The celebrated Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng, after traveling over all the world and seeing the advantages and disadvantages of every country, chose he quiet glens of Wilkes as the loveliest spot for retirement and repose.
They were born in May, 1811 at Maklong, Siam, and died in Wilkes county near Hays post office about the hear 1880.
In 1829 they left their country for American, and since they have traveled over the whole of this continent, England, France and other countries, exciting the admiration of the crowd, and to the investigations of the scientific Sir Ashley Cooper of London. Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell of New York and others, who have reported upon this singular phenomenon in the natural world.
They were united together as one by an ensiform cartilage from the side. The blood vessels and nerves of each communicated.
There seemed to be a perfect sympathy for when one was sick so was the other. They went to sleep at the same moment, and woke at the same. Both died on the same day, only few minutes intervening between their deaths.
A time or two was set to separate the twins but the scientific doctors decided that such an operation would terminate their lives.
They were wealthy, well settled, and both happily married and had interesting families around them. They married twin sisters named Yates, sisters of Austin and Jesse Yates. Robert Yates of Boomer is a nephew of the wives of the Siamese Twins.
They differed widely in appearance, character and strength. One was sober and patient; the other intemperate and irritable.
From the front page of The North Wilkesboro Hustler, Feb. 17, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072938/1926-02-17/ed-1/seq-1/
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