Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Jeremiah Shank

  • wcu_picturing-5417.jpg
  • This reproduced image of I. K. Stearns' grandfather Jeremiah Shank (1847-1930) is part of the Stearns-Grueninger Collection. Jeremiah moved to Bryson City in 1903 and founded Bryson City Pump Works, which later became Carolina Wood Turning Company. Irving Kip Stearns (1895-1942) was president of Carolina Wood Turning Company from 1928 until his death in 1942. In 1911, Stearns was in the first graduating class of Bryson City High School. He had one son, Joseph Pease Stearns (1917-1948). In 1935, I. K. married Betty Grueninger (1896-1971).