Henderson County Sheriffs

1. William “Will” Absolum Garren (1870-1954) – Sheriff: 1928-1934. He was sheriff when the Prohibition Act was repealed. See Law Enforcement 1900 to 1920 and 1920 to 1930.

2. Morris Newton Orr (1880-1942) – Sheriff: 1934-1936. He grew up near the Crab Creek and Big Willow communities in Henderson County, but lived his adult life in Hendersonville. He was the son of Robert Franklin Orr and Mary Middleton Orr, and married Lela McCrary. He was a carpenter, a building contractor and, at the time of his death, a coal dealer. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery.

3. William Edward Davis (1884-1964) – Sheriff: 1936-1942. He grew up in the Crab Creek community. He was the son of Andy P. Davis and Ida Mae Carter Davis, and married Kate Cynthia McCrary. He was a farmer and in 1920 worked as a machinist at a knitting mill. He joined the Hendersonville Police Department in 1930. After his term as sheriff, he remained in law enforcement until his retirement. It was during Davis’ term as sheriff that the N.C. General Assembly changed the law to allow for the election of sheriffs every four years. His first election as sheriff was for two years, the next election was for four years. His grave site is at Crab Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

 Hendersonville Police Chief

Otis Vernon Powers (1886-1940) – Police Chief: 1915-1940. See Law Enforcement 1900 to 1920 and 1920 to 1930.