Famous North Carolina Folk Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

Virginia Dare was the granddaughter of Governor White. Her mother was White's daughter, Eleanor, and her father, Ananias Dare, was one of his assistants. She was born on Aug. 18, 1587, only days after the colonists landed on Roanoke. Soon after her birth, White left Roanoke to seek aid in England. Unable to return until over three years later, he found the settlement deserted.

He never learned the fate of of the colony at Roanoke. The story of the Lost Colony is still one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries.

Answer: Dolley Madison

Dolley Payne Todd Madison was born in Piedmont, NC. She was raised in a strict Quaker household. After her first husband's death in 1793, Dolley cast aside the tenets of her strict Quaker raising and began to wear the fashionable clothes she had always admired.

In 1794, she married James Madison who was 19 years her senior. When Madison was elected President, Dolley was known for her lavish parties and fashions. When she fled from the British 1814, Dolley took Washington's portrait and many important state papers out of the White House.

Answer: Old Hickory

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was nicknamed "Old Hickory." He received the name during the War of 1812, because it was said he was untiring as if he was made of hickory. Jackson served as President of the United States from 1829-1837. "Stonewall" was the nickaname of Thomas Jackson, a Condeferate general in the American Civil War. Andrew Jackson was known for his fiery temper, so I doubt anyone would have called him a Blockhead--at least to his face.

Answer: James Polk

James Polk (1795-1849) is best remembered for his support of the expansion policy "Manifest Destiny." He was an avid supporter of Andrew Jackson and served as one of his advisors during the Jackson administration. He was president from 1845-1849.

Answer: Practiced law and spent many years in the US Senate

Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was elected as NC's Governor in 1862 and again in 1864. He was arrested and imprisoned after Gen. Johnston's surrender to Sherman. He was released late in 1865, and went back to practicing law. In 1876, Vance again became Governor of NC, but ran for the US Senate and won in 1878.

He was still serving in the Senate at the time of his death in 1894. His family farm, the Zebulon Vance Birthplace, is located near Weaverville, NC, in the western mountains. It is open to the public and has been fully restored.

Answer: Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner was born on Christmas Eve, 1922, in Grabtown, NC. She was the youngest of seven children born to a poor tobacco farmer and his wife. She was so beautiful that her brother-in-law displayed her portrait in the window of his New York photography studio when she was 18.

It was spotted by an MGM talent scout. Supposedly her low country Carolina accent was so thick that she was not allowed to speak on her screentest--but her lovely appearance got her signed to a contract. She died on Jan. 25, 1990 and is buried in the family plot in Smithfield, NC.

Answer: Andy Griffith

Andy Griffith (Andy Taylor) was born in Mount Airy NC on June 1, 1926. Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee) was born and raised in New York City. She retired to Siler City, NC and lived there until her death in 1989 at age 86. Don Knotts (Barney) was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. The "Andy Griffith Show" is still running today in syndication.

Answer: Became Miss America 1962

The lovely dark-haired Ms. Fletcher became the first Miss North Carolina to be crowned Miss America. She was born in Asheville, NC.

Answer: Flew in the space shuttle with John Glenn

Astronaut Curtis Brown was on board Discovery in 1999 when John Glenn returned to space. He is a veteran of six space flights and has logged over 1,383 hours in space. Brown was born on Mar. 11, 1956 in Elizabethtown, NC.

Answer: Dale Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001) was born in Kannapolis, NC. In 1998, Earnhardt had finally won the Daytona 500 after nineteen unsuccessful attempts. It was at the Daytona 500 in 2001 that Earnhardt was killed when his car struck a wall on the last lap. Known for his aggressive driving style, his nickname was the Intimidator. Earnhardt had fans all over the country.

His father. Ralph Earnhardt, was a former NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver.