History of WCEO
Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803—and one of the original offices created by the first General Assembly was that of county surveyor, from which the county engineer’s office has evolved. When a new county was created, the Legislature appointed a Court of Common Pleas. The court appointed the county surveyor.
Around 1820, the state became increasingly caught up in the “internal improvements” movement. Some of the county surveyors were involved with building Ohio’s network of canals, and virtually all were called upon to spend more and more time developing the state’s integrated system of good roads. The increasing responsibilities of the position moved the Legislature, in 1831, to make the office of county surveyor elective, for a term of three years.
By late in the 19th Century the county surveyor was almost totally involved with building and maintaining roads, bridges, and drainage ditches. Legislation in 1915 established a salary and the responsibility of also being resident engineer for the State Highway Department.
The year 1928 saw the county engineer emerging as the public official you know today. In that year he was elected to a four (4) year term and on August 30, 1935, the title of the office was changed to “County Engineer”.
Only persons who hold registration certificates of the state of Ohio as both “Registered Professional Engineers” and “Registered Professional Surveyors” may qualify for the office of County Engineer. The elected County Engineer “shall perform for the county all duties authorized or declared by law to be done by a civil engineer or surveyor”. Although specifically exempted from engineering responsibilities on public buildings, he is the engineer for all public improvements under the authority of the board of commissioners within and for the county.
Our County’s Engineer – Past and Present
County Surveyors
Around 1820, the state became increasingly caught up in the “internal improvements” movement. Some of the county surveyors were involved with building Ohio’s network of canals, and virtually all were called upon to spend more and more time developing the state’s integrated system of good roads. The increasing responsibilities of the position moved the Legislature, in 1831, to make the office of county surveyor elective, for a term of three years.
By late in the 19th Century the county surveyor was almost totally involved with building and maintaining roads, bridges, and drainage ditches. Legislation in 1915 established a salary and the responsibility of also being resident engineer for the State Highway Department.
The year 1928 saw the county engineer emerging as the public official you know today. In that year he was elected to a four (4) year term and on August 30, 1935, the title of the office was changed to “County Engineer”.
Only persons who hold registration certificates of the state of Ohio as both “Registered Professional Engineers” and “Registered Professional Surveyors” may qualify for the office of County Engineer. The elected County Engineer “shall perform for the county all duties authorized or declared by law to be done by a civil engineer or surveyor”. Although specifically exempted from engineering responsibilities on public buildings, he is the engineer for all public improvements under the authority of the board of commissioners within and for the county.
Our County’s Engineer – Past and Present
 Neil F. Tunison, P.E., P.S.  Leroy F. Wertz, P.E., P.S. 1948 - 1964  Harold E. Senf, P.E., P.S. 1945 - 1946 |
 Craig R. Pendleton, P.E., P.S. 1975 - 1997  Herschel G. Stiles 1947 - 1948  Sam D. Henkle, P.E., P.S. 1934 - 1945 |
 Stanley H. Markey, P.E., P.S. 1964 - 1975  Charles L. Guard Jr, P.E., P.S. 1946 - 1947 |
County Surveyors
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John S. Van Horn Roy F. Miller 1914-1920 P.O. Monfort 1891-1903 Joel Evans 1866-1872 Isaac Peacock 1856-1860 Emmor Bailey 1841-1847 Thomas Clayton 1828-1835 |
P.O. Monfort 1925-1932 Sam D. Henkle 1906-1914 Frank A. Bone 1878-1891 Eli Kirk 1863-1866 L.S. Hatton 1850-1856 Israel Woodruff 1838-1841 Israel Woodruff 1823-1828 |
Earl J. Spencer 1920-1925 Walter Henkle 1903-1906 A.F. Hinsch 1872-1878 A.F. Hinsch 1860-1863 Enoch Hammell 1847-1850 Emmor Bailey 1835-1838 Allen Wright 1803-1823 |
