Sheriff William C. Sargent

A Spirit of Independence

William C. Sargent was born at Boston, Mass. On December 4, 1859. When four years of age his father located in New York City, and the boy attended the public schools of the metropolis for a time. When ten years of age he became a student in the Faribault Military Institute, subsequently taking a course of instruction at St. John’s Seminary.  He came to Minnesota when still in his teens, and though his father was at that time one of Duluth’s most successful business men, the lad was endowed with a spirit of independence. His first employment was as a teamster in the logging business. In 1880 he was appointed superintendent of the Duluth Blast Furnace Company.  He turned to politics and gained recognition in his nomination for sheriff in 1896. He was elected by a handsome majority, and was re-elected in 1898 and 1900. (Source: History of the Great Northwest)

Victor A. Dash

This is a Sheriff's Certificate for Mortgage Foreclosure signed by Victor A. Dash in 1898

Victor A. Dash served ten years as a deputy sheriff, for seven years of this time being under sheriff of St. Louis County.  Since January, 1903, he has been deputy clerk of the courts in Duluth, in which office he is proving able and competent.  He bears an excellent reputation among his fellow-workers, in fact, he has commanded the esteem of his associates in whatever line he has been engaged.

Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Lake Region containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settled Families, J. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1905

Jail Management

In a paper on county jails, Wm C. Sargent, of St. Louis county, criticized the method of construction and management, and concluded with a strong argument in favor of district jails under state control.

Source: The Charities Review, 1898