JUSTICES OF THE PEACE....

​(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', July 28, 2011)

​​

Who could be a Justice of the Peace and how did they become J.P.’s those early days? I found the following references to Justices in the books, JUDGE JENKINS’ HISTORY OF MILLER COUNTY and SCHULTZ’S HISTORY OF MILLER COUNTY.....
​
In July 1, 1837, the County Court of Miller County ordered an election to be held in each township. There were only 4 at that time---Equality, Saline, Osage, and Richwoods. The election was to be for the purpose of electing 4 justices of the peace and a constable in each township. The election was held that day and the county’s first J.P.’s and a Constable were elected.

Schultz stated in his history that only 3 justices of the peace were elected for Equality, Richwoods, and Saline townships but none for Osage township. He did not know why…all 4 townships elected a constable each.

​​NOTE: ​​A constable had the same duties and responsibilities as a sheriff who was elected in later years. He mainly just tried to keep the peace and order in his neighborhood.

A justice of the peace was a magistrate with jurisdiction over a small district or part of a county. They had the authority to decide minor cases, commit persons over to a higher court, and perform marriages. 

​​With the above information, I would presume that anyone who wished could be a candidate for Justice of the Peace and the most popular man would win….much the same as today…..