County Sheriffs
The Jim Johnson listed here is my husband's great-great-grandfather who came to Brown County in 1863. His sons and neighbors were involved in the wire cutting incident that began in the spring of 1883, which was quite a toodoo here in Brown County.Contributed by Patsy in Brownwood
Brown County was created August 27, 1857 from Comanche and Travis Counties and was names for Henry Stevenson Brown, an early Texas patriot. The county was organized March 21, 1857, with Brownwood, also named for Henry Brown, as the county seat. There have been thirty-three men who have served as sheriff with two of them being elected twice, one three times, and one five times.
Reuben C. WILLIAMS was elected the first sheriff on March 21, 1857, but didn't qualify and resigned. There was no date given on his resignation.
R. M. Potter was elected on August 2, 1858, and served until April 7, 1860.
Burrell ROBERTS was appointed April 7, 1860, and served until August 6, 1860.
F. A. BAUGH was elected on August 6, 1860, and served until March 2, 1861, when he resigned to join the Confederate Army.
Jesse Sut HARRIS was appointed on March 2, 1961, and served until June 6, 1861, when he was killed.
A. K. (A) McCAIN was appointed on June 6, 1861, and served until August 4, 1862.
Gresham LEE was elected on August 4, 1862, and served until August 1, 1864.
F. A. BAUGH was elected a second time on August 1, 1864, and served until August 25, 1865.
Daniel H. MOSELY was appointed on August 25, 1865, by Governor A. J. Hamilton and served until June 25, 1866.
Gresham LEE was elected a second time on June 25, 1866, and served until March 12, 1868, when he resigned.
James M. JOHNSON was appointed on May 12, 1868, by General Buchanan's Special Order #154 and served until December 3, 1868.
Welcome W. CHANDLER was appointed on June 30, 1868, by General J. J. Reynolds' Special Order #154 and served until December 3, 1969.
Gresham LEE was appointed on December 3, 1869, by Governor E. J. Davis and served until January 25, 1871, when he was removed from office. There were no reasons given for his removal. This was the third time he had served.
Welcome W. CHANDLER was appointed a second time on January 25, 1871, and served until March 8, 1871, when he returned the commission.
J. Henry COUNTS was appointed on March 8, 1871, but couldn't qualify. This is not in the State Election Register.
Gresham LEE was appointed on March 21, 1871, and served until August 18, 1871, when he was "removed by the District Judge". This is the fourth time he had served as sheriff, but this entry is not in the State Election Register.
C. A. WILLIAMS was appointed on December 8, 1871, and served until July 13m 1872, when he resigned.
James Henry COUNTS was appointed on July 22, 1872, and served until April 16, 1873, when he resigned. This was the second time he had been appointed, but the first time he had served.
Gresham LEE was appointed in 1872 by Governor E. J. Davis, as he was commissioned January 3, 1873. He served until December 2, 1873. This was the fifth time he had served as sheriff although this entry is not in the State Election Register. This was one of the "overlaps" as he was appointed before the previous sheriff had resigned. During the post Civil War era and "Reconstruction" anything was possible but not necessarily approved by the local voters.
J. H. GIDEON was elected on December 2, 1873, and served until February 15, 1876.
R. B. WILSON was elected on February 15, 1876, and re-elected November 5, 1878, and served until November 7, 1882.
W. N. ADAMS was elected on November 7, 1882, re-elected November 4, 1884, November 2, 1886, and served until November 6, 1888.
Nate PERRY was elected on November 6, 1888, and served until November 4, 1890.
W. V. PEARCE was elected on November 4, 1890, and served until November 8, 1892.
Charles BELL was elected on November 8, 1892, re-elected November 6, 1894, November 3, 1896, and served until November 8, 1898. A copy of an article in the Brown County News in June 1922, tells of how Sheriff Batton died in New Mexico. It also tells how Sheriff Bell was killed March 23, 1898, in Brownwood, Texas, and how his deputy G. W. Batton killed his slayer. Batton then succeeded Sheriff Bell in office. None of this is in the State Election Register. The article was courtesy of Jacqueline McClinton of Oglesby, Texas.
George Washington BATTON was elected on November 8, 1898 and served until November 6, 1900. He was born September 30, 1864, in Smithville, Tennessee, and was killed June 6, 1922, in Hope, New Mexico, while trying to arrest an escaped convict. He is buried in Carlsbad, New Mexico. At the time of his death he was Sheriff of Eddy County, New Mexico. His wife was Lillie Bell Volintine, born September 31, 1872, in Lavaca County, Texas, and died June 13, 1950, at El Paso, Texas. The above information was courtesy of Jacqueline McClinton of Oglesby, Texas.
M. H. DENMAN was elected on November 6, 1900, re-elected November 4, 1902, November 8, 1904, and served until November 6, 1906.
Frank EMERSON was elected on November 6, 1906, reelected November 3, 1908, and served until November 8, 1910.
M. H. DENMAN was elected a second time on November 8, 1910, re-elected November 5, 1912, and served until November 3, 1914.
Hugh N. DAVIS was elected on November 3, 1914, re-elected November 7, 1916, and served until November 5, 1918.
R. B. PUGH was elected on November 5, 1916, re-elected November 2, 1920, and served until January 1, 1923.
Bert HISE was elected on November 7, 1922, re-elected November 4, 1924, and served until January 1, 1927.
Fred WHITE was elected November 2, 1926, and served until January 1, 1929.
M. H. DENMAN was elected a third time on November 6, 1928, re-elected November 4, 1920, and served until January 1, 1933. Sheriff Denman served a total of fourteen years.
W. E. HALLMARK was elected on November 8, 1932, re-elected November 3, 1936, November 8, 1938, and served until January 1, 1941.
Earl Campbell STEWART was elected on November 6,1940, re-elected November 3, 1942, November 7, 1944, and served until January 1, 1947.
Otis F. SHAW was elected on November 5, 1946, re-elected (several times...entry has wrong dates) and served until January 1, 1951.
Ray E. MASTERS was elected November 7, 1950, re-elected November 4, 1952, November 2, 1954, November 6, 1956, and served until January 1, 1961.
Joe R. TOWNSEND was elected on November 8, 1960, re-elected on November 3, 1964, November 5, 1968, and served until October 1971. There was no reason given for his leaving office.
Danny J. NEAL was appointed on October 11, 1971, and was elected November 7, 1972, re-elected November 2, 1976, and served until January 1, 1981.
Melvin STOVALL was elected on November 4, 1980, and served until January 1, 1985.
Bill DONAHOO was elected on November 6, 1984, re-elected November 8, 1988, and is currently serving as sheriff (when this was published). Sheriff Donahoo was born December 4, 1932, and has been a lawman for thirty years. He and his wife, Winona, live near Brownwood. Their children are Nova, Trish, and Bill.