First Sheriff of Edgerton County (L&c County)
Captain George WoodThe territory was a lot different back then. Helena started off as a mining town and was not always the county seat. It first belonged to Silver City from 1862 to 1865 as the first permanent settlement. The county itself was created in 1864 and was originally named Edgerton County after the territorial Governor. It was renamed Lewis and Clark County in 1868 after the famous Lewis and Clark expedition which traversed the land twice, in 1805 and 1806.
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1874-1876
Sheriff Seth Bullock
After serving on the Montana Territorial Senate, Bullock was elected Sheriff of Lewis and Clark County in 1873. Quickly making his presence known, he not only acted as a lawman but also as an auctioneer and entrepreneur, entering into a hardware business with his friend Sol Star.
During his tenure as sheriff, he killed his first man, Clell Watson. Watson had stolen a horse and engaged in a gunfight with Bullock, in which Bullock was slightly wounded in the shoulder. Watson was then taken into custody. Watson was prepared to be hanged, but a mob appeared and scared off the executioner. Bullock climbed the scaffold and pulled the lever, sending Watson to his death. Bullock then held off the mob with a shotgun. This incident was recreated in the pilot episode of HBO's television series Deadwood, except in the show Watson was hanged on the front step of the sheriff's office. Bullock was very good friends with President Theodore Roosevelt who he met when Roosevelt was a deputy sheriff in South Dakota. Roosevelt frequented Helena due to his close relationship with Bullock. Seth Bullock died in 1919 and was buried in Mount Mariah Cemetery, Deadwood, SD on top of the highest hill over looking Deadwood. Mount Mariah is the same Cemetery Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.
After serving on the Montana Territorial Senate, Bullock was elected Sheriff of Lewis and Clark County in 1873. Quickly making his presence known, he not only acted as a lawman but also as an auctioneer and entrepreneur, entering into a hardware business with his friend Sol Star.
During his tenure as sheriff, he killed his first man, Clell Watson. Watson had stolen a horse and engaged in a gunfight with Bullock, in which Bullock was slightly wounded in the shoulder. Watson was then taken into custody. Watson was prepared to be hanged, but a mob appeared and scared off the executioner. Bullock climbed the scaffold and pulled the lever, sending Watson to his death. Bullock then held off the mob with a shotgun. This incident was recreated in the pilot episode of HBO's television series Deadwood, except in the show Watson was hanged on the front step of the sheriff's office. Bullock was very good friends with President Theodore Roosevelt who he met when Roosevelt was a deputy sheriff in South Dakota. Roosevelt frequented Helena due to his close relationship with Bullock. Seth Bullock died in 1919 and was buried in Mount Mariah Cemetery, Deadwood, SD on top of the highest hill over looking Deadwood. Mount Mariah is the same Cemetery Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.
today...
The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office is the chief law enforcement agency in Lewis & Clark County, Montana. It is comprised of over one hundred and fourteen employees including sworn personnel, detention officers and professional support staff. The Sheriff's Office provides general law enforcement, detention functions, rural fire support and search and rescue operations for the citizens of Lewis & Clark County in a service area of over two million acres. Additionally, this agency provides specialized regional services to the entire county and contract law enforcement to specific areas.
Currently, the Sheriff's Office provides regional/resident law enforcement services in Lincoln and Augusta as well as contract law enforcement services at Canyon Ferry Lake during the summer. These services include general patrol services and the D.A.R.E. program, as well as any necessary investigative services.
Currently, the Sheriff's Office provides regional/resident law enforcement services in Lincoln and Augusta as well as contract law enforcement services at Canyon Ferry Lake during the summer. These services include general patrol services and the D.A.R.E. program, as well as any necessary investigative services.
Remember the fallen
ANTHONY KORIZEK EOW August 12, 1904
Deputy Sheriff Anthony Korizek was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner from a jail cell to court. Inmate Ike Gravelle had just been convicted of attempting to extort $50,000 from the Northern Pacific Railroad and was being taken before the judge for another appearance. The suspect had somehow obtained a handgun and was hiding it under his lunch tray. As the deputies moved him the man produced the gun and ordered Deputy Korizek and the jailer up against the wall. Deputy Korizek attempted to disarm the man but was shot five times. Several other deputies heard the shots ran to the scene. They shot and wounded the suspect who fled into the basement of the Governor's Mansion and committed suicide. Deputy Korizek was survived by his wife and three children.
Deputy Sheriff Anthony Korizek was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner from a jail cell to court. Inmate Ike Gravelle had just been convicted of attempting to extort $50,000 from the Northern Pacific Railroad and was being taken before the judge for another appearance. The suspect had somehow obtained a handgun and was hiding it under his lunch tray. As the deputies moved him the man produced the gun and ordered Deputy Korizek and the jailer up against the wall. Deputy Korizek attempted to disarm the man but was shot five times. Several other deputies heard the shots ran to the scene. They shot and wounded the suspect who fled into the basement of the Governor's Mansion and committed suicide. Deputy Korizek was survived by his wife and three children.
GEORGE W. HUFFAKER EOW July 8th, 1921
Sheriff George Huffaker was killed in a single vehicle crash on Stemple Hill Road while returning three nurses to Helena who had become stranded while camping near Lincoln. The vehicle's steering mechanism failed, causing his car to leave the roadway and overturn. He was partially ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly. One of the nurses was able to free herself from the wreckage and walk five miles to the nearest phone. The other two nurses were eventually freed from the wreckage with only minor injuries. Sheriff Huffaker was serving his second term as sheriff. He had previously served as chief of the Helena Fire Department. He was survived by his wife.
Sheriff George Huffaker was killed in a single vehicle crash on Stemple Hill Road while returning three nurses to Helena who had become stranded while camping near Lincoln. The vehicle's steering mechanism failed, causing his car to leave the roadway and overturn. He was partially ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly. One of the nurses was able to free herself from the wreckage and walk five miles to the nearest phone. The other two nurses were eventually freed from the wreckage with only minor injuries. Sheriff Huffaker was serving his second term as sheriff. He had previously served as chief of the Helena Fire Department. He was survived by his wife.