Sheriff John H. Douglass
October of 1872, Viola Township was organized and held its first election in John H. Douglass' shanty. John was then elected Sheriff of Osceola County.
In 1873, the total population of Osceola County was 1,409.
January 7, 1873, the Sheriff's pay was amended to $16.65 at the end of each month ($199.80 per year) for serving Osceola County. Also on that date, Sheriff Douglass notified the Board of Supervisors that he appointed C. M. Bailey as Deputy Sheriff.
October 14, 1873, John Douglass was re-elected Sheriff of Osceola County, receiving 394 votes.
November 7, 1873, Sibley was visited by fire. The fire started in the rear of Barber & Lawrence's drug store located on 10th Street. The cause of the fire was either from a stove in the back part of the building or by an incendiary. Six local business' sustained the following losses:
Barber & Lawrence Drug Store $900 A. H. Clark Groceries $600 H. C. Kellogg Store $1,200 Kelley & Walrath Dry Goods $1,244 J. A. Cole Drug Store $2,000 Wilbern Bros. Stock $1,100 Total Damage $7,044
The fire was a hard blow on Sibley, but most of the businesses rebuilt on 9th Street.
February 20, 1874, Douglass' pay was increased to $40 per month ($480 per year).
October 9, 1877, John Douglass
was re-elected Sheriff of Osceola County over his running mates M.
Churchill and Jacob B. Lent.
October 14, 1879, John Douglass was re-elected Sheriff of Osceola County over his running mates Albert Romey, S.S. Parker, and Charles Bailey.
In 1881, the members of the Board of Supervisors was increased from three to five.
In 1881, a three story building known as the Sibley Opera House was built. The building housed a furniture store, dances, traveling shows, school plays, graduations, and meetings. In the late 1960's the top two stories to the building was removed and currently the remaining building houses the Pizza Ranch.
John H. Douglass served one, one year term and four, two year terms as Sheriff of Osceola County from 1873 to 1882.
John H. Douglass served an additional two, two year terms as Sheriff of Osceola County from 1888 to 1892.
John H. Douglass was a war veteran, serving as a corporal in Company K, of the First Iowa Cavalry. During his time as Sheriff, Douglass earned a lot of money but spent it all as fast as he earned it. He was known to be generous to a fault and had the reputation of being one of the best criminal officers in the state of Iowa. Douglass went to great lengths in protecting the interests of the homesteaders against agents who attempted to enforce collection of debts, which made him very popular. He held no political party and always ran as an independent candidate. He called himself "Mugwump."
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