Sheriff Allen Mathes
At the time of his death Allen Mathes had served almost 10 years as Iron County sheriff and had a total of almost 36 years of law enforcement experience. This included four years spent as a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force and 22 years as an Iron County Sheriff’s deputy. While serving as a sheriff’s deputy he also served eight years as Arcadia chief of police and 10 years as Viburnum chief of police.
Sheriff Ogie Sellinger
1912 – 1993
Ogie was born close to Crane Lake in the Marble Creek area. He grew up and went to school in Arcadia Valley and lived in Arcadia, Mo where he became the City Marshall in the latter years of the 1930’s. Then in 1940 he was employed as an Iron County Deputy Sheriff. Ogie was elected Sheriff in 1944 serving 32 years being reelected 7 times.
He left the office of Sheriff in 1976 having the distinction of the longest running Sheriff in the state of Missouri. He continued to serve the people of Iron Co as the Bailiff of the County Court until 1988. He then entered the nursing home at Arcadia Valley Hospital. The TNN network did a special concerning his record as the longest running sheriff in the state of Missouri.
State Senator Staples declared June 21, 1986 as Ogie Sellinger Day and he was treated to a surprise testimonial dinner where he was praised by many who spoke in honor of his dedication to the people of Iron Co Missouri
heriff John Polk
One of the brothers was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Their mother was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was later granted a new trial and acquitted.
The other brother was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison on August 25, 1913, from tuberculosis.
Sheriff Polk had served as sheriff for 3 years.