07/12/2023
Indisputable documentation from The Biltmore Co. proves that the cabins in the Cradle Of Forestry were built, owned, and occupied by Hiram Woodfin King. Deed records from Transylvania Co. also prove that Hiram W. King sold the land and cabins to George Vanderbilt through his attorney.
HIRAM WOODFIN KING’s (1844-1935) original cabin in the Pink Beds became the quarters of the very first forest ranger students in the Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah National Forest. His barn became the commissary for the ranger students. King’s property was deeded to real estate attorney J. Will Pless on February 15th, 1899. The Gash and Pless law firm in Brevard, North Carolina handled legal and real estate matters for George Vanderbilt. Pless immediately transferred Hiram W. King’s property to Vanderbilt. Included was the King Mill, a sawmill King had built on Looking Glass Creek. Hiram King’s property was referred to by Dr. Carl Schenck, George Vanderbilt and others as “Tract 75.” Biltmore Estate Forestry Department Manager’s Records contain many pages to document this information in Box.Folder 16.0014 and Box.Folder 24.0012.
***** ADDENDEM 1 *****
10/28/13: I am communicating with an historian who has been working for the Biltmore Company for 35 years. He will be sending me information from the above references in the Biltmore archives, including a copy a personal letter dated January 9, 1899 from Hiram W. King to Dr. Carl Schenk of Biltmore accepting their offer of $600 for his LAND, CABIN, AND BARN. The February 15, 1899 deed, pages 41-43 of Deed Book 16, Transylvania County, NC, (copies included in this album,) is for this land. I'll post these additional documents as soon as I get them!
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/forestry/biltmore/tbc2_m1.html
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/forestry/biltmore/tbc2_subseriesh1.html
Hiram WOODFIN King (1844-1935) was the son of John Jones King, son of HIRAM KING (1794-1891).
Hiram King Jones DID NOT own the cabin or barn which are still standing in the Cradle of Forestry!
***** ADDENDEM 2 *****
10/31/13: Today I received the package of documents from the Biltmore Co. archivist which totally prove that the cabin and commissary buildings in the Cradle of Forestry did belong to Hiram W. King and were sold by him to George Vanderbilt in 1899. Unfortunately, I had to sign a release form which restricts me from copying or sharing these documents publically. However, I have scanned the letter and release form to show you and will post them here. Also, I have created a couple of transcriptions which I'll also add here.
An important discovery I made today clears up exactly why some folks believe the cabin and commissary belonged to Hiram King Jones, not Hiram W. King. One of the documents included in the package from Biltmore is a title search and record of previous deeds. The LAND DID once belong to HIRAM KING JONES. However, it was passed to several other people before it ultimately was sold to Hiram W. King. As another document confirms, Hiram W. King built the cabin and the barn not long before the land was sold to George Vanderbilt. At the suggestion of one of Vanderbilt's consultants, the cabin and barn were kept and the cabin used for housing for the first forest rangers. Hiram W. King's barn later became the commissary.
***** ADDENDUM 3 ******
11/12/13:
On Thursday, 11/7/13, I met with a group of top local historians and genealogists to present my evidence to prove once and for all that the Cradle of Forestry Cabin in the Pink Beds was indeed that of Hiram W. King. That was, indeed, the final conclusion drawn by everyone present, including Terry Ruscin, author of the new book, HIDDEN HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY. The first edition of Terry's excellent book is almost sold out, and he was up against a deadline for changes in the second edition. Last night, Terry told me that he has sent in a change form to his editor, making the appropriate changes to pages 24 and 24 of his book, which had stated that claims attributing the Cradle of Forestry cabin to Hiram King were in error. Terry now admits that the claims are precisely correct, and the second printing of his book will not have that statement. Two other items overlooked by most folks who had argued that the cabin was that of H. K. Jones were two articles stating otherwise written years ago, one by Louise Bailey, the other by Jennie Jones Giles.
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20010610/NEWS/106100303
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20050523/NEWS/505230325
