North Carolina Newspapers

1889 * Earlv Hi 90 (By Mrs. P. H. Suiinn(irn) It Is a commendable trait lor any community to be proud of its past? and It <lce& scorn that we who, have ll?-ed long in this Immediate loculity h?ve uitte rtlit'i our shaio of reiisone /to be interested In our local Ills' tory. Upon investigation* (with other sections) h1! 1inA the earliest happenings here so vairle.di and colorful as -to challenge our imagination. in tact, the story of -the. learly days reads like an exciting adventuie tale. Before the Revolutionary War. tills section had been settled by. the &:o'fh-lrish arO Gorman pioneers. .Tbe land which now comprises the town of Kings Mountain and adjacent territory lir<l been received tisru state nn.1> royal grants by the following: v 1. Joitn JIusselbe'ger ? August 12 ? ' ' ? a? swnn IA lliim. I7S7-ZU0. convoyeu in n?3 iu Humphrey Parker. 2 Iraac Kimball ? October 13. 17&m00 A. thni \T** vku ones to RobII I II I l| ' i "? 3. Alexander (Dickey ? 200 A. Jan 20. 1796. . .. 4. James Blythe (from king) to O-o I'ottB 1773 to James (Hug-gin* ,Potts Crock). 6" Solomon Benson (front king 17C41 to Joiv.ph to Scioir.:ti - ISO A. (Reason Cre^k). Be'ore 1790 tH? post road Orvm Burke Oountv to Charleston. *1. C traversed this eOtttfon prtobably following the general direction Of the present Chterryvill? audi York roads. Mr. Robert Fte-Us is mentioned In tux armouht reported in "Carolina Sazelite" of Rutberfordton County ?in 1836, as one of six representatives from the Southwest portion of Iilnoeln County -who met with a Ilka nutfmber from Rutherford County . for put-pos? of necrosing sentiment for the tomtit ten of a new eonr/y parts of two above named counties. A? that time he is known to have Owned s creptrr part -f int?d ivoon xyhtejv K'npi Mountain is located. In 1844, Br. James Wright Tracy end family moved from Spartanburg ? ? - - ??__ _ ?j 0>im?y.' S. C.. lo mw locality ana ?cujtbt frm: Robert Falls or Solomon reason a I not of Innd In wliat la the ^ " Southwell portion of the town. 'Mr. Brlges Mr D^Vey sod othrte n?' Vnrn-n to h*>vo brjyn landOwrners horv b' 1840-1RfiO. Humphrey Parker owned" land In rrntral pert of section lone prior to the formation 'of Cleveland Coynty. His deed called for 200 acres, coverlnc where- Kfries Mountain Mfe. Co. v Ollllne Mill. .H+gh School. Lutheran Church, etc. wow stand. Between 1870-72 tb- railroad sma being but It thru this community ? froth' Charlotte to Atlanta. In 1872 R. T. Mc.Aden-of Charlotte, vis ton tog the pidtoWHtj of a future town to tne ildtotlj w( the KLnga Mountain gold mine, heOtfht 28 acres of land from Robrrt TWt? ? with the Idee of dl^Mon Win. lota. Soon after ha rclcaaed hia holdtmea bp . John H. Cfaig. who mlade sslaf to rartoua lavdf owners. A map of the property oonrered by the town now wooM haws looked in 1873 Ufce this. In May 1872 OniiA Vfreno' DUltog mooed his sew mQl from Cherry tUle to the Mto of Ktoea Mountain MTg. Co. In the tall of the ndd*vf?ei'*h? first railroad tradlc wne toSd hX. place. Hie "well at the new mill torn MM seder to the railroad engine*, Late to 1872 A. V. jnalla. from W. A. Mammy, from jMtaddtr Po?8t "fcection. *Ofts? land County Bought two km mMi frant Robert Flails. Mr. Rslls' two acres ?u the- land on which A. R. P. Church and manse now stand- straight wast to Railroad Arenue. Mr, Matmey's part was the boms place of tbp lata W. A. Mfeonsy and 3. 8. Mnuney. On April 14, 1873 (Raster Monday) \V. A. MJanney and brother, J. a Maundy osrae to bttild homes and go Into mdnfeitiiei buslusss. fThetr first store wna located In a part of the present little house directly east o' the overhead brtdg,) At- that time the only stone operating here )wu Ciow and Beam's bar-room on the ?? -u? ?? n??ii?.ui is?e rv> but moon after Crow and Bee* o|ea ed a <um home <m the comer ot Atom tain and R. R. Aveaoe (Quit Oil Oo. now located). la 1|I74, ilaua cy Brae mor?d their tocMtlen to the present atto of Keeterle atora ? H 1871 repladnx tbe wooden boUdhaa with the itoem'a tint brick etraeUW (two atory). A. P. and M. V. Cap renter, brothers, mtoved here ta 1874 opening a mercantile kuleiw Joining Maunoy Broe. on the Sooth "About the aame time P. S. Partem end faoob McOlnnU came and bufll iaJ a store on the corner of Ktag mat Mr ' Railroad Avenue (Lather Hurrabn'i WhML ahe railroad waa reWfy w "e W fcpot tike officiate aeked Mr* | .Reelect a name for the ate ' I %k|*|j*r*atiiotko epirft eh* | *n honoi mmrnrnrnimmmmmmmm Kings THE KINGS MOUN" istory Of been vased eight miles awBy. Soon ofti&r ? the post-office which prior to this .time was called/ "WMte Plains," locator! first near El B<":h?l church and later 'at the homo of Dr. Tracy (who was the a residing near wheno M.r. \V. A. Williams now liven) Was changed to "Kings Mbuntaln" and moved to Maiuney Bros, store w:th W. A Mi'amy. the town'3 tirst postmaster, serving 17 years White Pla.ns M'u-s!<?>r Uiounci1 wv's Ju?t south of El Bethel Church. Here in 1861 Co. 9 49th Reg) (Capt B. jr.. Dixon) tnuliwd. Al?o the Cleveland Clues which was absorbed by CO. D. 14 th Reg.,, The town wa? chartered February 11. 1874. The commissioners named In the charter were J)r. J. W. Tracy, j W. A Mbnney. F Dilllng, D. C. 1 r nm nnd W. F. F lis. From this | number. W. A. - Maucey su chosen the fkr&t mayor. The < ha arte* covered ' si cut tne letterotae pige of typew { .lug ? ti e Idagc.i: tlew'.ion of t.'ito'n timr<ted for an election with it . 'M-' T.g to know tthat the town voted "No" on l!?r I'.tptor mustier. E'Ui'ng t.hc t :aialn?rg years of tfc; 7.a? .?1y? Garrett Bros!?Messrs I. W. Garrett, Richard Garrett. John Oari-ftt an '."i ;Dr. Fr nfc Garrett had come f tn Fi 14c Jctnjie (Cofcsty evid boovbt largo traces of thy mountain land fiom the Brtggs estate, paying on an aavcage of 50c per1 >.Ce. The n.rrrott - Bros, and the'ir kinsman. [C.tpt. R. 8. Suggs built two store I biddings cm the ti'.ircr of W. ji ; rdc"I> of Rlvilroad Avenue and Moun tr.in Stieet ? the forrepr o general merchandise and the latfter drup, ,>'.c"ro. Theic building,-} -wcte loiter r.nverted into n ho.?'. which still j stands and la known to ?'l of u? as the Mountain View. Hotel. Mauney I'rr-s. h3l oavl'er built a cheap hotel ' where pcartofllce la now located. Mr. nd ,Mrs. J. 8. Mauney were the first hit: ke-epTs. This bunding fa now ?ta?>?nf cot Cherokee atreet opposite tho Bonnie Mill Store. R. Q. C. LmeJ w ho came In itiie latter 70's and built a Toiler mill, -which la now a portion of the present Ware's Roller Mill, ' fc-nplctied the Industrial picture of | Kir so Mountain "n 1880. i f All tf the brick business houses have been e. recited since 1890?exI oc pt -the present, KeHr's Department i Store. The fire ~f 1890 w'pri'- out st-c-'cs from tho ocrner of Monntliln filtcct and R. R Aventva, south to M"wvev Bros. Those destroyed Willlford's Dry Gccda. R-isall Houser'a Grocery, the iBeatty Millinery BT.l Ditsa Mak'ng 8' ivp, Canaler* Grocery. The f're was caused ' by "s llphPnlng wiilch struck tlie Wllliford I Building. i p*Hier ridhiatriea In town before the turn of the oKntyry .ibut which are, I . ? - - ; niw out or exwcnce wore: w. Connretl Buggy Factory; <Ben Hull Wagon Factory; Guthrie's Shoe Factory which made lottos ahoes. In 1188, F. Dilltog. Manney Bros ;<nd c/t*-i<rw built the first cotton mill. The Kings Mountain Mfg. Co. and thus began- the Industry which wrs to mean o^nt In tha development , of rfce trjwn. The other mllle followed IMhterpifo (KSotfco. Mason, bow ; Mptmsr)...1881. Hilling, 1893-94;.. Co ; m. 1800; LaxMi 1800; Bonnie 1800; 9fctfkn**0r?? PAWm-1910; Margrace end Furfcfe 1814; Sadie 18X0; I here nee been able to lean why Captain W. T. R. Bett selected Kings i C?pt Bel! wae a oathe of Virginia Cud waa a bsntdaome man of a very . v.Coning personality. Hie achool at, fjucted many young mien from this i section of North Carolina and South Carolina, who fa later years be cam o pnme movers In their respective fields of endeavor. The site of the present Central High School waa the i location of hla academy. This build , *ng served an the town ecbool after ; Capt Bell dlnoontinued hla achool until ft wwa destroyed by fire fa 1810 | Tracy Street between Mountain and I Odd street with its doable row of , troee wm ortfctriAlly the lane that' , lad from the Shelby road to the Unaj ty bona* on lot where Mr. John ; ?ooi a?r xwaidea. Tto west of Tracy ; Street where Miae Oarlyle Were, Mr. , IdNtr JKcOlll Md others hare homes i was know* aa Tracy# puna, Has* ; the Kba Mountain Military School , held Its early wm wkWk i were wrattMal atffl exciting ahenelnna , pot only for the a tu tents bet . Cer , M*y local and iMltai laiaarti, 1 The AM public school tor the ; town waa built on oonear of Ktng ' and Piedmont Otnoota, Where Mn. ' 3. Q. HoiVTa I ua lite HOC now stand*. It ' waa a airtoll omoatory at me tore and 1 waa need alao aa a pace ot worship 1 before My churches were built. The float denomination to erect I Crawford new reatdea. It waa. a wood V Moun rAIN HERALD KINGS MOUNTAIN, ir* Minors ?o t building snrrcinded by many large cedar -trees. which proved ra>' ther confusing to many younger .'tlka who hearc' the cMfir pe:. pi V speak of the A R. P. ss "Scceders."i ^ r cl.nrct bulk^.14 W tcW rqw however Is ih "'a t Y>. J;uthcran i which was built In 1879?the oon-( r~gu!ion btvtng been < rganzMl In 1871 and preachUiR services bavins trcn held iWr'ng there y.rars in th* town school huose. Ii would be impossible to give a n>rarte of all tht early families wb^ lived here. There Mre twdv bowc/or who figured most interestingly iu the early affairs of tho town ami who now have no descendants in thlsj kcality, whose names therefore will be compleletely lost in the future development of the town. The first?I shall mention, and l-.kewise first in prominence ? !s the' Tracy family. Dr. 'James Wright Tracy and his wife P.f.la<s Regie.-! Minerva Stone, were both of highly cultured and inteiiecMml stock. Natives of Spartanburg County. S. C., they meWd -to t.hla section In 1844 when? Dr. (Tr^oy began the practice <>f medicine. (He waa thoroughly and' highly respected citizen and h's w:?s | was betovdd and honored, by all. The j family frrn marriage of their difigh ( ff-r ws ?'nK?? w-.tt ire .'Jturnamsi cud Dlxons ? their Hluatr'ouV grand' sous in more cocoat years having Ivoughf x i?dl tVma f|$?!ry tV ttiet? names ? (Robert, Pla>'o and Stonewall Durham ? Ben (killed In. World War ?nd Wright Dixon. ? twins. Dr 1J. F. Dixon. fa?.he?r of the latter two > was one of most illustrious sons of this section ? Capt. In Civil War ? u doctor and a preacher- ? also ser ved his state as Stole Auditor. The old Tracy lnome was burned but many of the younger generations can remember the beautiful old trees and the profusion of flowers ?fespekxWUy the daffodils In the] spring ? wi/ch surrounded the eld horaesdte. An interesting Incident in the life of Dr. TVacy is related by Mr. Rob<rt .Durham (Boem Vlata SemEn&ry, Ruena VMa Vat) hta ginmfon. - In 1848, 68 years after the battle of Kings Moon tain Dr. Tracy with the rfd of r>a old Mr. Harmow who bad lived near the'battlefield, located the the grave of Col. Pa trick Ferguson. There bad long ben a tradition that a at?an bad ban barted In the grave with the eommaader. Dr. Tret ey excavated, found tftae two bodies end from bin knowledge of the fanman anatomy wtea able to verify the trad Woo one waa the body of a woman. He carefully retorted tbe bodies end left tbe grave Just aa It wee beforehand. i >*Swinging Just as far as possible to the other extreme, lacking education md culture, opposed to progress end 'mprovemeuts. frugal to the point of denying .themselves oftentimes the ictual necosaltfee of Mfe. were the Parkers, Humphrey. Hstkor, the first member of tbe family hboul whom there, to any record, .hud two **ods and two danfrhters. Nicholas went to Tennaaaee. Som lived fo the hollow west of the deport, hit maiden sisters, Nancy oud Hetile. In * small house farther west. Sam married and reertu? one son. Bam, and five dsM^hters, Nancy, JHettle. Polly SalMe and Rachel ? none of whom married tontd all of -whom are now deed; Nona of them departed from the way** of their forefathers, wean 1_ 1 _ ei ? ' *A LETTER I 4rei? HOME* T ' i 'ill' > tain B N. C.. FIFTIE :t ANNIVERSARY E Mountain | iiia home marie clotlnlng and shoes, split kcai!?ts and t.\prons, using1 primitive methods of oooU'irtg, never1 allowing an innovation to enter their lie er home. (Rachel), the youngest.' TffPfW lie cent forts of life. She did get spec! lodes when her eye-slight became! poor. Rh-- rnd Sam rode cn the train > one time to Charlotte.) Their home' ('..rristf-J one two one-room houses! about .10 feet apart. It was surround?ti by a large past tire which was enclosed by ta apltt-iv.ni fence. Kin ay Mountain was endowed with a beautiful situatfan nestling at the foothills of the picturesque range of mountains known as Crowders diva Kings Mountains ? and commending a superb view of the Blue Ridge In the distant West. In these nearby mourssi'ns rist? hpring of mineral waters, which, to the earner days' when modes of trtavel were slow arid < . uncomfortable attracted ir.nny.' people ? some seeking res-, and recreations. others benefiting fiwviM lUo noili'/iiiiel n?*f\t\oril ln? of #VVA Kf uiowvHioi >?? ujmni'iro vi nf. water. Two such resorts were Sparrow Springs on Kings Menntafti and All Hoallns at the foot, of Crowders Mountain. Dr. Frank Garrett was one ot the promotorers of the latter. Here in the earlier days of the town ? - si.,1 . i Sixtec - - i Opera SIXTEEN YEARS ? > # r ' } ' : ' ' / We have just complete* - say with sincerity that w loptment and progress of Many of the homes in c some more pretentious, s ' If you have plans for I present one, see us about In addition to home fir SAVING. Begin your SA Home Bull J. E. Anthony, Pres. A - - , : i SSir fi i - ?*> v i - L. ?. lerald DTOON I Most I a- find a spacious resort' hotel with *>vi turning pvol. How k'lag alley and) i -i.tr amusements. Later this site 9 ( ::ivcrtP<l b tiic A.. II. I'. Into i 11.1' Hoarding ntbnol ? Llnwood .!i K'dr College. it is now owned Hv Hr (irc.ks .'r.t tis'4 Tor school pur pores. 'libcdiittl In the icoks beneath e mountains Is an tin told variety >t mlnctal wealth ? the most common Heine limestone, mica. I.oolin. iron ore. tin and goM. Tlii-lie natui -1 resources have given Impetus to the development of the community. I.-iked with .the early history and antedating the birth of the town, we have the romantic story of gold! mining at. Kings Mountain. One ?jf the largest landowners in this section more than 100 years ago was licit Brlges. It Is said his holdlugs included more than 11.000 acres of lend In the section which -'s now known e<s Yellow Ridge, extending to the foot of Crowders Mountain. Mr. Br.'gga was engaged in Iron ntlnr wood, for clhsnooal necessary In the iron smelter which he had in operation n< r the present Mountain View Mill and the Old Bevcth Cihurch <befor? 18561. The ore was mined from the Yellow Ridge ere bank (between Kings Mountain and Crowders Mountain.) A large number of men, mostly negroes were engaged in this work. Mr. Briggis maintained, a saloon and commissary for his employees and others of the community at a a'te near the centre of the block in town ? now enclosed by "Ridge. Gaston. King and Carpenter Streets. This location was chosen probably because It was on the post road frcw ljfncoln County to Char lee ton. Go'id was aodldentally discovered by Mrs. Briggs when she dipped a bucket of water from the spring noair her home. The shining sodftnent In her bucket caused a ftuore in the neighborhood, and upon analysis 1? wea found to be the finest grade c' gold ore. Bvigss was the first operator ol the gold mine. A foreigner, Mr. Liang m Yeai ition Igpgjl'? . ; OF SERVICE TO OUR C - 4 # ? 1 sixteen years of service to e have played an IMFORTA Kings Mountain. ' :r ?/' ?ur town and community, so) tand as a MONUMI^ftT to t HJILDING a new home or financing the project Lancing we have taught THE lVINGC ACCOUNT with us ?T ' ? ' * . . * _ . v*' < : \ , ' Vjk- v> ding & Loan / . . H. Patterson, Sec'y & Trea - V-'.. ' 1939 ' 1 nteresting ; ft ixl. made the bucket that pulled | the first gold ore trom th" mine. ' Mr. Logan Huffstetior (father of |.felt Huffstetler) "ironed th > hiK'ket This mining, was done-' without machinery by the method Vi.n.v rs tho horse wlUm. I (Langfot'd lived! In K1 Bethel seclion. lie murdered his wife and hid II in liti'.K in a fence comer. He was tried and hanged in Shelby., I.ogan Huffstetler lived. In Oak (Jiove Section. called 'Pigeon Kooat.' Between 18:14 and 1895. the mine I changed ownership and mantgenu-nt many times, but its operating or 'a large scale during tbis time i was turnout contnnuous. since Uten j iio mining other than trlbtrtc werk has been dam*. This has Ixv n profit i'blo to individuals doing this work? thcv receiving 9-10 of etold panned. It has been estimated that during its arrive period the mine yielded $750,000 to $l.owo.ooo in gold, however." Ihe mine was not considered profitable due . to the enormous expense ! from this irvine was marketed zf. the j i: 8. mint in Charlotte. Many of the promoters cf the mine ; wt re Englishmen among. whom .... . 1 t ing Messrs nerkwort.h, Macy. Rich ordson. Doraey. Coo!idtr? It^rtnn .and Taleott. The Rk-hatrdains to Horton period was the moer. colorful and nourishing, llndw Mr. Richardson's management, a large two story boarding house and a 30 room apartruent for families were bulit. Aa is (Cont'd on back page this section) i this was "%d ? " advertising sal ?nce MCtiiCD x or a I m rs Of OMMUNITY our community and can NT partin the deveV' " '...? ^ " "V. ' . - I y . v me modest and simple, his institution. ' ' . %' * rrrg . V 4V *'\V ' ' . ' * *.} *(', -y - i >. "* '' 'V." . ? REMODELING your .* v\ * /.> v 'v' tIFT by SYSTEMATIC in the APRIL Series. .. . *'/. V ? ' i' .vj i " . n I ' - ' ' Association 3. Thooiasson, Vice-Pines. . * * - |? . , M . ' ) m / vx ?