ca. 1756–4 Sept. 1826
John Fulenwider, iron manufacturer, was born in Rowan County, North Carolina. His father, Jacob Fulenwider (Folenweider in some records) and family, emigrated to Philadelphia in September 1749 on the ship Priscilla from Switzerland, and settled in Rowan County as early as 1754. During the American Revolution, John was a Whig and, as a member of the Rowan County militia, fought at Ramsour's Mill and Kings Mountain.
After the Revolution, Fulenwider moved to Lincoln County, where he soon entered the iron manufacturing business. He was one of many ironworkers motivated by the passage of An Act to Encourage the Building of Iron Works in this State
by the North Carolina General Assembly. Fulenwider was one of the first in the area to make pig iron from iron ore. From iron extracted from the rich deposits of mid-Lincoln County, he produced such items as wagon tires, plows, horseshoes, chain iron, nails, and farm tools; during the War of 1812 he made cannon balls for the American army. His most important foundry was located at High Shoals on property that he had purchased earlier from Martin Phifer, Sr. He also operated several forges in Lincoln County.
As a result of his industry and resourcefulness, Fulenwider became a prosperous citizen and acquired a considerable amount of property. At his death at least 20,000 acres of land as well as a good deal of capital were distributed to his heirs. He married Elizabeth Ellis, an aunt of Governor John W. Ellis. They had eight children: John, Jr. (m. Lavinia Forney, daughter of Peter Forney), Henry (m. Ann Ramsour, daughter of David Ramsour), William (m. Martha Hayes, daughter of John Hayes), Jacob (m. Mary Hoyle, daughter of Andrew Hoyle), Sarah (m. George Phifer, son of Martin Phifer, Jr.), Esther (m. John Phifer, another son of Martin Phifer, Jr.), Elizabeth (m. Alfred Burton, son of Colonel Robert Burton), and Mary (m. Robert H. Burton, another son of the colonel).
Fulenwider died at the age of seventy and was buried at High Shoals, N.C.