Henry Paul Bilyeu

Henry Paul Bilyeu

Henry Paul Bilyeu, whose home is at Southern Pines in Moore County, is one of the noted horticulturists of the state. His chief contribution to that industry has been as a pioneer in establishing the dewberry as a profitable crop. Horticulture has been the business of the Bilyeu family for several generations. Henry Paul Bilyeu was born at Hightstown in Mercer County, New Jersey, in 1849. He is of French ancestry. His father, H. P. Bilyeu, was a New Jersey fruit grower. Mr. Bilyeu's brother, S. G. Bilyeu, was long prominent in New Jersey horticulture. He was especially noted for his peaches, propagated a number of new varieties of the peach, and perhaps the best known is the Bilyeu peach.

Henry P. Bilyeu grew up on a fruit farm, and had considerable experience in the business in his native state. In 1874 he left his home in Mercer County, New Jersey, and came to North Carolina, locating at Ridgeway in Warren County. He was engaged in the business of fruit, growing there for fifteen years, but in 1890 he left Warren County and came to Moore County, locating at what has since become the famous winter resort, Southern Pines. He was one of the pioneer settlers there.

On coming to Moore County Mr. Bilyeu bought twenty acres of land east of the town. This tract he later sold to the Country Club of Southern Pines and it is now part of the famed Southern Pines golf course. The estimated value of the land at present is a thousand dollars an acre. In 1903 Mr. Bilyeu bought the land that he has developed into his present magnificent farm, known far and wide especially among horticulturists as the Pine Knot Farm. It lies four miles west of Southern Pines, and contains about three hundred acres. Originally it was practically waste land, covered with pine timber. From that condition it has been converted under Mr. Bilyeu 's management into one of the most beautiful farms in the state. During the berry growing season it has the appearance of a vast garden. His first task in developing the place was to clear a hundred sixty acres of the pine trees. Since then an additional hundred twenty-five acres have been cleared, making two hundred eighty-five acres available for cultivation. The entrance to this farm is through an avenue of arching pine and holly trees. These trees were transplanted for this particular purpose by Mr. Bilyeu. It is said to make the most beautiful entrance to any farm in North Carolina. The entire place has a picturesque setting and its transformation into a highly profitable and productive fruit farm has not been accompanied with corresponding loss of the beauty elements. His success as a horticulturist attracted the attention of the Southern Bailroad Company, and for several years Mr. Bilyeu has been employed by that company in an advisory capacity to develop the fruit growing interests along the railroad lines.

Mr. Bilyeu also has some time has been growing Delaware grapes, which he also introduced successfully into Moore County. The Pine Knot Farm also grows considerable quantities of wheat and peas, and he raises some fine Berkshire hogs and fancy fowls.

Mr. Bilyeu married Miss Carrie Lee Poe, of Chatham County. She is a member of an old and distinguished family of North Carolina. One of the family was Dr. Clarence Poe, the noted agriculturist and agricultural writer. Mr. and Mrs. Bilyeu have six children: Lucile, H. P., Jr., who is now a member of the United States Army, Emily, Sadie Marguerite, Walter J. and Helen C.

Source: History of North Carolina, Vol. VI, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York ©1919