The first meeting of the newly elected board of commissioners was held in Rushville September 15, 1885, and there were present T. B. Irwin, J. D. Woods, and G. T. Morey, commissioners ; and Abel Hill, clerk.

The bond of C. Patterson as county judge was approved, after which the judge approved the bonds of the three commissioners. The bonds of the clerk and sheriff were also approved. The bond of J. C. Weeters as justice of the peace was also approved, he being the first justice and precinct officer of Sheridan county to qualify.

Robert McCarthy filed his bond as justice of the peace at Gordon about this time, being the first in that vicinity. The editor-in-chief recently asked of Mr. McCarthy, who is now county surveyor and county higlrway agent, what was the nature of affairs that he had to judge in that early day when he was justice. He said, "Well, they had to have someone to judge the Indian races." This statement was of literal fact. There was not much litigation, but the athletic Indians wanted someone with authority to judge the outcome of their many tests of speed. This arbiter they would not dispute, but select a judge from the crowd and it was an invitation to argument and misunderstanding.

At this first meeting of the board, the clerk was instructed to prepare lists of the books and supplies needed by the new county, and ask for bids.

W. W. Wood, C. C. Akin and W. H. Westover each made a proposition to the commissioners to act as county attorney until January, 1886, and the commissioners accepted the latter. Therefore the first attorney of Gordon, became the first county attorney of Sheridan county.