Goose HeavenCivil War
War of Secession 1861 – 1865
Asbury White of Davie County, north of Farmington near Yadkin County Line,
lived with his wife and children.
He was drafted into the army and fought in the war. After a long period of time he
escaped and came back home to his family. While there he saw his family in need of
shoes. He being a good cobbler went back into the woods to some big gullies which was
known as “goose heaven” a place where they put their geese when they died. He dug a
cave large enough for him to hide in to make the shoes.
Within a few days the Home Guards from the Army appeared at his home to get
him for imprisonment. They went in and searched the house and became very angry
because his wife and children would not tell where he was hiding. They threatened them
and cursed them. Then they went outside where their youngest child, 5 years old Walker
White, was playing. They said to him, “Boy where is your Daddy?” He said “I God! He’s
in goose heaven making shoes.” They became very angry and went up near the barn and
climbed on two haystacks and pulled off their pants and cursed very loudly. They left and
never returned, but Asbury finished the shoes and he and his family lived happily there
after.
Dorothy Smith Athan
Great Granddaughter of Asbury White
P.S. This was told me by my parents and grandparents many times.