Cleveland County Centennial part three; The old Rock House House is 137 years old- The old Rock House located on the Grover- Kings Mountain Battleground road is 137 years old, having been erected by HENRY HOUSER in 1803, according to the keystone over the door. A home for the early HOUSERS, it was almost a fortress and was an old dwelling even during the Civil War. The family cemetery 200 yards from the house contains 10 stones, one of which indicated HENRY HOUSER died in 1822. ROBERT GOFORTH of Kings Mountain and MRS. MARY HARMON of Shelby are direct descendants of the builder (there is a photo, would scan if you wish to see). Good post Nancie! Henry Houser, Sr. was the son of John Howser and the grandson of Karl Hans Hauser. He was born c 1756 in York Co. PA (N. Cordus) and came to Lincoln Co. NC about 1780. Henry died 04 Mar 1822 in York Co. SC (Kings Creek). He was a Revolutionary War Veteran and a DAR line has been established. One of his initial land purchases was 200 acres around Howard's Creek, Lincoln Co. NC. in 1784. Then in 1788, Henry bought 125 acres on King's Creek in York Dist. SC and in 1789 he bought another 120 acres. (now King's Mountain National Park). His 2-story King's Mountain rock house took several years to build and parts of it have been restored. [1790 YCC p29-1-90-HOUSER-Henry-2-2-3-0-0] [1800 YCC p962-HOUSER-Henry-31001-2-------] [1810 YCC p268-HOUSER-Henry] [1820 YCC p171-HOUSER-Henry Sr.-000001-00001] Henry Houser, on the 1820 census of York District, SC, was recorded as owning four slaves, and his occupation as stonemason and distiller. The distilling of spirits was a common practice on the frontier, where corn, converted into whiskey was more easily transported to market, than as grain, or fodder. At the time of his death in 1822, Henry Howser, Sr. owned several thousand acres of land in York District, SC, and a tract on Cain Creek, in Rutherford Co. NC, which he willed to his son, David. Henry married Christina Jane Heavner 15 Sep 1779 in Lincoln Co. NC, daughter of Johann Heavner and Elizabeth. She was born c 1758 in Lincoln Co. NC (Howards Creek), and died 30 Oct 1856 in York Co. SC (Kings Creek). Children of Henry Houser and Christina Heavner are: Nancy Elizabeth Houser, born c 1780 in Lincoln Co. NC. (Howards Creek) > York Dist. SC; died 06 Sep 1851 in Cherokee Co. SC (Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery). She married Jacob Sepaugh, Seepach Mar 1805 in York Co. SC.; born Bef. 1775 in PA > Lincoln Co. NC > York Dist. SC; died 01 Jun 1838 in Cherokee Co. SC (Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery). Mary A. Houser, Margaret, born 07 Sep 1786 in Lincoln Co. NC.; died 12 Feb 1856 in Mecklenburg Co. NC. She married Henry M. Hoover, Konvat Honvae 18 Sep 1804; born 13 Apr 1778 in Lincoln Co. NC; died c 1830 in Lincoln Co. NC > Mecklenburg Co. NC. Jane Houser, Jennie, born 29 Apr 1786 in York Co. SC.; died 29 Apr 1866 in Mercer Co. MO. She married Joshua Moss c 1810 in York Co. SC; born 18 Apr 1785 in York Co. SC; died 16 May 1877 in Mercer Co. MO. John Houser, born Jul 1788 in York Co. SC; died 24 Jan 1833 in York Co. SC. He married Nancy James, Fink c 1809 in York Co. SC; born c 1791; died 14 Jul 1840 in York Dist. SC. Jacob Houser, born c 1789 in York Co. SC; died 22 Dec 1811 in York Co. SC. Henry Houser, Jr., born c 1793 in York Co. SC; died 03 Aug 1842 in Logan Co. AK. He married Faithy Jones, Pinky; born Bet. 1800 - 1805 in VA; died 01 Dec 1882 in of York Dist. SC. Susannah Houser, born 12 Jan 1795 in York Co. SC; died 03 Nov 1872 in York Co. SC. She married John Nicholas Whisonant Bef. 1814; born 30 Jun 1793 in York Co. SC; died 22 Nov 1867 in York Co. SC. David Houser, Sr., born 12 Jan 1800 in York Dist. SC > Rutherford Co. NC (Whitesides Settlement) (Cane Creek); died 10 Jul 1878 in Rutherford Co. NC (Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery). He married Jane Dixon c 1819 in York Co. SC.; born 20 Mar 1797; died 18 Nov 1891 in Rutherford Co. NC (Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery). Lydia Houser, born c 1802 in York Co. SC > Cleveland Co. NC (Township 3) (Township 4); died 07 Aug 1854 in Cleveland Co. NC (Township 9) (Kadish Methodist Cemetery). She married Gilbreath Dixon, Gilly; born 13 Dec 1794 in of Lincoln Co. NC > Rutherford Co. NC (Township 3) (Township 4); died 13 Jun 1882 in Cleveland Co. NC (Township 9) (Kadish Methodist Cemetery). Please contact me if you have any additional information on this clan. [email protected] Here are some addition notes on Henry Houser: will: Book G, Page 78, York Co., 1822 The following is excerpts taken from a zerox copy given to me. I do not know its origin: "Such a plantation was established by one Henry Howser I. then on January 10, 1788, he purchased a 125 acre tract on King's Creek. This parcel of land was described in a later ___ as being in Cherokee Township, Cherokee County, South Carolina, "about two miles Southeast of Grover, on both sides of the public road leading from Grover on both sides of Kings Creek." At this time he moved his family South, undoubtedly, a prime motive ___tating the move, was a de___e to settle in a community where some of his neighbors would be German speaking. His closest neighbors on Kings Creek would be the Hambrights and the Whisonants. (Henry Whisonant) (Edward Bird) The Henry Howser house, located in what is now Kings Mountain Military Park, has played a significant role in the lives of many Grover citizens or their forefathers. In the first decade of the nineteenth century Henry and ___ Dixon Houser built their handsome two story stone mansion. It was built by Henry, stonemason by trade, his ___ and female black slaves ___. Cut into the front door____ is this data: Henry Howser- "Stone Mason"..... These were some of the eventual owners of the house: Monroe Hardin, W. Ross Hambright, Robert Moore, Grigg Howell, J. F. Jenkins, Tom Morris, Ray Sheppard and Jim Norman. Henry Howser became increasingly interested in land, Real estate was bought and sold, as he enlarged his farm. The deeds for the property purchased by Howser and his son show many transactions involving Frederick Hambright (owned nine slaves), John Moore, Isaac Collins (might be son of William Collins and Susannah Hardin), James Hambright, and Mary Hambright, his heir. The court appointed appraisers for the estate and they were John Ellis, George Whisonant, and John Randall. The sale of the estate followed and the buyers, the items sold and amount paid totaled three hundred seperate transactions: William Ponder, Jacob Sepaux, James Hambright, Samuel Green, Joseph Biggers, Henry Houser II, the premises containing 700 acres, $3,101.00; widow, 1 small Negro boy, $330.00; Frederick Hambright, 1 cow, $8.00; George Wilkie Jr. 1 saddle, $1.00; John Davison, Joshua Moss, James Collier, John Howser, Isaac Weils, Moses Gladden, 1 Copper Still & Vessels, $100.00; John Hill; Widow Howser, 1 basket (cats & all) and 1 small looking glass." ----------------------------------------- Henry Howser House on King Mountain From Charlotte newspaper -- Friday, July 22, 1977 RESTORED HOUSE TO BE OPENED? By JIM MAXWELL KINGS MOUNTAIN -- The $64,000 restoration of a rock house on the fringe of Kings Mountain National Military Park is nearly finished, and now park officials must decide whether to make the 175-year-old house a point of interest for visitors. BUT . . . in the second floor. The house was built by Henry Howser, a stonemason who moved south shortly after the Revolutionary War, said James Anderson, park historian. It consists of a half-basement, three rooms on the main level, three upstairs rooms and a loft. Chiseled into a stone lintel over the front door are Howser's name, his wife's name (Jane) and the 1803 construction date. Construction of the house is similar, park officials say, to the Hezekiah Alexander house in Mecklenburg County. Both buildings are listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites. Howser, said Anderson, "was a mason. farmer, and distiller. He wasn't famous, but he was a good member of the community." And when he and other family members died, they were buried in a cemetery near the house. The house was occupied until the 1930's when the park service acquired the land. But it stood idle, and time and vandals took their toll. The roof began leaking, decaying some of the wood and timbers and causing the back wall to buckle, despite its 24-inch breadth up to the top of the first floor and 18-inch thickness from there up to the roof. Hensley and his workers had to re-lay the stones in that section and replace deteriorated mortar elsewhere. "Someone had repointed some of the stone (replaced the mortar) using Portland cement, but we used lime mortar, just like Howser used," said Earl Huskey, head of park maintenance. Originally, interior walls were lined with a mud-and-straw mixture before the final lime plaster coat was applied. That's what Hensley and his crew used in replacing areas that had been damaged. Hensley used wood pegs to make joints in the rafters. And using deteriorated portions of the stairway railing and mantle, he and his crew made replicas of the original work. However, he said, some of the woodwork couldn't be reproduced exactly. For instance the window frames were hand-carved from 4x6-inch solid walnut. "It's just been a slow process," said Hensley. "The roof was one of the worst parts, because it's so steep it's hard to stay on it." But the Cedar shakes, similar to ones Howser used, are now in place. The park service hasn't decided whether the Howser house will become a point of interest for visitors. "It's in the thought stage," said Anderson. The problem park officials fear is that opening the remote part of the park to a steady stream of visitors may invite vandalism. ------------------------------------------- Last Will and Testament State of So. Carolina} In the Name of God Amen I Henry York District } Houzer late of the state and district aforesaid being in my perfect Senses and Memory but low and weak in body and Calling to Mind that all Men have once to die and after Death the Judgement and of all such Estate as God hath been pleased to bless me with I Desire to be disposed of in the Following Manner Viz First I Will and bequeath to my Wife Christina Houzer the following property - Her Walnut Chest + wearing apparel with her Bed and furniture and a four legged Walnut Table two Cows and One Hundred Dollars Cash - Second I will and bequeath to my son John Houzer Two Hundred Dollars that I Have paid him out of my estate - Thirdly I will and bequeath to my son Henry Houzer two Hundred Dollars paid to him out of my estate Fourthly I will and bequeath to my son David Houzer (the tract of Land on Cain Creek Rutherford No Carolina purchased of John Patterson) One half of which devided according to Value I will and bequeath to him at five Hundred Dollars Value - Fifthly I will and bequeath to my son-in-law Jacob Sapoh two Hundred and fifty Dollars paid to him out of my Estate- Sixthly I will and bequeath. to my son-in-law Henry Houver two Hundred-Dollars pd to Him out of my Estate. Seventhly I will and bequeath to my son-in-law John Whisonant two Hundred dollars paid to him out of my Estate - Eighthly I will and bequeath to my son-in-law Joshua Moss Ninety-one Dollars and fifty Cents paid to him out of my Estate Ninthly I will and bequeath to my son-in-law Gilbreth Dixon Eighty Dollars paid to him out of my estate. Tenthly I will and bequeath that the tract of Land whereon I now live together with 18 acre I purchased of Robert Black adjoining said tract also 3 and 4/10 acres purchased of Nicolas Whisonant Senr adjoining Said tract Like wise also two Tracts being survey I made adjoining said Land one Containing one Hundred and thirty nine acres the other four Hundred and sixty acres all to be sold together on a Credit of 12 Months to the highest bidder at Public Sale. Eleventhly I will and bequeath that my 1000 acre Survey on Branches of Clarks Fork and adjoining McElwee Land Hambright Land + Situate in York District So Carolina to be sold separately at the same time to the Highest bidder. Twelthly I will and bequeath that my Negro Man Ned be sold at Public sale to the highest bidder also my Negro Man Ben to be sold and my Negro Woman Franky with her two Children to be also sold - Thirteenthly I will and bequeath that my Stock of Horses and Cattle with my Waggon and Harness be all sold together with all other Stock Hogs, sheep + Farming Utensels and Household Furniture be all sold in like manner - with one Still and vessels, with Smith Tools Including all the rest of my Estate to be sold as above. Fourteenthly I will and bequeath that an Equal divide be made among my Heirs after discounting what has already been received by each. - And I do hereby Revoke all former wills by me made and I do Hereby nominate and appoint Henry Houzer and John Whisonant my Executors, to carry this my last will and Testament into Execution. In Witness whereof I Have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this second day of March 1822 Test Jno Ellis Edward Bird George \his X mark\ Whisonant Signature: Henry Houser (LS) Recorded: York District Will Book G:78 File 23 Case 960 On 20 April 1822, as noted in the estate papers, the following persons indicated that they had received in full their legacies from the estate of Henry Houser decd (not their own signatures): Christiana Howser Jacob Sepaugh David Howser Henry Hoover Joshua Moss Gilbert Dickson John Howser [Lorena Shell Eaker, German Speaking People West of the Catawba River In North Carolina 1750 - 1800, (SCK Publications, 1994), 233]: 28 Dec 1783 - Henry Houser and Nicholas Heavner entered 300 acres on Indian Creek in Lincoln Co., NC. Henry Houser sold his land in Lincoln County and moved to York District, SC. His home is called "The Rock House" and is located near the Kings Mountain Battleground Park. [Barbara R. Langdon, York County Marriages 1770-1869 Implied in York County, South Carolina Probate Records, (Columbia, SC: Langdon & Langdon Genealogical Research, 1983), 72]: The following marriages were implied in Case 23, File 960, Lived 1822: _____ Houzer Gilbert Dixon _____ Houzer Henry Hoover _____ Houzer Joshua Moss _____ Houzer Jacob Sapoh _____ Houzer John Whisonant More About Henry Howser: Occupation: stone mason21 Will Written: 02 Mar 1822 Will Probated: York District, SC Will Book G:78