SHERIFF JAMES C. FRANCIS

1842-1844

Very little information is available about the sheriffs of Hamilton County between 1819 and 1848. A number of scholars and historians have conducted extensive research of the earliest years of the county’s history, but details still remain vague.

The research does however seem to indicate that during this time most problems experienced by area lawmen dealt with the expansion of the white settlement and the removal of the Indians. According to some records Terrill Riddle was most probably the second sheriff (1822-1824) and Alfred M. Rogers, Matthew Anderson, John Johnson, and James Reddy each served as sheriffs at some time during the period of 1824 to 1842. Unfortunately, any other information to verify their terms of office is not available.