Whats in a Name?
Panther Creek!
The story of Panther Creek is a legend in itself! It starts with the Famous Uncle Fed Messer. Uncle Fed live in 3 centuries. Late 1700's to early 1900's. Uncle Fed was one of my great uncles. He was a decendant of Captain Messer and Christian Messer. Christian Messer and his 2 sons , one of which was uncle Fed, founded the White Oak and Panther Creek communities on the banks of the Pigeon River in Haywood County North Carolina.
Story goes, that Uncle Fed was being stalked by a "painter" (Appalachian pronunciation of Panther) one night. He returned with his hounds and killed the Painter.
According to him it Fed his hounds for a week! Now we are talking about probably one of the toughest mountain men time has seen. Colorful story teller as well. Legend claims on his account, he only buttoned his shirt 2 days in his life. Once when he got married and the coldest day he could remember!
That is how Panther Creek got its name!