About the Past Sheriff’s of Madison County
1.WILLIAM DOWLING-(1828)-THE FIRST SHERIFF OF MADISON COUNTY WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS WAS THE ACCEPTED PRACTICE, UPON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY AND INSTALLED IN OFFICE UNTIL AN ELECTION COULD BE HELD. MADISON COUNTY WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE ON DECEMBER 26, 1827, OUT OF A PORTION OF LEON COUNTY AND WILLIAM DOWLING WAS PROBABLY WORKING AS A DEPUTY OUT OF THAT JURISDICTION AT THE TIME AS A SWORN OFFICER UNDER SHERIFF ROMEO LEWIS. THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT WAS DESIGNATED TO BE AT SAN PEDRO, UNTIL A PERMANENT LOCATION COULD BE CHOSEN BY THE COUNTY AUTHORITITES.
2.JAMES WALLACE-(1835)-IT IS ASSUMED THAT SHERIFF WALLACE WAS ELECTED IN 1834 AND HIS TENURE BEGAN IN JANUARY 1835.
3.Christopher H. Edwards-(1837-1839)-An Act of Relief Enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, was allowed and passed by the auditor of the Territory on the claim of Christopher H. Edwards Sheriff of Madison County, for taking the census of said county under the act of Council of 1837,at the rate of five cents for each individual inhabitant of said county. Sheriff Christopher Edwards is also the father of Madison County’s 4th Sheriff Sherrod Edwards.
4.SHERROD EDWARDS-(1840-1842)-he is the son of 3rd Sheriff Christopher Edwards. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT SHERIFF EDWARDS TENURE IN OFFICE OR OF HIS FAMILY. WHAT IS KNOW IS THE INDIAN WARS WERE TAKING THE GREATER PART OF EVERYONES ATTENTION AT THE TIME.
5.WILLIAM BRIDGES-(1842-1844)-NFI
6.ELISHA SUMMERLIN-1844-1845)-SHERIFF SUMMERLIN LASTED ONLY ONE YEAR IN OFFICE. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF HE RESIGNED OR WAS REMOVED OR DECEASED. HE WAS REPLACED BY GOVERNOR APPOINTED THOMAS LANGFORD ON OCTOBER 31, 1845.
7.THOMAS LANGFORD-(1845-1847)-SHERIFF LANGFORD WAS APPOINTED TO OFFICE ON OCTOBER 31,1845 AND COMMISSIONED TO SERVE UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR QUALIFIES ACCORDING TO VOLUME A PAGE 307 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. SHERIFF LANGFORD FOUGHT IN THE INDIAN WARS AND WAS CAPTAIN OF HIS OWN COMPANY, THE FLORIDA MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS. THOMAS LANGFORD WAS LISTED AS A PLANTER IN THE MADISON COUTY CENSUS OF 1850 AND WAS MARRIED TO LUCINDA NEE OVERSTREET. BOTH THE LANGFORD AND OVERSTREET FAMILIES WERE FAIRLY PROMINENT IN THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF MADISON COUNTY. THEY HAD ONE SON, THOMAS E. LANGFORD, WHO BECAME A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND SERVED HIS APPRENTICESHIP IN THE OFFICE OF DR. SILAS T. OVERSTREET. DR. LANGFORD MARRIED ANNIE JANE GALLOWAY OF LIVE OAK IN 1869, AT AGE 22 AND IN 1878 THE COUPLE MOVED TO FT. MYERS WHERE THEY RAISED A FAMILY. AMONG THE CHILDREN OF DR. LANGFORD AND ANNIE WE FIND AT LEAST ONE OTHER SHERIFF, JAMES LANGFORD OF POLK COUNTY IN 191, AND POSSIBLY ANOTHER: THOMAS W. LANGFORD OF LEE COUNTY IN 1887. THIS IS BASED PARTIALLY ON CONJECTURE AND SPECULATION THAT THE RESEARCHER/COMPILER HAS THE CORRECT LANGFORD FAMILIES AND THE COINCIDENCES NEED TO BE EXAMINED FURTHER AND DOCUMENTED.
8.ADONIRAM VANN-(1847-1849)-SHERIFF VANN WAS ELECTED ON OCTOBER 23, 1847, AND COMMISSIONED ON OCTOBER 29, 1847, TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR QUALIFIES ACCORDING TO VOLUME C, PAGE 170 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD.
9. THOMAS M. ANDERSON–(1849-1851) & (1853-1855) & (1857-1859)-THIS THREE-TERM SHERIFF WAS FIRST ELECTED ON OCTOBER 27, 1849, AND COMMISSIONED ON THE SAME DATE ACCORDING TO VOLUME E, PAGE 234 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. THOMAS M. ANDERSON WAS ELECTED TO HIS SECOND NON -CONSECUTIVE TERM AS SHERIFF ON NOVEMBER 7, 1853, AND COMMISSIONED ON NOVEMBER 9, 1853, ACCORDING TO VOLUME H, PAGE 53 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. HE WAS ELECTED TO HIS THIRD TERM ON OCTOBER 31, 1857, AND COMMISSIONED ON NOVEMBER 3, 1857, ACCORDING TO VOLUME J, PAGE 827 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD.
10. JOHN H.PATTERSON-(1851-1853) & (1855-1857)-SHERIFF PATTERSON WAS ELECTED/COMMISSIONED ON OCTOBER 31. 1851 ACCORDING TO VOLUME G, PAGE 67 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. IN 1853, SHERIFF PATTERSON WAS SUCCEEDED IN OFFICE BY HIS NEMESIS THOMAS H. ANDERSON. IN 1855, PATTERSON AGAIN TOOK OVER FROM ANDERSON AND IN 1857, PATTERSON WAS SUCCEEDED IN OFFICE BY THE ELECTION OF THOMAS M. ANDERSON. JOHN PATTERSON WAS BORN IN SC AND WAS THE ELDEST CHILD OF JOHN H. AND SARAH PATTERSON, BOTH NATIVES OF SC. THE FAMILY MOVED TO MADISON COUNTY IN THE LATTER 1840s SETTLING ON A FARM OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF MADISON. OBVIOUS DISCREPANCIES IN THE BIOGRAPHICAL DATA RELATING TO THIS PATTERSON MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO MORE THAN IDENTIFY HIM AS A RESIDENT OF MADISON COUNTY. HIS AGE IN 1870 IS GIVEN AS 20 WHICH MAKES IT QUESTIONABLE THAT HE WAS THE SHERIFF 19 YEARS YOUNGER BUT IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE SHERIFF WAS ACTUALLY THE ELDER JOHN H. PATTERSON, HIS FATHER AND IT IS THAT PRESUMPTION THAT IS ACCEPTABLE. JOHN H. PATTERSON, NOT AT THE TIME A PHYSICIAN, WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER FOR SERVICE, ENLISTING ON APRIL 5TH AND JOINING CO. F, OF THE FIRST FLORIDA REGIMENT. NOTHING IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS MEDICAL TRAINING, WHICH HE PROBABLY UNDERWENT AFTER RELEASE FROM ARMY DUTY THRU THIS APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM. DR. JOHN H. PATTERSON APPEARS IN THE CENSUS OF 1870 AS A PHYSICIAN, AGED 30, LIVING AT THE RURAL HOME OF HIS MOTHER IN MADISON COUNTY. THE CENSUS OF 1880 SHOWS A LISTING FOR HIS BROTHER, FRANKLIN, A LAWYER PRACTICING IN MADISON COUNTY. ALSO LISTED IS HIS MOTHER, SARAH AT THE AGE OF 58(PAGE 552, ITEM 402), HIS SISTERS, CATHERINE AND SARAH, AGES 24 AND 29 RESPECTIVELY AND TWO GRANDSONS, FRAZIER AND ROBERT, AGES 16 AND 18, RESPECTIVELY.
11. THOMAS M. ANDERSON-(1849-1851) & (1853-1855) & (1857-1859)
12. JOHN H.PATTERSON-(1851-1853) & (1855-1857)
13. THOMAS M. ANDERSON-(1849-1851) & (1853-1855) & (1857-1859)
14. EDWARD VANN-(1859-1861) & (1861-1863)-VARIANT E.W VANN-SHERIFF EDWARD VANN WAS A POSSIBLE RELATIVE OF PREVIOUS SHERIFF ADONIRAM VANN. HE WAS ELECTED ON OCTOBER 18, 1859, AND COMMISSIONED ON OCTOBER 21, 1859, ACCORDING TO VOLUME K, PAGE 182 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. ON NOVEMBER 19, 1861, IT WAS REPORTED THAT E.W. VAUM WAS ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF ACCORDING TO VOLUME L, PAGE 81 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD BUT I CANNOT FIND THIS MAN ANYWHERE ELSE SO I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS WAS A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE RECORD AND THAT THE ENTRY SHOULD READ THAT E.W. VANN WAS RE-ELECTED. HE SREVED UNTIL OCTOBER 28, 1863. SHERIFF VANN SERVED DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND WAS CAPTURED WHILE ON PICKET DUTY AT PETERSBURG, VA. HE WAS THEN SENT TO THE POW CAMP IN MARYLAND WHERE HE SUCCUMBED TO DISEASE ON OCTOBER 26, 1864.
15.SAMUEL J. PERRY-(1863-1866)-SHERIFF PERRY WAS ELECTED ON OCTOBER 29, 1863, AND QUALIFIED ON OCTOBER 28, 1863, ACCORDING TO VOLUME L, PAGE 670 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD. SAMUEL PERRY AND HIS WIFE MARGARET MOVED THEIR FAMILY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO MADISON COUNTY ABOUT 1842. THEY SETTLED ON A FARM OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF MADISON. ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN WAS THOMAS ALEXANDER PERRY WHO WAS BORN IN SC IN 1836 WHO LATER RETURNED TO SC TO STUDY MEDICINE. AFTER GRADUATION, DR. THOMAS PERRY RETURNED TO MADISON COUNTY WHERE HE BEGAN HIS PRACTICE WITH DR. HENRY PARRAMORE. THEIR OFFICE WAS LOCATED ONE DOOR NORTH OF THE POST OFFICE WHERE THEY OFFERED FREE CONSULTATIONS. DR. PERRY WAS STILL UNMARRIED AND RESIDED IN THE HOME OF HIS BROTHER , WILLIAM L. PERRY, EDITOR OF THE MADISON NEWSPAPER, THE SOUTHERN MESSENGER. WILLIAM WAS MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1860.
16. J.W. JONES-(1866-1868)-SHERIFF JONES WAS ELECTED OR APPOINTED ON DECEMBER 18, 1865, AND COMMISSIONED ON JANUARY 15, 1866, ACCORDING TO VOLUME M, PAGE 511 OF THE COMMISSION RECORD.
17. B.F. TIDWELL-(1868)-IN 2001 HISTORIANS ROGERS & DENHAM PROVIDED THIS JUICY MORSEL OF INFORMATION ON PAGE 101 OF THEIR AWARD-WINNING FLORIDA SHERIFF’S: A HISTORY 1821-1945:
“IN MADISON COUNTY, SHERIFF B.F. TIDWELL, AN EX-CONFEDERATE WHO BECAME A REPUBLICAN AFTER THE WAR, TRIED IN VAIN TO MAINTAIN PEACE. HE ESTIMATED THAT FROM 1868-1881 OVER 20 PERSONS WERE KILLED BY VIGILANTES.” I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE EXISTENCE OF THIS SHERIFF AS OF YET. TIDWELL IS NOT LISTED ON THE AUTHORS’ ROSTER OF SHERIFFS IN MADISON COUNTY. NEITHER IS HE LISTED ON THE ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICIALS: HE MAY HAVE BEEN A DPEUTY SHERIFF, HOWEVER, FOR SAKE OF ARGUMENT, HE IS INCLUDED ON THE LISTING.
18.DAVID MONTGOMERY-(1868-1873)-APPOINTED TO OFFICE DURING RECONSTRUCTION BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR REED, THIS NEW YORK NATIVE WAS THEN ABOUT 32 YEARS OLD. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PRACTICED HIS TRADE AS A MASON AND BRICKLAYER AT KEY WEST AND TALLAHASSEE SINCE 1857 AND WAS RENOWNED AS A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PITCHER. HE HAD NEVER LIVED IN MADISON COUNTY. HE SERVED AS SHERIFF AND TAX COLLECTOR FOR THOSE YEARS. REPUBLICANS NOMINATED HIM FOR LT GOVERNOR IN 1876. AFTER HIS STINT AS SHERIFF, HE WAS ELECTED NEXT TO THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND WAS NAMED BY GOVERNOR HART A MAJOR AND QUARTERMASTER OF THE STATE MILITIA. AFTER 1878 HE MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE, SUFFERING FROM ILLNESS AND DIED AT HIS FATHER’S HOUSE AT HEMPSTEAD, NY IN APRIL 1878.
GEORGE BOGUE-(1873-1877)-THE TENURE OF THIS SHERIFF COMMENCED IN 1873. LITTLE TO NOTHING IS KNOWN OF THIS RECORD ON OFFICE OR OF THE BOGUE FAMILY. SHERIFF BOGUE RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION ON JANUARY 8, 1877.
20.THEODORE WILLARD-(1877-1881)-TENURE IN OFFICE COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1877, PROBABLY BY APPOINTMENT. LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THIS SHERIFF’S TENURE ALTHOUGH HE WAS CAPTAIN OF COMPANY C OF THE FLORIDA RESERVES DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND THE LOCAL TRADITION THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING AN ORPHANED BOY NAMED DUDE. AFTER HIS TERM AS SHERIFF, HE ALLEGEDLY BECAME THE STATE SENATOR FROM MADISON IN 1881 THEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALACHUA COUNTY IN 1903 AND THEN MAYOR OF HIGH SPRINGS FROM 1910-1911.
21.S.M. HANKINS-(1881-1883)-TENURE IN OFFICE PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1881 FOLLOWING AN ELECTION TO REPLACE T.H. WILLARD. SHERIFF HANKINS RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION ON APRIL 1883.
22.S.A PARRAMORE-(1885-1889)-THERE IS A GAP IN OUR COVERAGE FROM 1883-1885 AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE EXCEPT THE RECORD IS LACKING INFORMATION. THIS SHERIFF’S COMPLETE NAME WAS SMITH ALEXANDER PARRAMORE. SHERIFF PARRAMORE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF EIGHT SONS OF REDDIN W. PARRAMORE WHO BROUGHT HIS FAMILY TO MADISON COUNTY FROM GEORGIA IN JUNE 1832 ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS FOR 1900. HIS OLDEST BROTHER WAS DR. HENRY PARRAMORE. SHERIFF PARRAMORE CONTINUED TO LIVE IN MADISON COUNTY UNTIL HIS DEATH ON AUGUST 16, 1906. HE WAS BURIED IN THE FAMILY PLOT AT OAK RIDGE CEMETARY IN MADISON, FL.
23.E.F.DICKINSON-(1889-1897)-THE TENURE OF SHERIFF DICKINSON PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1889. VARIATION IN NAME INCLUDES E.F.DICKENSON. THERE IS VERY LITTLE RECORDED HISTORY TO REPORT DURING THE EIGHT YEARS OF THIS TENURE.
EUGENE S.ARMSTRONG-(1897-1905)-TENURE IN OFFICE PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1897. VARIATIONS OF THIS NAME IS E.J.ARMSTRONG. SHERIFF ARMSTRONG WAS BORN IN MONTGOMERY CO. ALABAMA ON DECEMBER 20, 1854. HE IS THE OLDEST SON OF ADDISON S. ARMSTRONG AND MARY A. PARK. HIS FATHER WAS BORN AND REARED IN GEORGIA, BUT AT AN EARLY AGE, REMOVED TO ALABAMA WHERE HE ENGAGED IN FARMING AND MERCHANDISING. HIS WIFE’S FAMILY CAME FROM SC TO ALABAMA AT A LATER PERIOD. ADDISON S. DIED IN 1859 LEAVING THREE CHILDREN. THE CIVIL WAR STRIPPED THE ARMSTRONG FAMILY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT HAD BEEN LEFT BY THE FATHER, AND EUGENE BEING THE OLDEST SON FOUND THE CHIEF RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPPORTING THE HOUSEHOLD DEVOLVED UPON HIM. HE WENT TO WORK MANFULLY AS SOON AS HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MANAGE A PLOW. IN 1869, HE MOVED TO DALLAS COUNTY , ALABAMA WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL HIS REMOVAL TO MADISON, FL IN NOVEMBER 1874. HIS BUSINESS SINCE HE ARRIVED IN FLORIDA WAS THAT OF FARMING. HE ALSO TOOK AN ACTIVE PART IN POLITICS. WHEN HE WENT TO MADISON COUNTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD ALREADY WEAKENED THERE. MR. ARMSTRONG BECAME AN ACTIVE WORKER AND LEADER AMONG THE DEMOCRATS, AND AS A REWARD HIS PARTY NOMINATED AND ELECTED HIM SHERIFF IN 1896. HE SERVED FOUR YEARS CREDITABLY AND WAS RE-ELECTED IN NOVEMBER 1900. IN JANUARY 1881 HE WAS MARRIED TO ANNA G. DAUGHTER OF CHARLES BEGGS AND AMERICA FAIR AND THEY HAD SEVEN CHILDREN.
25.A.D.STAUNTON-(1905-1917)-TENURE IN OFFICE WAS PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANURY 1905.
26.R.L.MILLIONOR-(1917-1921)-VARIATIONS OF THIS SHERIFF’S NAME WAS ROBERT L. MILLINOR, R.L. MILLINOR AND R.L. MILLINON. HE ALSO SERVED AS POSTMASTER AT ELLAVILLE FROM 1893-1912.
27.M.A. PARKER-(1921-1925)-THE TENURE OF THIS SHERIFF PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY OF 1921.
28.G.L.MORROW-(1925-1937)-TENURE IN OFFICE PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1925.
29.LONNIE TURNER DAVIS-(1937-1949)-TENURE IN OFFICE PROBABLY COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1937. VARIATIONS ON THIS NAME INCLUDE LONNIE W. DAVIS. ACCORDING TO HIS MINI-BIOGRAPHY PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA SHERIFF, AN FSA MAGAZINE, SHERIFF DAVIS WAS BORN AT GREENVILLE, FL ON NOVEMBER 11, 1903. PRIOR TO HIS ELECTION IN 1936, HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A SALESMAN FOR 11 YEARS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MASONIC LODGE AND WOW AND THE BAPTIST CHURCH. STANDING APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET TALL, THE SHERIFF CAME FROM AN OLD MADISON COUNTY FAMILY THAT HAD SETTLED IN THE AREA BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
30.SIMEON HUEY MOORE-(1949-1973)-ELECTED IN THE FALL OF 1948, SHERIFF MOORE’S TENURE IN OFFICE COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1949. VARIATIONS IN NAME INCLUDE “SIMMIE” MOORE, SIMEON H. MOORE AND S.H. MOORE. SHERIFF MOORE WAS BORN IN ROCK HILL, SC ON JANUARY 10, 1911. AT THE TIME OF HIS TENURE, HE WAS MARRIED TO MONTEEN AND THE COUPLE HAS TWO DAUGHTERS. HE WAS EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ROCK HILL, SC AND ATTENDED CLEMSON COLLEGE. PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED, HE SERVED THREE YEARS ON THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL AND WAS ENGAGED IN THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE METHODIST CHURCH, MASONIC LODGE, AND THE ROYAL ARCH MASON. SHERIFF MOORE WAS SUCCEEDED IN OFFICE BY JOSEPH PEAVY. SHERIFF MOORE DIED ON JUNE 19, 1997, AT ATHE AGE OF 86.
31. JOE C. PEAVY-(1973-2001)-ELECTED IN 1972, THE TENURE OF THIS SHERIFF COMMENCED IN JANUARY 1973. THE FULL AND PROPER NAME OF THIS SHERIFF IS JOSEPH COLEMAN PEAVY. HE WAS BORN IN CONCORD, A TINY HAMLET IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF GADSDEN COUNTY ON SR 12 CLOSE TO BOTH THE COUNTY LINE AND THE STATE LINE. JOE WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 8, 1932, THE YOUNGEST OF NINE CHILDREN BORN TO WILLIAM ARTHUR PEAVY AND AMELIA BOWEN. HE IS THE GRANDSON OF THOMAS JEFFERSON PEAVY WHO SERVED WITH WM D. MITCHELL’S COMPANY OF THE GEORGIA 29TH REGIMENT DURING THE CIVIL WAR. HIS MATERNAL PEDIGREE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BACK TO THE EARLY 1800’S WHEN HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER, WALTER IRA BELL ARRIVED IN QUINCY AND MARRIED MARY MATILDA HERRING. SHERIFF PEAVY WAS EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF HAVANA IN GADSDEN COUNTY, FL. , THE BERRY SCHOOLS OF MOUNT BERRY, GA, THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TRAINING ACADEMY. HIS CAREER DUTY ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE DUTY AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN WITH THE US ARMY AND THE US PARATROOPS; THE FHP FOR 16 YEARS; AND THE MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN FLORIDA. HE WAS HONORED AS “DEAN OF SHERIFFS” IN 1999.
32.PETER C. BUCHER-(2001-2009)-ELECTED IN 2000, THE TENURE OF THIS SHERIFF COMMENCED IN JANUARY 2001. SHERIFF BUCHER WAS BORN IN NORTH TONAWANDA, NY ON APRIL 18, 1947. HE WAS EDUCATED AT PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE; TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE; FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL ACADEMY; FLORIDA CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SEMINAR CLASS 32. HE AND HIS WIFE GERRI HAVE ONE CHILD. HE HAS SERVED IN THE US ARMY IN VIETNAM. HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE: US ARMY MILITARY POLICE 1966-1970, FHP FOR 29 YEARS, TRAFFIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR FOR 18 YEARS, EMT/FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, AUXILIARY INSTRUCTOR, FIRST RESPONDER INSTRUCTOR, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, ADJUNCT FACULTY NORTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY, TRAFFIC RECONSTRUCTIONIST. HONORS AND AWARDS INCLUDE BRONZE STAR, VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY, FHP TROOPER OF THE MONTH(DECEMBER 1991), CHARTER MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF STATE TROOPERS 1990-1993, AND MEMBER OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2004, HE WAS RE-ELECTED. HE RETIRED IN JANUARY 2009.
33.BENJAMIN J. STEWART-ELECTED IN 2008, HIS TENURE COMMENCED IN JANUARY 2009. SHERIFF STEWART ATTENDED MADISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. HE RECEIVED HIS AA DEGREE FROM NORTH FLORIDA JUNIOR COLLEGE-NOW KNOWN AS NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE. HE ALSO GRADUATED FROM THE NORTH FLORIDA JUNIOR COLLEGE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY IN 1980. HE WAS IN THE US MARINE RESERVES FROM 1977-1984. HE ALSO ACQUIRED HIS PRIVATE PILOT’S LICENSE. CAREER ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE 20 YEARS WITH THE MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE; FIVE YEARS AS INVESTIGATOR WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE-3RD CIRCUIT. HE WAS CERTIFIED AS A FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AS WELL AS A POLYGRAPH EXAMINER. HE WAS RE-ELECTED IN 2012 AND AGAIN IN 2016. HONORS AND AFFILIATIONS INCLUDE: 2012 FLORIDA SHERIFF YOUTH RANCH BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMMENDATION FROM THE 3RD CIRCUIT STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION. HE IS A MEMBER OF GIDEON INTERNATIONAL. HE RETIRED IN 2020.
(ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FLORIDA SHERIFFS 1821-2008 VOLUME I & II, COMPLIED AND EDITED BY VICTOR R.SILVESTRI)
-Additional information on the 3rd Sheriff provided by his 4th great granddaughter Alana Edwards.