Chapter XXX
Roster of Officials and Miscellaneous Matters
[Pg 741]
JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
The Circuit Judges who have held court in Fayette county have served in succession in the following order: Allen Taylor, E. L. Duncan, George H. Lee, M. Dunbar, Edward B. Bailey, Evermont Ward, Daniel Polsy, George Loomis, J. W. Hoge, H. L. Gillispie, H. A. Holt, Ira J, McGuinnis, A. N. Campbell, J. M. McWhorter, W. R. Bennett, W. L. Lee, Vernon C. Champe, and John Wesley Eary.
The West Virginia Legislature of 1919 redistricted the judicial circuits, putty Fayette and Nicholas counties into the Twelfth Circuit. Court terms are now held in Fayette county beginning the first Tuesday in January, April and July, and the third Tuesday in September.
JUDGES OF THE CRIMINAL COURT
The history of Fayette county courts from 1891 to December 31, 1918, is a dual one. Because of the rapid development and population of Fayette county and the fact that the circuit was large and the Judge overworked, the Legislature of of 1891 saw fit to establish the Fayette County Criminal Court, and thereafter for a period of 27 years the Circuit Court was relieved of the responsibility of criminal trials.
Those who served as Judge of the Criminal Court were as follows: H. W. Brazie, 1891-1897; L. G. Gaines, 1897-1899; James H. Dunbar, 1899-1901; E. G. Pierson, 1901-1902; W. R. Bennett, 1902-1904; Jacob R. Koontz, 1904-1905; J. W. Eary, 1905-1099; J. T. Simms, 1909-1913; and Ben D. Koontz, 1913-1918.
The Legislature of 1911 cut off Fayette county from the then judicial circuit, making it a circuit of one county. The Legislature of 1917, deeming that two courts were no longer needed in Fayette County, abolished the Criminal Court on and after December 31, 1918.
[Pg 742]
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS
Since the formation of the county the following served as Prosecuting Attorney: Anderson McLaughlin, 1831-1841; William Smith, 1841-1851; John J. Coleman, 1851-1857; Robert F. Dennis, 1857-1859; James W. Davis, 1859 until the Civil war; Theophilus Gaines, 1867-1871, H. W. Brazie, 1871-1873; Theophilus Gaines, 1873-1877; L. D. Isbell, 1877-1881; J. W. St. Clair, 1881-1885; H. W. Brazie, 1885-1889; L. G. Gaines, 1889-1893; C. W. Dillon, 1893-1901; C. W. Osenton, 1901-1905; E. G. Pierson, 1905-1909; George Love, 1909-1913; C. R. Summerfield, 1913-1917; McGee McClung, 1917-1921; George Love, 1921 to present time.
CLERKS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Those who have served as Clerk of the Circuit Court since 1831 have been the following: Blake B. Woodson, 1831-1833; Thomas B. Hamilton, 1833-1838; Hudson M. Dickinson, 1838-1857; John B. Jones, 1857-1861; George M. Blume, 1865-1866; J. S. Cassady, 1866-1872; Warren T. Timberlake, 1872-1873; E. H. Easley, 1873-1885; A. W. Hamilton, 1885-1897; J. C. Farr, 1897-1909; Floyd Keller, 1909-1915; John Nuttall, 1915-1921; W. H. Ramsey, 1921-1925; F. P. Smith, by appointment January, 1925.
When the Criminal Court of Fayette county was created by Act of the Legislature, the clerk of the circuit court became the clerk of the criminal court.
CLERKS OF THE COUNTY COURT
Those who served as Clerk of the County Court have been the following: Hiram Hill, 1831-1845; H. M. Dickinson, 1845-1853; John B. Jones, 1853-1861; G. M. Blume, 1865-1878; M. T. Davis, 1879-1885; E. B. Hawkins, 1885-1897; J. T. Grose, 1897-1903; William Grafton 1903-1909; S. T. Carter, 1909-1915; R. S. Stegall, 1915-1920; C. E. Mahan, 1920-1921; Thomas Boone, 1921 to the present time.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY COURT
Those serving as Commissioners of the County Court since 1882 have been the following: James Henry Miller, George W. Imboden,
[Pg 743]
W. T. Harvey, John Kincaid, James A. Taylor, E. G. Hinman, Noah M. Jenkins, J. D. Campbell, M. J. Simms, Sherman Shirkey, Thomas A. McClanahan, Dr. H. L. Kirkpatrick, W. H. Ramsey, Philip Konrad, H. O. Boley, Eli J. Taylor, and the commissioners now serving - B. E. Claypool, S. J. Jasper and Oscar A. Kneer.
COUNTY ASSESSORS
Those serving as County Assessor since 1868 have been the following: Isaac J. Settle, A. L. Masters, Peyton Morton, W. S. Thomas, P. M. Hays, J. C. Farr, David Tamplin, R. L. Ashley, Henry Taylor, B. E. Bare, S. T. Carter, Charles H. Settle, S. J. Jasper, E. R. Grey, E. B. Rocke, and C. E. Mahan, Sr., who is the county assessor at the present time.
COUNTY SURVEYORS
Previous to the Civil war the office of County Surveyor was held in succession by Francis Tyree, Samuel Tyree, and George Loomis. Since 1872 the following have filled this office in the order named: Thomas S. Robson, J. W. Shreve, Samuel Tyree, H. J. Tucker, Isaac J. Settle, Henry A. Gentry, Earl Y. McVey, Henry A, Gentry, and W. O. Walkup, who is county surveyor at the present time.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS
Prior to the Civil was the office of County Superintendent of Schools was filled by appointment of the county court. The three men who served in this capacity during this time were Joseph W. Pryor, Beuhring H. Jones, and Thomas S. Robson. Since the Civil war the following have filled this position: Warren T. Timberlake, 1865-67; J. S. Cassady, 1867-1873, H. E. Shumate, 1873-1875; W. T. Timberlake, 1875-1877; Rev. Otto Hughart, 1877-1879; Drew Easley, 1879-1881; Benjamin Bibb, 1881-1885; J. C. Farr, 1885-1887; J. T. Grose, 1887-1889; Benjamin Bibb, 1889-1891; James Armstrong, 1891-1893; Howard H. Bennett, 1892-1895; James Armstrong, 1895-1899; A. R. Dickerson, 1899-1903; William S. Johnson, 1903-1907; A. G. Sevy, 1907-1911; James T. Peters, 1911-1915, John W. Cavendish, 1915-1919; James T. Peters, 1919-1923; Eugene R. Vawter, 1923 to present time.
[Pg 744]
LIST OF ACTING JUDGES OF FAYETTE COUNTY