Union County Sheriff

A history of the Union County Sheriff’s Office is like a history of the county itself. As our county has grown and diversified, her primary law enforcement agency has gone forward with her.

Sheriff Wilson
At the formation of Union County, on the first Monday in April of 1842, the magistrates (justices of the peace) met at Le Batt’s Cross Roads and elected the new county’s officers. William Wilson, a native of the Tirzah section of the county and a Jackson Democrat became out first sheriff. Not much is known about Sheriff Wilson or his term of office. The first terms of court of the county were held in a gin house at Le Batt’s. One of the first offenders convicted was sentenced to the pillory – no stocks had been built however. So the judge ordered Sheriff Wilson to have the man place his head in an opening in the fence surrounding the gin house and remain there for an hour.

Sheriff Richardson
Sheriff Wilson attended three terms of court and went home sick after the October 1843 session and died that month. At Wilson’s death, Coroner John Blount served as sheriff ex-officio until the first Monday in January of 1844, when a regular election was held. Alex W. Richardson was the first duly elected Sheriff of Union County. Not much is known about Sheriff Richardson. He is buried at Price’s Chapel Cemetery near Waxhaw.

Sheriff Rushing
On the first Thursday in August of 1846, Darling Rushing was elected Sheriff. Sheriff Rushing went on to be re-elected to three successive terms. Rushing was from the east end of the county. He was also the first moderator of the Union Baptist Association and served two terms in the state legislature.

It was during Sheriff Rushing’s term of office that a new jail was built. Prior to this time a log house with two rooms was used as a jail. It was sometime around late 1847 that the jail was built. A man named John Medlin was convicted of killing one of his slaves and ordered to pay a fine of $3000.00 and the cost of court. With this the county erected the brick building situated at what is now the corner of Hayne and Jefferson Streets. This building served as the sheriff’s office, his home and the jail. In 1893, this building was sold to the City of Monroe for $2880.00 for use as a City Hall.

Sheriff Sikes
Joshua Sikes was elected Sheriff of Union County on the first Thursday in August, 1854. Sheriff Sikes took office at the age of 51. He was re-elected in 1856 but died in December of that year. Coroner Henry Long acted as Sheriff ex-officio until January 1857.

Sheriff Austin
Culpepper Austin was elected Sheriff by the magistrates in January of 1857. Sheriff Austin took office at the age of 38. He served out the unexpired term of Sheriff Sikes and continuously re-elected until August 1864.

Sheriff Rogers
In August 1864, Franklin L. Rogers was elected Sheriff. In May of 1865, after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee, a detachment of the Union Army under the Command of a Colonel Jones came to the county to re-establish civil government under reconstruction. All county officials were brought before Colonel Jones and required to take an oath of allegiance to the federal government. Sheriff Rogers refused and was removed from the office by the Army. The Colonel, in turn, appointed for Sheriff Culpepper Austin back to the office after he took the oath. Sheriff Austin served out the term of Rogers and was re-elected to another term in 1866.

Sheriff Hasty
Austin lost to John J. Hasty in an April election of 1868. Sheriff Hasty won another term over Austin in August 1870.

Sheriff Stevens
On the first Thursday in August 1872, A. Frank Stevens, a Monroe merchant, defeated Hasty for the office of Sheriff of Union County. Sheriff Stevens did not file for re-election.

Sheriff Griffin
In August of 1874, John Wilson Griffin won over John J. Hasty in the Sheriff’s race. Sheriff Griffin was re-elected in 1876. In November of 1878, John J. Hasty did win another term, this time defeating J. Perry Horne.

Sheriff price
In November of 1880, A. Joe Price, a Wesley Chapel farmer was elected Sheriff of Union County. During Sheriff Price’s administration a jail inmate went berserk and was shot to death, in self defense, by deputies. This occurred in the old jail. Price was elected to another term in November 1882. Not only was Price Sheriff, his services to the county included the offices of magistrate, County Commissioner, County Treasurer and member of the Board of Education. Ell Austin served as Deputy under Sheriff Price.

Sheriff Horne
In November 1884, J. Perry Horne was elected Sheriff over John J. Hasty. During Sheriff Horne’s term of office the county’s third jail was built. Erected in 1893, the Stewart Street structure served well until the occupancy of a modern jail in what was known as the new courthouse.

Sheriff Perry
Sheriff J. Perry Horne was continuously re-elected until November of 1896, when he was succeeded by his son, Ben A. Horne. The elder Sheriff Horne, a native of Lane’s Creek Township, served as a Constable and Magistrate before being elected Sheriff. Ben Horne served as a deputy under his father for eight years. In 1892, he was named Chief of Police of the City of Monroe and held that position until his election as Sheriff. Sheriff Ben Horne was most noted for solving a safe job at a post office which was located in Unionville. On another occasion, he pursued a wanted man into a gin building on South Main Street in Monroe. The man fired a pistol at the Sheriff and the Sheriff returned the fire, struck the man and seriously injured him. The man recovered and justice was done but the downtown gunfight was long remembered. Duke Myers served as a Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Ben Horne. After leaving the office, Horne operated a mercantile and livestock business in Marshville.

Sheriff Griffith
At even more unusual father and son set of terms began in November of 1908. At that time John Griffith was elected Sheriff. Sheriff Griffith’s son, Julian, served as a Deputy under his father. The elder Griffith served two terms and then Julian was elected o the office in November of 1912. Sheriff Julian Griffith was re-elected in 1914 and 1916. He was again nominated in 1918, but died late in October of that year. With the election only a few days away, the Democratic Party placed John Griffith’s name on the ballot and he was again elected to the office; thereby succeeding his son who succeeded him. Serving as Deputies at different times under the Griffiths were Earl Griffith, Paul Griffith, and Clifford Fowler.

Thanks for stopping by the Union County Sheriff, Community Voices blog. I’ll be featuring Part III in an upcoming article.

paulinelucore@co.union.nc.us