Micajah Clark Dyer

Description: The man who invented a flying machine and received a patent 2 decades before the Wright Brothers first took flight.

Born: July 23, 1822

Died: January 26, 1891

Birthplace: Union County, GA

Resting Place: Old Choestoe Cemetery, Blairsville, GA

Occupation: Pioneer Aviator; Farmer

Spouse(s): Morena Elizabeth Owenby Dyer

Children: Jasper Washington Dyer; John M Dyer; Henderson Andrew Dyer; Marcus Lafayette Dyer; Cynthia Clarenda Dyer Smith; Emanuel Mancel Pruitt Dyer; Morena E. Dyer Wimpey; Johnson B. Dyer

Parents: Sallie Dyer; John Meyers

Awards: Patent 154,654; Smithsonian Institute Museum of Air and Space Wall of Honor Honoree; The Aviator Highway AKA HWY 180 is named in his honor.

Facts of Interest: 1. Micajah Clark Dyer sits on the "Wall of Honor" as an honoree in the Smithsonian Institute's Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.. 2. It is believed that other Union Countians of the 1800's witnessed Micajah Clark Dyer "flying machine" actually getting airborne when taking flight off of Rattlesnake Mountain. 3. Micajah Clark Dyer's great great granddaughter, Sylvia Dyer Turnage, is the author of the book "Georgia's Pioneer Aviator: Micajah Clark Dyer", telling about the life and flight trials of her great great grandfather, Micajah Clark Dyer. This book is available for purchase in the Union County Historical Society Museum. 4. It is believed to be possible that this flying machine was eventually sold to the Wright Brothers years after Micajah Clark Dyer's death. 5. A portion of Georgia Highway 180 is named the "Micajah Clark Dyer Parkway", in honor of Micajah Clark Dyer.