THE SHERIFFS

(Mr. Williams got out a book and ran through the sheriffs in that time and the campaigns but could not remember it all. Correctly. See Historical Edition of Hamilton County News)

He mentioned that George Wade, believe that was the first name, married the daughter of old Judge Osterhaut, of Belton, the district judge her in Reconstruction times. This lady lived for years down there, step-mother to William Wade.

Mr. Williams said he supported John Bird for sheriff, who served one term, and that Bob Shockley beat him. (Uncle Bob was really an old-time,. Once lived at Gentry’s Mill, always had a farm, and in his later years when I knew him best was justice of the peace here. Later Ramsey Moore was elected on the Populist ticket; and so was Tom McKinley, sheriff about 1900 and that the latter was beaten by Pres (T. P.) Kinsey. (I will remember when Kinsey was sheriff again, in first decade of the century, a good sheriff, last of the old time horse-back long drooping mustached sheriffs.) Believe Mr. Williams said John Brown was a deputy under Wade. (He lived at Blue Ridge, who my father said was "like an old Roman, "very fine man, who and his family I knew. Spent the night with them once. Three boys made doctors, and youngest, my age, passed on several years ago, had been with an oil company in West Texas.

Seems Sam Terry succeeded Dave Smith as sheriff and served a good while in the 1880's. Bird was sheriff about 1890. (Under whom my father served as deputy when reading law.

(Once I asked Mr. Arthur R. Eidson, fine lawyer, my old neighbor, who was the best sheriff he remembered. He said that Massie was a good one.)