1871 Russell County Township Election Results

From the Abingdon Virginian, June 16, 1871.

Russell Correspondence. 
LEBANON, VA., June 12th, 1871

Editors Abingdon Virginian:

Believing that the result of the Township elections recently had in our county will be of interest to some of the numerous readers of your paper, I now proceed to give it:

Supervisors - Leonard Hargis, John W. Martin, Wm. J. Kindrick, R. B. Aston, A. A. Kiser and E. K. Jessee.

Assessors - John T. Ferguson, W. F. Helton, Harvey Honaker, J. H. Johnson, Elihu Kiser, and Wm. R. Harvey.

Clerks - John M. Price, H. S. Fickle, Oscar Johnson, S. J. Bundy, E. D. Kelly and Davis C. Alderson.

Collectors - Wilson E. Browning, Joseph Webb, J. W. Ball, A. S. Wyatt, Wm. L. Kiser, and E. S. Cunningham.

Road Commissoners - Wm. F. Campbell, B. H. Ferguson, Hanson Meade, Moses Dorton, Wm. Fields and Wm. F. Jessee.

Majistrates - Joel Fields, J. C. Ferguson, Isaac Fuller, Thomas Meade, J. H. Dickenson and N. E. Burdine.

Constables - C. W. Fogleman, Alex. McFarlane, E. F. Boyd, J. L. Patrick, C. C. Candler and Thomas Statzer.

Overseers Poor - Jos. Fields, John Grace, Jacob Cook, William Cooper, Alex. Sutherland and Abraham Buckles.

At the last regular Communication of Lebanon Lodge No. 215, the following persons were elected officers for the ensuing year:

G. S. Brace, Wor. Master; Henry Fry, Sr. Warden; W. A. Evans, Jr. Warden; T. C. M. Alderson, Sec'y; James J. Henritze, Treas.; Sam'l V. Scott, Sr. Deacon; Balford White, Jr. Deacon; H. Ashbrook, Steward and fifer.

We are now having remarkably fine weather, and very seasonable. Corn and Oats are looking finely, and our Wheat is almost ready for the harvest, and promises an abundant yield, although slightly touched with the rust, but not supposed so as to injure the grain. Excuse brevity. More in my next.

RUSSELL

James B. Horn, Soldier, Minister, Conman

James B. Horn, Soldier, Minister, Conman

James B. Horn (sometimes Horne) was born in December of 1840 in Russell County, Virginia, the son of James and Abigail Horn. Although there are several Horn families in Russell County on the 1850 Census, James and his parents do not seem to appear. However, there is a reasonable chance that James B. Horn's parents are listed in the Census as James A. Fraley and his wife Abigail B. Fraley. The Fraleys are in the census living next door to Pleasant and Huldah Horn, James Horn's grandparents.

When the Civil War begins, James enlists in Company C of the 37th Virginia Infantry, one of the first units recruited in Russell County. On the earliest muster roll remaining for that company, that of August 31, 1861 (covering July and August), Horn is listed as being sick at Monterey. He apparently re-joins the unit and on February 18, 1862, he re-enlists and is given a $50 bounty and a furlough home. He never returns to his unit. Subsequent muster rolls list him as a deserter.

Immediately after getting home on his furlough, he marries Eliza J. Porter, who lived near the Horns. On the 1870 census they are living in Castlewood, Russell County, and have four children, Morris, Florence, Elgar, and Mary. James owns $1,500 worth of real estate and has $175 of personal goods. Both amounts indicate James had significant financial resources (200 of the 317 families living in Castlewood at that time owned no real estate at all.)

Both his parents appear to have died before 1865, when his grandfather Pleasant Horn dies. At some point prior to 1868 Horn becomes a practicing minister, marrying a handful of couples in Russell County in 1868, 1869, 1876, and 1877. Later on in life, he claims to have been a Baptist minister in Virginia for 17 years.

By 1880 James and his growing family are living in the town of Grundy, in Buchanan County. In addition to the four children on the 1870 census, daughter Eliza A. H. E. P. and son James B. Jr. are born. James senior is working as a hotel keeper. His oldest daughter is listed as Nance B. Her name in the 1870 census appears as Morris.

Horn next appears in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1893, placing the following advertisement in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

On June 20, 1895, Horn creates a company called the Metropolitan Industrial Benevolent Association, providing insurance to low income workers in St. Louis. The board of directors of the company consists of Horn, his wife Adell (no record has been found of a divorce or the death of his previous wife, Eliza),  James B. Horn, junior, and Charles Maupin, of Fort Scott, Kansas, who is Horn's son-in-law. John I. Debelach, an umbrella mender living in St. Louis, is listed as the secretary of the association. Debelach was offered a 20% interest in this "concern", he paid Horn $200 and deeded two lots to cover his share of the Association costs. Debelach worked from November, 1895 to June of 1896 for the Association, without pay. Finally Debelach had enough and left the Association. Subsequent circulars issued by the Association listed James Brockhorn as a member of the board of directors, but Brockhorn was simply an alias for James B. Horn.

Debelach's rebellion and removal from the Association starts a landslide of attention and press scrutiny for the Association. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of September 18, 1896 explained how the Association worked:

"By beginning to pay 5 cents a week for a child when it is 2 years old the poor mother is promised death insurance ranging from $17 to $115, or the payment of $50 to the child should it live to become 21 years of age."

Other payment plans and returns were also sold by the Association. However, Horn had a habit of refusing to pay out claims.

In September of 1896, after receiving complaints about the Association, the St. Louis Chief of Detectives ordered an investigation. Upon calling at the office of the Association, Detective Tracy was met by an agitated Horn:

"'I defy any one,' he said, 'to show where this association has refused to pay a just claim.' Mrs. Horn scattered a large number of receipts upon the center table to substantiate this assertion."

After questioning the Horns and discovering the names of the board of directors, Detective Tracy commented "Seems to be quite a family concern." Further investigations turned up several poor colored people who claimed to have been swindled by Horn. Finally, in late September, 1896, a warrant was issued for Horn and he was arrested.

Later reports in the Post-Dispatch indicate that Horn came to St. Louis in 1891 and refused to say where he was before that time. He married his present wife in St. Louis in 1892, although no marriage record can be found.

When he was arrested Horn stated "I can beat that case."

Horn apparently did "beat that case" because the Metropolitan Industrial Benevolent Association continued to operate in St. Louis and other places for several years. A few months after his arrest, Horn reorganized the Association and created a new board of directors. Unfortunately for Horn, his business practices soon forced his new board to resign en masse.

Newspaper accounts show the Association operating in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1897 and 1898. On April 22, 1898 the Post-Dispatch reports that one of Horn's agents, Alfred Jones of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri had absconded with Association funds. The swindler had been swindled.

Horn drops from the public eye around this time, only appearing in a local newspapers in 1904 with the following advertisement:

A tontine is a life insurance scheme where all members pay in a regular rate and the money goes to the surviving member(s) of the group at the end of a specified period.

Horn and family continue to live in St. Louis until his death in 1923.

Russell County Members of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1787-1900

October 15, 1787 - January 8, 1788

Andrew Cowan
Thomas Carter

June 23 - June 30, 1788; October 20, 1788 - December 19, 1788

Andrew Cowan
Thomas Carter

October 19 - December 19, 1789

Andrew Cowan
Thomas Carter

October 18 - December 29, 1790

Thomas Carter
David Ward

October 17 - December 20, 1791

Thomas Carter
Simon Cockrell

October 1 - December 28, 1792

Simon Cockrell
Richard Price

October 21 - December 12, 1793

Simon Cockrell
Richard Price

November 11 - December 27, 1794

Richard Price, Jr.
Richard Price, Sr.

November 10 - December 29, 1795

Richard Price, Jr.
Richard Price, Sr.

November 8 - December 27, 1796

Thomas Johnson
Richard Price

December 4, 1797 - January 25, 1798

John M. Estill
Thomas Johnson

December 3, 1798 - January 26, 1799

Simon Cockrell
Francis Browning

December 2, 1799 - January 28, 1800

Simon Cockrell
James McFarlane

December 1, 1800 - January 23, 1801

Richard Price
James McFarlane

December 7, 1801 - February 2, 1802

James McFarlane
John M. Estill

December 6, 1802 - January 29, 1803

James McFarlane
James Dickenson

December 5, 1803 - February 3, 1804

Nathan Ellington
James McFarlane

December 3, 1804 - February 1, 1805

Nathan Ellington
James McFarlane

December 2, 1805 - February 6, 1806

James McFarlane
John M. Estill

December 1, 1806 - January 22, 1807

Nathan Ellington
Zachariah Fugate

December 7, 1807 - February 10, 1808

Nathan Ellington
Zachariah Fugate

December 5, 1808 - February 18, 1809

James McFarlane
James Sargeant

December 4, 1809 - February 9, 1810

Zachariah Fugate
James McFarlane

December 3, 1810 - February 14, 1811

James McFarlane
Nathan Ellington

December 2, 1810 - February 21, 1812

James Sargeant
Zachariah Fugate

November 30, 1812 - February 23, 1813

James McFarlane
James Sargeant

May 17 - 21, 1813; December 6, 1813 - February 16, 1814

James Fullen
Colbert Fugate

October 10, 1814 - January 19, 1815

Archibald Jessee
James Fullen

December 4, 1815 - February 28, 1816

Andrew Caldwell
Archer Jessee

November 11, 1816 - February 22, 1817

Colbird Fugate
Andrew Caldwell

December 1, 1817 - February 26, 1818

Colbird Fugate
Archibald Jessee

December 7, 1818 - March 13, 1819

James McFarlane
Archer Jessee

December 6, 1819 - February 25, 1820

James Dickenson, Jr.
John Jesse

December 4, 1820 - March 5, 1821

James Dickenson, Jr.
John Jessee

December 3, 1821 - March 4, 1822

William Price
James Caldwell

December 2, 1822 - February 25, 1823

William Price
James Caldwell

December 1, 1823 - March 10, 1824

Andrew Caldwell
John Jessee

November 29, 1824 - February 18, 1825

Andrew Caldwell
James Dickenson

December 5, 1825 - March 9, 1826

George Cowan
Arthur Jesse

December 4, 1826 - March 9, 1827

George Cowan
James Dickenson

December 3, 1827 - March 1, 1828

David B. Alexander
Harvey Gray

December 1, 1828 - February 17, 1829

David B. Alexander
James M. McFarlane

December 7, 1829 - February 23, 1830

Harvey Gray
James M. McFarlane

December 6, 1830 - April 19, 1831

David B. Alexander

December 5, 1831 - March 21, 1832

Archer Jessee

December 3, 1832 - March 9, 1833

James M. McFarlane

December 2, 1833 - March 14, 1834

George W. Hopkins

December 1, 1834 - March 12, 1835

George W. Hopkins

December 7, 1835 - March 24, 1836

William Jessee

December 5, 1836 - March 31, 1837; June 12 - 24, 1837

William Jessee

January 1 - April 9, 1838

Harvey Gray

January 7 - April 10, 1839

Henry D. Smith

December 2, 1839 - March 19, 1840

Henry D. Smith

December 1, 1840 - March 22, 1841

George Cowan

December 6, 1841 - March 26, 1842

George Cowan

December 5, 1842 - March 28, 1843

George Cowan

December 4, 1843 - February 15, 1844

George Cowan

December 2, 1844 - February 22, 1845

George Cowan

December 1, 1845 - March 6, 1846

George Cowan

December 7, 1846 - March 23, 1847

John F. McElhenney

December 6, 1847 - April 5, 1848

John F. McElhenney

December 4, 1848 - March 19, 1849; May 28 - June 4, 1849; June 11 - August 17, 1849

William B. Aston

December 3, 1849 - March 22, 1850

Edward D. Kernan

December 2, 1850 - March 31, 1851

Edward D. Kernan

January 12 - June 7, 1852; November 22, 1852 - April 11, 1853

Henry D. Smith
Charles H. Gilmer

December 5, 1853 - March 4, 1854

Andrew C. Ferguson

December 3, 1855 - March 19, 1856

G. W. Candler
Joseph Kelly

December 7, 1857 - April 8, 1858

Dale Carter

December 5, 1859 - April 2, 1860; January 7, 1861 - April 4, 1861

William J. Dickenson (Russell, Wise, and Buchanan counties)

December 2, 1861 - March 31, 1862; April 1 - May 14, 1862; September 15 - October 3, 1862; January 7, 1863 - March 31, 1863

Isaac Vermillion

September 7 - November 2, 1863; December 7, 1863 - March 10, 1864; December 7, 1864 - March 15, 1865

William J. Kindrick (Russell, Wise, and Buchanan counties)

December 4, 1865 - March 3, 1866; December 3, 1866 - March 2, 1867; March 4 - April 29, 1867

W. J. Dickenson

October 5 - October 20, 1869; February 8 - July 11, 1870; October 1 - November 10, 1870; December 7, 1870 - March 31, 1871

J. H. A. Smith

December 6, 1871 - March 26, 1872; March 27 - April 5, 1872; December 4, 1872 - April 1, 1873

Jack Carter

January 1 - April 30, 1874; December 2, 1874 - March 31, 1875

Jack Carter

December 1, 1875 - March 29, 1876; December 6, 1876 - April 4, 1877

W. J. Kindrick

December 5, 1877 - March 14, 1878; December 4, 1878 - April 2, 1879

William J. Dickenson

December 3, 1879 - March 9, 1880

William J. Dickenson

December 7, 1881 - March 6, 1882; March 7 - April 22, 1882

William J. Dickenson

December 5, 1883 - March 19, 1884; August 13 - December 1, 1884

George C. Gose

December 2, 1885 - March 6, 1886; March 16 - May 24, 1887

Silas B. Hurt

December 8, 1887 - March 5, 1888

R. L. Smith

December 4, 1889 - March 6, 1890

J. G. Burk

December 2, 1891 - March 4, 1892

W. J. Combs

December 6, 1893 - March 8, 1894

L. M. Wilson

December 4, 1895 - March 5, 1896

Charles J. Gose

December 1, 1897 - March 4, 1898

W. D. Hanson

December 6, 1899 - March 7, 1900

Jacob C. Gent

World War I Letters of Russell County, November 22, 1918

The following letter originally appeared in the November 22nd, 1918 issue of the Lebanon News.

"Somewhere in France, Sept. 11.

My dear Mother:

We have landed at last and are one tired bunch. I did not get sick while crossing until the last few days of our sailing. As long as the waters were calm I was alright but on the last they were wild. One of the sailors on board told me it was the roughest trip he had made and he had been across five times.

I spent so much of my time down in deck in my bunk reading, as I had a good ventilation right over me and preferred this to being out on deck so much. I never felt the least fear in crossing as there were a number of large transports in our convoy, and they stayed so close that I could talk to the boys on the boats at times. I enjoyed being on deck and watching the clouds, waves and flying fish.

Well after landing at the long talked of place "Over There" and resting a few days we were sent across France and am now at the foot hills of the Alps. I can look up and see the snow on Mt. Blanc, although we have been going in our shirt sleeves all day.

Tell Ethel that little did I think of ever seeing the Alps when she used to coach me on my declamation, "Beyond the Alps Lies Italy."

This is a wonderful country and the climate is great. I enjoyed rest on the coast of France when we landed so much. The buildings were so historical looking, and some of Napoleon's barracks made of stone were located where we camped. I was at a program one night while there, that was given by an American lady and a madomisselle. It was great, most all the songs they sang were in English. The French lady could play the piano beautifully and speak English slowly but brokenly.

We were three days and nights crossing France. We are located at a Base hospital and I have been working so very hard. For the first few days I worked equipping the hospital, mixing some medicines, etc. On the first three days I issued 4,500 blankets. If I have another equipment to make I'll know better how to do it. Since then I have been enlisting the patients that come in and take their condition. I like my work, have excellent eatables and I do not think of being "over here" as long as I'm right down to work in camp but I do when I get out, and I'm ready to come back when it's all over.

The big guns are playing one tune this morning, and you so often see search lights going over, but you must not worry about me as I am safe.

Has Claude, Homer and Charlie entered yet?

Tell Mary Lou I will bring her one of these cute little French babies when I come home.

How are they all down at aunt Mary's and is Jimmie still in Tenn., and having success practicing.

I suppose the children are in school by now, tell Lance and Leon not to lose any time.

Tell Ethel and Alda I will write them next and will write some of you every few days.

Please send me address of any of the boys whom I know. So many come into the hospital wounded. I have not seen any I know, but am on the lookout for some.

Send me some kodak pictures soon and write me often, for you have no idea how I'd like to have news from home, and letters that were old are new now.

Your son,
JERRY McFADDIN.

Sheriffs, Constables, Coroners, Commissioners, and Surveyors of Russell County, 1856-1865

Below is an extensive list of elected office holders from Russell County from 1856-1865. The list was created by extracting names and offices from the county Will books and the Law Order books. Appointments and offices were scattered throughout the books and the list is incomplete.

Note that this list does not include County Clerks, Road Commissioners, School Commissioners, Overseers of the Poor, or Literary Fund members.

1856

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
Jessee Browning
Noah B. Bruce (from September 2, 1856)
Isaac W. M. Davis (from August 9, 1856)
Thomas W. Davis (from October 7, 1856)
Charles J. Williams (from October 7, 1856)

Constables
John P. Carty
James C. Gibson
William C. Jackson (died by July 8, 1856)
William J. Necessary
William Sutherland
Charles J. Williams

Commissioner of the Revenue
Nimrod Kiser
Thomas J. Richardson

1857

Sheriff
Isaac Vermillion

Deputy Sheriff
Isaac B. Fickle
Samuel Hargis, jr.
Charles J. Williams

Constables
Vincent Browning
Valentine Bush
Jacob Deal
Andrew J. Dotson
James C. Gibson
George W. Johnson
Evans A. Kindrick
Alexander McFarlane
William J. Necessary
Elijah Sutherland
Henry Vincell
Benjamin Wallis
Charles J. Williams

Commissioners of the Revenue
Branson Dye - Eastern District
Peter W. Wampler - Western District

1858

Sheriff
Isaac Vermillion

Deputy Sheriff
Benson Cross
Jacob V. Fulkerson
Samuel Hargis
Evans A. Kindrick
Elijah Sutherland

Constables
James C. Gibson
George W. Johnson
Henry Vincell
Charles J. Williams

Commissioners of the Revenue
Branson Dye

1859

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
George H. Boyd
John W. Dills
Isaac B. Fickle
Leonard S. Hargis
Benjamin Wallis (from August 3, 1859)
Charles J. Williams

Constable
Samuel Combs
Jeremiah Couch (from October 4, 1859)
Mordecai Cross
Henry H. Dickenson
Isaac B. Fickle
George W. Johnson
Robert Mason (from June 7, 1859)
Alexander McFarlane
Harvey Mays
Bernard H. Reynolds (from September 6, 1859)


Commissioners of the Revenue
Asa Cross - Western District

1860

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
George W. Johnson
Charles W. Williams

Constable
Joseph Baker
John C. Chaffin
Andrew F. Fields
William W. Gilmer
Calvin W. Griffeth
Evan A. Kendrick
Robert Mason
Harvey Mays
George Musick
Nathen E. Owens
Barnett H. Reynolds
Henry Vincell

Commissioners of the Revenue
Branson Dye - Eastern District
Asa Cross - Western District

1861

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
Joseph C. Baker

Constable
Joseph C. Baker
James C. Gibson
George W. Johnson
Robert Mason
Nathan E. Owens

Commissioners of the Revenue
Thomas J. Riley - Eastern District
Richard S. Meade - District #2

Coroner
Edward D. Kernan

1862

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
Aaron L. Hendricks

Constable
William J. Necessary (from May 22, 1862)

Commissioners of the Revenue
Richard S. Meade
Thomas J. Riley

1863

Sheriff
William Sample

Constable
John P. Carty
Lemuel G. W. Carty
Jeremiah Couch
Thomas Davis
Calvin W. Griffeths
Caleb Hawkins (resigned June, 1863)
Madison P. Jackson
Evan A. Kindrick
John M. Powers
Reubin A. Reynolds
Henry Vincell (died by August 15, 1863)

Commissioners of the Revenue
Thomas J. Riley - District #1 (Eastern)
John W. Honaker - District #2 (Western)

1864

Sheriff

William Samples

Deputy Sheriff

Jeremiah Couch

Harvey M. McGlothlin

Constable

William T. Bausell (from July 1, 1864)

Francis A. Browning  (from July 1, 1864)

John P. Carty (from July 1, 1864)

Samuel Combs (from July 1, 1864)

Jeremiah Couch (from July 1, 1864)

Thomas Davis (from July 1, 1864)

C. W. Griffith (from July 1, 1864)

George Grizzle (from July 1, 1864)

John G. Hurt  (from July 1, 1864)

James H. Johnson (from July 1, 1864)

Alexander McFarlane (from July 1, 1864)

Jessee Southerland (from July 1, 1864)

Commissioners of the Revenue

John W. Honaker - District #2 (Western)

1865

Sheriff

William Samples (re-elected from August 10, 1865 after end of War)

Deputy Sheriff

James K. Bays - (appointed after end of War)

Jeremiah Couch - (appointed after end of War)

Constable

R. A. Boyd  - (elected after end of War)

Isaac Fraley - (elected after end of War)

Fielding H. Meade - (elected after end of War)

James T. Robinson - (elected after end of War)

Joshua Sample - (elected after end of War)

Benjamin Whetsell - (elected after end of War)

Commissioners of the Revenue

Martin V. Ball - District #1 (Eastern)

Harvey Honaker - Eastern District - (elected after end of War)

Robert Cross - District #2 (Western)

George W. Candler  - Western District - (elected after end of War)

Sheriffs, Constables, Coroners, Commissioners, and Surveyors of Russell County, 1846-1855

Below is an extensive list of elected office holders from Russell County from 1846-1855. The list was created by extracting names and offices from the county Will books and the Law Order books. Appointments and offices were scattered throughout the books and the list is incomplete.

Note that this list does not include County Clerks, Road Commissioners, School Commissioners, Overseers of the Poor, or Literary Fund members.

1846

Sheriff

Johnston Howard

Surveyor

Harry Smith

Constables
James Colley

Commissioners of the Revenue
James Fletcher - Eastern District
Ezekiel Counts - Western District

1847

Sheriff
Johnston Howard

Constables

George Benner

James Colley

Thomas W. Davis

William H. Dean

John N. Dickenson

Andrew C. Ferguson

Oliver H. Frick

John H. S. Fugate

Stephen Gose

William D. Gray

James W. Hendricks

Aaron L. Hendricks

William Horn

William H. Howard

Jesse Hubbard

Jefferson Jessee

Patton G. Keen

Alexander McFarlane

Henry G. Mead

Jacob Owens

Jonas Rasnick

Thomas J. Riley

George Smith

Henry Vencil

Commissioners of the Revenue

Hiram Howard - Eastern District

Thomas Gibson - Western District

1848

Sheriff

Larkin Herndon

Commissioners of the Revenue

James Samples - Eastern District

Joseph C. Fugate - Western District

Constables

William N. Leece

1849

Sheriff

Larkin Herndon

Constables

George Benner

Elijah Beverly

Nathan E. Burdine

James Chapman

Ezekiel K. Counts

Thomas W. Davis

John N. Dickenson

John H. S. Fugate

Stephen Gose

William Horn

William P. Horton

William H. Howard

Jesse Hubbard

Jefferson Jessee

William N. Leece

Alexander McFarlane

Henry G. Mead

Jacob Owens

Jonas Rasnick

Rolling R. Redwine

Thomas J. Riley

Samuel Salyers

George Smith

Henry Vencil

Commissioners of the Revenue

Andrew C. Ferguson - Eastern District

Samuel B. Fugate - Western District

1850

Sheriff

George W. Johnson

Constables

Zadok N. Gardner

Albert G. Smith

1851

Sheriff

George W. Johnson

1853

Sheriff

Isaac Vermillion

Deputy Sheriff
Samuel Horn
William N. Leece

Constables
George W. Smith
Preston Phipps [?]

1854

Sheriff
Isaac Vermillion
Robert Boyd (from August 10, 1854)

Deputy Sheriffs
Beverly J. Fuller
Samuel Hargis, jr.
William N. Leece
Jessee Browning (under Boyd)
John H. S. Fugate (under Boyd)
Andrew J. Dotson (under Boyd)
Isaac M. Davis (under Boyd)

Constables
Vincent Browning
Valentine Bush
Thomas W. Davis
George W. Dorton
Andrew J. Dotson
Simson Dyer
Wilson Evans
James H. Gibson (vice David H. Jessee, resigned)
William Gragg
Samuel Horn
William Jackson
David H. Jessee
Alexander McFarlane
William J. Necessary
William Sutherland
Elijah Sutherland
Henry Vincell
Benjamin Wallis
Charles J. Williams

Commissioners of the Revenue
George W. Candler - Western District
Nimrod Kiser - Western District (from July 4, 1854)
Hiram Howard - Eastern District
Thomas J. Richardson - Eastern District (from July 4, 1854)

1855

Sheriff
Robert Boyd

Deputy Sheriff
Jesse Browning

Constables
John P. Carty (from November 6, 1855)
Isaac Fraley (from November 6, 1855)
Joseph C. Fugate
George W. Dorton (removed October 2, 1855)
Andrew J. Dotson
Simpson Dyer
William H. Gragg (removed October 2, 1855)
William Jackson

Commissioners of the Revenue
Thomas J. Richardson - Eastern District
Nimrod Kiser - Western District

Sheriffs, Constables, Coroners, Commissioners, and Surveyors of Russell County, 1835-1845

Below is an extensive list of elected office holders from Russell County from 1835-1845. The list was created by extracting names and offices from the county Will books and the Law Order books. Appointments and offices were scattered throughout the books and the list is incomplete.

Note that this list does not include County Clerks, Road Commissioners, School Commissioners, Overseers of the Poor, or Literary Fund members.

Subsequent years will appear in future posts.

1835

Sheriff
Samuel Gibson

Constables
Joel Bays
Stephen Benner
Robert Boyd
Jacob L. Burton
George W. Candler
Singleton Candler
George Colley
Jacob Dorton
Berry Evans
Andrew C. Ferguson
Benjamin Fugate
Fowler Fullen
Thomas Gibson
Charles C. Gibson
Charles H. Gilmore
Joseph Hackney
Schuyler Hamilton
Richard P. Hamilton
William Horton
Jefferson Jessee
George L. Jessee
David Jessee
Increase S. Judd
Alexander McFarlane
Richard B. Price
Samuel C. Price
James Sample
David Sergent
James C. Shoemaker
George Smith

Coroners
Robert Fugate
John Bays

Commissioners of the Revenue
Johnston Howard - Eastern District
Thomas Dickenson - Western District

1837

Sheriff
Samuel Gibson

Constables
Stephen Banner
Jacob L. Burton
Nathan E. Caldwell
Jacob Dorton
Andrew C. Ferguson
Benjamin Fugate
Samuel T. Gibson
James C. Gibson
Joseph Gibson
Thomas Gibson
Napoleon B. Gray
Richard P. Hamilton
Robert Hobbs
Nicholas Horn
William Horton
Jefferson Jessee
Joseph Lea
Alexander McFarlane
Patrick McQuown
John H. Moore
Isaac Munsey
James Robinson
David Sergent
George Smith
James H. Taylor

Commissioners of the Revenue
Isaiah Fuller - Eastern District
Henry D. Aston - Western District

1838

Sheriff
Henry Dickenson

Commissioners of the Revenue
Robert Boyd - Eastern District
Thomas Gibson - Western District

1839

Sheriff
Henry Dickenson

Constables
Stephen Banner
Henry D. Burdine
Joel Campbell
William Carter
Jacob Dorton
Berry Evans
Samuel T. Gibson
James C. Gibson
William Gibson
Napoleon B. Gray
Joseph Hackney
William P. Horton
William P. Horton
Jefferson Jessee
Alexander McFarlane
Patrick McQuown
Jacob Owens
James Robinson
James Samples
David Sergent
George Smith
James H. Taylor

Commissioners of the Revenue
Robert Boyd - Eastern District
John Fugate - Western District

1840

Sheriff
James Dickenson

Constables
James D. Hale
Henry Vencill
Shadrach White

1841

Sheriff
James Dickenson

Constables
Stephen Benner
Joel Campbell
Harden Dale
Jacob Dorton
Berry Evans
James H. Garrett
James C. Gibson
Stephen Gose
Napoleon B. Gray
Robert A. Horton
Jefferson Jessee
Alexander McFarlane
Aaron H. Nash
Jacob Owens
William Pippin
James Robinson
James Samples
David Sergent
George Smith
Henry Vencil

Commissioners of the Revenue
William Gibson - Eastern District
James M. Hanson - Western District

1842

Sheriff
James Browning

Constables
Nathan E. Burdine
Richard R. Campbell
Oliver H. Frick
Daniel W. Horton
John T. Howard
Patton G. Keen
James W. Wright

Surveyor
Harry Smith

Commissioners of the Revenue
William Gibson - Eastern District
James M. McFarlane - Eastern District
Charles H. Gilmore - Western District
John Fugate - Western District

1843

Sheriff
James Browning

Constables
Stephen Benner
Richard R. Campbell
James Colley
Harden Dale
James H. Dickenson
Jacob Dorton
Oliver H. Frick
Napoleon B. Gray
Joseph Hackney
Aaron L. Hendricks
Daniel W. Horton
Jefferson Jessee
Patton G. Keen
Alexander McFarlane
Jacob Owens
James W. Ramsey
James Robinson
George Smith
Samuel Smyth
Henry Vencil

Commissioners of the Revenue
Charles A. Smith - Eastern District
Joseph C. Fugate - Western District

1844

Sheriff
Thomas Dickenson

Commissioners of the Revenue
John Bays - Eastern District
Charles W. Carter - Western District

Constables

John H. S. Fugate

1845

Sheriff

Thomas Dickenson

Constables

Stephen Benner

Richard R. Campbell

James M. Crawford

Thomas W. Davis

William H. Dean

John N. Dickenson

Oliver H. Frick

John H. S. Fugate

Stephen Gose

Napoleon B. Gray

Aaron L. Hendricks

William Horn

Jefferson Jessee

Patton G. Keen

William Lockhart

Alexander McFarlane

Henry G. Meade

Isaac Munsey

Jacob Owens

James Robinson

George Smith

Henry Vencill

Commissioners of the Revenue
Daniel J. Ayres - Eastern District
Samuel B. Fugate - Western District