Gone, but not forgotten: Early coroners of Newton County

Part 3

No man was coroner for the term 1870 to 1872. E. Daniels again stepped in and served from 1872 to 1874.
Hosea Villines served two terms, from 1874 to 1876. He was a farmer, son of Abraham Villines, an early settler in Boxley Valley. Hosea married Lucinda Cecil, who was sister to Sheriff John Cecil. He farmed in Van Buren Township until his retirement sometime after 1880. Then he moved to Green Forest in Carroll County, where he died in 1898.
The next coroner was A. C. Beebe, who served for one term.

The next coroner was William Thomas Criner, who went by the name Billy. Like his father, he farmed in the Mount Judea area. Billy had a special incentive to become coroner. His father, William Criner, died in 1853 when his father was killed over a property dispute. Billy married Mary Alice Hefley and had eleven children. He died in Newton County in 1913.
(More next week)

Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a new 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.