County’s first sheriff inspired generations of lawmen
Robbinsville – In 1872, J.S. “Jason” Hyde was named the first sheriff of Graham County, a fledgling county split off from Cherokee County.
Although Sheriff Hyde would later have a spotty record, his role as sheriff would inspire many of his descendants to pursue careers in law enforcement.
Jim Hyde is one of them. Hyde, a lieutenant with the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, posted a photo on social media of six of Hyde’s grandsons who went on to be lawmen, surrounding a vintage photo of Sheriff Hyde.
The Graham Star reached out for Lieutenant Hyde to provide names and details, only to learn that the photo barely scratched the surface.
In addition to the six current and former lawmen who live in Graham County, Hyde has tracked down 11 more who are serving in various capacities in law enforcement. The six who live in Graham County are Lt. Jim Hyde (currently the longest serving certified law enforcement officer in Graham County with more than 41 years wearing a badge), retired FBI Agent Gary Holloway, Logan Howarth of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Police, Lt. Kenneth Hyde of the Graham County Detention Center, former Graham County Detention Center captain Marlon Jackson, and Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart.
These six were pictured with J.S. Hyde in the social-media post. Afterward, Lieutenant Hyde traced down 11 more:
* Great-Great-Great Granddaughter Vicki Evans, Lewis County, Ky., deputy and corrections officer;
* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Matt Dyer, former Lewis County, Ky., deputy;
* Great-Great Grandson Donald Oliver Williams, retired Gaston County, N.C., Police;
* Great-Great-Great Grandson Chris Williams, formerly with Gaston County Police, currently with FBI;
* Great-Great-Great Grandson Michael Calvin Williams, Gaston County Police captain;
* Great-Great-Great Grandson Jessie Ray Williams, former Robbinsville chief of police in the 1940s;
* Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Daniel Lee Glenn, formerly with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, currently with the N.C. Department of Revenue;
* Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Johnathan Parr, formerly with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office;
* Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Camron Williams, K9 officer with the Rowan County, N.C., Sheriff’s Office;
* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Tyler Daniel Glenn, attending University of North Carolina, majoring in criminal justice;
* Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson Cole J. Walsh, N.C. State Highway Patrol cadet.
The late Graham County Sheriff J.S. Hyde wasn’t sheriff for long. He became sheriff in October 1872 – but in 1873, he was convicted of being part of a group circulating counterfeit money.
Hyde was sentenced to hard labor in Albany Penitentiary, but was pardoned by then-President Ulysses S. Grant.
Details about Hyde’s term in office and his life after he left office are elusive, but one thing is clear: his descendants have followed his path into law enforcement.
For Lieutenant Hyde, it started with trouble over traffic tickets.
Hyde had been heavily involved in fire and rescue in his youth.
“I was getting a couple tickets as a teenager due to a lead foot,” Hyde said. “Became friends with one of the troopers at the time, he told me of getting stopped for speeding out of state and how he was let go without getting a ticket due to his profession, so I figured, if I can’t beat them, I’ll join them.”