Renville County

Sheriff’s Office History

Since the Office of Sheriff was first filled in Renville County in 1860, 22 different Sheriffs have served Renville County:

 (Our sincere thanks to retired Deputy Sheriff Brad Sietsema, who compiled the following data.)

1. Sheriff David Carrothers  9. Sheriff Hans O. Field17. Sheriff Fred C. Johnson
2. Sheriff James W. Graves10. Sheriff William Wichman18. Sheriff Donald Davis
3. Sheriff James Carrothers11. Sheriff N. L. Headline19. Sheriff Mike Zaske
4. Sheriff Henry J. Wilcher  12. Sheriff John A. Vick20. Sheriff Donald Davern
5. Sheriff William Harvey Jewell13. Sheriff Oliver T. Sunde21. Sheriff Jerry O. Agre
6. Sheriff Jerome P. Patten14. Sheriff Henry Heaney22. Sheriff Scott D. Hable
7. Sheriff James Arnold15. Sheriff Guy R. Phillips
8. Sheriff Martin Jensen16. Sheriff Ben C. Leonard

The elections took place in the month of November of the year shown, and officials took their Office in January of the next year, unless otherwise noted; as in appointments.

Election History
ElectionNotesSheriff
Election of 1860
Outbreak of Dakota Indian War in August of 1862.  No election in November of 1862.  Things were unsettled from 1862 until about 1866.  White settlers were either killed or fled the Renville County area.  Settlers did not return until about 1864.		David Carrothers         
1860 – 1862?
Election of 1866Elections held at Beaver Falls. Confirmed by the Legislature; Beaver Falls becomes the Renville County seat.  When the Commissioners met on April 4, 1867, Sheriff-Elect Graves had not qualified. James W. Graves
AppointmentApril 4, 1867, Mr. Carrothers was appointed because the elected Sheriff did not qualify.  However, a short time afterward, Mr. Graves qualified. Appointment of James Carrothers, is revoked, and James W. Graves is again Sheriff of Renville County.  Sheriff Graves later resigned.   James Carrothers
AppointmentFebruary 22, 1872, Mr. Patten was appointed following the resignation of Sheriff Graves. Jerome P. Patten
Election of 1872 James Arnold elected.  In the summer of 1874, Sheriff Arnold moved to New Ulm.James Arnold
AppointmentJuly 29, 1874, Martin Jensen was appointed following Sheriff Arnold’s departure.Martin Jensen
Election of 1876Martin Jensen is elected.Martin Jensen
Election of 1878Martin Jensen – 766 / John King – 240Martin Jensen
Election of 1880Martin Jensen – 1513 / James Greeley – 462Martin Jensen
Election of 1882Hans O. Field – 845 / Geo. Miller – 730Hans O. Field
Election of 1884Hans O. Field – unopposedHans O. Field
Election of 1886Hans O. Field – 2001 / E. Ogaarden – 81 / Jas. Arnold – 453Hans O. Field
Election of 1888Hans O. Field – 1868 / P. H. Ryan – 1112  Hans O. Field
Election of 1890William Wichman – 1050 / P. P. Olsen – 800 / D. J. Deasy – 419 / A. Ogarden – 802 / M. Weichselbaum – 72 William Wichman
Election of 1892William Wichman – 1451 / Hodgdon – 911 votes / Warner – 1103William Wichman
Election of 1894William Wichman – 2211 / Desmond – 1735William Wichman
Election of 1896William Wichman – 2606 / Sherin – 2155 William Wichman
Election of 1898William Wichman 2108 / Wm P. Christensen 1478William Wichman
Election of 1900N. L. Headline – 2446 / O’Hara – 2016N. L. Headline
Election of 1902N. L. Headline – 2275 / W. B. Brant – 1391   N. L. Headline
Election of 1904N. L. Headline – 2552 / P. P. Olson – 1565 N. L. Headline
Election of 1906John A. Vick – unopposed John A. Vick
Election of 1908John A. Vick – unopposedJohn A. Vick
Election of 1910John A. Vick – unopposed  John A. Vick
Election of 1912O. T. Sunde – 2673 / Henry Bruggemann – 1239  O. T. Sunde
Election of 1914Oliver T. Sunde – unopposedO. T. Sunde
Election of 1918Oliver T. Sunde – 2324 / Fred Hendrickson – 2272O. T. Sunde
Election of 1922Henry Heaney – 4676 / O. T. Sunde 3713 Henry Heany
Election of 1926Henry Heaney – 4231 / Sam V. Warner – 3127   Henry Heany
Election of 1930Henry Heaney – 5431 / J. C. Colwell – 2188   Henry Heany
Election of 1934Henry Heaney – 5122 / Guy Phillips – 4299 Henry Heany
Election of 1938Henry Heaney – 5213 / Guy Phillips – 5167  Henry Heany
Election of 1942Guy R. Phillips – 4173 / Henry Heaney – 2694   Guy R. Phillips
Election of 1946Guy R. Phillips – unopposedGuy R. Phillips
Election of 1950Guy R. Phillips – unopposed.  Sheriff Phillips resigned in 1952.Guy R. Phillips
Appointment1952, Mr. Leonard was appointed following the resignation of Sheriff Phillips. Ben C. Leonard
Election of 1954Ben C. Leonard – 6198 / J. Herman Nault – 1940.  Sheriff Leonard passed away while in office on June 18, 1958.Ben C. Leonard
Appointment1958, Mr. Phillips was appointed following the death of Sheriff Leonard.Guy R. Phillips
Election of 1958Fred C. Johnson – 4514 / James Andre – 4418 Fred C. Johnson
Election of 1962Fred C. Johnson – 6882 / Art Kenney – 1811   Fred C. Johnson
Election of 1966Fred C. Johnson – 5675 / Donald W. Davis – 2827 Fred C. Johnson
Election of 1970Donald Davis – 4871 / Fred C. Johnson – 3983  Donald Davis
Election of 1974Donald Davis – 4756 / Mike Zaske – 3760     Donald Davis
Election of 1978Mike Zaske – 4596 / Donald Davis – 4475  Mike Zaske
Election of 1982Donald Davis – 5445 / Mike Zaske – 3871   Donald Davis
Election of 1986Donald Davern – 4735 / Larry Lapolice – 3045 Donald Davern
Election of 1990Donald Davern – 3958 / Jerry Agre – 3928
RECOUNT – Agre – 3982 / Davern – 3971
RECOUNT – Agre – 4001 / Davern – 3990
**Due to recounts, Sheriff Agre took Office on     January 23, 1991		Jerry O. Agre
Election of 1994Jerry O. Agre – unopposedJerry O. Agre
Election of 1998Jerry O. Agre – 4594 / Frank Berg – 3497  Jerry O. Agre
Election of 2002Jerry O. Agre – 5245 / Nyla Negen – 2044Jerry O. Agre
Election of 2006Jerry O. Agre – unopposedJerry O. Agre
Election of 2010Scott D. Hable – 4998 / Frank Berg – 1176      Scott D. Hable
Election of 2014Scott D. Hable – unopposedScott D. Hable
Election of 2018Scott D. Hable – unopposedScott D. Hable
Election of 2022Scott D. Hable – unopposedScott D. Hable