Fannin County was created December 14, 1837 and was named for James Walker Fannin, Commander of the Texas Army at Goliad and among those massacred there. The county was organized in 1838 with Lexington as the county seat. In 1840 old Warren became the county seat, but in 1843 was moved to Bois d’Arc, which later changed its name to Bonham in honor of the Alamo hero. The State Election Register does not have any elections listed until 1844. There have been thirty-five men who have served as sheriff during the history of the county.
(The following information was compiled by Terry Baker, Retired Assistant Chief Deputy for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, who researches “Finding the Forgotten” – Texas Peace Officers killed in the line of duty.)
THOMAS A. DAGLEY was elected the first sheriff on January 4, 1844; re-elected July 13, 1846 and served until August 5, 1850.
JOHN F. CRAWFORD was elected on August 5, 1850; was re-elect4ed August 2, 1852, but this is where the record stops. There is not another entry until 1862.
R. W. COOK was elected on August 4, 1862 and served until March 1863 when he resigned.
HARVEY WISE was appointed on March 14, 1863 and served until August 1, 1864.
J. B. ANDERSON was elected on August 1, 1864 and served until August 7, 1865.
J.P. ANDREWS was appointed on August 7, 1865 by Governor A. J. Hamilton and served until June 25, 1866.
J. B. ANDERSON was elected a second time on June 25, 1866 and served until April 1867 when he resigned.
J. M. McKEE was appointed on April 15, 1867 and served until November 1, 1867.
M. W. BLEDSOE was appointed on November 1, 1867 by General J. J. Reynolds’ Special Order #195 and served until December 3, 1869.
J. M. McKEE was elected a second time on December 3, 1869 and served until May 9, 1873 when he resigned.
J. W. DUNN was elected on July 25, 1873 and served until February 15, 1876.
SMITH LIPSCOMB was elected on February 15, 1876; re-elected November 5, 1878 and served until November 2, 1880.
FRANK BLAIR was elected on November 2, 1880; re-elected November 7, 1882 and served until November 4, 1884.
THOMAS A. (A. T.) RAGSDALE was elected on November 4, 1884 and served until May 11, 1885 when he was killed. There is no record in the State Election Register of who served from the time Sheriff Ragsdale was killed until Sheriff Evans was elected.
JAMES W. EVANS was elected on November 2, 1886 and served until November 6, 1888.
R. D. CHANEY was elected on November 6, 1888; re-elected November 4, 1890, November 8, 1892, November 6, 1894 and served until November 3, 1896.
W. W. RIDING (REDLING) was elected on November 3, 1896; re-elected November 8, 1898 and served until November 6, 1900.
J. A. “JAY” YOUREE was elected on November 6, 1900; re-elected November 4, 1902 and served until November 8, 1904.
PHILIP WISE was elected on November 8, 1904 and served until November 6, 1906.
C. B. BRIDGES was elected on November 6, 1906; re-elected November 3, 1908 and served until November 8, 1910.
W. B. LEEMAN was elected on November 8, 1910; re-elected November 5, 1912 and served until November 3, 1914.
W. E. BIGGERSTAFF was elected on November 3, 1914; re-elected November 7, 1916 and served until November 5, 1918.
J. E. WHITLEY was elected on November 5, 1918; re-elected November 2, 1920 and served until January 1, 1923.
ED BRENT was elected on November 7, 1922; re-elected November 4, 1924 and served until January 1, 1927.
J. E. WHITLEY was elected a second time on November 2, 1926 and served until January 1, 1929.
BUD HUGHES was elected on November 6, 1928; re-elected November 4, 1930 and served until January 1, 1933.
HENRY CHANEY was elected on November 3, 1936; re-elected November 8, 1938 and served until January 1, 1941.
JAMES TALMAGE MOORE was elected on November 5, 1940; re-elected November 3, 1942 and served until January 1, 1945.
J. E. WHITLEY was elected a third time on November 7, 1944 and served until January 1, 1947.
DICK WAIT was elected on November 5, 1946 and served until January 1, 1949
MILAM D. ANDERSON was elected on November 2, 1948; re-elected November 7, 1950 and served until January 1, 1953.
CARL RIDINGS was elected on November 4, 1952 and served until January 1, 1955.
WILLIAM HOYT IVEY was elected on November 2, 1954; re-elected November 6, 1956, November 8, 1960 and served until January 1, 1965. He served a total of ten years which was to this date the longest in the history of Fannin County.
ROBERT DUDLEY JACKSON was elected on November 3, 1964; re-elected November 5, 1968 and served until January 1, 1973.
RAYMOND TAYLOR was elected on November 7, 1972; re-elected November 2, 1976 and served until April 15, 1978 when he was suspended from office, then permanently removed August 11, 1978.
MIKE BANKSTON was appointed temporary sheriff on April 15, 1978; re-appointed August 11, 1978 and served until November 26, 1978 when he resigned.
SAM PATTON was elected on November 7, 1978; was appointed November 27, 1978 to complete Sheriff Bankston’s term; re-elected November 4, 1980, November 6, 1984 and served until June 30, 1988.
TALMAGE “T” MOORE was appointed on June 30, 1988, after being elected in the March 1988 primary; was elected November 8, 1988; re-elected in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Sheriff Moore served for 16 ½ years, longer than any other Fannin County Sheriff. Talmadge "T" Moore retired 12-31-04 as Sheriff of Fannin County.
KENNETH L. MOORE was elected November 2, 2004 and took office January 1, 2005. |
