The Carnoosie House was originally built by M. Lebeschultz in 1860. In 1884, the home was purchased by John Calhoun Sheppard, who would become Governor of South Carolina in 1886. His son, James Orlando Sheppard would become Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina during the 1920s, also lived here until his death. The name “Carnoosie” is reputed to be a Cherokee word for cornfield, but it is unclear why and when the name was first applied to this house