Was sixteenth Sheriff of Hall county.
One of the most colorful sheriffs in the history of Hall County was Sheriff James M. "Jimmie" Dunkel. At age 32, Dunkel made his first bid for public office when he ran against the incumbent Sheriff Taylor in 1903. He lost that election by only 55 votes. One of the major reasons for his loss has been attributed to an accident at Grand Island's July 4th celebration in 1903. Apparently Dunkel inadvertently allowed sparks from a pinwheel to fall on a stack of Roman candles and skyrockets which ignited and then stuck several citizens including Sheriff Taylor. (It is interesting to note that Dunkel served as president of the volunteer fire department for several years.) Dunkel ran again for sheriff against Eby in 1905 and won that election by nearly 600 votes.
Dunkel was an auctioneer and continued to cry auctions during his term of office. Dunkel had a good sense of humor. A photograph taken in the sheriff's office, located in the courthouse, shows Dunkel at his desk with a drawn revolver in his right hand and cigar in his left. He is surrounded by five men and a woman, all displaying firearms. The lady is clutching a hand gun in each hand and one of the men has a fixed bayonet.
Sheriff Dunkel may have also been one of the forerunners of the modern K-9 units. As early as 1908, Dunkel had been training his dogs to help in law enforcement. He apparently abandon the idea after one of the dogs was poisoned, as stated in a Grand Island Independent news brief, "Sheriff Dunkel ... believes, anyway, that one can do quicker work in capturing thieves with the telephone than with dogs."
Dunkel was killed January 10, 1912. He had cried an auction in Chapman, NE, and was awaiting a train to come back to Grand Island. He crossed the tracks and was struck be the train. Dunkel's funeral was probably the largest in the county up to that time and his was the only body to lay in state at the courthouse. Services were held in the district court chambers.
Dunkel had been president of the Nebraska State Sheriff's Association and a vice-president of the National Association. Many regarded him as a "shoe in" for the national president had he lived.
During Dunkel's term, his first two deputies were George Sass in 1910 and William Cords. At the time of his death the deputies were Gus Sievers and Cords. Sievers was appointed as Dunkel's successor.
One of the most colorful sheriffs in the history of Hall County was Sheriff James M. "Jimmie" Dunkel. At age 32, Dunkel made his first bid for public office when he ran against the incumbent Sheriff Taylor in 1903. He lost that election by only 55 votes. One of the major reasons for his loss has been attributed to an accident at Grand Island's July 4th celebration in 1903. Apparently Dunkel inadvertently allowed sparks from a pinwheel to fall on a stack of Roman candles and skyrockets which ignited and then stuck several citizens including Sheriff Taylor. (It is interesting to note that Dunkel served as president of the volunteer fire department for several years.) Dunkel ran again for sheriff against Eby in 1905 and won that election by nearly 600 votes.
Dunkel was an auctioneer and continued to cry auctions during his term of office. Dunkel had a good sense of humor. A photograph taken in the sheriff's office, located in the courthouse, shows Dunkel at his desk with a drawn revolver in his right hand and cigar in his left. He is surrounded by five men and a woman, all displaying firearms. The lady is clutching a hand gun in each hand and one of the men has a fixed bayonet.
Sheriff Dunkel may have also been one of the forerunners of the modern K-9 units. As early as 1908, Dunkel had been training his dogs to help in law enforcement. He apparently abandon the idea after one of the dogs was poisoned, as stated in a Grand Island Independent news brief, "Sheriff Dunkel ... believes, anyway, that one can do quicker work in capturing thieves with the telephone than with dogs."
Dunkel was killed January 10, 1912. He had cried an auction in Chapman, NE, and was awaiting a train to come back to Grand Island. He crossed the tracks and was struck be the train. Dunkel's funeral was probably the largest in the county up to that time and his was the only body to lay in state at the courthouse. Services were held in the district court chambers.
Dunkel had been president of the Nebraska State Sheriff's Association and a vice-president of the National Association. Many regarded him as a "shoe in" for the national president had he lived.
During Dunkel's term, his first two deputies were George Sass in 1910 and William Cords. At the time of his death the deputies were Gus Sievers and Cords. Sievers was appointed as Dunkel's successor.
Was sixteenth Sheriff of Hall county.
One of the most colorful sheriffs in the history of Hall County was Sheriff James M. "Jimmie" Dunkel. At age 32, Dunkel made his first bid for public office when he ran against the incumbent Sheriff Taylor in 1903. He lost that election by only 55 votes. One of the major reasons for his loss has been attributed to an accident at Grand Island's July 4th celebration in 1903. Apparently Dunkel inadvertently allowed sparks from a pinwheel to fall on a stack of Roman candles and skyrockets which ignited and then stuck several citizens including Sheriff Taylor. (It is interesting to note that Dunkel served as president of the volunteer fire department for several years.) Dunkel ran again for sheriff against Eby in 1905 and won that election by nearly 600 votes.
Dunkel was an auctioneer and continued to cry auctions during his term of office. Dunkel had a good sense of humor. A photograph taken in the sheriff's office, located in the courthouse, shows Dunkel at his desk with a drawn revolver in his right hand and cigar in his left. He is surrounded by five men and a woman, all displaying firearms. The lady is clutching a hand gun in each hand and one of the men has a fixed bayonet.
Sheriff Dunkel may have also been one of the forerunners of the modern K-9 units. As early as 1908, Dunkel had been training his dogs to help in law enforcement. He apparently abandon the idea after one of the dogs was poisoned, as stated in a Grand Island Independent news brief, "Sheriff Dunkel ... believes, anyway, that one can do quicker work in capturing thieves with the telephone than with dogs."
Dunkel was killed January 10, 1912. He had cried an auction in Chapman, NE, and was awaiting a train to come back to Grand Island. He crossed the tracks and was struck be the train. Dunkel's funeral was probably the largest in the county up to that time and his was the only body to lay in state at the courthouse. Services were held in the district court chambers.
Dunkel had been president of the Nebraska State Sheriff's Association and a vice-president of the National Association. Many regarded him as a "shoe in" for the national president had he lived.
During Dunkel's term, his first two deputies were George Sass in 1910 and William Cords. At the time of his death the deputies were Gus Sievers and Cords. Sievers was appointed as Dunkel's successor.
One of the most colorful sheriffs in the history of Hall County was Sheriff James M. "Jimmie" Dunkel. At age 32, Dunkel made his first bid for public office when he ran against the incumbent Sheriff Taylor in 1903. He lost that election by only 55 votes. One of the major reasons for his loss has been attributed to an accident at Grand Island's July 4th celebration in 1903. Apparently Dunkel inadvertently allowed sparks from a pinwheel to fall on a stack of Roman candles and skyrockets which ignited and then stuck several citizens including Sheriff Taylor. (It is interesting to note that Dunkel served as president of the volunteer fire department for several years.) Dunkel ran again for sheriff against Eby in 1905 and won that election by nearly 600 votes.
Dunkel was an auctioneer and continued to cry auctions during his term of office. Dunkel had a good sense of humor. A photograph taken in the sheriff's office, located in the courthouse, shows Dunkel at his desk with a drawn revolver in his right hand and cigar in his left. He is surrounded by five men and a woman, all displaying firearms. The lady is clutching a hand gun in each hand and one of the men has a fixed bayonet.
Sheriff Dunkel may have also been one of the forerunners of the modern K-9 units. As early as 1908, Dunkel had been training his dogs to help in law enforcement. He apparently abandon the idea after one of the dogs was poisoned, as stated in a Grand Island Independent news brief, "Sheriff Dunkel ... believes, anyway, that one can do quicker work in capturing thieves with the telephone than with dogs."
Dunkel was killed January 10, 1912. He had cried an auction in Chapman, NE, and was awaiting a train to come back to Grand Island. He crossed the tracks and was struck be the train. Dunkel's funeral was probably the largest in the county up to that time and his was the only body to lay in state at the courthouse. Services were held in the district court chambers.
Dunkel had been president of the Nebraska State Sheriff's Association and a vice-president of the National Association. Many regarded him as a "shoe in" for the national president had he lived.
During Dunkel's term, his first two deputies were George Sass in 1910 and William Cords. At the time of his death the deputies were Gus Sievers and Cords. Sievers was appointed as Dunkel's successor.
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