Nixon's History of Lincoln County
Founding of Lincoln County
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Nixon's History of Lincoln County
Founding of Lincoln County
"When Tryon County was divided the Tryon Courthouse fell in Lincoln county, but too near its western border for public convenience.The courts for part of the years 1783 and 1784 were held at the house of Capt. Nicholas Friday. His residence stood on the east side of the river, seven miles south of Lincolnton. The courts of July and October sessions, 1784, were held at the house of Henry Dellinger, and his spring house was designated as the goal." This spring house was a two-story affair, the lower stone, the upper logs; the upper story was used as the public jail. Some of the prisoners escaping, the sheriff was ordered "to make use of a room in Henry Dellinger's house to be strengthened for the purposes of a common goal." The sheriffs, for protection against the escape of prisoners from these very odd jails, always entered on the court record their"protest against the sufficiency of said goal." The site of Henry Dellinger's home is Magnolia, six miles southeast of Lincolnton, where the late John B.Smith lived."