Editor’s Note: Western North Carolina is rich with untold stories—many resting quietly in local cemeteries. In this Tombstone Tales series, we explore the lives of people from our region’s past whose legacies, whether widely known or nearly forgotten, helped shape the place we call home.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — In Riverside Cemetery, the grave of Allen “Buck” Trivette marks the end of a family quarrel that turned violent.
On Aug. 24, 1911, Trivette was shot by his uncle, W. Pitt Ballew, a respected Southern Railway engineer. The confrontation unfolded in the sickroom of Ballew’s home near the depot. Inside were Ballew’s bedridden mother, Mrs. Martha Ballew, a nurse named Sallie Stines, and Trivette’s mother, Laura Trivette.
When Ballew returned home and found his nephew present, the two — already at odds — began to argue. Ballew demanded Trivette leave. Trivette refused, reportedly saying he would stay as long as his mother remained. Witnesses said he moved toward his uncle, who drew a pistol and fired four times. Mortally wounded, Trivette cried out, “You have killed me,” before dying within two hours.
Ballew expressed regret but insisted he had acted in self-defense.
Police arrested Ballew, and an inquest delivered an open verdict. Ballew’s case was heard in Buncombe County Superior Court on Nov. 4, 1911. Before a jury could be seated, Judge Lane ordered a verdict of not guilty after the solicitor told the court he did not believe Ballew was guilty and would not pursue a conviction. The defense requested a formal acquittal, which the judge granted, a move considered uncommon at the time.
More than a century later, Buck Trivette’s grave in Riverside Cemetery stands as a quiet reminder that family ties, resentment, and a single violent moment left an enduring mark on Asheville’s history.
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Tombstone Tales: The 1911 Asheville Murder Story Behind a Riverside Cemetery Grave
A simple grave in Riverside Cemetery marks the tragic story of Allen “Buck” Trivette. In 1911, the young Asheville man was shot by his uncle, Pitt Ballew, during a family quarrel that led to trial in Buncombe County.
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Tombstone Tales: The wreck on Saluda Mountain that changed rail safety
In 1890, engineer Lewis Tunstall was killed when his train careened down the Saluda Grade at 75 miles an hour. The wreck led to the creation of safety switches that saved countless lives. Today, Tunstall is remembered not only for his sacrifice but also by a striking monument in Hendersonville’s Oakdale Cemetery.
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Tombstone Tales: Dr. George W. Fletcher, the mountain doctor who helped build a town
Dr. George Washington Fletcher helped shape the community that now bears his name and is buried at Calvary Episcopal Church Cemetery in Fletcher, North Carolina
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Tombstone Tales: Kenneth Noland, Asheville’s master of color and form
Explore the life and legacy of Asheville native Kenneth Noland, a pioneer of abstract art, and the story behind his walk-in mausoleum in Riverside Cemetery.
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Tombstone Tales: The Sunshine Lady of Hendersonville’s unusual final resting place
It’s easy to miss in Hendersonville’s Oakdale Cemetery, but this grave once let sunlight shine directly onto the face of the woman inside and some say you could see her through the glass.
