Busy Year in 2016

It's been a busy year, and an exciting one so far. Since the spring, I have been finishing up a couple of interview transcriptions and I hope to get those donated soon to the counties in which the sheriff served. 

I have also been working on compiling a list of men who served as Nodaway County sheriff since the county's founding in 1845. This list, too, will be placed on file with the local Nodaway County Historical Society and Museum and will be available online for anyone who would like to review it. It will also be included in a book coming out in 2017, The Human Squirrel Cage: Nodaway County's Rotary Jail. 

I am still searching for some data, specifically about the political parties of the sheriffs of Nodaway county from 1845 to 1866. I have names, just not party affiliation. There is indication, however, that in its early years Nodaway County was largely democratic at a ratio 2:1. However, the list shows that after 1866 there were an equal number of Democratic and Reublican candidates. I don't want to assume, however, especially since there were a couple of unusual parties in existence then. 

I came across a couple of pretty interesting facts: 

• From 1845 - 1873 Nodaway County's sheriff also served as the county collector. 

• James Prather, age 25, was its youngest-elected sheriff, in 1856.

• It wasn't until 1909 that Missouri's sheriffs began serving four-year terms in office. Prior to that, they were up for election every two years. 

The nation will go to the polls this Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Be sure to get out and vote for your county, state, and national representatives. It's important.