Benjamin Earl "Red" Gaughenbaugh, was the son of Isaac Gaughenbaugh and Surrissa Ella Wells. He married Fern Wieringa and they had one daughter Earleen.
After the outbreak of World War I Earl enlisted in the Foreign Legion of the Canadian Army, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian squadron, and saw long service in Europe. He was wounded and sent back to England as an instructor, then transferred back to the fighting lines where his unit, a sniper section, saw heated action repeatedly. In all he served three years and two months. In November of 1922 Earl was elected Sheriff of Appanoose County, Iowa, serving four terms, 1923 - 1930. In his first campaign he was known as the "Soldier Candidate," and was elected as an Independent. He was elected as a Republican on his second and third terms and on his fourth term he lost the Republican nomination and was again elected as an Independent. In 1930 he was defeated in the primaries and did not have the support to be re-elected as an Independent, ending his career as sheriff.
Earl was sheriff during the turbulent Ku Klux Klan period of 1923 - 1925. He was also sheriff during the 1927 coal miner's strike which aroused considerable feeling. Earl brought in a young army of special officers to preserve order where tear gas was used and union officials were jailed. With his terms as sheriff being during the Prohibition years of 1920 - 1933, he was also known for his aggressive enforcement of the bootlegging laws.
After leaving office Earl worked as a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary, at Fort Madison, for Warden Glenn C. Haynes, who was a Centerville native. Earl then became a Special Agent of the Beardstown, Illinois division of the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
In 1935, on an extremely hot 4th of July, while working as Special Agent, Earl arrested a 21 year old man at the Beardstown depot for Loitering and Intoxication. A scuffle ensued before the man was taken to the Beardstown Police Station. While waiting to be booked, the oppressive heat, exertion and all were too much for Earl's heart, and he suddenly collapsed and instantly died, at the age of 41.
After the outbreak of World War I Earl enlisted in the Foreign Legion of the Canadian Army, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian squadron, and saw long service in Europe. He was wounded and sent back to England as an instructor, then transferred back to the fighting lines where his unit, a sniper section, saw heated action repeatedly. In all he served three years and two months. In November of 1922 Earl was elected Sheriff of Appanoose County, Iowa, serving four terms, 1923 - 1930. In his first campaign he was known as the "Soldier Candidate," and was elected as an Independent. He was elected as a Republican on his second and third terms and on his fourth term he lost the Republican nomination and was again elected as an Independent. In 1930 he was defeated in the primaries and did not have the support to be re-elected as an Independent, ending his career as sheriff.
Earl was sheriff during the turbulent Ku Klux Klan period of 1923 - 1925. He was also sheriff during the 1927 coal miner's strike which aroused considerable feeling. Earl brought in a young army of special officers to preserve order where tear gas was used and union officials were jailed. With his terms as sheriff being during the Prohibition years of 1920 - 1933, he was also known for his aggressive enforcement of the bootlegging laws.
After leaving office Earl worked as a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary, at Fort Madison, for Warden Glenn C. Haynes, who was a Centerville native. Earl then became a Special Agent of the Beardstown, Illinois division of the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
In 1935, on an extremely hot 4th of July, while working as Special Agent, Earl arrested a 21 year old man at the Beardstown depot for Loitering and Intoxication. A scuffle ensued before the man was taken to the Beardstown Police Station. While waiting to be booked, the oppressive heat, exertion and all were too much for Earl's heart, and he suddenly collapsed and instantly died, at the age of 41.
Benjamin Earl "Red" Gaughenbaugh, was the son of Isaac Gaughenbaugh and Surrissa Ella Wells. He married Fern Wieringa and they had one daughter Earleen.
After the outbreak of World War I Earl enlisted in the Foreign Legion of the Canadian Army, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian squadron, and saw long service in Europe. He was wounded and sent back to England as an instructor, then transferred back to the fighting lines where his unit, a sniper section, saw heated action repeatedly. In all he served three years and two months. In November of 1922 Earl was elected Sheriff of Appanoose County, Iowa, serving four terms, 1923 - 1930. In his first campaign he was known as the "Soldier Candidate," and was elected as an Independent. He was elected as a Republican on his second and third terms and on his fourth term he lost the Republican nomination and was again elected as an Independent. In 1930 he was defeated in the primaries and did not have the support to be re-elected as an Independent, ending his career as sheriff.
Earl was sheriff during the turbulent Ku Klux Klan period of 1923 - 1925. He was also sheriff during the 1927 coal miner's strike which aroused considerable feeling. Earl brought in a young army of special officers to preserve order where tear gas was used and union officials were jailed. With his terms as sheriff being during the Prohibition years of 1920 - 1933, he was also known for his aggressive enforcement of the bootlegging laws.
After leaving office Earl worked as a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary, at Fort Madison, for Warden Glenn C. Haynes, who was a Centerville native. Earl then became a Special Agent of the Beardstown, Illinois division of the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
In 1935, on an extremely hot 4th of July, while working as Special Agent, Earl arrested a 21 year old man at the Beardstown depot for Loitering and Intoxication. A scuffle ensued before the man was taken to the Beardstown Police Station. While waiting to be booked, the oppressive heat, exertion and all were too much for Earl's heart, and he suddenly collapsed and instantly died, at the age of 41.
After the outbreak of World War I Earl enlisted in the Foreign Legion of the Canadian Army, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian squadron, and saw long service in Europe. He was wounded and sent back to England as an instructor, then transferred back to the fighting lines where his unit, a sniper section, saw heated action repeatedly. In all he served three years and two months. In November of 1922 Earl was elected Sheriff of Appanoose County, Iowa, serving four terms, 1923 - 1930. In his first campaign he was known as the "Soldier Candidate," and was elected as an Independent. He was elected as a Republican on his second and third terms and on his fourth term he lost the Republican nomination and was again elected as an Independent. In 1930 he was defeated in the primaries and did not have the support to be re-elected as an Independent, ending his career as sheriff.
Earl was sheriff during the turbulent Ku Klux Klan period of 1923 - 1925. He was also sheriff during the 1927 coal miner's strike which aroused considerable feeling. Earl brought in a young army of special officers to preserve order where tear gas was used and union officials were jailed. With his terms as sheriff being during the Prohibition years of 1920 - 1933, he was also known for his aggressive enforcement of the bootlegging laws.
After leaving office Earl worked as a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary, at Fort Madison, for Warden Glenn C. Haynes, who was a Centerville native. Earl then became a Special Agent of the Beardstown, Illinois division of the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
In 1935, on an extremely hot 4th of July, while working as Special Agent, Earl arrested a 21 year old man at the Beardstown depot for Loitering and Intoxication. A scuffle ensued before the man was taken to the Beardstown Police Station. While waiting to be booked, the oppressive heat, exertion and all were too much for Earl's heart, and he suddenly collapsed and instantly died, at the age of 41.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
