Civic Officers in Caldwell County
The government organized in 1836 as a
solution to the state’s “Mormon problem.” Missourians understood that
the county was intended for Mormon settlement. Counties in Missouri were
primarily governed by the county court, which consisted of three
justices. These justices were initially appointed by the governor, but
they were up for reelection or replacement every four years. One of the
justices was appointed president of the court by his peers. The justices
had the power to appoint a treasurer and a clerk/recorder for the court
and county, while other county offices, such as assessor, sheriff, and
coroner, were elected positions. Because of the lack of contemporaneous records, it
is impossible to completely reconstruct the local governments of
Caldwell County during the period from February 1838 through August
1839.
| Before August 1838 | 6 August 1838 |
| Court Officers | Court Officers |
| , president | , president |
| , justice | , justice |
| Unidentified justice | , justice |
| , clerk and recorder | , clerk and recorder |
| Unidentified treasurer | Unidentified treasurer |
| Assessors | Assessors |
| Unidentified |
| Coroner |
| Unidentified |
| Sheriff |
| (appointed 1837; elected 6 August 1838) |
| John Skidmore (appointed before March 1839) |
| Deputies |
| (appointed June 1838) |
| William Allred (appointed 9 September 1838) |
Rockford Township
Shortly after being organized, was subdivided
into four municipal townships: Rockford, Blythe, Grand River, and
Davis. Each township could elect up to four justices
of the peace and a constable. Rockford Township included , where many 1838 documents were produced.
| Justices of the Peace |
| (resigned by 9 April 1838) |
| David Frampton (served in 1838) |
| Harvey Green (served in 1838) |
| (served in 1838) |
| (serving as of 10 September 1838) |
| (elected 2 January 1839) |
| (elected 2 January 1839) |
| Constable |
| (elected spring 1838) |
Far West
The town of apparently was legally incorporated sometime between
April and November 1837.
law required that the town government begin with
five trustees, initially appointed by the county court but elected
thereafter. The trustees had the power to appoint an assessor, a
collector, a constable, and other necessary officers. The initial
appointments would have occurred in connection with the town’s
incorporation. The first election of trustees would have occurred on 2
April 1838. None of the trustees in 1837 or 1838 has been
identified.
| Trustees |
| Unidentified |
| Assessor |
| Collector |
| Constable |