History
Chemung County was created from areas of Tioga County on March 29, 1836. At that time, Tioga County comprised all of what are now known as the counties of Chemung, Chenango, Broome, Tioga and portions of the counties of Schuyler, Tompkins, Cortland and Delaware.
The first Sheriff of the area was not a Sheriff of Chemung County but of Tioga County. James McMasters, the first Sheriff of the area (Tioga County), was appointed when Tioga County was first formed on February 16, 1791. Appointments of constitutional officers were initially made by the State Legislature. The principal offices of the County, the County House and the Sheriff’s Office and Jail were to be located at New Town (Elmira) in the Town of Chemung, County of Tioga.
The first Sheriff of Chemung County, Albert A. Beckwith, did not become Sheriff of the County of Chemung at the time of the creation of the county. The legislative act which created Chemung County provided that the Sheriff of Tioga County continue to the perform duties of his office in both Tioga and Chemung Counties until the expiration of his term. That term expired on December 31, 1837. Sheriff Beckwith then started his term on January 1, 1838.
The term of Sheriff was two years from 1838 until 1938. In 1939, a four year term was applied to the office of Sheriff. There have been a total of Forty-Three Sheriffs of Chemung County since its creation.
Read more about this topic: Chemung County Sheriff's Office
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