Court House Business - January 1895.

 A Look Back at 19^th Century County Officials

The Kentucky Constitution of 1850 provided for a county court, made up of a county judge and two associates, to conduct the business of the county and it also established a court of claims in each county, comprised of the county judge and justices of the peace.

Several years later, in 1890, our present day governing body was formed by the court of claims being abolished and the county governing body was then titled the fiscal court with the justices of the peace serving as magistrates with a county judge presiding over the court.

Fortunate once again for the archives of The Crittenden Press, and the industrious Press reporter, we can meet these early leading men of Crittenden County and even learn a little about their lives in helping forming our county. The reporter that wrote these early articles definitely had a way with words for his articles were always informative and amusing.

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The New Deal – Court House Matters

January 10, 1895. Monday was a busy day about the courthouse. It was the day for the new officers to take charge of the ship of the county and start her out for another year.

The first officer to take a fresh start was the present popular and efficient Sheriff John T. Franks. He appeared in the county clerk's office early in the day and filed a new bond, with Albert J. Pickens, Joel W. Guess, Harry A. Haynes and Wm. J. Deboe as sureties. (picture of Franks on left)

Justices of the peace came in from their respective bailiwicks at different hours, and one by one presented themselves and their bonds at the county clerk's office and were duly inducted into office by the affable man at the helm.

 

First came the tall hickory for Livingston Creek, John W. Mabry, and with Messrs, J. E. and J. B. Stephenson and Eld. Wm. R. Gibbs as sureties. He was made a justice and given the power to solemnize the rites of matrimony. His regular count will be held on the second Thursday of March, June, September and December and the residents of the Dycusburg district may expect an eanest, faithful discharge of duty.

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Next came W. E. Conditt, who physically might be called the Zaccheus of the Fords Ferry district. He is a squire, safe, sound, energetic man and those who commit in fractions upon the law, when taken before him, will get justice just as speedily, amply and firmly as if Squire Conditt was as tall as the Dycusburg hickory.

He has the right to solemnize the rite of matrimony, and will attend to business of this kind as soon as he can commit to memory an appropriate ceremony. His regular house of court will be held the fourth Tuesday of the months herein before mentioned. His bondsman is Zacy Terry.

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Next came Pleasant C. Moore of Hurricane. His bondsmen are B. Marble, J. W. McConnell, G. D. Wathen, T. J. Hamilton and A. J. Bebout. He will wear the honors gracefully but eschews any intention of typing connubial knots. He is a clever man and will do his duty. His courts will be held the third Fridays.

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Next came the red elm from Claylick, Thomas A. Harpending. He is an old hand at the business and in thoroughly conversant with county affairs and statutory law. Henry Brouster, who is reading law under the tutorship of the squire, is the bondsman. Harpending is the nestor of the entire board. He is a good man and will continue to do good service. He ties connubial knots to order.

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After this the heavy weight from Butler Creek, Job Postletwaite, with Peter Shewmaker, and Billy Crow backing him, came in, and put on the toga of office. Job will keep Critenden Number 1 in order and do the right thing.  He is a plain, honest, sensible man, and nothing can swerve him from duty. He will hold court on the first Friday of the before named months.

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George F. Williams will do the magisterial honors for Piney. His bondsmen are Robert H. Kemp, J. A. Kemp, and Phillip H. Deboe. He has been a squire and a good one too, for the past two years.  He is the most cheerful member of the board and can laugh at a fellow while he fines him for any depredation. He has too much other business to fool away time in typing people together for life.

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The first to be sworn in was John N. Culley and he is the handsomest of the lot. He lives nears the sparkling water of the classic Tradewater, in the Bells Mines community, and has drawn from nature's store house that which makes vigorous manhood.

His bondsmen are E. M. Lindle, Finis L. Black and Thomas J. Black. The office is no new thing to him and justice need fear no harm while in his keeping. His court days are the fourth Wednesdays of the magisterial months. His office is open at all hours for hearts and hands that want to be united in matrimony.

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The New Jailer, Mr. Ayers Hard, took charge of an empty jail. The two men who guarantee that he will do all things according to law are John J. Bennett and John W. Mabry. His first work was putting the court room in shape for the board of tax supervisors.

He was as gay as a lark all day long and went in early at night. Very soon he is going to post a notice at the courthouse gate, warning the cows and hogs (the four-footed ones) to keep off the grass.

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Newt J. Perrigan became coroner, and his bondsmen are S. F. Snider, George W. Corn, A. F. Franklin and J. H. Curnel.  Newt is little, but he is clever, and will perform all the functions of his office as promptly as could be desired.

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W. C. M. “Monroe” Travis, the new county attorney, is the only county officer who is not required to give bond; he was sworn in Monday. He will move to town, from the Bells Mines community, in the course of a few weeks. Physically he is not a titan, but mentally he sizes up above average.

While he will earn bread by prosecuting the evil doer in the weekdays, he will on Sunday urge the wicked to forsake his ways and give the courts less work to do as he is also a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. (County Attorney Travis only got to fill his position for a few months, he passed away on August 30^th of that same year, 1895. He was my great grandfather.)

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John F. Flanary, the new assessor, has long since been photographed upon the minds of the people of Crittenden County. His bondsmen are Wm. J. LaRue and Wm. H. Mayes.

He is not the largest man in the county nor the smallest, but he is a capital fellow and is going to make a good officer.

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County Clerk Dave Woods arranged to do business at the old stand for three years more. His bondsmen are Henry K. Woods and Robert W. Wilson. Dave has grown old in the service, and by the time he retires he will probably have worn his right arm away writing and will be entitled to a pension from the fiscal court.

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County Judge James A. Moore was re-consecrated with Circuit Clerk Haynes officiating as high priest. His bondsmen are Joel W. Guess, Garland Carter, B. W. Belt and Wm. Bennett Yandell.

He seems to be a part and pinrell of the courthouse and along with Dave Woods had as well be installed permanently. He is a good official, pleasant and patient.