| Rutherford County was formed, along with Lincoln County, out
of Tryon County in 1779. The first session of court was held at the home of Colonel John
Walker, which was located near the mouth of Cane Creek, and not far from Logan Station,
that is now on highway 64 on the way to Morganton, N.C. Later the county's business was
conducted at the home of William Gilbert which became known as Gilbert Town, that was just
north of Rutherfordton, N.C., out past the Tanner plant. A court house was constructed in
1781 on the forks of Shepards Creek on the property of James Holland. In 1785 the court
house moved to the new town of Rutherfordton. Tryon
County had been formed from Mecklenburg County shortly after Mecklenburg had been divided
from Anson. These divisions and creation of new counties came about as more and more
settlers came into the western part of the colonies.
The earliest settlers in what is now Rutherford County
probably came here around 1730. They were primarily German and Scotch-Irish. Throughout
the mountains the majority were the Scotch-Irish like those that settled in the Cane Creek
area and later formed Brittain Church. They brought their own ordained ministers with
them. These Presbyterian Ministers were college trained and served also as educators.
These settlers were becoming educated, and could read their own bibles, which had been
translated by authority of King James I of England, who was also King James the VI of
Scotland. One other thing that set these Presbyterians apart was the fact that they
elected their own church elders. This was in sharp contrast to the hierarchy of the
Catholic Church. We will get back to the Scotch-Irish frontiersmen a little later.
Note: This is just a taster! Read the full
account of Rutherford County and it's history here! |
