Chenango's Former Sheriffs - 1915

Chenango's Former Sheriffs

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1915

Left to Right:  Zenas Tarble, Afton;  George W. Payne, Norwich; James J. Flanagan, Norwich

 

 

Left to Right:  George L. Page, Greene; William E. Beardsley, Norwich; Harmon A. Walworth, Norwich; Charles S. Holcomb, Norwich

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Unless some others have been lost in the survey, Chenango county can now count only seven living ex-sheriffs.  The recent death of John Robb was followed in a few days by the retirement of Sheriff Holcomb, keeping the number good at seven.

 

It was 21 years ago, on the 21t day of December, 1894, at midnight, that George W. Payne received the keys, took the oath and assumed the custody of the county bastille and the other duties belonging to the office.  He served three years, the limit prescribed by law, which prohibits a sheriff succeeding himself in office.  He was followed in turn by Zenas Tarble, George l. Page, James J. Flanagan, William E. Beardsley, Harmon A. Walworth and Charles B. Holcomb, all of whom served one term of three years each.

 

Of these seven men, six hailed from the southern towns of the county and four of these found the physical, social and commercial air of Norwich so salubrious that they never went back to their native heaths, but remained at the county seat and have made good and worthy citizens.  It may be that their familiarity with crime and its consequences during their official careers has prompted them to good and exemplary behavior as private citizens.  Most of them came from the farm and three are still largely interested in agricultural affairs, four having taken up other pursuits.

 

It is worthy of note in passing that all seven of the ex-sheriffs are Republicans in politics.  Mr. Payne succeeding in the office Edward W. Lally, deceased, the only Democrat to hold the position since the memory of the present day man knoweth not when.  Under the fees system, which prevailed until 15 years ago, this office was one of the most lucrative in the gift of the county, and even under the salary system, though less attractive in some of the emoluments it bears.  It is always eagerly sought after in the triennial race of political preferment.