Franklin County, Ohio - Chapter 11: Public Officers, 1858

Chapter 11: Public Officers

Representatives in Congress - Senators and Representatives in State Legislature - County Commissioners - County Auditors - County Treasurers - County Collectors - County Assessors - County Recorders - County Surveyors - President Judges - Associate Judges

Representatives In Congress

Until 1812, the State was entitled to but one Representative in Congress; from 1812 until 1822, the State was entitled to six ; from 1822 until 1832, to fourteen ; from 1832 until 1842, to nineteen; and since 1842, to twenty-one. From 1812 until 1822, our Congressional District was composed of the counties of Franklin, Licking, Delaware, Madison, Fairfield, Champaign, Montgomery, Miami and Darke; from 1822 until 1832, of Franklin, Delaware, Marion, Crawford, Knox, Licking and Coshocton; from 1832 until 1842, of Franklin,

Madison, Pickaway, Delaware and Marion; from 1842 until 1852, of Franklin, Licking, Knox and Delaware ; and since 1852, of Franklin, Licking and Pickaway.

The first election for a member of Congress was held on the 27th of June, 1803, to elect one member for two years from the fourth of March, then past. And since then, the elections for Congressmen have always been held in October.

Wm. H. Harrison had been a Delegate in Congress from the Northwestern Territory. He was elected by the first Territorial Legislature, convened at Cincinnati, in September, 1799.

* It will be recollected that members of Congress for the regular terms, are elected one year previous to taking their seats. They are chosen at the October election, and their time properly commences the 4th of March ensuing; but in consequence of Congress not meeting until December, it makes the time over a year from their election until they take their seats at Washington.

in place of Moore, deceased. 1844. Columbus Delano, of Knox County, full term. 1846. Daniel Duncan, of Licking County. 1848. Charles Switzer, of Delaware County. 1850. " " " "

Senators In State Legislature

Until the year 1810, Franklin, Ross and Highland Counties constituted a Senatorial District, which was entitled to two Senators. In 1810, Franklin, Delaware, Madison, and part of Pickaway, that had been stricken off of Franklin, were constituted a District, and entitled to one Senator; and so continued until 1820, when Union was added to the District. In 1823, Franklin, Madison, Delaware, Union, Marion and Crawford, all elected together, one Senator. From 1827 until 1840, Franklin and Pickaway composed the Senatorial District. From 1840 until 1848, the District was composed of the counties of Franklin, Madison and Clark; from 1848 until 1851, of Franklin and Delaware ; and since 1851, of Franklin and Pickaway again.

Representatives In The State Legislature

Until the year 1808, Franklin elected with Ross County, and was represented by four members. In 1808 and 1809, Franklin and Delaware elected together, and were entitled to one member. In 1810 and 1811, Franklin, Delaware, Madison, and part of Pickaway, elected together, and were entitled to one member. In 1812, Franklin alone was first entitled to one member, and continued to be represented by one until 1828, when she was entitled, for one session, to two members; then reduced to one until 1832, when she again elected two members; in 1833, only one ; in 1834, two; in 1835 and 1836, only one; in 1837 and 1838, two; in 1839 and 1840, one; in 1841, two; in 1842, one; in 1843, two; in 1844 and 1845, Franklin and Madison two; in 1846 and 1847, two ; in 1848, 1849 and 1850, one; and one additional member elected in common with Delaware ; and since 1851, under the New Constitution,

New Constitution

1851. Edward Cartright and Edward A. Stanley. 1853, Alexander Thompson and Hiram Hendron. 1855. Geo. M. Parsons and James H. Smith. 1857. Wm. R. Rankin and H. L. Chaney.

County Commissioners

The first Board of Commissioners for Franklin County, were elected in June, 1804, and their terms of service determined by lot, as follows, to wit :

* Iq 1821, the office of County Auditor was created, and Joseph Grate was appointed to that office - a part of the duties of which is to act as Clerk of the Board of Commissioners ; so that, now the Commissioners have not the appointing of their own Clerk, but the Auditor for the time being, must act as such.

County Auditors

The office of County Auditor was created at the session of 1820-21.* Prior to that time the principal duties since performed by the Auditor, were discharged by the County Commissioners and their clerk. The Auditor was elected annually until 1824, and since then biennially.

*At the preceding session of the Legislature, Judge Flenniken was appointed, by the title of Auditor, to rate the lands of this county for taxation ; but it was entirely a different office from the present, and only continued one year.

The lands were then classed for taxation as first, second and third rate, and charged a specified sum per hundred acres for each respective class.

County Treasurers

The Treasurer was first appointed by the Associate Judges, then by the County Commissioners, until 1827. On the 24th of January, 1827, an act was passed by the Legislature, w^hich provided for the election of the

In 1803, Jacob Grubb was appointed by the Associate Judges the first Treasurer of Franklin County, and was continued yearly by reappointment until 1827.

1827. (June.) Christian Heyl, appointed by Commissioners. 1827. (Oct.) Christian Heyl, elected for two years. 1829. Christian Heyl, elected for two years. 1831. « " « «

County Collectors

Many changes have taken place in the mode of collecting taxes. The first two or three years after the organization of this county, the chattel tax was collected hy Township Collectors, and a County Collector collected the land tax. After that, say from about 1806 till 1820, the State was divided into four districts, and a Collector of non-resident land tax appointed by the Legislature for each district ; and at the same time the County Collector collected the chattel tax, and tax upon resident lands. And from about 1820 until 1827, the County Collectors collected all taxes for State and county purposes. Since 1827. it has been the duty of the Treasurer to receive, or collect the taxes.

County Assessors

The office of County Assessor was not created until by a Legislative act of February 3, 1825, which act gave the power of appointment to the Court of Common Pleas. Prior to that, each township elected its own Assessor at the time of choosing Supervisors and other township officers in the spring of the year. On the 16th of January, 1827, an act was passed requiring the County Commissioners to appoint an Assessor from

1825. James Kilbourne, appointed for two years. 1827. (March.) James Kilbourne, reappointed till October. 1827. (Oct.) John Swisher, elected for two years. 1829. John Swisher, elected for two years. 1831. " " « "

On the 20th of March, 1841, an act was passed abolishing the office of County Assessor, and providing for the election of a Township Assessor in each township as formerly.

County Recorders

This office was filled by appointment by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas until 1831. Since then the Recorder has been electable by the people triennially.

In January, 1804, Lucas Sullivant was appointed first Recorder, and continued till 1807. 1807. Adam Hosack, appointed and continued till 1 813.

County Surveyor

The office of County Surveyor was filled by appointment by the Court of Common Pleas until after the passage of a law on the 3d of March, 1831, which provided for the election of Surveyor triennially by the legal voters of the county.

1824. Richard Howe, appointed for five years. He served personally but a short time. General McLene then performed the duties as deputy for Howe until 1827.

Clerks Of Courts. '

Until the adoption of the New Constitution, the office of Clerk for the Court of Common Pleas, and for the Supreme Court, were separate and distinct appointments - each court appointing its own clerk for the term of seven years. But, in Franklin County, as in many others, the two appointments were always given to the same individual. Under the New Constitution one clerk is elected for both courts.

On the second Monday of February, 1852, Mr. Heyl's office became vacated by the New Constitution. Oct. 1851. Kendall Thomas elected under the New Constitution, for three years, commencing second Monday in February, 1852. Oct. 1854. Albert Buttles elected in place of Thomas. " 1857. John L. Bryan in place of Buttles.

Prosecuting Attorneys

Until 1833, the Prosecuting Attorneys were appointed by the court, and the appointments were generally made for an indefinite length of time. Some served, probably, but one term - others for several years. No pretensions were made to precision under this head until 1833, since which Prosecuting Attorneys are elected biennially.

In 1805 Pbcuben Bonam prosecuted for the State. From 1810 until 1812 or '13, John S. Wills. From 1812 or '13, until April, 1819, David Scott. 1819. John A. McDowell in place of Scott, deceased.

Gustavus Swan, Orris Parish, Wm. Doherty, and probably some others, have occasionally prosecuted for a single term, during the absence or inability of the regular prosecutor.

From 1829 or '30, Joseph U. Swan, by appointment, until 1833 ; and in October, 1833, Joseph H. Swan was elected for two years. 1834. P. B. Wilcox, appointed in place of Swan, elected

Probate Judges

This office was created by the New Constitution; and in October, 1851, Wm. R. Rankin was elected first Probate Judge, for three years, commencing in February, 1852.

Superior Court Constitutional Convention

Henry Stanbery and John Graham, were the members from Franklin County, in the Convention that formed the present State Constitution, in 1851.