In 1755, John Oliphant purchased a plot of land on the Catawba River from James Lambert (who had relocated to North Carolina from New Jersey in 1750). Oliphant built a grist mill (a water-powered mill for grinding grain) on the land and served the early settlers and farmers of the area until after the Revolutionary War. Oliphant was among the settlers temporarily forced from their lands by attacks from Cherokee tribes in 1758, during the French and Indian War. Oliphant is also known to have served as a justice of the peace for Rowan County in or around 1760.
Location (approximate): 35.620, -80.910
Sources:
Ramsey, Robert W. 1964. Carolina Cradle: Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier, 1747-1762. Seeman Printery, Durham, NC.
North Carolina Office of Archives & History. nd. “Early History.” Available: http://www.ncmarkers.com/print_marker.aspx?id=MM-1
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. nd. “Early History of Davidson and Lake Norman Area” Available: http://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/about-the-catawba/catawba-history/early-history-of-davidson-and-lake-norman-area