History of Washington County Sheriff’s
Office

History of the Office

The word "sheriff" derives from a contraction of the term "shire reeve," which is an old Old English word. Shire reeve means an official who kept the peace in the countryside.

THE FIRST SHERIFF

The first criminal court was established in Washington County by one of the first men to arrive in the area. He was also the first sheriff of Washington County. Col. Ebenezer Sproat made an impression on everyone, including the local Native Americans, who nicknamed him "Big Buckeye." Some people believe this is where the nickname "Buckeyes" for Ohioans originated. Sproat was a distinguished soldier. When Sproat was elected sheriff, he marched triumphantly up the main thoroughfare on a horse with his sword drawn. He immediately convened the first session of the Court of Common Pleas for Washington County, the first court held in the new Northwest Territory. Court was promptly adjourned as there were no cases to be heard.

The second sheriff, John Clark, served from 1803 until 1810. Clark was sheriff during Aaron Burr’s expedition and would later serve subpoenas during the case brought by the Federal Government against Burr. In 1798, Clark began building his family homestead on Fifth Street. William Skinner served as sheriff from 1802 to 1803 and later from 1810 to 1812. He was the first sworn sheriff under the newly written Constitution of the United States of America. Capt. Alexander Hill, sheriff from 1814 to 1816, intended to make his life on the sea. Hill loved the water and came to America as a cabinetmaker. He only stopped in Marietta because he ran out of money on his way to New Orleans, earning his livelihood as a cabinetmaker and craftsman, making furniture and coffins. Jesse Loring, who served one full term and one half term as sheriff during the 1820s and 1830s, was the first locally born sheriff. He was a native of Belpre and died at a young age of 51 in Waterford. Junia Jennings was sheriff from 1846 to 1850. He was a shoemaker by trade, but after leaving the office of sheriff, the outbreak of the Civil War led him to form the "Silver Greys," a military organization whose members were 60 years old or older, to protect Washington County families from the Confederate rebels. Many of the early men who served as sheriffs investigated cases ranging from petty theft to murders of spouses and children. Most did so with very few deputies under their command. Things have changed since Fort Harmar set aside the stockade and a room for a jail, and the sheriff’s contract guaranteed him his own horse as part of the job. The responsibilities remain the same:

”The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is committed to excellence in public safety. We take pride in providing professional law enforcement services, enhancing the quality of life through community interaction and partnerships, crime prevention, and efficient service to the public. Our pledge is to conduct ourselves above reproach, assist those in need with honor and integrity, and protect Constitutional freedoms by advocating unquestionable ethical standards, professionalism, and honor.”