GCSO History

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• The first session of the County Court was held March 11-14, 1833, at the house of John P. Campbell, in Springfield. From this first session of the court, John D. Shannon was appointed and commissioned as the first Sheriff of Greene County.
• In August 1834 a two day election was held and Benjamin U. Goodrich was elected as the second Sheriff of Greene County. Unfortunately the sheriff elect died on the evening of the election, from the effect of a bursting blood vessel.
• Governor Daniel Dunklin then appointed Chesley Cannefax as Sheriff of Greene County and prior to receiving his commission as the sheriff, John W. Hancock was appointed sheriff pro tem. Over the course of time, there have been 38 men and women who have held the prestigious office of Sheriff in Greene County Missouri.