Established in 1780, Cleveland County's most historic cemetery contains remains from earliest settlers from nearby communities and their descendants. In addition to Revolutionary War and Civil War heros and a state senator, names represented by markers:
Christmas, Crow, Dillingham, Dover, Etress, Etters, Gilfilan, Gordon, Hambright, Hardin, Harry, Holmes, Houser, McCarter, Morrow, Patterson, Price, Randall, Reynolds, Sellers, Williams.
Many of the stones were obtained from the nearby Kings Mountain quarry and carved by stonecutters, William & James Crawford & James Caveny. Some graves are marked by stones only.
Among the eminent at rest in this place are Revolutionary participants Col. Frederick Hambright, Commander at Battle at Kings Mountain; William Patterson killed Oct. 7, 1780, and Patterson brothers Arthur Jr. & Thomas; Indian Wars, Major Fred Hambright Jr., War of 1812 participant John Hambright; Civil War veterans Charles H. Christmas (killed Charleston, SC 1862) & Jacob Etress; Lincoln County State Senator 1835, John B. Harry

This is an extremely old cemetery that is much overgrown. It is located on Elm Street, Grover, NC almost directly across from AME Zion Church. It seems unreal that there are at least 2 well known people buried there and still no one seems to care enough to groom these grounds. Several stones were erected by the DAR and many in this area take pride that they are direct descendants of Frederick Hambright, yet there seems to be no pride in this overgrown burial ground. Many stones are on the ground and some are missing and/or destroyed. We picked up a bag of trash and old cans scattered about.
It is so bad that my husband and myself are discussing bringing the weed eater down after the weather gets cooler.

Taken 10/17/11

Southeast corner, camera facing north. Photography courtesy of Jason L. Harpe, Harpe Consulting.

Northwest corner, camera facing north. Photograph courtesy of Jason L. Harpe, Harpe Consulting.

We noticed on your latest picture of the cemetery that you had given DAR credit for the cleanup of the cemetery. Sorry to inform you that the DAR has had NO part in any of the cleanup. The Hambright Family has been actively involved over the past ten years in achieving this work. The past two years the Hambright family has been working every three months to get it to the shape it is now in. At no time has any other organization been involved in this effort. The Hambright family would LOVE to have the help of DAR, if not physical maybe monetarily. We are in the process of having a fundraiser to help restore the cemetery. If you know of any of those DAR people who would be willing to donate to the cause we would appreciate their names and e-mail addresses.