ROSTER OF TANEY COUNTY MISSOURI OFFICIALS - 1837-1974 Source: "The Land Of Taney", by Elmo Ingenthron This roster of county officials has been pieced together from many different sources over a long period of time. It is incomplete and probably incorrect in a few instances with exception of the office of state representative, which record was obtained from the state capitol. There is no complete record for any other Taney County office. This is especially true for the period prior to 1876. Over the past 20 years the author has gradually gathered the names of county officers from old deeds, newspapers and other widely scattered sources. Other unkown sources likely exist. It should be remembered that the courthouse was burned in the Civil War. Most sources say that all records were destroyed and the remainder were carried into Arkansas. No one knows what became of them if such was the case. The courthouse was destroyed by fire again in 1885 with almost a total loss of county records. It appears doubtful if future generations will ever have a complete roster of the names of men who served in county office. TANEY COUNTY OFFICES OF THE COUNTY COURT - 1837 - 1974 Presiding Judge Associate Judge Associate Judge 1837 - ? William Archer John Pettijohn 1837 - ? Jesse Jennings James Oliver 1844 - 1852 William Chestnut Levi Casey 1852 - 1854 Levi Casey John Moseley 1856 - 1858 Levi Casey John Moseley 1858 - 1860 William Yandell R.W. Robertson 1865 - 1866 James Morrow H.H. Laughlin Thomas Maynard 1866 - 1868 Jasper A. Franklin Samuel T. Weatherman Samuel Hilton 1868 - 1870 Samuel Hilton John Steeley 1870 - 1872 Enos Stanley John Steely R.S. Stiles 1872 - 1874 J. S. Bryan C. C. Casey B. Messersmith 1874 - 18? J. J. Reynolds Presiding Judge Eastern District Western District 1878 - 1880 John McClary E.W. Hampton G.W. Hensley 1880 - 1882 John McClary R.W. Robertson A. L. Keithley 1882 - 1884 R.W. Robertson G. Sherold James Oliver 1884 - 1886 R.W. Robertson J.W. Underwood F.M. Keithley 1886 - 1888 F. M. Keithley Dave Cupp G. Waddle 1888 - 1890 F. M. Keithley T.S. Fitch S.W. Linzy 1890 - 1892 T. S. Fitch John C. Nan Ammon J. Storms 1892 - 1894 T. S. Fitch L.W. Fields Thomas P. Wright 1894 - 1896 James B. Rice U.G. Johnson William B. Sims 1896 - 1898 James B. Rice John Farley Andrew J. Craig 1898 - 1900 U. G. Johnson William M. Jackson Andrew J. Craig 1900 - 1902 U. G. Johnson John F. Ince James C. Keithley 1902 - 1904 James C. Keithley B.F. Hall William Maddux 1904 - 1906 James C. Keithley William T. Floyd Andrew J. Craig 1906 - 1908 James G. Lewis D. M. Trammell Clayton Stokely 1908 - 1910 James G. Lewis James M. Clark William A. Branson 1910 - 1912 Duncan Campbell John R. Combs William A. Branson 1912 - 1914 Duncan Campbell John R. Combs Andrew J. Craig 1914 - 1916 George T. Hicks Joe G. Haskins James M. Holiday 1916 - 1918 George T. Hicks Joe G. Haskins James M. Holiday 1918 - 1920 Willie Licklider John W. Burns John C. Palmer 1920 - 1922 Willie Licklider Jacob F. Geotz John C. Palmer 1922 - 1924 Willie Licklider Jasper A. Blai John C. Palmer 1924 - 1926 Willie Licklider Jasper A. Blai John C. Palmer 1926 - 1928 John H. Haworth W.F. Gabriel J.W.A. Keithley 1928 - 1930 John H. Haworth W.F. Gabriel J.W.A. Keithley 1930 - 1932 Charles F. Snowden W.F. Gabriel John W. Burns 1932 - 1934 Charles F. Snowden R.F. Combs John W. Burns 1934 - 1936 Charles F. Snowden R.F. Combs John W. Burns 1936 - 1938 Charles F. Snowden N.K. Blakey W.M. Manes 1938 - 1940 Charles F. Snowden N.K. Blakey W.M. Manes 1940 - 1942 Charles F. Snowden John W. Adams W.M. Manes 1942 - 1944 J.S. Hires John W. Adams J.M. Holiday 1944 - 1946 J.S. Hires Paul David J.M. Holiday 1946 - 1948 J.S. Hires Paul David J.M. Holiday 1948 - 1950 J.S. Hires Paul David Oliver P. Jones 1950 - 1952 Herschel E. Floyd Henry Wyman Dale Pinkley 1952 - 1954 Rex Allaman Henry Wyman Dale Pinkley 1954 - 1956 Paul David Henry Wyman W.E. Gooch 1956 - 1958 Paul David Henry Wyman W.E. Gooch 1958 - 1960 Ruse Dixon Glesco Roberts Ross M. Nevins 1960 - 1962 Ruse Dixon Glesco Roberts Ross M. Nevins 1962 - 1964 Ruse Dixon Glesco Roberts Leon Farrell 1964 - 1966 Ruse Dixon Neal Adams O.L. Howard 1966 - 1968 A.W. Burnett Neal Adams Vernon James 1968 - 1970 A.W. Burnett Orvel Turner Carl Stuart 1970 - 1972 John Strahan Carl Stuart W.T. Dunham 1972 - 1974 John Strahan Carl Stuart W.T. Dunham In accordance with section 16 of the Legislative Act establishing Taney County, Governor Lilburn W. Boggs appointed three resident citizens to the county court. William Archer and John Pettijohn resigned soon after taking office. The third Justice appointed is now unknown. Following the resignation of the two above mentioned judges, an election was held on the fourth Monday in March 1837 to fill the vacancies. Jesse Jennings and James Oliver were elected. There was no election in Taney County in 1864 because of the ravages of the rebellion. At the end of the war, all office holders' terms had expired, and there was no county government. In order to re-establish a county government, the Governor, in the summer of 1865, appointed James Morrow, H.H. Laughlin, and Thomas Maynard to the County Court. OFFICE OF TANEY COUNTY CLERK 1837 - 1974 1837 - ? John H. Glover * 1837 - ? John H. Miller 1840 - 1844 Levi Boswell 1844 - 1846 Theophilas Bass 1846 - 1850 John W. Danforth - ? Thomas T. Vanzandt 1858 - 1860 W.C. Berry 1865 - ? William L. Fenex ** 1865 - 1866 J.J. Brown 1866 - 1874 Lysander Jennings 1874 - 1886 Thomas A. Layton 1886 - 1890 R.S. Branson 1890 - 1894 J.G. Siler 1894 - 1906 John W. Hughes *** 1906 - 1914 J.B. Hicks 1914 - 1922 Joseph Gideon 1922 - 1926 Frank Shaffer 1926 - 1934 Douglas Mahnkey 1934 - 1938 J.B. Hicks 1938 - 1946 Acro C. Hammond 1946 - 1950 A.R.D. Reese 1950 - 1966 Troy Johnson 1966 - 1974 Don Simmons *John H. Glover was one of the organizational officers appointed by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs. Soon after taking office, he resigned; and John H. Miller was appointed to fill the vacancy. **William L. Fenex was appointed by the Governor when the county was reorganized after the Civil War but soon resigned. J.J. Brown was appointed to fill the vacancy. ***In 1894, the duties and office of County Clerk were separated from the duties and office of Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds. OFFICE OF TANEY COUNTY SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTOR 1837 - 1888 1837 John Wray* 1837 - 1838 James Bartlett** 1840 - 1842 Joseph Page 1842 - 1844 Jesse Jennings 1848 - 1850 John Layton 1860 - 1861 Berry Ellison *** 1861 - 1865 Civil War Few official records exist relative to the office of sheriff and tax collector prior to the Civil War. Levi Boswell, Abner Garrison, James Gideon and Sterling Pearson reportedly served during this period, but the years in which they served are not known. 1865 - 1866 G.W. Myers**** 1866 - 1868 Lark Adamson 1868 - 1870 L. Thomas 1870 - 1872 W.L. Peck 1872 - 1874 J.C. Johnson 1874 - 1880 W.L. Peck 1880 - 1884 John Moseley 1884 - 1888 J.K.P. McHaffie *When Taney County was organized in 1837, John Wray was appointed sheriff by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs. Soon after his appointment he resigned. **James Bartlett was appointed by the County Court to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Wray's resignation. ***Soon after taking office, Berry Ellison was killed by the engineering officer of the Mary Patterson steamboat anchored at the Forsyth landing. ****G.W. Myers was appointed by Governor Thomas C. Fletcher when county government was being re-established following the Civil War. Just prior to the election of 1888 the office of Tax Collector was created thereby separating the duties of the tax collector from those of the sheriff. TANEY COUNTY SHERIFF 1888 - 1974 1888 - July 4, 1889 G.E. Branson * July 4, 1889 - July 18, 1889 Madison Day ** July 18, 1889 - Sept 1889 Reuben J. Isaacs*** Sept. 1889 - 1892 J. L. Cook**** 1892 - 1896 James A. Weatherman 1896 - 1898 William J. Johnston 1898 - 1902 James A. Weatherman 1902 - 1904 Elisha Hull 1904 - 1906 James W. Reese 1906 - 1912 Robert Adams 1912 - 1916 Newton Boles***** 1916 - 1920 John R. Combs 1920 - 1924 Newton Boles 1924 - 1928 Henry Simmons 1928 - 1932 J. L. Day 1932 - 1936 W.L. Pumphrey 1936 - 1940 Henry Simmons 1940 - 1944 Otto Wolf, Jr. 1944 - 1952 G.L. Hunt 1952 - 1960 Theron Gideon 1960 - 1963 Roy Wade****** 1963 - 1972 Lyman Cardwell 1972 - 1974 Charles (Chuck) Keithley *Sheriff Branson was shot and killed July 4, 1889 in Kirbyville, Missouri **By virtue of being County Coroner, Madison Day became sheriff until the County Court could appoint one. ***On July 18, 1889, the County Court appointed Reuben Isaacs, to the office of sheriff until his successor could be elected and qualified. ****On Sept. 1889, J.L. Cook was elected sheriff of Taney County. *****Sheriff Boles, was killed in late August 1924, in the line of duty. The County Court appointed Henry Simmons, who had won the Republican nomination for sheriff in the primary election, to fill Mr. Boles' un-expired term. ******Sheriff Wade was shot while serving in office and resigned before the expiration of his term. Lyman Cardwell, who was a candidate for sheriff, was appointed to complete Mr. Wade's term. TANEY COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS 1888 - 1974 1888 - 1892 S.J. Williams 1892 - 1896 Joseph C. Blair 1896 - 1902 Benjamin B. Price 1902 - 1906 A. J. Brazeal 1906 - 1910 Elisha Hull 1910 - 1918 James W. Reese 1918 - 1926 James B. Hicks 1926 - 1934 A.T. Hull 1934 - 1942 H.F. Owen, Sr. 1942 - 1950 Vernon James 1950 - 1954 D.B. Palmer 1954 - 1970 Johnie B. Jones 1970 - 1974 S.J. Tiffany OFFICE OF TANEY COUNTY TREASURER - 1838-1974 1838-1840 Levi Casey 1840-1842 Joseph C. Page 1842-1865 * 1865-1866 J.C. Brown 1866-1868 J.C.M. Wood ** 1868-1870 Levi Casey, Sr. 1870-1874 Levi Casey, Jr. 1874-1878 D.E. Murphy 1878-1880 M.H. Moore 1880-1882 J.H. Parrish 1882-1884 William E. Moore 1884-1886 C.H. Groom 1886-1890 S.W. Boswell 1890-1894 J.H. Parrish 1894-1896 E.E. Stires 1896-1900 Samuel G. Wood 1900-1904 John W. Powell 1904-1906 Albert H. Parrish 1906-1912 Jesse Nance 1912-1920 Arthur James 1920-1924 Frank Burns 1924-1932 Lyman Felkins 1932-1936 Sherman Bray 1936-1938 Ralph Whitley *** 1938-1942 Sherman Bray 1942-1946 A.R.D. Reese 1946-1950 Hershel Floyd 1950-1970 Hazen Kissee 1970-1974 Johnny Glen * Between 1842 and 1862 the following persons reportedly held the office of county treasurer: Harrison Snapp, Thomas J. Stallcup, E. Hodges and G.W. Bunch. ** J.C.M. Wood resigned the office of county treasurer, and B.F. Myers was appointed to fill the vacancy. *** In 1935, the state legislature combined the office of county treasurer with that of the county tax collector, as an economy move, to become effective at the expiration of the incumbent's term of office in 1936. At the next session of the legislature in early 1937, the treasurer's office was restored to its former status. Ralph Whitley was appointed by the Governor to serve until the newly elected treasurer took office in January 1939. TANEY COUNTY OFFICE OF NOTARY PUBLIC - 1907-1911 1907-1911 Abraham Lincoln (Link) Weatherman TANEY COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS - 1876-1974 1865-? R.W. Fyan * 1876-1878 R.V. Burns 1878-1880 J.H. Sanders 1880-1882 J.J. Brown 1882-1884 T.C. Spellings 1886-1888 H.E. Havens 1888-1890 J.A. DeLong 1890-1892 James L. Davis 1892-1894 B.B. Price 1894-1896 R.C. Ford 1896-1898 George Taylor 1898-1900 Granville L. Holt 1900-1902 George Taylor 1902-1906 J.C.L. McKnight 1906-1908 Henry Awbrey 1908-1910 J.C.L. McKnight 1910-1912 George B. Wilson 1912-1920 W.R. Adams 1920-1924 Robert L. Gideon 1924-1928 A.H. Blunk 1928-1930 W.R. Adams 1930-1934 Joseph R. Gideon 1934-1936 W.R. Adams 1936-1938 Douglas Mahnkey 1938-1942 Olin K. Wolf 1942-1950 Joseph R. Gideon 1952-1956 Douglas Mahnkey 1956-1960 Clay Cantwell 1960-1962 Clifford Crouch 1962-1964 Douglas Mahnkey 1964-1972 Peter H. Rea 1972-1974 Gary W. Allman * R.W. Fyan served as circuit attorney when the county was reorganized after the Civil War. TANEY COUNTY SURVEYORS - 1870-1974 1870-1874 C.C. Owen 1876-1880 J.H. McClary 1880-1882 C.C. Owen 1882-1886 I. Burnett 1886-1892 M.M. Richardson 1892-1896 Henry W. Strahan 1896-1904 W.R. Adams 1904-1912 Melvin C. Bird 1912-1940 Norval D. Wallace * 1940-1952 Howard E. Bateman 1952-1964 Orville L. Howard 1964-1972 Emmett Nightengale 1972-1974 Larry Gardner * Mr. Wallace became ill during his last term of office and resigned. Ralph Whitney was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy. OFFICE OF PROBATE JUDGE - 1868-1950 1868-? Enos Stanley 1876-1878 C.C. Owen 1878-1882 J.J. Reynolds 1882-1884 B.R. Everett 1884-1894 W.B. Burks 1894-1898 William J. Hull 1898-1902 Abraham Lincoln (Link) Weatherman 1902-1910 J.T. Dickenson 1910-1950 John L. Morrow OFFICE OF PROBATE AND MAGISTRATE JUDGE - 1950-1974 1950-1954 John L. Morrow 1954-1962 J.R. Gideon 1962-1974 Clifford Crouch Judge Crouch resigned to become circuit judge. Joe Chowning was appointed April 22, 1974 to fill the unexpired term. OFFICES OF CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER OF DEEDS - 1894-1974 In the early history of Taney County, the county clerk performed the duties that were later divided into three separate offices; namely, county clerk, circuit clerk and recorder of deeds. In 1894, the duties and office of county clerk were separated from those of the circuit clerk and recorder of deeds. In 1906, the office of circuit clerk and recorder of deeds was divided into two separate offices but were combined again in 1934. OFFICE OF CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER OF DEEDS - 1894-1906 1894-1902 James C. Johnson 1902-1906 Walter I. Moore OFFICES OF CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER OF DEEDS (DIVIDED) 1906-1934 CIRCUIT CLERK RECORDER OF DEEDS 1906-1908 Walter L. Brown 1906-1910 Walter I. Moore 1908-1910 Arthur Parrish 1910-1918 U.G. Johnson 1910-1918 James C. Davis 1918-1926 Joseph Fields 1918-1926 Otto Wolf, Sr. 1926-1930 H.M. Blunk 1926-1934 Arter Johnson 1930-1934 Tom Moore OFFICE OF CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER OF DEEDS (COMBINED) 1934-1974 1934-1942 J.E. Felkins 1942-1950 Roy G. Burns 1950-1966 Ray Hall 1966-1974 George M. Rhodes TANEY COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION - 1857-1971 Taney County School Commissioners and County Superintendents 1853-1857 Unkown 1857-1861 William C. Berry 1861-1865 Civil War (None) 1867- Office reestablished 1867-1869 J.J. Brown 1869-1871 M. Clifford 1871-1873 W.R. Howard 1873-1875 J.L. Humphrey 1875-1883 Sampson Barker 1883-1885 J.J. Reynolds 1885-1887 Sampson Barker 1887-1893 James E. Minor 1893-1897 J.C.L. McKnight 1897-1899 Owen McClary 1899-1903 A.J. Hicks 1903-1905 Henry Awbrey 1905-1907 L.N. Williams 1907-1909 D.B. Palmer 1909-1910 A.J. Hicks 1910-1911 A.A. Kenner 1911-1923 John W. Bennett 1923-1931 Roy G. Burns 1931-1939 Emmett B. Adams 1939-1951 Ernest Redfern 1951-1965 Elmo Ingenthron 1965-1971 Mrs. Clara Redfern OFFICE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR - 1876-1974 1876-1880 L. Adamson 1880-1882 J.F. Brown 1882-1884 G.M. Scott 1884-1894 Unkown 1894-1902 J.T. Dickenson 1902-1904 Unkown 1904-1907 Clyde Jennings 1908-1910 Ray B. Price 1910-1912 Unkown 1912-1916 J.T. Dickenson 1916-1922 Unkown 1922-1924 B.J. Butler 1924-1932 Unkown 1932-1934 W.R. Adams 1934-1936 Unkown 1936-1938 G.H. Phillips 1938-1940 Charles L. Grimm 1940-1942 J.W. Grimm 1942-1944 Nat. Arcy 1944-1948 Unkown 1948-1952 T.J. Inmon 1952-1964 Roy J. Chaffin 1964-1970 Duane Eiserman 1970-1974 L.C. Hagee OFFICE OF TANEY COUNTY CORONER - 1876-1974 1876-1878 L.A. Davis 1878-1880 Albert S. Layton 1880-1882 T.W. Davis 1882-1884 B.F. Johnson 1884-1886 Unkown 1886-1892 Madison Day 1892-1896 Issac Hornbeck 1896-1898 T.H. Humphreys 1898-1900 M.J. Holiday 1900-1904 Unkown 1904-1908 J.N. Brown 1908-1911 Dr. Guy B. Mitchell 1912-1914 R.M. Irwin 1914-1916 Dr. F.V. Baldwin 1916-1918 Lon Riggs 1918-1924 * 1924-1928 P.A. Thornhill 1928-1932 Dr. Spier Richmond 1932-1936 P.A. Thornhill 1936-1940 S.E. Arnold 1940-1942 P.A. Thornhill 1942-1944 S.E. Arnold 1944-1956 Harry Forsyth 1956-1972 Walter Cobb 1972-1974 Garland Clarkson * From 1918 to 1924, Taney County had no coroner. No one ran for the office; no one was elected; and apparently no one was appointed. OFFICE OF TANEY COUNTY ASSESSOR 1839-? * 1850-1852 William P. Birchfield 1852-1880 ** 1880-1884 F.G. Compton 1884-1886 R.S. Branson 1886-1890 D.M. Trummell 1890-1892 Erasmus G. Waddle 1892-1896 Robert H. Prather 1896-1900 Jomes W. Owen 1900-1904 Isaiah Stewart 1904-1908 Cyrus A. James 1908-1912 Melvin E. Bird 1912-1916 William E. Hall 1916-1924 J.W.A. Keithley 1924-1936 L.B. Clark 1936-1956 J.L. Matthews 1956-1964 Don Simmons 1964-1972 W.E. Gooch 1972-1974 Gilbert Davis * Henry K. Archer was appointed to the office of assessor by the first county court of Taney County. ** The following persons are believed to have held the office of assessor prior to 1880: Abner Garrison and S.W. Bunch. STATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM TANEY COUNTY - 1838-1974 1838-1840 John Hancock 1840-1842 Jesse Jennings 1842-1844 John D. Shannon 1844-1846 Jesse Jennings 1846-1848 1848-1850 Theophilas Bass * 1850-1852 Jesse Jennings 1852-1854 J.D. Caldwell ** 1854-1858 Jesse Jennings 1858-1860 J.H. Gideon 1860-1862 Jesse Jennings 1862-1866 F.M. Gideon *** 1866-1870 Jesse Jennings 1870-1874 S.W. Bunch 1874-1876 J.C. Johnson 1876-1878 1878-1880 J.C. Johnson 1880-1882 W.L. Peck 1882-1884 James R. VanZandt 1884-1886 J.C. Johnson 1886-1888 Samuel Dial 1888-1890 A.S. Prather 1890-1892 C.C. Owen 1892-1896 James L. Davis 1896-1900 A.S. Prather 1900-1902 Charles H. Groom 1902-1904 A.S. Prather 1904-1907 James M. Depuy **** 1908-1910 A.S. Prather 1910-1914 Henry Blunk 1914-1918 Guy B. Mitchell 1918-1920 James A. Weatherman 1920-1922 D.F. McConkey 1922-1936 W.E. Freeland 1936-1940 Henry Awbrey 1940-1944 H.A. Smith 1944-1948 Douglas Mahnkey 1948-1950 1950-1954 Charles J. Fain 1954-1960 Clifford Crouch 1960-1966 Verson James 1966-1968 Boyd Sanders ***** 1968-1970 Mervin R. Case 1970-1972 Garnett A. Kelly 1972-1974 Donald L. Gann * Theophilas Bass died while in the legislature at Jefferson City and is buried in one of the cemeteries there. His horse was led home by a fellow legislator when the session ended. ** J.D. Caldwell, after being elected to office and before the legislature convened, died from injuries when he fell from a stake and rider fence while visiting with a neighbor. *** There was no legal election held in Taney County in 1864 because of the ravages of the Civil War. However, F.M. Gideon continued to serve as the county's representative in the Union's Provisional State Government. **** Representative James Depuy died before the completion of his term of office. ***** Under a new redistricting law passed just prior to the election of 1966, part of Ozark County and Taney and Douglas Counties were placed in Legislative District 148. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Audie & Denise Canida (© 1997 Audie & Denise Canida) USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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