William Ingles established Ingles Ferry on the New River about 1762 at a site long occupied by Native Americans. He and his wife, Mary Draper Ingles, lived on the river's eastern side and operated a tavern and store on the western side. This crossing on the heavily traveled Great Road was used by migrants moving westward, coffles of enslaved African Americans, and notable travelers including the future French king Louis Philippe I. Virginia native William Clark crossed here in Nov. 1809 while traveling from St. Louis with his wife and son to visit family, conduct business in Washington, D.C., and plan the publication of the Lewis and Clark Expedition journals.