The Goat Man
"The Goat Man" at the end of his life.
“The Goat Man is here!” Word would quickly spread through town as soon as someone spotted the famous wanderer and his band of smelly goats on the outskirts. Adults and children alike would drop whatever they were doing and dash over for a visit with the Goat Man.
McCartney in 1945
An article in the New Georgia Encyclopedia says Charles (“Ches”) McCartney was a significant folk and religious figure in Georgia for more than four decades. After being injured on a Works Progress Administration job, McCartney experienced a religious awakening and began traveling to preach his message of eternal damnation for sinners. It is widely held that McCartney was an influence on the writings of Georgia author Flannery O’Connor.
People would flock to visit the "Goat Man" when word of his appearance on the outskirts of town was reported.
After being brutally attacked several times, McCartney settled in South Georgia, his unique life’s story ending in a Macon nursing home in 1998.
Newspaper articles about “Goat Man” can be found in the Georgiana Collection clipping files of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Additional images of McCartney and his goats can be found in the Vanishing Georgia Collection by searching for “Charles McCartney” or “Goat Man.”
If you have memories of the “Goat Man’s” visits, leave a comment — we’d love to hear from you!
I remember seeing the Goat Man in Birmingham, AL back in the mid-’60s. He was at the Eastwood Mall. I was never sure what the deal was, but as I recall he came more than once, so I assumed he was on some kind of circuit. At least I assume this was the same guy—that photo of his rig is exactly as I remember it. Glad to know after all these years what his backstory was. Kinda sad, really.
This was a very interesting read with an abundance
of information within! Very good work by the author!
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Recently, I decided to have a picture of myself, my brother, and my cousin restored showing us with the goat man at the bridge connecting Beech Island SC. to Augusta Ga. This bridge was known as the Sand Bar Ferry bridge and has been replaced with a new bridge. I am 60 years old now and I appeared to be around 8 years old at the time. This would have made it around 1958. It seems that one of his goats was missing a leg and always rode on top of the wagon. I am so glad to see that others have my same memories of this unusual man and his goats. Those were the days.
I’m almost 61 years old now. I grew up in North Augusta on Courtney Drive, in Smithfield subdivision; same neighborhood as Paul Knox Junior High. I remember seeing the Goat Man come right up Courtney Drive. I don’t know where he was going, but it was always exciting when he showed up. I’m sure others in the neighborhood remember him too.
I visited my grandmother in Waycross Georgia in the early 1960′s and we saw the goat man
several times on our way from Jacksonville. Seems to me we got a post card and some sort of tricket. It was so exciting! I go back to Waycross and nothing is as I remembered. My memory is that it was like “To Kill A Mocking Bird”. My grandmother’s street is now like
an intercity neighborhood. I have fond memories of my summers there, mowing
the yard, sitting on her front porch with no air condition! Running bare foot and going down to the railroad tracks and placing pennies on the track. She knew every train schedule! Imagine telling your grandkids to run to the railroad tracks!! How times have changed.
I remember seeing the Goat Man outside of Young Harris, GA. He was camped by Quince Townsend’s store on the road to Blairsville. That would have been sometime in the early 1960′s. He certainly made an impression on me to remember him for all these years!!!
I LIVED IN TWIGGS COUNTY GEORIGIA ALL MY LIFE, I AM 44 AND MY DADDY AND I STOPPED BY THE GOATMANS HOUSE IN THE EARLY 70S . WHEN WE WENT IN, I REMEMBER SEE A GUMBALL MACHINE SITTING JUST INSIDE THE DOOR. THE HOUSE WAS CLUTTERED, BUT LIVABLE, OUT IN THE YARD WAS A FEW GOATS AND HIS WAS WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE…I RIDE BY THE PLACE QUITE OFTEN, TREES ARE GROWN UP THERE NOW, AND U CANT EVEN SEE THE SCHOOL BUSES NOW… ANOTHER LEGEND, FADING AWAY IN TIME…WISH THERE WAS A MARKER THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO KNOW THE GOATMAN…
It is Christmas Eve and while reminiscing with my elderly aunt she pulled out some old photos of a man with a bunch of goats. It turns out my nephew knew that this man was “the goat man”. At some point while my aunt was stationed in the military in the south she and friends came upon this man and had to take pictures since it was such an odd event. This shows how we must treasure our seniors and learn from them…you never know what you might find out.
As a kid in the 70′s the Goatman would come through Adairsville Ga. He would camp at the corner of hwy41 and hwy 140, the vacant lot is still there! The word would travel “The Goatmans Comin” and people would line the sides of the road to see and talk to him. As a kid the wagon was amazing I remember standing there with my mouth hanging open in a stare thinking what the heck! The goats were funny they would climb all over the wagon. I will never forget this from my childhood….
I grew up in Macon, GA during the 60s and 70s and we used to see the goat man all the time driving his goats through town. He was just part of the scenario and a regular fixture. I’ve never forgotten him.
I saw this man on his trips from Washington Ga. to Thompson Ga. Always the burning tires.
Yes this a memory of a time gone by. I saw the goat man around 1961 or 1962 in Dalton, Ga he camped out in front of our house on Hwy 41. I will never forget I was about 6 or 7 years old at the time I wish I still had the pictures he gave to my dad.
I have two pixs of the goatman in August 1962. With two cars, my family was on the way to Florida from Md. In Georgia,we stopped that morning to cook breakfast campstyle. Down the road the goatman came and amused all nine of us. He stopped and ate and moved on. He was very nice and friendly. I never forgot him and still have the pixs of him, the commical wagon and his family of goats. He couldn’t have gotten anything else on his wagon. Great memories!!
I grew up in the small town of Arabi, Ga on US 41. The “Goat Man” camped many times on a hill just outside of town and my Uncle would always take my Brother and I out to see him right after supper. Sometimes my Mom or Grandmother would sent him a supper plate along with us. Those were sweet simple days.
I grew up in rural Laurens County, GA and we often saw the goat man when he would travel along Hwy 441. He would pass by our house and we would all run out to see him. You could hear him coming with all the goats and the pots and pans rattling. He would park at a little country store a mile or so away and everyone would stop and talk to him or just listen to him preach. Fun memories!
I remember him vividly as a very young child and as a man with a very special “something” about him. Children and adults loved him. He would show up in the 60/s and 70/s at unexpected times slowly riding in a buggy with goats calmly pulling it down the highway. He would hand out color postcards of the vehicle and goats for all. He was always happy and smiling. He dressed in overalls.
This was Bulloch County; Brooklet and Stilson areas. We hated to see him go and would wonder where he went that made him so very happy in his simple and non material life. We actually wanted to go with him. I know now it was a spiritual realm he lived in and that he would have been content and happy anywhere where he could touch the lives of others in his simple wonderful way.
I remember The Goat Man traveling down Hwy 41 in Calhoun and Adairsville Ga. in the late 60′s and early 70′s. We saw him a few different times with his waggon and many goats. We never talked to him, but he always weaved at us as he went by. The rumor’s we heard was that he was really rich, but choose to live with his goats.
I remember seeing “the goat man” camped along hw 278 between Rutledge and Covington near a place called the Hub Junction in the 1950′s. He was a sight to behold!
It was only once, but I remember the Goat Man coming through our small town of Danville Kentucky in the mid fifties. I was only out ten or so ,but have never forgotten the event!
I recall seeing Mr. McCartney and his goats several times as a kid growing up in Hokes Bluff, AL during the late fifties and early sixties. He was travelling along US 278 between Gadsden and Piedmont, AL. A very nice man.