Henderson County Sheriffs 1920 to 1930

1. Vaughn Echols “Eccles” “Ec” Grant (1888-1926) – Sheriff: 1920-1922. He was born in Edneyville, a son of John Gaston Grant (Congressman, sheriff and legislator) and Zura Edney Grant. He later lived in Hendersonville. He married Jennie Blanche Edney. He worked in the Hendersonville Post Office from 1911 to 1920, first as a clerk then as a city carrier. He was elected sheriff when the Prohibition Act was passed. While he was sheriff, 214 moonshine stills were destroyed in the two-year period. As a result, he lost the election in 1922. He was then appointed as a U.S. Treasury Department Revenue Officer (prohibition agent). He headed the squad in charge of “dry” enforcement for a seven-county area in Western North Carolina. His office was on the second floor of the Hendersonville Post Office, now called the Federal Building. He was shot and killed during a vehicle pursuit of suspected whiskey runners in Henderson County. He is listed on the “OfficerDown” Memorial Page at www.odmp.org
His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville.

      Death of Vaughn Echols “Eccles” Grant

 2. James Hamilton “Ham” Ballenger (1874-1940) – Sheriff: 1922-1926. He was born in Spartanburg County, S.C., the son of Joel Ballenger and Sarah Paige. His family moved from Spartanburg County, S.C., to the Fairview community of Buncombe County. He married Essie Maxwell. By 1900, he was living in Henderson County. He was a stone mason and a farmer. Then he became a constable and officer with the Hendersonville Police Department before being elected sheriff. He served as tax collector after his term as sheriff. His grave site is at Hoopers Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
3. John Clayman Hill (1885-1939) – Sheriff: 1926-1928. He was born and grew up in the Edneyville community, a son of Reuben C. Hill and Rose Watkins Hill. After his father’s death, he and his mother moved to Hendersonville. He married Mamie Lee Carver. He worked as a farmer and also was the caretaker for a home in Hendersonville. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery.
4. William “Will” Absolum Garren (1870-1954) – Sheriff: 1928-1934. See Law Enforcement 1900 to 1920.

 Hendersonville Police Chief

Otis Vernon Powers (1886-1940) – Police Chief: 1915-1940. See Law Enforcement 1900 to 1920.