Timeline: Washburn County Sheriffs
Washburn County was created by the State Legislature in 1883.
1883-1884
James Wynne, first Washburn County sheriff, appointed by Gov. Rusk
Wynne served two years. He was a farmer in Bashaw Valley and was one of the first rural Postmasters.
(James Wynne appointed by governor in 1883 via WI Blue Book).
1885-1886
Peter Hyland
He was the first Washburn County sheriff elected by voters (WBB)
May 1885 county board funded $1,000 for a jail, also bid courthouse construction.
1887-1888
W.M. Beede (WBB)
1889-1890
Andrew Ryan (WBB)
He was elected fall of 1888 served two years, later publisher of Washburn County Register, built first phone line in Washburn County, democratic candidate. File on him at the WCHS with photos. (WBB)
1891-1892
Geo L. Cott (WBB)
1893-1894
Chas Shaver (WBB)
1895-1896
Louis Wang (WBB)
1897-1898
Geo Tozer (WBB)
1898-1900
Andrew E. Kennedy (WBB)
Shell Lake, fall 1898, served two years, first occupant of new jail, Former State Rep Pat Smith’s grandfather and great grandfather of former state rep Stephen Smith. (WBB)
1901-1902
Wm J. Page (WBB)
1903-1904
George Tozer (WBB) (WCHS)
Spooner, Tozer pronounced “toes-er”, Tozer Lake named after him he used to log on land west of Spooner around the lake. Before he died he built a home in Spooner at the corner of Rusk and Scribner streets where the Spooner Funeral Home is (2019). He died in 1905.
1905-1906
Geo E. Stratton (WBB)
1907-1908
Joseph H. Sullivan (WBB)
1909-1910
Geo E Stratton (WBB)
George Stratton, Spooner, ran for reelection in 1912, operated a saloon in Spooner for two years before being elected sheriff. 1910 Joseph H. Sullivan, democrat, ran for sheriff along with Sam A. Larson and Samuel L. Peaks, republican. 1909 George Stratton (dryden)
1911-1912
Sam A. Larson (WBB)
1913-1914
James A. Johnson (WBB)
1915-1916
A.F. Cameron (WBB)
1917-1918
F.P. O’Connor (WBB)
1919-1920
Archie F. Cameron (WBB)
1921-1922
James A. Johnson (WBB)
1923-1924
Rodger Ryan (WBB)
1925-1926
Joseph J. Waggoner (WBB)
1927-1928
Mrs. M.I. Waggoner (Minnie) (WBB)
Minne and J.J. Waggoner were husband and wife, both were sheriffs. J.J. Waggoner was elected in Sept. 1924 and served 8 years. Minnie Waggoner was then elected and served a term.
1929-1930
J.J. Waggoner (WBB)
1931-1932
J.J. Waggoner (WBB)
1933-1934
Frank P. O’Connor (WBB)
1935-1936
Frank P. O’Connor (WBB)
O’Connor’s campaign slogan, “Have fulfilled duties of this office economically before and pledge myself to do so again”.
1937
Robert H. Willis
1938/39
Was a single year. U of W does not have 38/39 Blue Book.
1938-1939
Robert Willis (unconfirmed)
1940-1941
Robert Willis (WBB)
1942-1943
Frank Pokorny
1944-1945
Frank J. Pokorny (WBB)
1946-1947
Floyd W. Bannister (WBB)
1948-1949
Floyd W. Bannister (WBB)
1950-1951
Henry W. McCulloch (WBB)
Sheriff Lawrence Stegeman
Sheriff Alicia Stegeman
1952-1953
Laurence Stegeman (WBB)
1954-1955
Lawrence Stegeman (WBB)
1956-1958
Jim Scharhag
1959-1962
Lawrence Stegeman
Lawrence sheriff for three terms then Alicia was sheriff on an alternate term that Lawrence (Larry) couldn’t run.
1963-1964
Alicia Stegeman
Sheriff James Scharhag
Sheriff Arnold Drost
1965-1970
Arnold “Arnie” Drost
Sheriff Marvin Anderson
Sheriff Don Fuller
1970-1984
Marv Anderson
1984-1990
Don Fuller, sheriff three terms/six years, Marv went to chief deputy then quit after Fuller took office. His wife Dorothy was the law enforcement assistant which was a challenging situation with Fuller as sheriff. In his term is that is when there was an escape, Todd York (& another inmate). Todd was awaiting trial for the murder of his parents. That is what escalated the building of the new jail. The two escapees did not have a very good plan after they escaped & were out for a couple days before being captured again.
Sheriff Terry Dryden
1991 – 2019
Sheriff Dennis Stuart
2019 – present
1991-2019
Terry Dryden, Shell Lake, elected Nov. 1990, final day in in office Jan. 7, 2019. Dryden was part of the movement to have the sheriff’s terms changed to four-year terms from two year terms. The main reason for this was to allow them more time to serve in the position instead of only serving one year and having to campaign again.
2019 – Present
Dennis Stuart, Minong, elected Nov. 2018, took office Jan. 7, 2019
