A Gold Star Instead of Gold Dust

The list of sheriffs keeps a changing. Adjusting dates, found a sheriff that was overlooked in the first listing and he has been added, located an interim sheriff that wasn't known of before, and found out that one of the early sheriffs resigned part way through his first term to become a '49er gold miner. He came back to serve two more terms. So, you could say, he finally got the gold he sought . . . it just came in the shape of a star.

Right now, I'm reworking the list as there are several new photos to be added. I hear that patience is a virtue . . . but it's a gold-star one that you really have to work for.

One of of Nodaway County's Unmarried Sheriffs

James M. Enis, a republican, was first elected to the office of sheriff of Nodaway County for 1901-1902, and again for 1903-1904.

Sheriff Enis was one of at least three unmarried men elected to the office. He married Margaret Graham of Clyde, Missouri in 1906. [Update: Some research today, Dec 7, indicates that one other sheriff was also unmarried, at least during his first term.]

During his terms of office, his father, Francis A. Enis, of Clyde, and one of his five sisters, Miss Belle Enis, resided at the jail with him and helped in the duties of caring for and feeding the prisoners.

After successfully completing his second term of office, Mr. Enis went into business, opening a general store and operating it successfully until his death, at the age of 49, from complications following surgery at St. Joseph hospital.

Sheriff Enis was related, by marriage to another Nodaway County sheriff, T.J. Parle. Sheriff Parle's wife and Sheriff Enis' wife were sisters.

Sheriff Enis would later be appointed at a steward for the State Hospital No. 2 at St. Joseph by Governor Hyde. He would, however, withdraw from the appointment, citing his duty to care for his mother-in-law, who was ninety years of age and who lived with him and his wife. He did not want to disrupt her "beautiful" home life.