Saguache County Sheriffs

For quite some time I’ve thought of doing an article on Saguache County Sheriffs, but didn’t know where to come up with the names of some of the early ones. Recently, Ron Kessler of Monte Vista researched the records and thanks to him I now have the complete list of names.

James Fullerton, the first sheriff, was elected in 1888, while Colorado was still a Territory. James and his brother Humphrey Fullerton, were some of the first ranchers in the area and were known to have several hundred horses along with their cattle operation. Their homestead was located about five miles west of Saguache. The ranch is presently owned by Joe and Donna Alexander. 

The second person to hold the office, was Nathan Russell, a Civil War Veteran, who located along Saguache ,Creek, about a mile south of town. Part of his first holdings are still listed on the town maps and are known as Russell’s Addition.

Third in line to hold the Sheriff’s position was Amos Wall. It was during his term of office that the infamous Alferd Packer was incarcerated and escaped . (supposedly from Sheriff Wall’s cellar structure located about 6 east of Saguache). There have been many versions of the story of Alferd dining out in the woods with his friends!

According to the information I have, S. H. Tucker was our fourth Sheriff and served two years, 1878-1880. I hope that someone who reads this account might have information about Sheriff Tucker and also the next three men who held the office.

W. K Bronough is listed as Saguache County’s fifth sheriff for the years 1880-1884.

R. L. Henderson’s name shows him to be number six on the list, serving from 1884-1890.

L. L. Thomas was the seventh in the lineup and he was sheriff from 1890-1892. Evidently, the term of office was for two years in those days.

I have personally known all of the rest of the sheriffs on this list except W. A. McEntyre, who died two years before I was born.

“Jimmy” Slane was sheriff number eight and also a cattle rancher. His ranch, located about 20 miles west of Saguache has been owned by several generations of his family. When I was a small boy, Mr. and Mrs. Slane retired and moved to town and lived across the street from us on Christy Avenue.

W. A. McEntyre was the ninth sheriff. “Mac” as he was known and his wife Lottie operated the Theatre which was located on Main Street, east of the Saguache Hotel. I well remember attending “silent’ movies in the show house before the days of “talkies”. The McEntyre family lived in the house on First Street, presently the home of Gladys Hazard.

Eugene Williams was the tenth sheriff elected in this county. As a young man, he also was a rancher and a couple of places he owned many years ago, are still referred to by old time residents as the “Williams Places”. Several years after serving as sheriff, Mr. Williams was appointed County Road Supervisor, a position he fulfilled for many years.

#37 - 12 Sep 96 - Saguache County Sheriffs Part 2