Shiawassee County Sheriffs

Below is a list of Shiawassee County Sheriffs since the organization of the County from the division of Oakland County in 1837.

Special thanks to David D. Dumond and Frank Bishop who started to research this list in 1964.

Levi Rowe..................................1837---1838

Elisha Brewster............................1839---1842

David Bush.................................1843---1844

Elisha Brewster............................1845---1848

Alonso Howard..............................1849---1852

John M. Fitch..............................1853---1856

William Laing..............................1857---1860

Jonah Fuller...............................1861---1864

Seymour Shipman............................1865---1866

David Parker...............................1867---1870

George Winans..............................1871---1872

Benjamin Swain.............................1873---1874

Andrew Kelso...............................1875---1876

William Lewis..............................1877---1878

Clark D. Smith.............................1879---1882

Andrew Kelso...............................1883---1884

1883 Jail on left

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Francis C. Morrice.........................1889---1892

William E. Jacobs..........................1893---1896

Monroe L. Scoubale.........................1897---1900

Daniel Gerow...............................1901---1904

Warren Jarred..............................1905---1906

More about the 1906 Courthouse

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Edwin Herrick..............................1911---1914

Bert Griffin...............................1915---1918

Joseph Sproule.............................1919---1922

George Lawcock.............................1927---1930

George finished his term and did not seek re-election because he had been offered the Owosso Police Chief position due to the de-motion of the previous chief. However, before he took office, he was reportedly found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning, in his car which was parked in his garage. Some residents did not believe it could have been accidental or self-inflicted.

J.A. Fink..................................1931---1934

Wellington Chapman.........................1935---1938
According to the Argus Press of 3-3-2004, Mr. Chapman, age 40, died at U of M Hospital just 9 weeks after being stricken while attending a state convention of sheriffs at Muskegon due to a heart ailment. He asked that his wife assume his duties until the next regular election.

Mrs. Wellington Chapman....................1938---1938

Ray Gellatly...............................1939---1946

Duane Kear.................................1947---1948

Deputies Conklin and Markara
Photo taken at Owosso Police Dept. by Officer Robert Pipes in 1948

Charles Downer.............................1949---1954

Clifford Porter............................1963---1968

In 1963, Cliff Porter built a new jail which replaced the 1880's victorian three story building on the south lawn of the Courthouse Square.

Victor Moiles..............................1969---1980

Sheriff Dept. Picture from the mid 1970's

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Dean Porter................................1996---2001

Keith Kewish.....Interim Sheriff appointed to fulfill the remainder of Dean Porter's term...................Dec. 2001----

Jon Wilson..........Nov. 2002-----