1725 Ebenezer Road – Historic Nathan Kimbrell House

Ebenezer’s Furniture Maker….

The Rock Hill Herald reported on Jan. 6, 1881 – “Rev. R.E. Cooper has left Ebenezer (Church), and has taken possession of the house recently occupied by Mr. W.J. Kimbrell.”  Later the paper reported on Feb. 2, 1882 – “The House and Lot in Ebenezer belonging to the Rev. R.E. Cooper was sold to Mr. J.F. Workman for $665.65.” *** the Rev. Workman left for a new church in Texas in 1882….

An ad in the RH Herald on Aug. 9, 1883 – “offered for sale a house and lot of three acres in Ebenezer.  The house was described as two stories and in good condition with a well of good water and was known as the Cooper House.  It was offered for sale by J.F. Workman of Rock Hill.”

The Herald reported on Sept. 11, 1884 – “Mr. W.J. Kimbrell, formerly of Rock Hill, was featured in the newspaper in Sumpterville Florida.  He is delighted with Florida.”

City Directories and History: The Nathaniel “Nathan” Kimbrell home was one of many constructed originally in the village of Ebenezer that did not become a part of Rock Hill, SC until 1961 when it was officially annexed. Mr. Nathan Kimbrell, one of the areas largest land owners was not only a farmer but also an artisan making both coffins and furniture. One of the most expensive coffins recorded for the period of the 1830’s was Nathan Kimbrell’s $60. bill, for the coffin in which John Cauthan, was buried in. The average coffin during the period was a small fraction of this cost.

Several individuals have attributed their furniture to Nathan Kimbrell. However, none of these pieces have as of yet been documented and none are signed. The corner cupboard pictured below is reported to have been made for the Avery family who lived across the street from Nathan Kimbrell. Oral history says the builder of the corner cupboard was one of the Avery’s Ebenezerville neighbors. Nathan Kimbrell therefore is a very close match.

Besides furniture, Nathan Kimbrell was also paid for an extensive number of coffins from as early as 1820 at $5.00 to one for John Cauthen in 1839 in the amount of $60. (YC Estate Pagers 13/554 p. 294)

The Kimbrell home was constructed prior to 1830 on a smaller scale than pictured. The right (North) section of the house was the oldest and a massive expansion took place to increase the size of the home, most likely circa 1850. The front porch was added later and the columns

that extended beyond the porch were not original but could have been placed in the location of earlier ones. it was later owned by William N. Simril who late sold it in circa 1850 to Malvina M. Biggers who in turn sold it in 1853 to Mary L. Hart. According to local historian S.B. Mendenhall, the house was once again sold to R.E. Cooper who resided here until moving to Texas in 1881.  By 1980 when the house was once again remodeled, there were few original architectural features remaining in the house but it was one of the earliest dwellings remaining along Ebenezer Road. The house was raze in the later 1980’s for commercial use.

NATHAN KIMBRELL. Born Aug. 29, 1795. Died Apr. 22, 1848. Buried in Ebenezer Churchyard, Rock Hill, S.C. Married on Mar. 27, 1817, to Sarah Cureton of Lancaster District, S.C. Born Aug. 29, 1800. Died Apr. 23, 1887. As stated above, Nathan Kimbrell was one of the principal landowners in the Rock Hill-Ebenezer section of York District. His wife, Sarah Cureton, came from another important planter family of the Carolina Up Country. The old Nathan Kimbrell house in Ebenezer, S.C., stood until the mid 1980‘s. It was one of the landmarks of old Ebenezerville. Issue of Nathan and Sarah Kimbrell:

i. Mary Elizabeth Kimbrell.

ii. Winifred Jane Kimbrell. Born Apr. 12, 1820. Died May 3, 1898.

Married Co. W. J. Bowen. Born 1818. Died Apr. 23, 1906.

iii. Harriet Rebecca Kimbrell. Born Mar. 6, 1822. Died Sept. 6, 1827.

iv. Jeremiah Cureton Kimbrell. Born July 28, 1824. Died July 28, 1844.

v. John Kimbrell. Born Aug. 5, 1826. Died Oct. 10, 1827.

vi. Sarah Ann Kimbrell. Born Jan. 30, 1829. Died July 9, 1884. Married John Barron Fewell of Ebenezerville. Born 1825. Died 1863.

vii. Frances Virginia Kimbrell. Born Oct. 18, 1836. Died Sept. 15, 1864. Married John J. Biggars. (See above.)

viii. William Jackson Kimbrell. Born Jan. 6, 1838. Married Margaret

[Courtesy – Along the Land’s Ford Road, Vol. II – Wm. B. White, Jr.]

Click on the More Information / PLAT > link found below the picture column for additional data or pictures.

The Herald reported on Nov. 25, 1896 – “That the county commission will improve the highway from Ebenezer to Tirzah Church.  It will be worked by convicts next winter and spring. The citizens of Ebenezer have provided 800 wagon loads of rock for this purpose.”

---

Stay Connected

Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.

Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.

---

User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.