History
Price County was originated by an act of the State Legislature on March 3, 1879, from parts of Chippewa and Lincoln Counties.
According to the provisions of the bill creating it, Price County was attached to Taylor County for judicial purposes. The District Attorney, Clerk of Court and Sheriff of Taylor County also served the newly formed Price County.
Deputy Sheriff Appointed
Hence, it was necessary that a Deputy Sheriff be appointed for Price County. To meet this necessity, Sheriff Dennis Needham of Taylor County appointed Chris Dardis of Phillips as the 1st Deputy Sheriff.
In the election of November 1879, Eli L. Urquhart was elected Sheriff of Taylor County and served both Taylor and Price Counties during 1880 and 1881. On January 17, 1880, he re-appointed Chris Dardis as Deputy Sheriff for the Phillips area and Hugh McDermid Deputy Sheriff for the Fifield area.
According to the provisions of the bill creating it, Price County was attached to Taylor County for judicial purposes. The District Attorney, Clerk of Court and Sheriff of Taylor County also served the newly formed Price County.
Deputy Sheriff Appointed
Hence, it was necessary that a Deputy Sheriff be appointed for Price County. To meet this necessity, Sheriff Dennis Needham of Taylor County appointed Chris Dardis of Phillips as the 1st Deputy Sheriff.
In the election of November 1879, Eli L. Urquhart was elected Sheriff of Taylor County and served both Taylor and Price Counties during 1880 and 1881. On January 17, 1880, he re-appointed Chris Dardis as Deputy Sheriff for the Phillips area and Hugh McDermid Deputy Sheriff for the Fifield area.
Price County Jail & Courthouse Through the Years
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Price County Sheriff's Office 1894-1975
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Price County Sheriff's Office Today
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Price County Courthouse 1880-1894
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Price County Courthouse Circa 1895
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Price County Courthouse Circa Approximately 1930
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Price County Courthouse Circa Approximately 1930
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Price County Courthouse Circa Approximately 1930
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Price County Courthouse Today
Judicial System Split
Upon the separation of the judicial system of the two counties, the first election for office of Sheriff was held on November 18, 1881. Of the 294 votes that were cast in the election, Alexander W. Bond of the Republican ticket received 135 votes and Chris Dardis on the Union ticket received 114 votes and John Urquhart, whose party affiliation is unknown, received 45 votes.
On February 18, 1882, Alexander W. Bond took office as the first elected Sheriff of Price County.
Elected Sheriffs
Note: Article VI, Section 4, of Wisconsin Statutes, amended November 1882, limiting term of office to 1 2-year term and amended April 1929 to 2 2-year terms.
Upon the separation of the judicial system of the two counties, the first election for office of Sheriff was held on November 18, 1881. Of the 294 votes that were cast in the election, Alexander W. Bond of the Republican ticket received 135 votes and Chris Dardis on the Union ticket received 114 votes and John Urquhart, whose party affiliation is unknown, received 45 votes.
On February 18, 1882, Alexander W. Bond took office as the first elected Sheriff of Price County.
Elected Sheriffs
| Term Length |
Elected Sheriffs |
Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1882 - 1884 | Alexander W. Bond | Republican |
| 1885 - 1886 |
George Osterman |
Democrat |
| 1887 - 1888 |
Eugene Martin |
Democrat |
| 1889 - 1890 |
Thomas Bailey |
Democrat |
| 1891 - 1892 |
Al M. Hunt |
Democrat |
| 1893 - 1894 | Cornelius C. Kellher |
Democrat |
| 1895 - 1896 |
Nels Auley |
Republican |
| 1897 - 1898 |
Alex W. Nelson |
Republican |
| 1899 - 1900 |
Matt Christianson |
Republican |
| 1901 - 1902 |
William J. Neff |
Republican |
| 1903 - 1904 |
William F. Minnick |
Independent |
| 1905 - 1906 |
Charles A. Swerd |
Republican |
| 1907 - 1908 |
Patrick Barnett |
Democrat |
| 1909 - 1910 |
Matt Christianson |
Republican |
| 1911 - 1912 |
Ed Hewitt |
Republican |
| 1913 - 1914 |
Matt Christianson |
Republican |
| 1915 - 1916 |
Eli Hicks |
Republican |
| 1917 - 1918 |
Nick Bey |
Republican |
| 1919 - 1920 |
Charles G. Larson |
Republican |
| 1921 - 1922 |
Nick Bey |
Republican |
| 1923 - 1924 |
August Johnson |
Republican |
| 1925 - 1926 |
Nick Bey |
Republican |
| 1927 - 1928 |
Bert Alm |
Republican |
| 1929 - 1932 |
Nick Bey |
Republican |
| 1933 - 1934 |
John Craig |
Republican |
| 1935 - 1938 |
Howard Hicks |
Progressive |
| 1939 - 1940 |
John Boyer |
Progressive |
| 1941 - 1942 |
Gus Zierer |
Republican |
| 1943 - 1946 |
Leo Weyers |
Republican |
| 1947 - (died in office) |
Frank Cervenka |
Republican |
| 1947 - 1950 |
Herbert Hammond |
Republican |
| 1951 - 1954 |
George Heizler |
Republican |
| 1955 - 1958 |
Andrew Pilch |
Republican |
| 1959 - 1962 |
Paul Gehring |
Republican |
| 1963 - 1966 |
Andrew Pilch |
Republican |
| 1967 - 1980 |
Paul Gehring |
Republican |
| 1981 - 1986 |
Michael H. Johnson |
Democrat |
| 1987 - 1994 |
Wayne Wirsing |
Republican |
| 1995 - 2000 |
Richard J. Heitkemper |
Democrat |
| 2001 - 2002 |
Robert D. Randolph |
Democrat |
| 2003 - 2009 |
Wallace C. Krenzke |
Democrat |
| 2009 - |
Brian S. Schmidt |
Republican |
Note: Article VI, Section 4, of Wisconsin Statutes, amended November 1882, limiting term of office to 1 2-year term and amended April 1929 to 2 2-year terms.