SHERIFF'S OF PETTIS COUNTY

HISTORY OF SELECTED SHERIFF'S

1. Aaron Jenkins 2. William R. Kemp 3. Willis P. Ellis 4. M. G. Pemberton 5. Willis P. Ellis 6. William R. Kemp 7. William H. Killbrew 8. James Kemp 9. William H. Killbrew 10. Finis E. Cravens 11. Wesley E. McClure 12. H. J. McCormack 13. John Hubbard 14. William H. Porter 15. William P. Paff 16. H. J. McCormack 17. L. S. Murray 18. Moses S. Conner 19. J. A. Bowers 20. L. S. Murray 21. Ellis R. Smith 22. John Porter 23. J. C. Williams 24. J. G. Dillard 25. I. N. Sprecher 26. M. T. Henderson 27. James R. Card 28. W. W. Bolton 29. W. H. Fewell 30. George R. Rector 31. Tom O. Herrick 32. W. W. Bolton 33. W. L. Marlin 34. C. R. Bothwell 35. E. W. Goetz 36. John F. Taylor 37. Emmett W. Fairfax 38. Donald Stratton 39. James M. Lawson 40. Emmett W. Fairfax 41. Gary R. Starke 42. Kevin C. Bond

Appointed Appointed Appointed Appointed Appointed Appointed * The Office of Collector was connected with the Sheriff until 1877

Democrat Democrat Republican Republican Democrat Democrat Republican Democrat Democrat Democrat Democrat Republican Republican Democrat Democrat Democrat Democrat Democrat Republican Republican

1833-1834 1834-1838 1838-1838 1838-1840 1840-1842 1842-1844 1844-1846 1846-1850 1851-1855 1855-1856 1856-1862 1862-1863 1863-1864 1864-1868 1868-1872 1872-1874 1874-1880 1880-1883 1884-1886 1887-1888 1889-1892 1893-1896 1897-1899 1901-1904 1905-1907 1908-1911 1912-1916 1917-1920 1921-1924 1925-1928 1929-1932 1933-1936 1937-1940 1941-1944 1945-1948 1949-1961 1962-1976 1977-1980 1981-1982 1983-1984 1985-2004 2005-present

10. Finis E. “Ewing” Cravens 1855-1858

In 1855, Cravens was appointed deputy sheriff under William H. Killbrew, who died about six months after going into office. Ewing, as he was known by, was appointed by then Governor Sterling Price to fill the vacancy as sheriff. One of Ewing’s best friends and a neighbor refused to go on his bond, saying that he was too young and inexperienced in public business to straighten Killbrew’s tangled operation; but he did, and was so successful as to ensure his re-election to the same office in 1856 by almost unanimous vote. Before his term expired, he was elected Representative to the Missouri General Assembly. In all the positions he serviced with ability, honor and credit both to himself and his constituents. He was a lifelong Democrat, and in his whole life maintained consistence in his acts and principles, ever ready to defend either with zeal – characteristic of a sound man. He returned to his farm until 1872, when he came again before the people on the Democratic ticket for Sheriff of Pettis County. He was defeated in the convention but subsequently appointed deputy by Sheriff H. J. McCormack, which he remained until his death.

11. Wesley E. McClure 1858-1862

In 1858, McClure was elected Sheriff of Pettis County, and discharged the duties of that office with much credit to himself for four years. During his terms in office, Mr. McCormack performed many hazardous duties with nerve and preciseness, which won him the admiration of all peace-loving citizens. Soon after the expiration of his second term of office, he moved to Dresden.

21. Moses S. Conner 1880-1883

In 1837, Conner moved to Missouri and located in Cooper County, where he resumed his trade until 1873, when he moved to Sedalia. He was employed in the M,K,&T round house for a time. In the spring of 1876, he was elected Constable of Sedalia Township, which he held until the fall of 1880, when he was elected Sheriff of Pettis County, which he held until 1883. Connor filled the Office of Sheriff with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people in general.

25. Isaac Newton Sprencher 1905-1907

Mr. Sprencher served for two terms as the sheriff of Pettis County. When he took office January 5, 1905, the term of office for sheriff was only two years. He was a staunch Democrat and before his health failed was active in all campaigns.

28. W. W. Bolton 1917-1920

The office of sheriff of a county of the size and importance attained by Pettis County is weighted with responsibility, and requires a man of decided executive ability and acumen to fittingly discharge the devolving upon him. Sheriff William W. Bolton, since taking charge of the office of sheriff, has given and is giving ample evidence of decided ability and tireless energy on behalf of the citizens of Pettis County. His work as chairman of Pettis County Exemption Board has been marked with singular diplomatic honesty in the discharge of the duties involved upon him, because of the drafting of Pettis County citizens during the World War in which American valor has played such a significant and decisive part. The Pettis County Board has the distinction of being one of the foremost boards in the State of Missouri, and regarding accuracy and responsibility in the number of men handled and examined, places eighth in the state. He was elected Constable of Sedalia Township in 1912, and again elected in 1914. In November 1916 he was elected to the office of Sheriff of Pettis County for a term of four years. He lead the Democratic ticket in number of votes received all three times he ran for office. Mr. Bolton’s term as sheriff expired in 1921.

34. C. R. “Ross” Bothwell 1941-1944

Ross Bothwell was a well-known fire insurance man in Sedalia. For thirteen years, he was a state agent for the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company, then retired from that position to open his own agency in Sedalia. When he decided to run for sheriff, all of his friends said that when elected, he would bring to the office qualifications of a high type for good, sound business administration. He became sheriff in 1941, and was physically and mentally able to cope with any emergencies that occurred. C. R. Bothwell was honest, fearless, a good mixer, and had an engaging personality.

Special Badge to New Sheriff

Sedalia Democrat, January 1st, 1941

The badge which Sheriff C. R. Bothwell will wear during his term of office, which begins today, is a handsome gold one, with a diamond in the center, which was worn by Pettis County’s last Republican sheriff, W. H. Fewell.

Tradition decreed for years and years that Democratic sheriffs hand down the badge from sheriff to sheriff. With the election of W. H. Fewell, who took office just twenty years ago in 1921, a number of Republicans decided he should not wear a Democratic badge, and they presented him with a new one. It has an attractive gold emblem, a diamond in the center, and his name engraved above.

Mr. Bothwell is the first Republican to hold that office since Mr. Fewell’s term, and the badge which Fewell treasured very highly has been handed down to his Republican successor, for his use while in office. The name C. R. Bothwell has been engraved on a plate which replaces the name of Fewell.