There are a lot of things that we can thank President Abraham Lincoln for, and we're not just talking about bringing those beautiful top hats back in style.

Paul Henning was reportedly inspired by the 16th president to create his hit comedy, The Beverly Hillbillies. According to The Beverly Hillbillies by Stephen Cox, Henning was on a road trip, touring various historical sites after working on The Bob Cummings Show. As the show's creator, Henning had been hard at work during the show's four-year duration.

After the series ended in 1959, Henning took the opportunity to go on a much-needed vacation. The writer proceeded to go on a cross-country road trip, touring a number of important historical sights throughout America. According to Henning, he had just visited Abraham Lincoln's cabin when the muse struck.

Watch The Beverly Hillbillies on MeTV!

Weeknights at 9 PM, Saturdays at 6 & 6:30 AM, Sundays at 2 & 2:30 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

"After leaving Lincoln's cabin in Kentucky, we drove along the two-lane highway facing the approaching cars at a closure rate of about 130 miles an hour," said Henning. "I wondered aloud what reaction Abraham Lincoln might have had if he were transplanted from the nineteenth century and suddenly found himself seated in the car with us...The idea kind of stayed with me. I wondered how, without being too magic, such a thing would be accomplished."

To avoid any overly fantastical elements, Henning instead took a family like the Clampetts and dropped them into Beverly Hills. Though the fictional family wasn't plucked from a different decade, they seemed to be so set in their traditional ways that it was as good as.

Originally hailing from Missouri, Henning was certainly poised to do a rural-centric show, though he couldn't have any idea the effect he'd have on the television industry. "If I'm gonna do a hillbilly program, I'm gonna do my own and create it myself," said Henning.