182                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

James M. Halbert, George Ringo, George Eckert, William Allen, Archi-
bald Love, John J. Lynch.

    Second District, Samuel Rizley, A. B. Wheeler, Esan Presnell, Joseph
Dial, Oliver Johnson, Henry Nees, Oliver Johnson (by appointment),
Peter Koehier, Adam Moon.

    Third District, David Puckett, Calvin Reed, L. L. Osborn, T. J.
Liston, William Rector, George W. Ellenberger, \Villiam Rector, William
L. Buckallew, Enoch M. Rector.

JUDGES OF COURTS.


    From the lack of records and files for the first quarter of a century
of the county’s existence, its political and official history can be written
but very briefly and with hut approximate accuracy. The first election of
county officers, the precincts at which the voting was done, who consti-
tuted the hoards of election, who were the candidates for the several
offices, and when, where and by whom the first courts were organized
and held, are matters about which there are not at hand sufficient data to
justify any statements as historical facts.
    By the legislative act of organization Clay county was made a part
of the first judicial circuit, and as John Ewing was then judge of this cir-
cuit, it is to be taken for granted that he was the first judge to preside in
the county. On the same day that the governor signed the act organizing
the county he also appointed and commissioned Jesse McIntyre sheriff,
who lived at that time at Bowling Green. On the 6th day of June follow-
ing, Elijah Rawley was appointed and commissioned clerk of the circuit
court, who livcd at the time down at the Old Hill, at the point of Splunge
creek’s flowing into Eel river. On the same day William Maxwell and
Daniel Walker were appointed associate judges. Maxwell lived in the
south part of the county, near the site of the town of Middlebury; Walker,
on Eel river, north of the site selected for the county seat.
    Under the old constitution the circuit court consisted of a president,
or presiding judge, who was chosen by the joint ballot of the General
Assembly, and two associate judges, chosen by the qualified voters of
the several counties, whose term of office was seven years. The associate
judges who succeeded Maxwell and Walker were Philip Hedges, com-
missioned September 8, 1826; David Christie, August 27, 1827; Daniel
Wools, Marnh 4, 1831; Samuel Rizley, September 22, 1831 ; Nicholas G.
Cromwell, August 29, 1833, recommissioned, August 19, 1839; William
Yocum, August 19, 1839; John T. Alexander, August n6, 1841; Fergus
Snoddy and Owen Thorpe. August 21, 1845.
    By an act of the Legislature, February, 1831, a probate court was
organized in every county of the state. The judges of this court for Clay
county, as commissioned from time to time during its existence, were
Daniel Chance, September 22, 1831 ; Jesse J. Burton, April 23, 1832;
Robert W. Crooke, August 29, 1833 Jared Peyton, August 14, ‘835
Samuel Miles, May 28, 1838; recommissioned on the 3rd of September of
the same year; William D. Farley, March 15, 1842; Daniel Harris, Aug.ust
i6, 1842. Of this court Clay county had two terms of three days each
annually, beginning Thursday following the first Monday in May and
November.