Owsley County Officials

1843 – 2005

Compiled by Bertha Noble

The Formation of Owsley County, Kentucky

Owsley County was organized by the General Assembly of Kentucky in 1843. Gov. Robert P. Letcher appointed Luther Brawner of Clay County, Joseph Wilson of Estill County, John V. L. McKee of Laurel County and William Chenault of Madison County as commissioner to locate the county seat of the newly formed Owsley County. The commissioners were instructed to meet at John Moore’s house in Booneville August, the 3^rd Monday of 1843.

The Commissioners had difficulty in selecting a county seat for the new county. The local people around the small village of Proctor wanted Proctor to be the center for the government of Owsley County. Proctor had been named to honor Rev. Joseph Proctor, a famous Indian fighter.

The South Fork citizens held out for locating the county seat at the site of an old camp of Daniel Boone, which carried his name, Boone’s Station, now known as Booneville.

In 1884 residents of Proctor petitioned the General Assembly of Kentucky about the county seat problem. As a result of this petition, on February 29, 1844, the General Assembly passed an act requiring an election to be held to settle the dispute about the county seat. The election was to be held starting the first Thursday of April 1844, and held for three days. The ballot gave the voters two choices. They could vote for one place – (1) At Elias Moore’s place at Boone’s Station, now known as Booneville, or (2) at Archibald McGuire’s farm at Proctor. The place getting the most votes would be the county seat.

The election was chosen to be held at Lassiter Robertson’s house, and Booneville won by a small majority. Thus Booneville became the county seat of Owsley County in 1844.

Gov. Letcher appointed the following officers:

1^st Sheriff James McGuire, Jr.

County Agent William Morris

Coroner James Anglin

In 1843 – Seven magisterial districts were set up, and seven Justices of Peace were appointed:

1. William Clark

2. David Snowden

3. Hiram McGuire

4. William Morris

5. Lassiter Robertson

6. Pleasant Reynolds

7. George H. Brandenburg

Feb. 26, 1843 the General Assembly ordered the 8^th Magisterial District set up which was what we call “Upper Buffalo”. The district included all the land drained by Buffalo Creek.

Five constables were appointed by the governor in 1843. In the 1843 time period up to 1850 (1850 had a new constitution) officers were appointed by the governor. Circuit judges were appointed and were given the power to appoint the circuit clerk and Commonwealth Attorney.

The Governor appointed the surveyors, coroner and justices. The Justices were given the power to nominate people for sheriff, but the governor appointed the sheriff from those who were nominated by the Justices. The Justices were also given power to appoint county clerks and county attorneys.

The 1850 constitution created the office of County Judge. Before this date the Magistrates did the duties which were later given to the County Judges.

Up until 1929 there is no certainty of the dates of election of officers to serve Owsley County, neither do we have any legal record of county officials for 1844 through 1928; however the following officer listings were found on file at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort:

County Judges

______________ Term began 1851

John McDaniel Term began 1854

Joseph W. Seale Term began 1858

Thomas Murrell Term began 1862

______________ Term began 1866

______________ Term began 1870

______________ Term began 1874

______________ Term began 1878

______________ Term began 1882

______________ Term began 1886

______________ Term began 1890

W. B. Gabbard Term began 1894

Allen C. Hyden Term began 1898

Allen C. Hyden Term began 1902*

*Hyden was killed 10/15/1902 and to fill his unexpired term

Hiram Hogg, appointed to fill an unexpired term 1902

John F. Brewer Term began 1906

Isaac Price Term began 1910

James M. Porter Term began 1914

Henry Clay Combs Term began 1918

Vincent Thomas Term began 1922

Stephen Hobert Rice Term began 1926*

*Rice resigned 9/1/1927 and to fill his unexpired term

was appointed:

Albert Brandenburg, appointed after Rice resigned until next election

Henry Clay Combs elected for unexpired term 1929*

*Combs died 12/1929 and appointed to his unexpired term

Charles L. Seale, appointed to fill unexpired term 1929

Charles L. Seale Term began 1931

Tilmon Green Term began 1934

Dr. B. F. Tye Term began 1938

C. A. Bowman Term began 1942

J. M. King Term began 1946

J. M. King Term began 1950

A. M. Bell Term began 1954

A. M. Bell Term began 1958

A. M. Bell Term began 1962

Oak Wilson Term began 1966

Elijah Campbell Term began 1970

Hamp Turner Term began 1974

· Appointed to fill remainder of term

Howard Moore Term began May 1977

Dale Roberts Term began 1978

Howard Moore Term began 1982

Dale Roberts Term began 1986

Jimmie Herald Term began 1990

Jimmie Herald Term began 1994

Jimmie Herald Term began 1999

Cale Turner Term began 2003

Cale Turner Term began 2007

Ronnie DeBord Term began 2011

Cale Turner Term began 2015

County Attorneys

_____________ Term began 1851

Luther Brawner Term began 1854

_____________ Term began 1858

_____________ Term began 1862

_____________ Term began 1866

In 1866 James M. Sebastian was appointed to fill out an unexpired term.

_____________ Term began 1870

_____________ Term began 1874

Stephen P. Hogg Term began 1878

_____________ Term began 1882

Stephen P. Hogg Term began 1886

_____________ Term began 1890

_____________ Term began 1894

J. C. Eversole Term began 1898

William Butler Bullock Term began 1902

William Butler Bullock Term began 1906

Stephen P. Hogg Term began 1910

Charles L. Seale Term began 1914

Jacob K. Gabbard Term began 1918

Jacob K. Gabbard Term began 1922

Jacob K. Gabbard Term began 1926

Jacob K. Gabbard Term began Jan. 1930

Jacob K. Gabbard Term began 1934*

*Died Oct. 26, 1934

Charles L. Seale appointed to fill unexpired term 1934

Charles L. Seale Term began 1936

W. C. Robinson Term began 1940

W. C. Robinson Term began 1942

W. C. Robinson Term began 1946

W. C. Robinson Term began 1950

Charles L. Seale Term began 1954

W. C. Robinson Term began 1958

W. C. Robinson Term began 1962

W. C. Robinson Term began 1966

Kendall B. Robinson Term began 1970

Kendall B. Robinson Term began 1974

Kendall B. Robinson Term began 1978

Kendall B. Robinson Term began 1982

Wade Rasner Term began 1986

Wade Rasner Term began 1990

Wade Rasner Term began 1994

Wade Rasner Term began 1999

Henley McIntosh Term began 2003

Henley McIntosh Term began 2007

Henley McIntosh Term began 2011

Henley McIntosh Term began 2015

County Court Clerks

County court clerks were appointed by the fiscal court (magistrates) from the beginning of Owsley County until the “1850 constitution” went into effect which was in 1851. William Williams was the first county court clerk of Owsley and it is believed that he served continuously until after the second election which was in 1854.

William Williams Term began 1843

Daniel B. Capps Term began 1854

S. A. Chastain Term began 1858

Elcannah Winn Term began 1862

Elcannah Winn Term began 1866

C. E. Marion Term began 1870

____________ Term began 1874

____________ Term began 1878

Samuel Nigh Term began 1882

Samuel Nigh Term began 1886

John Breeding Term began 1890

John Breeding Term began 1894

Henry Clay Combs Term began 1898

Henry Clay Combs Term began 1902

Henry Clay Combs Term began 1906

Henry Clay Combs Term began 1910

Oscar J. Judd Term began 1914

Tilmon J. Green Term began 1918

Tilmon J. Green Term began 1922

Tilmon J. Green Term began 1926

Tilmon J. Green Term began 1930

Estelle Campbell Term began 1934

Estelle Campbell Term began 1938

John S. Wilson Term began 1942

John S. Wilson Term began 1946

Granville Noble Term began 1950

T. J. Green Term began 1954

T. J. Green Term began 1958

T. J. Green Term began 1962

Wayne Marshall Term began 1966

Wayne Marshall Term began 1970

Wayne Marshall Term began 1974

Wayne Marshall Term began 1978

Wayne Marshall Term began 1982

Sid Gabbard Term began 1986

Sid Gabbard Term began 1990

Sid Gabbard Term began 1994

Sid Gabbard Term began 1999

Sid Gabbard Term began 2003

Sid Gabbard Term began 2007

Sid Gabbard Term began 2011

Shanna Oliver Term began 2015

Sheriffs

James McGuire Jr. Term began June 1843

William McLane Term began July 31, 1844

A. J. Spencer Term began

David Snowden Term began June 1845

William Abner Term began January 19, 1846

William Morris Term began November 3, 1849

Julius Hacker Term began 1851

James Hacker Term began 1854

Elisha B. Treadway Term began 1858

Thomas Dalton Term began 1862

Elisha B. Treadway Term began 1866

Daniel McCollum Term began 1870

Sylvester Isaacs Term began 1874

D. P. Morris Brewer Term began 1878

Joseph F. Herd Term began 1882

William Butler Bullock Term began 1886

Daniel McCollum Term began 1890

Robert W. Becknell Term began 1894

Daniel McCollum Term began 1898*

*Daniel McCollum died April 26, 1898 and to fill his term

A. Martin Neeley, appointed to fill unexpired term 1898

D. G. Wilson Term began 1902

A. Martin Neeley Term began 1906

Green B. Wilson Term began 1910

G. B. “Bud” Smith Term began 1914

Green B. Wilson Term began 1918

G. B. “Bud” Smith Term began 1922

Green Mainous Term began 1926

G. B. Wilson Term began 1930

A. J. Creech Term began 1934

James Shepherd Term began 1938

Claude Duff Term began 1942

Charlie McIntosh Term began 1946

Harlan McIntosh Term began 1950

Clarence Taylor Term began 1954*

*Killed in office, appointed to fill unexpired term

Ruth Price Taylor (wife), appointed to fill unexpired term 1954

Ruth Price Taylor Term began 1956

Harlan McIntosh Term began 1958

Claude Duff Term began 1962

Danny Bowling Term began 1966

Charlie McIntosh Term began 1970

Danny Bowling Term began 1974

· Appointed to fill remainder of term

Earl Amis Term began Dec. 1977

Earl Amis Term began 1978

Billy P. McIntosh Term began 1982

Billy P. McIntosh Term began 1986

Billy P. McIntosh Term began 1990

Teresa Chadwell Term began 1993

Robert Tye Hensley Term began 1994

Paul Short Term began 1999

Kelly Shouse Term began 2003

Kelly Shouse Term began 2007

Kelly Shouse Term began 2011

Kelly Shouse Term began 2015

Circuit Court Clerks

_____________ Term began 1850

Daniel B. Capps Term began 1856

Arch B. McGuire Term began 1862

Arch B. McGuire Term began 1868

Arch B. McGuire Term began 1874

Arch B. McGuire Term began 1880

Stephen P. Hogg, appointed to fill unexpired term in 1882

Samuel Nigh, appointed to fill unexpired term in 1883

Samuel Nigh Term began 1886

Stephen P. Hogg Term began 1892

Walter Seale Term began 1898

Isaac Wilder Term began 1904

Isaac Wilder Term began 1910

Isaac Wilder Term began 1916

William Huff Term began 1922

Stephen Campbell Term began 1928

C. A. Bowman Term began 1934

Matt Ross Term began 1940

Matt Ross Term began 1946

Matt Ross Term began 1952

Matt Ross Term began 1958

Leon Ross Term began 1964

Clayton Herald Term began 1970

A. Michael Mays Term began 1976

A. Michael Mays Term began 1982

A. Michael Mays Term began 1988

A. Michael Mays Term began 1994

A. Michael Mays Term began 2001

A. Michael Mays Term began 2007

A. Michael Mays Term began 2013

Jailors

The Jailor was an appointive office until 1851

_______________ Term began 1851

Robert McGee Term began 1854

_______________ Term began 1858

_______________ Term began 1862

_______________ Term began 1866

_______________ Term began 1870

_______________ Term began 1874

_______________ Term began 1878

_______________ Term began 1882

_______________ Term began 1886

_______________ Term began 1890

_______________ Term began 1894

Robert Wilson Term began 1898

Robert Wilson Term began 1902

Vol Taylor Term began 1906

John “Mucker” Baker Term began 1910

Chester “Honey” Wilson Term began 1914

Chester “Honey” Wilson Term began 1918

John Hughes Term began 1922

John Hughes Term began 1926

R. C. Wilson Term began 1930

John M. Halcomb Term began 1934

Claude Duff Term began 1938

Ham Taylor Term began 1942

Sam Rasner Term began 1946

Clarence Taylor Term began 1950

Oscar “Pepper” Campbell Term began 1954

Banford Mays Term began 1957

Banford Mays Term began 1958

Banford Mays Term began 1962

Banford Mays Term began 1966

Banford Mays Term began 1970

Banford Mays Term began 1974

Leon Ross Term began 1978

Walter Terry Term began 1981

Walter Terry Term began 1982

Arlie Stepp Term began 1984

Arlie Stepp Term began 1986

Craig Bowman Term began 1990

Arlie Stepp Term began 1994

Harold Hollon Term began 1999

Hubert Shouse Term began 2003

Hubert Shouse Term began 2007

Robert Cope Term began 2011

Robert Cope Term began 2015

Tax Commissioners

(Property Valuation Administrator after 1969)

______________ Term began 1851

Thomas J. Treadway Term began 1854

______________ Term began 1858

Joseph Reynolds Term began 1862

______________ Term began 1866

______________ Term began 1870

______________ Term began 1874

______________ Term began 1878

______________ Term began 1882

______________ Term began 1886

______________ Term began 1890

______________ Term began 1894

______________ Term began 1898

Lewis Cole Term began 1902 * Killed by Price Moore 1904 (5)

Stephen Gabbard Term began 1904 Appointed to fill un-expired term (5)

Lucy Cole Elected ???? *Widow of Lewis Cole, eligibility questioned-women could not serve

William Wilson Term began 1906

Dan Gabbard Term began 1910

Zack Taylor Term began 1914

Clay Roberts Term began 1918

Hubert Judd Term began 1922

Seaber Eversole Term began 1926

Sherman Brewer Term began 1930

Sherman Brewer Term began 1934

N. S. (Sherman) Brewer Term began 1938

N. S. (Sherman) Brewer Term began 1942

N. S. (Sherman) Brewer Term began 1946

N. S. (Sherman) Brewer Term began 1950

Randolph Brewer Term began 1954

Randolph Brewer Term began 1958

Randolph Brewer Term began 1962

Randolph Brewer Term began 1966

Randolph Brewer Term began 1970

Randolph Brewer Term began 1974

Randolph Brewer Term began 1978

Monica Barrett Term began 1982

Monica Barrett Term began 1986

Monica Barrett Term began 1990

Monica Barrett Term began 1994

Monica Barrett Term began 1999

Monica Barrett Term began 2003

Monica Barrett Term began 2007

Sandy King Unexpired term 2009

Sandy King Term began 2011

Sandy Moore Term began 2015

Coroner

Ike Wilder Term began 1930

Ike Wilder Term began 1934

Jesse Turner Term began 1938

Chester Tirey Term began 1942

Robert Hensley Term began 1946

Willie Mason Term began 1950

Ike Wilder Term began 1954

Bob Brewer Term began 1958

Bob Brewer Term began 1962

Johnny Dooley Term began 1966

Robert Strong Term began 1970

Robert Strong Term began 1974

Robert Strong Term began 1978

Robert Strong Term began 1982

Robert Strong Term began 1986

Robert Strong Term began 1990

Robert Strong Term began 1994

Eddie Isaacs Term began 1999

Eddie Isaacs Term began 2003

Eddie Isaacs Term began 2007

Eddie Isaacs Term began 2011

Rob Morgan Term began 2015

County Surveyor

M. F. (Millard) Baker Term began 1930

M. F. Baker Term began 1934

M. F. Baker Term began 1938

M. F. Baker Term began 1942

Emery Begley Term began 1954

Elisha Baker Term began 1958

Hugh Allen Moore Term began 1990

Justice of the Peace

Seven in 1929. By November 7, 1933 the county had changed to 3 Justices of Peace districts and gave each Justice a bigger district to serve. Title was changed to Magistrate in 1937.

Willie Seale, Dist. 1 Term began 1930

Dewey Botner, Dist. 2 Term began 1930

T. H. Hensley (or F. H.) Dist. 3 Term began 1930

I. H. Gabbard, Dist 4 Term began 1930

Jesse Baker, Dist 5 Term began 1930

Willie Judd, Dist 6 Term began 1930

G. W. Bowles, Dist. 7 Term began 1930

Willie Seale, Dist. 1 Term began 1934

Chester Scott, Dist. 2 Term began 1934

H. C. Mason, Dist. 3 Term began 1934

John Hughes, Dist. 1 Term began 1938

Arch Bell, Dist. 2 Term began 1938

Arch Gabbard, Dist 3 Term began 1938

Clarence Hughes, Dist. 1 Term began 1940

Willie B. McPherson, Dist. 1 Term began 1942

Walter Oldham, Dist. 2 Term began 1942

Fayette Wilder, Dist. 3 Term began 1942

Hargis Goodman, Dist. 1 Term began 1946

Logan Burch, Dist. 2 Term began 1946

Arch Gabbard, Dist. 3 Term began 1946

Willie B. McPherson, Dist. 1 Term began 1950

Ezell Sandlin, Dist. 2 Term began 1950

Millard Baker, Dist. 3 Term began 1950

Hargis Goodman, Dist. 1 Term began 1954

Floyd “Pink” Gross, Dist. 2 Term began 1954

Floyd Moore, Dist. 3 Term began 1954

Hargis Goodman, Dist. 1 Term began 1958

W. P. Moore, Dist. 2 Term began 1958

Letcher Deaton, Dist. 3 Term began 1958

Elijah Campbell, Dist. 1 Term began 1962

Pleasant Amis, Dist. 2 Term began 1962

Letcher Deaton, Dist. 3 Term began 1962

Siegel Isaacs, Dist. 1 Term began 1966

Pleasant Amis, Dist. 2 Term began 1966

Hamp Turner, Dist. 3 Term began 1966

James Barrett, Dist. 1 Term began 1970

Martin Gabbard, Dist. 2 Term began 1970

Siegel Isaacs, Dist. 3 Term began 1970

James Barrett, Dist. 1 Term began 1974

Kenneth Gumm, Dist. 2 Term began 1974

Bernard V. Wilson, Dist. 3 Term began 1974

Arnold Wilson, Dist. 1 Term began 1978

Kenneth Gumm, Dist. 2 Term began 1978

Bernard Wilson, Dist. 3 Term began 1978

Arnold Wilson, Dist. 1 Term began 1982

Kenneth Gumm, Dist. 2 Term began 1982

Floyd “Pink” Gross, Dist. 3 Term began 1982

Arnold Wilson, Dist. 1 Term began 1986

Bobby E. Smith, Dist. 2 Term began 1986

Bernard Wilson, Dist. 3 Term began 1986

Jesse Johnson, Dist. 1 Term began 1990

Cale Turner, Dist. 2 Term began 1990

Tony Price, Dist. 3 Term began 1990

Jesse Johnson, Dist. 1 Term began 1994

Cale Turner, Dist. 2 Term began 1994

Tony Price, Dist. 3 Term began 1994

Bill Hall, Dist. 1 Term began 1999

Bobby Smith, Dist. 2 Term began 1999

Jesse Bishop, Jr., Dist. 3 Term began 1999

Bill Hall, Dist. 1 Term began 2003

Mike Harris, Dist. 2 Term began 2003

Jesse Bishop, Jr., Dist. 3 Term began 2003

Larry Chandler, Dist. 1 Term began 2007

Mike Harris, Dist. 2 Term began 2007

Jesse Bishop, Jr., Dist. 3 Term began 2007

Roger Reed, Dist. 1 Term began 2011

Mike Harris, Dist. 2 Term began 2011

Jesse Bishop, Jr., Dist. 3 Term began 2011

Zeke Little, Jr., Dist. 1 Term began 2015

Mike Thomas, Dist. 2 Term began 2015

Tim Bishop, Dist. 3 Term began 2015

Constables

Robert Barrett, Dist. 1 Term began 1930

Chester Allen, Dist. 2 Term began 1930

Dudley Hignite, Dist. 3 Term began 1930

Abner Baker, Dist. 4 Term began 1930

G. W. Daniel, Dist. 5 Term began 1930

Siegel Isaacs, Dist. 6 Term began 1930

___________, Dist. 7 Term began 1930

Floyd E. Reynolds, Dist. 1 Term began 1934

S. D. Clem, Dist. 2 Term began 1934

Hobert Wilder, Dist. 3 Term began 1934

Chester Rice, Dist. 1 Term began 1938

Dan Deaton, Dist. 2 Term began 1938

Edd Richardson, Dist. 3 Term began 1938

Willie P. McIntosh Term began 1940

Green Bowman, Jr., Dist. 1 Term began 1942

Roscoe Bishop, Dist. 2 Term began 1942

Lester M. Gabbard, Dist. 3 Term began 1942

Unknown, Dist. 1 Term began 1946

Unknown, Dist. 2 Term began 1946

Elmer Wilder, Dist. 3 Term began 1946

Sut Bowman, Dist. 1 Term began 1950

Walter Bishop, Dist. 2 Term began 1950

NOT LISTED, Dist. 3 Term began 1950

Ed Smith, Dist. 1 Term began 1954

Harlan Baker, Dist. 2 Term began 1954

Willie P. McIntosh, Dist. 3 Term began 1954

Ray Barrett, Dist. 1 Term began 1958

Dan Deaton, Dist. 2 Term began 1958

Moody Baker, Dist. 3 Term began 1958

Leonard Gilbert, Dist. 1 Term began 1962

Carl Neeley, Dist. 2 Term began 1962

Roe Carmack, Dist. 3 Term began 1962

D. G. Cole, Dist. 1 Term began 1966

Kenneth McDaniel, Dist. 2 Term began 1966

Dan Gabbard, Dist. 3 Term began 1966

Ervine Hobbs, Dist. 1 Term began 1970

J. D. Deaton, Dist. 2 Term began 1970

George Addison, Dist. 3 Term began 1970

Richard Stepp, Dist. 2 Term began 1972

Luther Little, Dist. 2 Term began 1973

James Gabbard, Dist. 1 Term began 1974

Joe Reynolds, Dist. 2 Term began 1974

Harvey Moore, Dist. 3 Term began 1974

Bobby Lee Gabbard, Dist. 1 Term began 1978

Willis Little, Dist. 2 Term began 1978

Jimmie Winn, Dist. 3 Term began 1978

Harvey Wilder, Dist. 1 Term began 1982

Junior Marshall, Dist. 2 Term began 1982

Harvey Moore, Dist. 3 Term began 1982

Leonard Smith, Dist. 2 Term began 1984

James Gabbard, Dist. 1 Term began 1986

Carl Dooley, Dist. 2 Term began 1986

Harvey Moore, Dist. 3 Term began 1986

Bill Goodman, Dist. 1 Term began 1990

Lester Noble, Dist. 2 Term began 1990

Robert Hartsock, Dist. 3 Term began 1990

Jimmy Taylor, Dist. 1 Term began 1994

Bill Campbell, Dist. 2 Term began 1994

Robert Hartsock, Dist. 3 Term began 1994

Randy Burns, Dist. 1 Term began 1999

Wilgus Herald, Dist. 2 Term began 1999

Jesse Johnson, Dist. 3 Term began 1999

John Allen, Dist. 1 Term began 2003

Bill Campbell, Dist. 2 Term began 2003

John “Nunk” Chadwell, Dist. 3 Term began 2003

John Allen, Dist. 1 Term began 2007

Bill Campbell, Dist. 2 Term began 2007

John “Nunk” Chadwell, Dist. 3 Term began 2007

John Allen, Dist. 1 Term began 2011

Bill Campbell, Dist. 2 Term began 2011

Richard Sandlin, Dist. 3 Term began 2011

Randy Burns, Dist. 1 Term began 2015

Bill Campbell, Dist. 2 Term began 2015

Richard Sandlin, Dist. 3 Term began 2015

A complete listing was not found in Frankfort and as of a few years back neither the Kentucky Historical Society nor the Kentucky State Library and Archives had a legal record of the above listed (1926 & prior, we) officers.

Source of information:

1. Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, KY.

2. Listing of Owsley County material at the library and archives.

3. Owsley County Clerk’s office, Booneville, KY.

4. Historical – newspaper articles by Fred W. Gabbard

5. Jackson Hustler newspaper

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