Joshua Harshaw was a complicated man. His life was not blameless, instead he was a typical man of the times. The past comes with the baggage of both good and bad. Historical research shows us all how human we are-flaws and all. Here is what we know about Joshua Harshaw.
The Harshaw family was originally from France. Abram Harshaw (Joshua’s father) emigrated from France to what is now Burke County, NC in 1778. He is recorded in the 1790 census as Abram Hasha, a member of Capt. Jon Connelly’s company on the Catawba River. He married Ann Hogan (died 1835) and they settled near Morganton and reared a large family.
In 1838, three of their sons went west to the new Cherokee County. Son Joshua (1795-1855) settled on Hiwassee River in the Brasstown settlement (formerly Cherokee) and accumulated large landholdings. In 1846 he married Elizabeth Ann Catharine Welch (1828-1863) and had one son Abram Taylor Harshaw (1849-1867). Elizabeth and Abram Taylor both died young. Elizabeth was 35 and their son was 18.
We know Joshua was a slave holder and owned 33 slaves at one time. The efforts of these slaves made the lifestyle of the Harshaws possible. We acknowledge this and feel that leaders of the Christian church such as Harshaw could be considered both saints and sinners.
From the Harshaw Family History by Mr. MN Harshaw from the Lenoir News April 10, 1914, “Joshua Harsaw accumulated a large fortune, mostly in lands. He left a great portion of his property to the Methodist church. He built the present Methodist church in Murphy, NC of his own means and deeded it to that denomination. He provided, in a deed of trust, that several valuable farms which he owned in Cherokee county. Macon and Transylvania Counties should be used for the benefit of the Methodist and Baptist Churches. The proceds of these farms are today being used by the Methodists and Baptists in Cherokee County to support their pastors and other objects of their denominations. He died about 1870.“
The following first person account came from his great nephew, Abram Edgar Harshaw, and was delivered by Mrs. Edgar Harshaw at a Family Night Memorial Service at the current site of the First Methodist Church in Murphy.
“I wish I had more authentic information to give you people tonight on Uncle Joshua Harshaw, but since he passed on to his reward about eighty-eight years ago, I am sure very few people, if any, are living who remember him or even saw him. The information I have, came mostly from the family Bible, the Register of Deeds Office, many elderly people who had heard of his many good deeds and from my mother and father who knew him well.
He was born in Burke County on a large farm about ten miles out from Morganton, North Carolina on October 8, 1795. He and his two older brothers, John and my grandfather, Abram, came to Murphy in 1838. They were known to have a very wealthy brother, Jacob Harshaw, and from all reports, they evidently brought quite a bit of wealth with them when they came to Cherokee County, as they bought a vast amount of property in and around Murphy.
Joshua Harshaw was a medium size man in statue but a very large man at heart. He was a religious man and a great believer in education and he gave freely to promote both the “Word of God” and education in this community. In 1844 he donated several acres of land for a house of worship to be built; a Methodist Episcopal Church, and he named in the deed as Trustees, Morris K. Taylor, Sutton Talley, John Black, and then later, J.W. Patton, E. P. Kincaid and H. H. Davidson became trustees. He built the brick church upon the hill which is now standing on a beautiful site over-looking the Town of Murphy, but it is in a most deplorable and neglected condition, as if forgotten many years ago. It is my understanding that the Harshaw Chapel was used several years before it was dedicated on May 1st in 1869. The marble plaque above the door reads as follows: “HARSHAW CHAPEL. I JOSHUA HARSHAW DO MAKE A FREE WILL GIFT OF THIS HOUSE TO THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH AT MURPHY, N. C. THIS MAY 1ST – 1869.”
This church is one of the old land-marks of Murphy and served the people in this community well for many years. To support this church, he gave a large farm or two near Brasstown. He also gave the land about where Howell’s Market and the Post Office is now located and a parsonage was built on this lot for the church. Then, on June 22, 1876, Joshua Harshaw gave for educational purposes a large lot adjoining the church property. This was always known as the Boot Lot as it is in the shape of a boot. He gave it to the Mount Pleasant Academy for the sum of one dollar and his love for education. He named Mr. J. D. Abbott, Mr. F. P. Axley, Mr. Wm. Beal and Mr. Mark King as trustees and the deed stated it was to be used for educational purposes forever. It is my understanding that a portion of this which he gave was sold this past May by the Murphy City Administrative Unit also known as the Murphy School Board; to The Scout Publishing Co., Inc., for $7,500.00. I have heard that the money was used to help complete an agricultural building at the Murphy High School, but as far as I know his name was never mentioned in the transaction as being donor of the property. He did, indeed, give freely to promote both religion and education in this community. He also gave freely to individuals; to those who did kind deeds. Just last week, I heard a good citizen of Clay County whose grandparents knew Mr. Harshaw very well, say that he had heard both of his grandparents speak very highly of Uncle Joshua. He also remarked, “From whit I have heard older people say, Joshua Harshaw seemed to be a man who was always willing to help others, and wanting to promote or reward people for their kind deeds.”
Joshua Harshaw married Miss Elizabeth Ann Welch from Valley River on October 8, 1846. They had a son Abram Taylor, who was an only child. He was born on May 24 1849. Uncle Joshua had a large farm and a very nice home just out a short distance from where the Brastown Post Office is now located. The old brick smoke house is still standing. The family lived happily together there until March 23, 1863 when Mrs. Harshaw departed this life in the 35th year of her age. Then on April 4, 1866 his son Abram Taylor, who was reported to be an exceptionally bright boy, departed from this life in his 17th year of his age. This was a tragic death. This left the old gentleman very lonely and he was growing old and becoming more feeble.
Sometime after his son passed away he had a family by the name of B. K. Dickey to move in his home and keep house for him. He also had a very fine gentleman by the name of Henry Green, who was a teacher and a surveyor, to care for him and nurse him for about three years.
Then on October 24, 1876 Mr. Harshaw departed this life in his 81st year of his age. I understand he left the Dickey family the old home place, including a farm. He gave Mr. Green, who had been so faithful to him, a large tract of land and he also kindly remembered the dear old lady who made his jeans clothes and left her a farm. I was told that he gave the Berry boys a house and lot here in Murphy to build the stone wall around his family plot and to set the tombstones.
A few days ago it was my privilege to meet the granddaughter of Mr. Green who had nursed Uncle Joshua. She too, told me she had often heard her grandparents and other elderly people speak of the many kind deeds done by Mr. Joshua Harshaw, the gentleman who gave so freely to promote religion and education in this town and in our adjoining communities.
This dear soul was laid to rest between his beloved wife and son in the cemetery on the hill and near the little church which bears his name.”
(NOTE: Family tradition has it that Abram Taylor was so distraught over his mother’s death that he hanged himself. However, the public story, which is found in the book about Cherokee County published by the museum, is that Abram Taylor was killed by bushwackers. )
Joshua Harshaw’s epitaph reads as follows:
Hope looks beyond the bounds of time
When what we now deplore
We’ll rise full immortal prime and bloom to fade no more
Then cease fond nature cease thy tears
Religion points on high,
Where everlasting springs appear and joys that can not die.
Friends of Harshaw Chapel 