Since 1798  there have been forty-five (45) people who have held the Office of Ross County Sheriff.  The individuals who have held this distinguished office are: 

Jeremiah McLain (Oct.) 1798-1807        Daniel Shepard (Jan.)  1807-1809 William Creighton (Jan.)  1809-1812 James McClintick (Jan.)  1812-1814 Thomas Steele (Jan.)  1814-1819  Josephus Collett (died) 1819-1819 James Clifford (Aug.)  1819-1825   John Tarlton (Jan.)  1825-1829     Charles Martin (Jan.)  1829-1833    John Tarlton (Jan.) 1833-1837      Charles Martin (Jan.)1837-1841    James McClintick (Jan.) 1841-1845 Charles Martin (Jan.)  1845-1849 William K. McMillan (Jan.)  1849-1853 John R. Anderson (Jan.)  1853-1857

Thomas Ghormley (Jan.)  1857-1861 Edward Adams (Jan.)  1861-1865      D.S. Dunnuch (Jan.)  1865-1867 C. McDonald (Jan.) 1867-1869             S. Mace (Jan.)  1869-1873                 Felix B. Mace (Jan) 1873-1877        Thos. S. Mackey (Jan.)  1877-1881  W.L. Tulley (Jan.)  1881-1885                    W.S. Clark (Jan.)  1885-1889                J.R. Wisehart (Jan.)  1889-1891            H. Blacker (Jan.)  1891-1895            Hugh W. Warner (Jan.)  1895-1897   A.T. Swepston (Jan.)  1897-1901 James A. Devine (Jan.)  1901-1905 Latta Morrison (Jan.)  1905-1909

J. Henry Swope (Jan.)  1909-1911 William H. Stoker (Jan.)  1911-1915 Alonzo T. Swepston (Jan.)  1915-1919 Alfred D. Immell (Jan.)  1919-1929 Charles Fox (Jan.)  1929-1931 T. Ewing Arganbright (died) 1931-1933 R. E. Oliver (March) 1933-1933 Joseph Vincent 1933-1941 O. A. Maughmer   1941-1945 Samuel B. Marks (died) 1945-1956 Fred J. Heinzelman 1956-1977 Thomas L. Hamman 1977-1993 William B. Knott (died) 1993-1996 Ronald L. Nichols 1996-2008

George W. Lavender Jr. 2009- Present 

Historical Photographs by decade.

Citizens, if you have any past family or friends  that had worked for the Sheriff's Office, we would like to here from you.  We would like to gather historical photographs of past Deputies, or, Sheriff's memorabilia so that we can photograph it and place it on this site. You may contact Colonel T.J. Hollis at 740-773-1187 with your information.  

View some of the historical artifacts and photographs of past jail facilities. 

The  photographs above are of the old Ross County Jail. From left Pre-World War II and to the right Post Korean War Era

Recently added to the Sheriff's Office is this artifact. This  walking cane was used by one of the two sheriffs in 1915.  Sheriff William H. Stoker or Sheriff Alonzo T. Swepston, there are no records of which Sheriff used the cane.

Below are some photographs of the basement of the old jail that at one time was used as a Territorial Prison

The pipes and lighting were added over the years when the building was modernized and the jail moved upstairs  but the walls, doors and windows have remained the same over more than 200 years