Overview of the Eastatoe Township

The Eastatoe Township covers approximately 50 square miles in south central Transylvania County.  It is bordered by Hogback Township to the west, Gloucester and Cathey’s Creek townships to the north, Dunn’s Rock Township to the east and South Carolina to the south.

The Eastern Continental Divide runs along the boundary between Transylvania County and Greenville County, SC before heading north and west through Eastatoe and Hogback townships.  Above Lake Toxaway the divide turns west and south.  This means a portion of the area drains south and east into the Toxaway River and Savannah River Basin.  The rest of the region flows into the tributaries of the Middle and East Forks of the French Board River and then the French Broad.

Much of the township lays within the disputed Orphan Strip area.  As white settlers began moving to the area following the American Revolution, North Carolina and Georgia engaged in the little known Walton War over the exact location of the state boundary.  Georgia claimed the territory as Walton County, while North Carolina claimed it as part of Buncombe County (today Transylvania County).  During the early 1800s there were some major confrontations that lead to at least one death and the militia being called in for protection.  By the time Georgia finally admitted defeat there were already numerous families settled in the area.

The first census after the establishment of Transylvania County was taken in 1870.  It lists 351 residents in 72 households in the Eastatoe Township.  Within just ten years the population nearly doubled to 674 residents in 132 households.

Jackson Gillespie was a grandson of John and Jane Gillespie.
He was postmaster at East Fork from 1875-1879.

When Joseph Silversteen brought his tanning and lumber businesses to Rosman, which lies partially within the Eastatoe Township, there was another growth spurt.  By 1940 the population was 1169 in 228 households.

Although most of the township remained relatively sparsely populated a few small communities did have official post offices.  The longest operating were East Fork from 1875-1908 and Galloway from 1887-1914.  Brona, Eunice, Rio, Rosy, Sassafras Gap and Tex were post offices that existed for less than five years.

John and Jane Gillespie were among the earliest settlers in the Eastatoe Township.  John made long rifles at his mill on the East Fork River.  He also trained his three sons in rifle making.  Several of Gillespie’s grandsons were also rifle makers.  Gillespie family members served as post masters at East Fork for 29 of its 33 years. 

After the old East Fork Baptist Church was destroyed by fire on
December 13, 1956 the congregation constructed a new
brick building.

The oldest church in the township is the East Fork Baptist Church established in the 1840s by members of the Gillespie, Glazener, Heath, Hines, Kennemeur, Lance, Paxton and Whitmire families.  Early East Fork Baptist Church records on available on microfilm in the Local History Room at the Library.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.