Keeping a family farm within the family is
more than a personal goal. It is a strategy that benefits the farm and the
family, making it an intergenerational connection and identity. Such is the
farm located at 2982 Harmon Road in Lincolnton (about three miles west of town
in the Howard’s Creek community.) Currently the farm is owned by Lawrence
Heafner and Marie H. Michael (brother and sister.) Presently the farm consists
of 108 acres; the home was built in 1877.
Marie says, “The home was built by George
Washington Heafner (GW.) GW fought in
the Civil War in the 47th and was present at the surrender of the Confederate
Army at Appomattox Courthouse. He lost
four brothers during the war. He
surrendered his gun at Appomattox and walked 250 miles back to his home in N.C.
(which was across the line in Cleveland Co. at that time.) By family history, on
the walk back he stayed in a home very similar to what he built on the present
farm and he copied the design. Twelve
years after the war in 1877, GW had saved enough money to buy the present land
and begin building the house and barn.
He sawed, hewed, cured and numbered his lumber from the many huge oaks
on the farm and proceeded to assemble the home and barn. You can still see the numbered logs in the
old barn where we currently store hay and feed for our cows.”
The family can be traced back to Johann
Dietrich Heffner who arrived by ship from Germany at the Philadelphia port in
1744. Johann received several land
grants from the King of England in the year 1768 and was a blacksmith and
miller in the area west of the South Fork River in Lincoln County. His son Nicholas fought during the
Revolutionary War in the battles of Ramseur’s Mill, Kings Mountain, and Eutaw
Springs. His son, Teter, was a farmer in
Cleveland County. It was G.W. Heafner of
the Civil War period, who built the home in the Howard’s Creek area. His son, Columbus lived and worked on the
farm and took care of his elderly father who died at the age of 94. Columbus had 10 children, all who went to
college during the depression and of which is a source of pride for this
country family. Columbus and his wife
Ocie saved enough money to put the first child through college and once he graduated, he sent money home from his job to put the next couple of kids into
college. And so, this system was passed
on through the family until all 10 children graduated. Banks Heafner inherited the farm and took
care of his parents. At his death, his son Lawrence and daughter Marie
inherited the farm which is where they live and work presently. The 10 kids of
Columbus and Ocie instilled in their children a great family ethic by
supporting each other and getting together on the farm for holidays despite
having moved to create their own family dynamics. Marie explains, “Presently the family still
gathers at Easter, the 4th of July and Thanksgiving from all over
the U.S. Gatherings will typically be
over 50 people with family’s staying in the old farmhouse and in campers and
tents in the yard for several days over the holiday weekend. There are lots of stories told, lots of food
eaten, lots of games played and lots of laughter from a family who cherishes
what the word ‘family’ means. First,
second and third cousins come from the far states of Florida, Georgia,
Washington, Iowa and even one from Japan as well as many families still in N.C.”
This year is special because of America’s 250th Birthday. Next year
in 2027, the farm will be 150 years old.
The farm has been many things through the
years depending on farming circumstances, from growing cotton to a dairy
farm. It is now a small operation beef
cow farm. Lawrence also has pollinating
bees for honey production. The big barn
as well as many outbuildings (granary, corn crib and smokehouse) are still
maintained by Lawrence with the help of Marie and her husband Weldon. George Washington has been described as an
excellent carpenter, and the home and buildings are well built for the time
period. Some of his furniture still exists at the farmhouse and is still
enjoyed by the family gatherings. The family contributes financially in order
to maintain the home place in excellent condition, because the family legacy is
important to the Heafner’s descendants. Just
like the sturdiness of hewn log buildings is
essential because it directly affects their longevity, comfort, and ability to
withstand challenges, their family ties are one of the most
enduring and influential aspects, shaping the emotional, social and well-being
across the lifespan of the legacy that still lives on.
