HILL COUNTY SHERIFFS & OTHER LAWMEN

Sheriff Pro Tem William Wilson — May 14, 1853

In the early days of the organization of Hill County in 1853 the sheriff was appointed pro tem to serve during the sessions of the Hill County Commissioners’ Court. During this time, the sheriff only served while the court was in session and a different man might be appointed to serve as sheriff at the next session. Four commissioners and me, county judge were the only elected officials when the county was first organized. County records show that William Wilson was the first man appointed sheriff pro tem on 05/14/1853.

William L. Wilson, 23, a farmer born in Kentucky was living in Navarro County in 1850 according to Heritage Quest Online Census records. He could be the William Wilson who was selected sheriff pro tem at the first session of the Hill County Commissioners’ Court. No other trace of a William Wilson can be found in Navarro or Hill County in 1850 or 1860 census records.

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Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX, 76645. Sources: Hill County Records and Census Records.

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Sheriff Pro Tem Haywood Weatherby — appointed June 3, 1853

Haywood Weatherby (born 02/24/1810) was appointed sheriff pro tem on the 3rd day of June, 1853, according to The History of Hill County, 1853-1980. Later he was assigned the job of going to Springfield, (Limestone County) Texas at his own expense to bring back a certified map of Hill County and to the state to be delivered to The Commissioners’ Court within ten days. The Court later authorized a $15 allowance for Weatherby for this task. On 09/24/1853 he and Hugh McMullen were appointed as chain carriers for surveying. He carried the chain for the survey laying off the streets and lots in Hillsboro. Weatherby served as special bailiff of the District Court in Hillsboro in the spring term, 1855 in Hillsboro. When Haywood Weatherby died in 1857 he was Assessor and Tax Collector of Hill County. The Commissioners’ court appointed his son John Weatherby to fill the term of his father on the 26th day of April, 1857.

Weatherby had come looking for land in the area in 1852 with his brother-in-law, Richard Cason Frazier, and Jim Guest. Weatherby homesteaded about 2 miles east of where Hillsboro was to be; near where the Outlet Mall is located today.

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In the 1850 census the family name is spelled Weatherbee and they are farming in Missouri. Adults are Haywood, 40, born in Kentucky; Eleanor, 38, born in Tennessee; and Hardin, 83, born in Maryland. Children, born in Arkansas, are: John J., 14, Frances M., 13, James M., 11, Hardin W., 9, Richard J., 7, and Robert T., 5. The youngest children, Polly D., 1, and Haywood T., less than a year old, were born in Missouri. Also living with the family was Sophia Steambury, 6, born in Arkansas.

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Haywood Weatherby died 04/10/1857 and is buried in Old Hillsboro Cemetery. Children listed living with Nelly Weatherby (42) in the 1860 census in Hill County, Texas were John, 24; James, 21; Hardin, 18; Richard, 15; Polly, 11; and Haywood, 10. The older boys were listed as farmers or stock raisers. Nelly Weatherby died December 20, 1893 and is buried in Old Hillsboro Cemetery. She was born April 25, 1818. Her obituary stated that Nellie Frazier married Haywood Weatherby in Benton County, Arkansas on March 12, 1835.

Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, Texas 76645. Sources: A History of Hill County, Texas: 1853-1980 by Hill County Historical Commission; Hill County Records; Census, letter on file at Hill County Cell Block Museum. Photo from Hill County Cell Block Museum.

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Charles S. Davis — First Elected Sheriff of Hill County, Texas, 1853

Charles S. Davis was born in Hickman County, Tennessee about 1826, the son of John H. Davis and Nancy Shores Davis. He married Sarah A. Pryor, daughter of Benjamin W. Pryor, an early settler in the area that became Hill County, TX. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Davis was born in Tennessee in 1848. Their son William Oscar Davis was born in Brandon, Texas, in 1851. Charles was the brother of James Ransom Davis of Hill County. They came to Hill County together about 1849.

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Charles received a land grant of 320 acres and settled in Brandon. He served as appointed deputy sheriff in the Navarro District of Ellis County before his election in 1853 as the first sheriff of Hill County. He met an early death in 1855 and is buried in Old Brandon Cemetery.

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State of Texas Commission Certificate to Charles S. Davis as Sheriff of Hill County, Texas 1853.

Sarah Davis then married Horatio D. Perry, a resident of Hill County. Their children were Rachel, Jesse M. M., and Harriet A. Perry. The family moved to Houston County and Sarah probably died between 1863 and 1870.

William Oscar Davis married Mary Jane Kennelly and lived in Harris County and Fort Bend County in Texas. They are buried in Shake Creek Cemetery in Fort Bend County, Texas. Ten children were born to this union.

Mary Elizabeth Davis married John Cox. They are buried in Harris County, Texas. Four children were born to this union.

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Charles S. Davis was a participant in what became known as the Fort Graham Affair. In 1853 Major Ripley Arnold was commander of U.S. Fort Graham in Hill County. Dr. Josephus Steiner was their contract military doctor. Major Arnold had ordered Dr. Steiner arrested due to an altercation Steiner had with one of the men at the post. When Steiner went to confront Arnold about the arrest, shots were fired and Arnold was killed. Steiner was arrested, but requested and was allowed to turn himself over to Hill County authorities where a local panel found he acted in self-defense and released him. He then requested a civilian trial to clear his name.

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However, the military charged him with murder and ordered his appearance before a general court martial in Austin.

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Dr. Steiner was also doctor to local residents, a popular man, and they were intent on protecting Steiner from the military. Lt. Anderson and his men arrested Steiner and were moving him to Austin when they were intercepted by a group of local citizens led by Sheriff Charles S. Davis. Davis had apprised McLennan County Sheriff of the seizure and requested that Anderson be arrested at the ferry near Waco and Steiner freed. Confronted by the Davis group and then McLennan County officials, Lt. Anderson was forced to turn Dr. Steiner over to civilian authorities. Dr. Steiner had his trial and was found not guilty. He left the area and never faced the military charges.

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Submitted by: Shirley Davis Conrad, 1413 Harris Avenue, Pasadena, Texas 77506 and Carol Davis Jones, 16823 Crestmont Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477 and Carolyn Kennelly Davis. Sources: Research and records of John Kennelly Davis and Effie Horton Davis; Fort Graham Affair - Hill County (Texas) Trilogy, by Colonel Harold B. Simpson, Hill College Press, Hillsboro, Texas, 1986.

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Sheriff John Flower — 1854–March 15, 1856​

John Flower, Sheriff from 1854-03/15/1856, was a native of England. He immigrated to New York in 1840 with his parents and then came to Texas by way of Madison County, Illinois, according to information from one of his descendants. Flower is mentioned in History of the Waco Baptist Association of Texas, by J. W. Walker and C. P. Lumpkin; published in 1897. The book lists his birthday as 08/07/1818 and his death as 11/19/1890 at his home near Waco. He also served as Hill County surveyor.

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He married Nancy Renfro in Illinois. They had two daughters, Sara and Louise. She died in Hill County. He was married the second time to Mrs. Almorinda (Bennett) Moore on June 9, 1859. In the 1870 census of McLennan County, Texas, he is listed as living east of the Brazos River with his wife, with six children at home.

The census lists her name as Amanda rather than Almorinda. The children at home were: Louise, 18; Ann, 14; William Moore (a step-son), 12; Nancy, 9; John, 7; Joseph, 5; and Robert Lee, 3. After 18 years death claimed his second wife. Nearly five years later, he was married to Miss Lillian Merritt, who also died soon afterward.

Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, Texas 76645. Sources: Letter and photo in Hill County Cell Block Museum, County Records, History of the Waco Baptist Association of Texas by J. W. Walker and C. P. Lumpkin, 1897.

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 William Ingram — March 15, 1856–February 1857 

William Ingram/Ingraham/Ingraim was Sheriff of Hill County when the first jail building was erected in 1856-57. During the period when a jail was in the planning stages, the court paid James B. Stephens for boarding three prisoners while they were under arrest in Hillsboro. William S. Ingraham was paid for guarding the prisoners. In May, 1856 W. (William) Young was paid an advance payment for building the Hill County Jail in Hillsboro. In August 1856 the jail was received by the County Court which ordered the County Treasurer to pay $1,793.00 total less the advance payment for the jail which was located 290 feet north of the square on North Waco Street. One partition was stone and the other was logs according to Ellis Bailey in A History of Hill County, Texas 1838-1965. About 1870 it was moved to the northwest corner of the courthouse yard where it stood until 1876 when a new building was erected. The new jail cost $12,000. This building burned in 1896. William R. Reeves (1837-1911) bought the log portion of the first jail and moved it east of Itasca and built a house over and around it which was still standing in the 1960s according to Ellis Bailey.

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William Ingram was elected Sheriff of Hill County on March 15, 1856 and served until February, 1857 when he resigned according to Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise. Bond for W. S. Ingram as sheriff was approved by the Hill County Court on March 31, 1856 and again in August 1856.

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The only Ingram listed in the 1860 Hill County Census is G. W. Ingram. It is not known if he and Sheriff Ingram were related.

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Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Sources: A History of Hill County, Texas 1853-1980 by Hill County Historical Commission; Hill County Records; Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise. Published for Sammy Tise by Oakwood Printing, Albuquerque, New Mexico, copyright, 1989; A History of Hill County, Texas 1838-1965 by Ellis Bailey, Texian Press, Waco, TX 1996.

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Sheriff John W. Crook — February 1857–August 2, 1858

Strange as it may seem Hill County once had a sheriff named Crook. Bond for John W. Crook as Sheriff of Hill County was approved by the County Court in June of 1857. He had been appointed Sheriff in February, 1857. He served until August 2, 1858 according to Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise. During the Civil War Crook was Hill County Treasurer and also served as Deputy Sheriff in 1863 while he was Treasurer.

John W. Crook was 40 and a stockman in the 1860 Census of Hill County. He was born in South Carolina. His wife, Amanda, and two children, Margaret H., 11, and William L., 6, were born in Mississippi. Charles E., 3, the youngest child, was born in Texas.

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Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, Texas 76645. Sources: County records; Census records; Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise, published for Tommy Tise by Oakwood Printing, copyright 1989.

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Sheriff John M. Wornell — August 2, 1858–August 4, 1862

John M. (Middleton) Wornell/Wornel (1828-1864) was the first of two Wornell brothers to be Sheriff of Hill County. He served two terms being first elected 08/02/1858, and serving until 08/04/1862. He served in CSA Co. F., 7th Texas Mounted Cavalry, Green’s Brigade and was killed in the Battle of Yellow Bayou in Louisiana in 1864 and is buried there. A Confederate memorial marker and a Citizen of the Republic of Texas marker honor his memory in Hickey Cemetery in Hill County. He never married.

“The first goods that were sold at Lexington were hauled from New Salem, Rusk County, in an ox wagon by D. C. Wornell and his brother John M. in the winter of 1853,” according to A. Y. Kirkpatrick in his book, The Early Settler’s Life in Texas and the Organization of Hill County. John M. had arrived about 1852 when the area was part of Navarro County with his brother-in-law and sister, Harrison and Mary Ann (Wornell) Ables and he settled in the Lexington area. After making the supply trip with his brother, sixteen-year-old Crockett Wornell returned to Rusk County to help his parents and sisters make the move to Hill County.

Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Sources: Wornel Papers by Roy E. Gibson in Historical Research Center, Hill College, Hillsboro, TX; The Early Settler’s Life in Texas and the Organization of Hill County by A. Y. Kirkpatrick.

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Sheriff J. B. Hardin — August 4, 1862–December 1862/January 1863

J. B. Hardin served as Hill County Sheriff for less than a year, dying in December 1862 or January 1863 after being elected August 4, 1862. Joseph B. Hardin, 56, and born in Tennessee was a hotel keeper in Hillsboro according to the 1860 census. His wife, Ann, 48, was born in Missouri. One daughter, Margaret, 26, was born in Mississippi and two daughters, Nancy G., 17 and Analiza, 15, were born in Texas. The family was in Limestone County where he was a tavern keeper in the 1850 census.

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Ann Hardin stayed on in Hillsboro after her husband’s death according to the 1870 census.

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Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II Committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Sources: County Records, Census Records, Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise. Published for Sammy Tise by Oakwood Printing Co., copyright 1989.

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Sheriff Thomas Bowles — February 2, 1863–August 1864

Thomas Bowles was appointed Hill County Sheriff after J. B. Hardin died while in office. The Hill County Court approved his bond as sheriff on Feb. 2, 1863 and he served until August, 1864 when a new sheriff was elected.

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Thomas Bowles was listed as Bowls in the 1860 census of Hill County, Texas. Thomas, 53, a farmer, and his wife, Elizabeth, 47, were born in Virginia. The two oldest sons, Thomas W., 20, and Jacob C., 18, were born in Missouri. Talbert N., 16, and George J., 14, were born in Alabama. Zachereah T. was born in Missouri, while Martha T., 9, was born in Arkansas. Charles K., 5, and Edward S., 3, were born in Texas. So the family was in Texas in 1855.

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The two oldest sons are listed as confederate veterans living in Hill County in Hill County (Texas) Trilogy by Colonel Harold B. Simpson. Both J. C. and Tom served in Co. A, 12th Texas Calvary, Parson’s Brigade. Thomas Bowles transferred a deed to G. J. Bowles on July 17, 1874, recorded in Book Q, p. 127.

Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County, Texas Vol. II committee, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Source: County records; census records; Hill County Texas (Texas) Trilogy by Colonel Harold B. Simpson.

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Sheriff James B. Stephens — August 1864–August 17, 1865

James B. Stephens was elected Sheriff of Hill County in August, 1864 and served until August 17, 1865. Union forces of occupation arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 and reconstruction was at hand.

Stephens was mentioned in Hill County records May 20, 1856 when the County Court authorized payment to him for boarding three prisoners at Hillsboro before the first jail was completed. J. B. Stephens, 35, was listed as a farmer from Missouri in the 1860 Hill County Census. Cassain, his 24-year-old wife, had been born in Mississippi. Both John, 8, and Jas. B., 11 months, had been born in Texas, meaning the family was in the state by 1852.

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Submitted by: Heritage of Hill County Committee Vol. II, P.O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Sources: County records and census records; Texas County Sheriffs by Tommy Tise, Published for Sammy Tise by Oakwood Printing, copyright, 1989.

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Sheriff David Crockett Wornell — August 17, 1865–June 1866; appointed again May 20, 1869 but failed to qualify

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After returning home from the Civil War, David Crockett Wornell or Wornel (03/30/1837-11/02/1924) was appointed Sheriff on 08/17/1865 by Gov. Hamilton and served until 06/1866. He was again appointed Sheriff 05/20/1869 by General J. J. Reynolds’s Special Order #119, but failed to qualify. D. C. Wornell had been elected Constable of Precinct No. 1 through write-in votes in the 1858 election where his brother, John M. Wornell, was elected sheriff. He served as deputy under his brother and sixteen years as deputy under Sheriff John P. Cox. He also served as tax collector for Hill County from 1882-1884, among other offices.

“During his long life in Hill County, he filled many positions of trust, none of which he betrayed,” according to his obituary.

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Wornell was born in Holly Springs, Miss., to William Richard Wornell and Judith (Middleton) Wornell as his family was migrating from Tennessee to Texas. Six months later the family arrived in San Augustine County. His childhood was spent in San Augustine, Shelby and Rusk Counties. The family settled on Jack’s Branch in the Union Bluff community when they arrived in Hill County around 1855.

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“In March, 1860 he and two companions made a trip to Pikes Peak, Colo., apparently for the purpose of searching for gold. He returned to Hill Co. on Dec. 20, 1860 after stopping over some two months in Miller Co., Missouri, where he had relatives on his paternal side. This nine-month trip accounts for him not being enumerated in the 1860 Hill County, Texas census,” from Wornel papers of Roy E. Gibson.

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While in Missouri Wornell married America Glass (8/14/1833-6/1/1913), his first half cousin, on October 24, 1860. In early 1861 he returned to Missouri to bring his wife and her mother, Eleanor “Nellie” Glass to Hill County. “Nellie” Glass was a half-sister to his father, William R. Wornell.

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During the Civil War Wornell was a member of CSA Co. “D,” 19th Texas Calvary, Parson’s Brigade and he was a founder of the Hill County Camp #166 of United Confederate Veterans. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, the Church of Christ and Old Settlers Organization. Wornell and his wife, America (Glass) Wornell, are buried in Hickey Cemetery as are his parents.

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Sheriff James McCullough Wilson — June 25, 1866–January 1867

J.M.C. Wilson was elected Sheriff of Hill County on 06/25/1866 after he returned home from the Civil War. He served until Jan. 1867 when he resigned due to Radical Reconstruction.

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Born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, on 03/22/1833, he was the youngest son of Samuel and Elizabeth (McCullough) Wilson. He came with his father to Hill County in 1855. He rented land and farmed until the outbreak of the Civil War. According to A Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson & Hill Counties, “He enlisted in Company C, Sixth Texas Cavalry Regiment, Ross’ Brigade; was soon promoted to First Lieutenant and next to Captain. He fought in a number of hard battles, was shot and badly wounded four times, was near when the standard bearer was shot down.”

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Captain Wilson bought 300 acres of farmland, to which he added two thousand acres on the Brazos River. He served as Justice of the Peace of his precinct for six years and in 1888 was elected representative of his county.

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Records During Reconstruction Still Under Research

Where Hill County records were unclear or missing we relied on information from Texas County Sheriffs by Sammy Tise. He researched State Election Registers in the Texas State Archives as well as many county records. “The post Civil War era, 1865-1876, can be a nightmare on dates. The people elected sheriffs, the military appointed sheriffs, and sheriffs resigned or refused to qualify,” is his description of the difficulty of researching this period.

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In Hill County, the 2-story brick courthouse was destroyed by fire 09/03/1872. Public documents including some district court and probate court records were burned.

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Sheriff John Carroll Snead — January 21, 1867–May 20, 1869

John Carroll Snead was born June 18, 1834 in Mississippi to Israel and Sarah Jane Reynolds Snead. John C. was the oldest of 11 children. John Carroll Snead was appointed/elected the 12th Sheriff of Hill County, Texas January 21, 1867 and was said to have “officially” served until May 20, 1869 when he was reported to have been “disqualified” by Union military officials. On August 22, 1869, Snead was killed while attempting to arrest Alex Bell. Hill County historical accounts identify Snead as the only Hill County sheriff to be killed in the line of duty.

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Sheriff Robert Purnell — Reconstruction era

During Reconstruction two Hill County Sheriffs were named Purnell. Some sources list the Purnells as brothers. According to census records it seems likely that Robert Purnell was the son of John A. Purnell.

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Sheriff E. Beauchamp — about one year; removed November 1870.

E. Beauchamp served during the turbulent Reconstruction period and was later removed from office. His first name appears in records as Evan or Evin, and his surname sometimes appears as Beecham.

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Sheriff J. P. Grace — appointed December 21, 1870

J. P. Grace, a northerner by birth, was appointed sheriff on 12/21/1870 to replace the ousted Beauchamp.

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Sheriff Samuel A. Reavis — appointed March 11, 1871; failed to qualify

Samuel A. Reavis was appointed Sheriff on March 11, 1871 but failed to qualify. He later served as County Judge in Hill County.

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Sheriff Horatio Perry Harris — 1871–1872

H. P. Harris served as sheriff during the closing years of Reconstruction. He was a Confederate veteran, longtime Hill County resident, and active in local public life.

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Sheriff J. M. Abbott — brief time in 1872

J. M. Abbott was a distinguished lawyer, judge, Texas legislator, and U.S. Congressman. He also appears in Hill County historical records as having briefly served as sheriff during Reconstruction.

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Sheriff John P. Cox — 1872–1882 and again 1886–1892

John P. Cox became one of Hill County’s longest-serving nineteenth-century sheriffs. Historical accounts credit him with approximately sixteen years in office over two administrations. He was a Civil War veteran and one of the county’s prominent public officials during a period of rapid settlement and growth.

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Sheriff John W. Morrison — 1882–1884

John W. Morrison served as sheriff after John P. Cox temporarily left office. Morrison was a Confederate veteran and longtime Hill County resident.

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Sheriff Tom Bell Jr. — late nineteenth century

Tom Bell Jr. became one of Hill County’s best-known nineteenth-century lawmen. He served during the era in which the present 1893 jail was constructed and was sheriff during Hill County’s last legal hanging in 1899.

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Sheriff William Isaac Satterfield Jr. — 1901–1906

William I. Satterfield was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket in 1900. Once elected, he moved his family to the sheriff’s residence located in the Hill County jail, now the Hill County Cell Block Museum. He was twice reelected and served six years.

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Sheriff Euclid M. Cox — 1907–1910

Euclid M. Cox, son of Sheriff John P. Cox Sr., served one term as sheriff from 1907 through 1910.

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Sheriff J. W. “Jim” Freeland — 1911–1914; again 1931–1934

Jim Freeland was first elected sheriff in 1910 and served two terms. He later became mayor of Hillsboro and returned to the sheriff’s office in 1930. During his second administration, Freeland tracked down Raymond Hamilton following the notorious 1933 Hill County jail escape.

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Sheriff Fred W. Long — elected 1914; two terms

Fred Whitson Long began his law-enforcement career as City Marshal of Itasca. He was elected Hill County Sheriff in 1914 and served two terms. During World War I, Long also served as Chairman of the Hill County Draft Board. He later worked as a special investigator for the Texas Attorney General.

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Sheriff J. Y. McDaniel — 1919–1922

J. Y. McDaniel served as Hill County Sheriff from approximately 1919 through 1922. He and his wife lived at the jail, where she prepared meals for prisoners.

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Sheriff E. H. “Ed” Wilson — 1923–1926

Edwin Harrison Wilson served two terms as Hill County Sheriff before George Payton Simmons.

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Sheriff George Payton Simmons — January 1927–January 1, 1931

George Payton Simmons was elected November 2, 1926 and reelected November 6, 1928, serving until January 1, 1931. He was remembered by family members and residents as a respected and compassionate lawman.

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Sheriff Robert Franklin “Bob” Wilkinson — 1937–1940

Bob Wilkinson joined the Hill County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy in 1927. He was elected sheriff in 1936 and served during the Depression-era period associated with John Dillinger, Clyde Barrow, Bonnie Parker, Raymond Hamilton and other notorious criminals.

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Sheriff Clarence J. Smith — January 1941–January 1, 1945

Clarence Smith was elected sheriff November 5, 1940 and reelected November 3, 1942. He served until January 1, 1945.

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Sheriff Otis Ralph Allen Sr. — 1945–1948

Ralph Allen served four years as Hill County Sheriff after a long career in county law enforcement. He was remembered for combining firm enforcement with practical judgment and common sense.

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Sheriff Charlie C. Garrison — 1949–1952

Charlie C. Garrison served two terms as Hill County Sheriff from 1949 through 1952. He had previously worked as a Hill County deputy and later served as a police chief.

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Sheriff James Nick Wafer — January 1953–January 1, 1955

James Nick Wafer was elected November 4, 1952 and served until January 1, 1955. He and his family lived in the apartment above the jail during his tenure.

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Sheriff Ernest M. Brooks — January 1, 1955–December 1971

Ernest Brooks defeated incumbent Nick Wafer in the 1954 election and took office in January 1955.

During his long administration, the sheriff’s office dealt with bank robberies, jail operations, modernization of equipment and numerous major law-enforcement matters. Brooks died while still serving as sheriff.

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Sheriff May V. Brooks — 1972

May V. Brooks succeeded her husband, Ernest Brooks, following his death and completed the remainder of his term. She already knew the sheriff’s office well after years of assisting her husband with paperwork, calls and jail operations. She was remembered as calm but firm and declined requests to run for a full term of her own.

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Sheriff William Ray “Ray” Pettit — December 29, 1972–December 31, 1980

Ray Pettit began his career with the Hillsboro Police Department, became county jailer and later deputy sheriff. He announced for sheriff in January 1972, won the Democratic primary and faced no Republican opponent. He was sworn in December 29, 1972, reelected in 1976 and retired December 31, 1980.

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Sheriff V. Brent Button — January 1981–January 1, 2009

Brent Button began as a Hill County deputy before being elected sheriff in 1980.

During his approximately twenty-eight years in office, the sheriff’s department expanded significantly in staff, technology, communications and detention facilities. His administration oversaw the transition from the historic jail to the Hill County Law Enforcement Center.

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Sheriff’s Department Move — 1984

The Hill County Sheriff’s Office moved into the new Hill County Law Enforcement Center in April 1984. The sheriff’s office and jail were consolidated into one facility. The move effectively ended the historic jail’s long period as an operating county detention facility and opened the way for its preservation as the Hill County Cell Block Museum.

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Sheriff Jeffrey T. Lyon — January 1, 2009–December 31, 2016

A native of Hill County and a lifelong public servant, Jeffrey T. Lyon was elected Hill County Sheriff in 2008 and took office on January 1, 2009. During his eight years in office through December 31, 2016, Sheriff Lyon upheld the traditions of the sheriff’s office while working to protect residents, strengthen community relationships and modernize law enforcement operations.

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Sheriff Rodney B. Watson — January 1, 2017–December 31, 2024

Rodney B. Watson was elected Hill County Sheriff in November 2016 and took office January 1, 2017.

He served two terms through December 31, 2024. His administration focused on professional law enforcement, public safety, support for deputies and stronger relationships with communities throughout Hill County.

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Sheriff Hunter Barnes — January 1, 2025–Present

Hunter Barnes was elected Hill County Sheriff in 2024 and was sworn into office on January 1, 2025.

As the current sheriff, Barnes represents the latest chapter in an office that has served Hill County since its organization in 1853. His administration continues the county’s long tradition of law enforcement while addressing the demands of modern public safety.