built by colonel joseph mcdowell, an american revolutionary war hero who fought at the battle of kings mountain. joseph mcdowell was a member of the overmountain men, traveling with col. charles mcdowell’s regiment to the watauga settlements in september, 1780 and on to kings mountain in pursuit of british major patrick ferguson’s loyalist regime. mcdowell county is named in his honor. it is the last standing home place in north carolina for which a county was named. in addition to fighting at the battle of kings mountain, colonel mcdowell served in the 3rd u.s. congress of 1793-95. he was a son of "hunting" john mcdowell, who received a royal land grant from governor tryon on december 22, 1767 for on the catawba river, a portion of which is the site of this home.