McDonald County, Missouri - Chapter 8, 1897

As has been stated elsewhere, the first county officers after the close of the war were appointed by the governor of the state. Following is a list of the principal county officers from that date down to the present with the date of the appointment or election of each.

In 1864 an election was held, McDonald county voting at Newtonia. At this election Claudius B. Walker was elected to the legislature. He was again elected in 1866.

Rufus L. Hargrove was the first to hold this office when the courts were reorganized at the close of the war. He served during 1865 and 1866.

The record shows that Circuit court was opened at this place November 18, 1865. John C. Price of Neosho was Judge. He served in that capacity until 1869 when he was succeeded by B. L. Hendricks, who opened his first court Au-

Judge McGregor was re-elected in 1886, but the circuit being changed in 1889 caused a vacancy, which was supplied, by the appointment of Judge Cravens.

At the oeginning of this period a Circuit Attorney had jurisdiction co-extensive with the circuit court whose duty it was to prosecute all offenders, and, in fact, whose powers and duties were the same as the prosecuting attorney is at present.

By order of the county court, May 9th, 1866, J. C. Lamson was appointed attorney for Mc- Donald county. He served until August 10, 1867 when h e tendered his resignation whic h was accepted by the county court. He recieved $100 for his services.

By an order of court, November 9th, 1867, A. H. Kenney was appointed county attorney for a period of six months from November 4, 1867. His compensation for the term being fixed at the sum of $100 He served until removed by order of the countv court, November 6, 1868.

John V. Hargrove was the first sheriff after the war, having been appointed to that office by the governor in -1866. He served until December, 1867.

. This court was in connection with the county court until the beginning of 1869. On the 24th day of March, 1868 an act of the legislature was passed establishing the Probate courts in the various counties of the state. Pursuant to this law the records show that on the 11th day of January, 1869, the probate court of this county was opened and adjourned until the 4th Monday in January, the same year. This record is signed

March 23rd, 1869, the record shows a description of the seal of the Probate court for this county. This record is signed, Hiram Baker, Probate Judge. Hiram Baker opened court April 12th, of that year and held the office until February, 1873. C. P, Bullock succeeded Baker and held the office about one year.

At the November election in 1878, I. N. Shambaugh was elected to the office. He was re-elected in 1882 out served only part of his term. He resigned in 1883 and J. W. Brunk was appointed to fill the office until the next election.

W. E. Smith was first elected in November, 1884, to rill the unexpired two years of Judge Shambaugh's term. He was re-elected in 1886 and again in 189Q, serving in all ten years.

The first county court after the war consisted of Benjamin F. Hopkins, Enoch G. Williams and Isaac A. Harmon. The court assembled Monday, November 6th, 1865, Harmon not being present. The first order made was that appointing Benjamin F. Hopkins, Presiding Judge. Thirty days later, December 6th, an order was made appointing Enoch G. Williams Presiding Justice.

There appears to have been an election November 6th, 1866, at which Hugh L. Testerman, I. A. Harmon and John Jones were elected county Judges. On the 17th of December following, Hugh L. Testerman was appointed Presiding Justice.

At the November election in 1868. Joel Meador was elected to succeed H. L. Testerman, I. A. Harmon and Jehu Jones being elected for a second term. I. A. Harmon served as Presiding Justice pro tern from Jan. 1, 1869 until May 3, 1869, at which time he was appointed to that position by- order of the court.

At the election in 1870 Joel Meador was reelected, James H. Wimpey and Thomas McDonald succeeding the other two, Wimpey being appointed by the Governor in 1871.

The three served until January 17, 1872, at which time Zach Smith took charge of the office, he having been elected at a special election November 7th, 1871. He served until January 23, 1873, Thomas McDonald and John Evans were associates during Smith's term.

At the regular November election, in 1872, Geo. Manning and John Wilson were elected county judges, and the new court organized January 23, 1873, by electing Thomas McDonald Presiding Judge.

W. S. Street was elected judge at the November election in 1874. During the next four years there was but one judge instead of three as there was before and has been since.

Street filled the office three years. Jessee Parish was judge from January 1, to June 1, 1878. W. C. Duval from June 1, 1878 to the end of the vear.

I. N. Shambaugh was elected Presiding Judge in 1878 and served four years. He was again elected in 1882 and served until 1883, at which time he resigned

George R. McMahon was elected Judge of the Eastern District, and J. D. Heron, Judge of the Western District, in 1878. Both were re-elected in 1880 and served a second term.

J. A. Sturges was elected Presiding Judge in 1886, H. J. Laughlin, Judge of the Eastern, and J. W. Nutting, Judge of the Western District. The two Associates were re-elected in '88, and these three composed the court for four years, 1887-91.

John M. Boyd was elected Presiding Judge in 1890 and served four years. John R. Patterson was elected Judge of the Eastern District and John W. Cunningham Judge of the Western District the same year. In 1892 Cunningham was re-elected and C. J. Marrs, Judge of the Eastern District. Marrs resigned in the later part of 1893, and John R. Patterson was appointed to fill the vacancy

J. Turner Horner was elected Presiding Judge in November, 1894 which position he still occupies. J. W. Adkins was elected Judge of the Eastern Dictrict and Patrus Testerm ;rn Judge of the Western District in 181) 4.

November 7, 1865, Henry H. Fox was appointed assessor of McDonald county, by order of the county court. The next record I have been able to find is where the bond of Jame$ H. Wimpey, assessor elect, is approved by the court, May 8, 1867. Mr. Wimpey served two years.

W. H. Noel was elected in 1892 and served two years. At the election in November 1894 the result was a tie between him and Walter Hankins. A special election was called at which Noel was successful, thus serving two terms.

Daniel Harmon was the first to hold this office after the war, having been appointed by the county court November 7, 1866. He served four years.

H. H. Fox was elected in November, 1872, but the election was contested by J. W. Bedell, and Fox consented that the contest be decided in favor of Bedell, consequently the office was filled by him.

W. W. Chase was elected in 1874. He has been re-elected two or three times, and has also held several terms by his successor failing to qualify,* so that the office was filled by him until January 1, 1897.

J. C. Baber was appointed May 7, 1869. At the November election, 1870, Jacob McClendin was elected, but refused to qualify, and J. C. Baber was appointed, February 6, 1871, to fill the vacancy. He was elected at the November election in 1872.

Abner W. Tatum was appointed to this office by the county court, May 9, 1866. He served but a short time when J. C. Lamson was appointed. Mr Lamson served about three years.

At the election in '- >. S. Sterrett was declared to be elected, but the records show that his election was contested by F. M. Seamster and the case determined February 11, 1873. Sterrett in his answer admits the election of