Former Sheriffs
Appointed: 1883 – 1885
Michael Jefferson Donahoo was born on February 28, 1839, in Peoria, Illinois to Peter and Rachel Donahoo. In 1840, it is recorded that the Donahoo family resided in the Cedar County, Iowa Territory. In October of 1861, Michael J. Donahoo enlisted as a Corporal in the 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry.
In the fall of 1863, First Lieutenant Michael J. Donahoo, "F" Company, 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Veteran of the Battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Bolivar, and Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, was forced to leave his men and the Army because of persistent illness.
Appointed: 1878 – 1883
Ezekiel Hall was born on May 27, 1847, in Crawford County, Georgia to Samuel and Sarah Hall. Hall remained with his family until he was sixteen years old, when he left home and enlisted as a private with "I" Company, Fourth Georgia Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States of America.
Hall was mustered out after the Civil War and moved to Texas where he resided until 1868. Hall came to California in 1869, settled in Township Two of Fresno County and became involved in farming.
Appointed: April 25, 1874 – May 14, 1874
Charles Heaton, the then Fresno County Coroner, became the Ex-Officio Sheriff, upon the death of Sheriff Le Roy Dennis on April 25, 1874, and assumed those duties until May 14, 1874.
The Compiled California Statutes of 1850-1853 state "The Coroner shall be invested with the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the sheriff until a new sheriff is either elected or appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Appointed: March 1874 - April 1874
Leroy Dennis was born at Fort Osage Township, Jackson County, Missouri in 1842. Dennis' presence in California is first noted in the Federal Census of 1860; he resided in Visalia, Tulare County, as an eighteen-year-old laborer.
In 1870, Dennis was a saloonkeeper who was married and had two daughters and one son residing with him at Buchanan Hollow, Fresno County.
Appointed: 1868 -1871
James Null Walker was born on February 7, 1829, in DeSoto, Missouri to William G. and Elizabeth Null Walker. In March of 1850, Walker, his brother Charles, and an uncle left Jefferson County, Missouri for California. The Walkers traveled by wagon train to Salt Lake City.
From Salt Lake City, they made their own way to Humboldt County, Nevada. The Walkers left Nevada for Gold Rush country where they quickly realized their fortunes were not in the gold fields.
