Although the office of sheriff is thought by many to have originated in ancient England, there are biblical references to such a position existing as early as 600 B.C. There are also those who believe that the United States of America was actually named for a Richard Amerycke, who was the High Sheriff of Bristol, England at the time King Henry VII authorized John Cabot's voyage to seek the New Wor
ld in 1497. Brown County has a very rich historical background. For over 200 years after the arrival of Jean Nicolet in 1634, fur traders and missionaries made this area a base for their operations. The boundaries of Brown County were established by the governor of Michigan Territory in the year 1818 as part of the Northwest Territory, after the American Revolution. The first sheriff in the State of Wisconsin was George Johnson, who was originally installed as the territorial sheriff, and later became the first sheriff of Brown County. Sheriff Johnson played an important role in the trial of Chief Oshkosh, which took place in Brown County. In 1957 with the election of Artley Skenandore, Brown County became the first county to elect a full-blooded Indian to the position of sheriff. Today in Wisconsin, the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of each county and is elected every four years on a partisan ballot. According to state law, his duties are to enforce the law in the county, take custody of the jail, attend the courts, and serve all processes. The sheriff is responsible to the electorate and can be removed from office by the governor, and then only for just cause.
