Our history

​In 1810, Simon Kenton was served an arrest warrant for being in violation of a debtor’s law in Urbana, Ohio, where he was to be held in jail. Kenton steadfastly refused to be incarcerated, so the residents, nearly all his relatives, and friends appointed Kenton as the acting Sheriff. The family occupied the five rooms above the jail, and Kenton was permitted to roam freely about town, where he was frequently seen with his long staff in hand. During this time, Kenton never attempted to leave his self-imposed perimeter. He lived here in Champaign County until his death in 1836; his grave and memorial are located in the Oakdale Cemetery in Urbana, Ohio. 

​LIST OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO SHERIFFS

John West
1849-1853

David Spain
1853-1857

Charles H. Ward
1861-1865

William V. Taylor
1865-1869

Thomas McConnell
1869-1873

Benjamin Ganson
1873-1877

Samuel C. Bosler
1877-1881

​Joe Chamberlain
1881-1885
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Ridgley Wilkins
1885-1889

Martin Saxbe
1889-1893

​Robert N. Miller
1893-1897

Louis H. McClain
1897-1899

Luther W. Wean
1899-1901

Daniel J. Hall
1901-1905

​Core S. Ireland
1905-1909

Randolph McAdams
1909-1913
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​Floyd S. Powell
1913-1913

C.E. Faulkner
1913-1917

John H. Seigle
1917-1921

Irvin W. McRoberts
1921-1925

​​J.K. Bosler
1925-1926

​​Anna F. Bosler
1926-1927

Pearl V. Jones
1927-1929

Wilber Wilkins
1929-1931
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Ed A. Biggert
1931-1935

Jay H. Mckeever
1935-1965

Roger D. Stillings
1965-1988

Paul Williams
1988-1995

David Deskins
1995-2007

Brent A. Emmons
2007-2012

Matthew R. Melvin
2012-Present