Off the Wall: Wolverton Mountain's Clifton Clowers Was Real!
Been by There Many Times and I Never Realized It!
Clifton Clowers (1891-1994), a World War I veteran, was the subject of the 1962 hit song, “Wolverton Mountain,” the lyrics of which begin:
“They say don’t go on Wolverton Mountain
If you’re looking for a wife
‘Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter
He’s mighty handy with a gun and a knife…”
What the lyrics don’t tell you is that Clowers, never actually carried a gun. In fact, he was a highly educated man who could read and write both Latin and Greek, as well as play several musical instruments, not to mention play a fine game of chess.
He lived to a ripe old age, played dominoes and the mandolin until his dying days, and drove a well-matched team of mules.
According to folk who knew Clifton Clowers, he was friendly, sociable and just a darn good citizen. In fact, he was happily married, a deacon in the Baptist church, and lived until he was 102. He’s buried in the Woolverton Mountain Cemetery.
He was asked many times what…
