Linn county was organized in 1838 and the first election for county officers was held August, 1839. The legislative board of the county, or what corresponds to our present board of supervisors, was composed of three members called a board of commissioners. The following persons served on the board of commissioners:

• Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts, Luman M. Strong, 1839.
• E. T. Lewis, B. McGonigle, S. C. Stewart, 1842.
• E. T. Lewis, Oliver Day, B. McGonigle, 1843.
• Oliver Day, E. T. Lewis, W. B. Davis, 1844.
• W. B. Davis, Andrew Safely, 1846.
• Andrew Safely, Benjamin Waterhouse, Samuel Hendrickson, 1847.
• S. Hendrickson, Andrew Safely, Johnson Hill, 1850.
• A. Safely, Johnson Hill, Wm. A. Thomas, 1851.

The above system continued until the first code was enacted in 1851 which abolished the board of commissioners and provided for the election of one officer to be called "county judge" who performed the duties of our present board of supervisors and in addition was probate judge and presided over what was called a "county court." The old election books now preserved in the county auditor's office show the following persons to have been elected to this office:

• Norman W. Isbell, elected August, 1851.
• James M. Berry, elected August, 1854.
• Daniel Lothian, elected August, 1857, three terms.
• Johnston Elliott, elected October, 1863, two terms.
• A. B. Dumont, elected October, 1867, one term.

Isbell resigned June 12, 1854, and Joseph B. Young, prosecuting attorney, acted as county judge until the next election when James M. Berry was elected to fill the vacancy.

The legislative duties of the county judge were vested by the Eighth General Assembly in a board of supervisors consisting of one member from each township or two in those townships having over 4,000 inhabitants. The first board sat January 7, 1861. The clerk of the district court was ex-officio clerk of the board of supervisors. The Twelfth General Assembly abolished the office of county judge altogether and vesting the judicial duties in the district court created the office of county auditor to assume the ones not already vested in the supervisors and clerk of the district court. The first auditor's term began the first Monday of January, 1869.

Bertram—Perry Oxley, 1861-1867 and 1870; Wm. G Darr, 1868-1869.

Brown—Wm. Carbee, 1861-1862; Hosea White, 1863-1866; T. M. Giffen, 1867-1868; J. F. Gritman, 1869-1870.

Boulder—Jos. Whitney, 1861-1862 and 1869-1870; Earhart Burke, 1863, resigned and term completed by John B. McQueen; J. B. McQueen, 1864; Neeley Parsons, 1865-1867; Wm. Wagner, 1868.

Buffalo—Jos. Story, 1861-1862; E. M. Crow, 1863-1870.

Clinton—D. M. Smith, 1861-1863; Geo. Buchanan, 1864-1866 and 1868-1869; I. T. Updike, 1867; Edwin Cadwell, 1870.

College—John W. Henderson, 1861-1862; Robert Pierce, 1863-1864; Adam Perry, 1865-1867; Jonathan Neidig, 1868; W. H. Shuey, 1869-1870.

Fairfax—Phillip Moody, 1861-1864; W. B. Reynolds, 1865-1866; Wm. Ure, 1867-1870.

Fayette—Levi W. Johnson, 1861-1863; resigned and last term completed by J. D. Hays; John E. Langley, 1864-1865; W. J. Whiting, 1866-1868; H. B. McKean, 1869-1870.

Franklin—Wm. Hayzlett, 1861-1862 and 1868-1869; Henry Kepler, 1863-1867; C. H. Kurtz, 1870.

Jackson—Jos. Blodgett, 1861-1862; John P. Fay, 1863 and 1866-1867; Seth Bishop, 1864-1865; Wm. Henderson, 1868-1870.

Linn—William L. Miller, 1861; George Yeisley, 1862-1863; D. M. Richardson, 1864-1865; J. W. Handley, 1866-1867; James Johnston, 1868-1869; H. C. Platner, 1870.

Maine—Samuel F. Buxton, 1861-1862; L. D. Jordan, 1863-1866; Ormus Clark, 1867-1868; E. A. Warner, 1869, seat contested in 1870 and board declared seat vacant and notified trustees of Maine township.

Marion—A. J. Twogood, 1861-1862; A. B. Dumont, 1863, resigned and term completed by A. Manson; A. Manson, 1864; R. D. Stephens, 1865-1869; R. D. Stephens and E. A. Vaughn, 1870.

Monroe—Daniel Albaugh, 1861-1869; M. N. Kramer, 1870.

Otter Creek—James H. Mason, 1861-1862; L. F. Dance, 1863-1864; Caleb Hendryx, 1865-1866; John Lanning, 1867-1868; Henry Harris, 1869; A. F. Yambert, 1870.

Putnam—Wiley Fitz, 1861-1862; Elmore H. Prickett, 1863-1864; Abner Arrowsmith, 1865, resigned and term completed by Ferdinand Kershner; Ferdinand Kershner, 1866-1867; Joseph Moorhead, 1868-1870.

Rapids—John Weare, 1861, 1864 and 1867; J. F. Charles, 1862; Charles Weare, 1863; J. M. Chambers, 1865; H. G. Angle, 1866; William Stewart and William Richmond, 1868; William Stewart and Charles Weare, 1869; Charles Weare and W. D. Watrous, 1870.

Spring Grove—J. H. Fairchild, 1861-1862 and 1864 to 1866, and 1869-1870; R. C. Shinn, 1863; J. H. Walton, 1867-1868.

Washington—Corydon Gilchrist, 1861; John Carr, 1862 and 1867-1868; Z. Mentzer, 1863-1864; William Langsdale, 1865-1866; E. D. Hazletine, 1869-1870.

In 1870 the number of the board was reduced to three members, one being elected each year in the county at large, but at the 1874 election the county had been divided into three supervisor districts and a supervisor was elected from each district as at present. The following persons have served up to date:

FIRST DISTRICT

• William Ure, elected October, 1870, two terms.
• James Yuill, elected October, 1875, two terms.
• John T. Hamilton, elected October, 1881, one term.
• James Yuill, elected November, 1884, two terms.
• Patrick Mullaly, elected November, 1890, one term. Resigned and Charles H. Playter appointed to complete the term.
• William J. Donnan, elected November, 1893, two terms.
• Andrew J. Fuhrmeister, elected November, 1899.

SECOND DISTRICT

• Robert P. Rose, elected October, 1870.
• Robert P. Rose, elected October, 1871.

• Daniel Travis, elected October, 1874, two terms.
• Robert Smith, elected November, 1880, one term.
• Mordecai E. Bunting, elected October, 1883, two terms.
• Garry Treat, elected November, 1889, three terms.
• John J. Ives, elected November, 1898.

THIRD DISTRICT

• Joseph Whitney, elected October, 1870.
• Joseph Whitney, elected October, 1873.
• Miles M. Crookshank, elected October, 1876.
• Albert C. Burnett, appointed June, 1881.
• E. D. Wilson, elected October, 1881.
• James H. Davis, elected November, 1882, two terms.
• Abraham C. Coquillette, elected November, 1888, two terms.
• Henry Fairchild, elected November, 1894, two terms.
• Leonidas L. Wilson, elected November, 1900.

George E. W. Leonard was declared elected supervisor in October, 1873, but the election was contested by Joseph Whitney and the court for trial of contested election reinstated Mr. Whitney.

Crookshank resigned and Albert C. Burnett was appointed and took his seat at the June, 1881, session and at the general election October, 1881, E. D. Wilson was elected to fill the vacancy.

COUNTY AUDITORS

• J. P. Coulter, elected November, 1869, three terms.
• Samuel Daniels, elected October, 1875, three terms.
• Jos. Moorhead, elected October, 1881, three terms.
• Jas. K. Bromwell, elected November, 1887, two terms.
• Wm. G. Treat, elected November, 1892, one term.
• Edward L. Camp, elected November, 1894, two terms.
• Wm. T. Jackson, elected November, 1898, two terms.

The terms of all county auditors were extended one year by the legislature during Mr. Bromwell's second term, so that county treasurer and auditor would not be elected the same year.

RECORDER AND TREASURER

The code of 1851 provided that these two offices should be held by one person.

• Isaac Cook, elected August, 1851, two terms.
• Nathan M. Day, elected August, 1855, two terms.
• Wm. Cook, elected October, 1859, two terms.
• Jas. Johnston, elected October, 1863, one term.

COUNTY TREASURER

• Richard T. Wilson, elected October, 1865, four terms.
• Stephen T. Berry, elected October, 1873, three terms.
• Robert M. Jackson, elected October, 1879, four terms.
• Jos. Barnhill, elected November, 1887, two terms.
• Jos. S. Lake, elected November, 1891, one term.
• Franklin E. Witter, elected November, 1893, two terms.
• Geo. W. Eakle, elected November, 1897, two terms.

COUNTY RECORDER

• John J. Daniels, elected November, 1864, four terms.
• Chas. E. Putnam, elected November, 1872, four terms.
• Christian H. Kurtz, elected November, 1880, four terms.
• R. Hershey Jones, elected November, 1888, one term.
• Chas. C. Mentzer, elected November, 1890, one term.
• Elvin H. Dunbar, elected November, 1892, two terms.
• John H. French, elected November, 1896, two terms.
• Perley O. Clark, elected November, 1900.

SHERIFF

• Hosea W. Gray, 1840.
• Ambrose Harlan, 1844.
• Samuel W. Durham, 1846.
• Ambrose Harlan, 1848.
• Vincent Beall, elected August, 1851, one term.
• Samuel Brazelton, elected August, 1853, one term.
• Levi H. Mason, elected August, 1855, two terms.
• Thos. J. McKean, elected October, 1859.
• Resigned and John A. Ide appointed February 28, 1861, who in turn resigned and W. W. Smith appointed March 11, 1861.
• Wm. W. Smith, elected October, 1861.
• Resigned and Oliver O. Stanchfield appointed September 3, 1862, to fill the vacancy until the next general election.
• Oliver O. Stanchfield, elected October, 1862.
• Hiel Hale, elected October, 1865, one term.
• John G. Hayzlett, elected October, 1867, three terms.
• G. D. Gillilan, elected October, 1873, two terms.
• David Carskaddon, elected October, 1877, one term.
• Aaron F. Yambert, elected October, 1879.
• Died in office and J. H. Yambert appointed to fill vacancy. At the next general election (November, 1880) E. L. Swem was declared elected by the board of canvassers, but the court for the trial of contested election seated B. F. Seaton.
• J. H. Yambert, appointed September 6, 1880.
• B. F. Seaton, elected November, 1880.
• Geo. W. Burnside, elected November, 1885, two terms.
• Dan R. Kinley, elected November, 1889, three terms.
• John Cone, elected November, 1895, two terms.
• Martin Evans, elected November, 1899.

CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT

• S. H. Tryon, 1841, 1842, 1843.
• John C. Berry, 1844, 1845, 1846.
• Porter W. Earl, 1847, 1848, 1849.
• Hosea W. Gray, September, 1849, 1850.
• James M. Berry, 1851.
• James M. Berry, elected August, 1852.
• Andrew J. McKean, elected August, 1854, nine terms.
• John L. Crawford, elected November, 1872, three terms.
• George L. Stearns, elected October, 1878, four terms.
• Jackson W. Bowdish, elected November, 1886, one term.
• Oscar F. Lamb, elected November, 1888, one term.
• David W. Reynolds, elected November, 1890, one term.
• Oscar F. Lamb, elected November, 1892, two terms.
• James W. Bowman, elected November, 1896, two terms.
• Charles W. Braska, elected November, 1900.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

• This office was created in 1886 by the Twenty-first General Assembly.
• M. L. Ward, elected November, 1886.
• Resigned to remove from the county and Milo P. Smith appointed September, 1887, to fill the vacancy until the next general election.
• Milo P. Smith, elected November, 1887.
• John M. Redmond, elected November, 1890, one term.
• John M. Grimm, elected November, 1892, three terms.
• William O. Clemans, elected November, 1898, two terms.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

This office was created in 1858 by the Seventh General Assembly.

• Albert Manson, elected April, 1858.
• Ira G. Fairbanks, elected October, 1859, two terms.
• P. W. Reeder, elected October, 1863, one term.
• H. S. Bradshaw, elected October, 1865, one term.
• Z. V. Elsberry, elected October, 1867, one term.
• William Langham, elected October, 1869, two terms.
• Eli Johnston, elected October, 1873, four terms.
• John S. Willard, elected October, 1881, two terms.
• Frank J. Sessoins, elected November, 1885.
• Resigned July 30, 1889, to accept superintendency of schools at Waterloo, Iowa, and Fred Chamberlain appointed to complete the term.
• Fred Chamberlain, appointed July 30, 1889.
• F. Sherman Thompson, elected November, 1882, two terms.
• Nathan H. Richards, elected November, 1893, two terms.
• Ira E. Gould, elected November, 1897, two terms.

CORONER

• Oren E. Shipman, elected August, 1851, one term.
• Isaac Whittam, elected August, 1853, one term.
• Benjamin Gaylord, elected August, 1855, one term.
• Johnston Elliott, elected August, 1857, one term.
• Mowry Farnum, elected October, 1859, four terms.
• Mr. Farnum was re-elected a fifth time in October, 1867, but refused to qualify and accept the office and Alexander Laurance was appointed January 11, 1868, to fill this office.
• Alexander Laurance, appointed January, 1868, eleven terms.
• John B. Turner, elected November, 1889, four terms.
• Cordy H. Ranek, elected November, 1897, two terms.

COUNTY SURVEYORS

• Ross McCloud, 1839.
• Samuel W. Durham, 1841.
• Thomas J. McKean, 1843.
• A. D. Bottorf, 1847.

• John McArthur, ——.
• Samuel W. Durham, elected August, 1851, one term.
• Thomas J. Stone, elected August, 1853, one term.
• Adam Perry, elected August, 1855, one term.
• Plimpton Greer, elected August, 1857, one term.
• George A. Gray, elected October, 1859, one term.
• John L. Crawford, elected October, 1861, one term.
• John M. Greer, elected October, 1863, two terms.
• George A. Gray, elected October, 1866.
• Samuel W. Durham, elected October, 1871, two terms.
• James E. Lyman, elected October, 1875.
• George W. Wynn, elected November, 1880.
• G. A. Mitchell, elected November, 1885, two terms.
• Samuel W. Durham, elected November, 1889, two terms.
• Edmond P. Boynton, elected November, 1893, one term.
• Thos. R. Warriner, elected November, 1895, one term.
• John H. Lary, elected November, 1897, one term.
• Jos. D. Wardle, elected November, 1899.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1900

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, J. J. Ives, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—W. T. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Geo. W. Eakle.
• Clerk District Court—C. W. Braska.
• Recorder—P. O. Clark.
• Sheriff—Martin Evans.
• County Attorney—W. O. Clemans.
• Superintendent of Schools—I. E. Gould.
• Coroner—C. H. Ranck.
• Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges District Court—W. G. Thompson, H. M. Remley, W. N. Treichler.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1901

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—William T. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Geo. W. Eakle.
• Clerk District Court—Chas. W. Braska.
• Recorder—P. O. Clark.
• Sheriff—Martin Evans.
• County Attorney—Wm. O. Clemans.
• Superintendent—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• County Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges—W. G. Thompson, H. M. Remley, W. N. Treichler.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1902

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—William T. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Chas. D. Carroll.
• Clerk District Court—Chas. W. Braska.
• Recorder—P. O. Clark.
• Sheriff—Martin Evans.
• County Attorney—Wm. O. Clemans.
• Superintendent—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges—W. G. Thompson, H. M. Remley, W. N. Treichler.

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COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1903

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—R. C. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Chas. D. Carroll.
• Clerk District Court—Chas. W. Braska.
• Recorder—P. O. Clark.
• Sheriff—Martin Evans.
• County Attorney—Joseph Mekota.
• Superintendent—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges—W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. Miller.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1904

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—R. C. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Charles D. Carroll.
• Clerk District Court—Chas. W. Braska.
• Recorder—P. O. Clark.
• Sheriff—A. W. Coquillette.
• County Attorney—Joseph Mekota.
• Superintendent—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges District Court—W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. Miller.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1905

• Supervisors—A. J. Fuhrmeister, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—R. C. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Chas. D. Carroll.
• Clerk District Court—H. C. Ring.
• Recorder—C. W. Biggs.
• Sheriff—A. W. Coquillette.
• County Attorney—C. G. Watkins.
• Superintendent.—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• Surveyor—J. D. Wardle.
• Judges—W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. Miller.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1906

• Supervisors—E. W. Virden, A. B. Strother, L. L. Wilson.
• Auditor—R. C. Jackson.
• Treasurer—Chas. D. Carroll.
• Clerk District Court—H. C. Ring.
• Recorder—C. W. Biggs.
• Sheriff—A. W. Coquillette.
• County Attorney—C. G. Watkins.
• Superintendent—J. E. Vance.
• Coroner—D. W. King.
• Surveyor—S. N. Parsons.
• Judges—W. G. Thompson, J. H. Preston, B. H. Miller.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1907

• Supervisors—Allan McDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman.
• Auditor—F. J. Cleveland.
• Treasurer—H. E. Pratt.
• Clerk District Court—H. C. Ring.
• Recorder—C. W. Biggs.
• Sheriff—A. W. Coquillette.
• County Attorney—Chas. J. Haas.
• Superintendent—A. B. Alderman.
• Coroner—W. S. King.
• Surveyor—P. F. Randall.
• Judges—Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treichler, F. O. Ellison.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1908

• Supervisors—Allan McDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman.
• Auditor—F. J. Cleveland.
• Treasurer—H. E. Pratt.
• Clerk District Court—H. C. Ring.
• Recorder—C. W. Biggs.
• Sheriff—A. W. Coquillette.
• County Attorney—Chas. J. Haas.
• Superintendent—A. B. Alderman.
• Coroner—W. S. King.
• Judges District Court—Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treichler, F. O. Ellison.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1909-1910

• Supervisors—Allan McDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman.
• Auditor—F. J. Cleveland.
• Treasurer—Harry E. Pratt.
• Clerk District Court—Wm. Dennis.
• Recorder—J. E. Cook.
• Sheriff—Wm. G. Loftus.
• County Attorney—Chas J. Haas.
• Superintendent—A. B. Alderman.
• Coroner—W. S. King.
• Surveyor—J. W. Bowdish, Jr.
• Judges District Court—Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treichler, F. O. Ellison.

COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1911

• Supervisors—Allan McDuff, Wm. P. Secrist, J. C. Gritman.
• Auditor—F. A. Canfield.
• Treasurer—J. B. Travis.
• Clerk District Court—Wm. Dennis.
• Recorder—J. E. Cook.
• Sheriff—Wm. G. Loftus.
• County Attorney—G. P. Linville.
• Superintendent—A. B. Alderman.
• Coroner—W. S. King.
• Surveyor—Raymond Swem.
• Judges District Court—Milo P. Smith, W. N. Treichler, F. O. Ellison.

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