanwhile, back in Roaring Fork, Martha waited patiently for her husband to return and went about her normal daily activities on their farm. When Jasper failed to return after a few days, Martha began to worry.

More time went by and she continued to grow concerned that something wasn't right. Then months passed, but Jasper never came home. And other people who'd been to and from Hazel Creek informed her that he wasn't there, never had been. When Martha learned that information, that's when she knew something was very wrong.

More time went by and she continued to grow concerned that something wasn't right. Then months passed, but Jasper never came home. And other people who'd been to and from Hazel Creek informed her that he wasn't there, never had been. When Martha learned that information, that's when she knew something was very wrong.

So a search party of people from Roaring Fork was dispatched to follow Jasper's route through the mountains. But the group only made it about 20 miles to a place called Myrie Ridge before losing his tracks. It was like he'd just disappeared into thin air. Years passed with no updates on her husband's whereabouts.

So a search party of people from Roaring Fork was dispatched to follow Jasper's route through the mountains. But the group only made it about 20 miles to a place called Myrie Ridge before losing his tracks. It was like he'd just disappeared into thin air. Years passed with no updates on her husband's whereabouts.