Evening journal., 1892-07-06
LONG IN THE HARNESS.

Uncle Tommy" Gihen Has Becn in tho
sheriff's Ohice for Thirty Right Yenrs.
OF all the popular and genial officials
at the Court House Deputy Sheriff
Thomas Giffen is the most popular and
genial He is - years old, but still
active. Every body likes him, and
nearly everybody who is a regular Court
House visitor calls him Uncle Tommy
"He began his official career as deputy
sheriff in New Castle in 1852 and when
any enemy of that town asks. "can
any good come out of Nazareth every
New Castle man points to Uncle
Tommy" for the salvation of the
town.
"Uncle Tommy is o fne-looking, gray
haired man, of gentlemanly department
and mild manners such as is only ac-
quired by long tenure Of Office BY
long experience he knows every detail Of
the intricate routine of the sheriff s
Office, and is a walking index to the
legal transactions of many years past
He has been in the sherih's office so
long that he has come to be regarded rs
part and parcel of the Office furniture,
and the lawyers. who place every conf
dence In him. would as soon think Of GO.
ing into the Office and seeing it devoid
of chairs and desks as to see Il devoid of
Uncle Tommy"
In 1852 Sheriff William r. Lyman ID.
made him his deputy He served faith.
fully and efficiently for two years. In
1854 John A. Willard. Knownothing.
succeeded Sheriff Lyman. He had promised
the position of deputy to a political
/ friend, and Mr.. Citizen was forced into
1874
| Ogle. q sterling Democrat, succeeded
| Sheriff Willard With his installation
/ began Uncle Tommy's" long tenure of
Office Although a Democrat and known
/ TO be man who never sat on the fenc,
and equivocated while the Office hung in
/ the balance. he voted the straight
Democratic ticket and held Office right
along under both Democratic and Re
publican administrations.
Since 1856 he has served as deputy fol
I the following sherifis 1858. Abraham
] Cannon. r. ; 1860, Levi B, Moore, h
/ 1862. Lewis U. Stidham, r. 1864, Georg,
/ S. Hagany, r. 1866, William Herbert
/ d.. 1868, Jacob Richardson, d.; 1870
I James Armstrong, D.; 1872, Lewis Arm
strong, r. 1874. William II. Lamhson
ID. 1876, Isaac Grubb. ID. 1875 John
] rye, II. locu, Thllip II. AiAlAi II. : locli
James Martin. r, 1884 Thomas Ford
d. 1886 Giles Lambson, d. 1888, AlvaI
Allen, ID. 1890, William Simmons, r.
When the Office was removed from
New Castle to the new Court House il
this city. he came with it. Before hi
came, however, the people of New
Castle had honorcd him by electing hin
mayor for two or three successive terms
He is man Of much reserve force.
When he was elected mayor he did moi
resign his Office as deputy sheriff III
would serve a writ Of execution witt
one hand and vindicate the outrage,
ordinances Of the town Of New Castl
with the other
Taken altogether he has had a wonder
full career, and when he is gathered T.
his fathers the bar OF the county viii pa
more honor to this genial ex-mayor, dep
uty sheriff and notary public, than i
would to many men who hold mucl
higher positions. This is because th
first rule laid down in the Blackstone o
the New Castle county law student
Love honor and respect Uncle Tommy
Giden and they % It.