The first County Treasurer in Ohio was elected in 1827. Van Wert County’s first Treasurer of record was Charles Germann, elected in October of 1867. In those early years County Treasurers served a two year term. Many of the Van Wert County Treasurers served only four (4) years.
Those Treasurers serving after 1941 were elected for a four(4) year term. Since that time, Van Wert County has had just four Treasurers. The Honorable Walter E. Putman served 30 years from September 1941 until Feb. 1969 when he deceased while still in office. The Honorable Lloyd P. Basil was appointed to complete the unexpired term. Mr. Basil then was elected as County Treasurer to his first full term beginning September 1969. Mr. Basil resigned effective August 31, 1993 having served over 25 years.
The Honorable Harold L. Merkle was appointed to complete the unexpired term beginning September 1, 1993 and began his first full tem on September 6, 1993. In November of 2002, Mr. Merkle was elected to serve as Van Wert County Commissioner and resigned the Treasurer’s position effective November 30, 2002. The honorable Beverly A. Fuerst was subsequently appointed to serve the unexpired term.
Past Van Wert County Treasurers
Elected | Beg Term | Individual | Notes | |
1868 | -1857 | -1866 | Charles Germann | |
1869 | -1873 | Charles Germann | ||
1870 | -1871 | -1866 | John Seeman, Jr | |
1872 | 1881 | John Seeman, Jr | ||
1874 | -77 | -1866 | Peter F. Feigert | |
1876 | -1885 | A. Conant | Appointed by Commissioners | |
1877 | -1876 | 1886 | James Montgomery | for 1 yr term |
1879 | -1874 | -1871 | James Montgomery | |
1881 | -1877 | Charles E. Shenk | Appointed by Commissioners | |
1882 | -1882 | -1877 | Robert Pollock | to fill vacancy |
1884 | -1885 | -1876 | William H Corbet | |
1886 | -1888 | -1881 | William H Corbet | |
1888 | -1884 | 1897 | John F. Sidle | 1st Monday |
1890 | -1884 | 1899 | John F. Sidle | 1st Monday |
1892 | -1883 | 1901 | Peter Hertz, Jr. | 1st Monday |
1894 | -1889 | 1903 | Franklin Carlo | 1st Monday |
1896 | -1888 | 1905 | Franklin Carlo | 1st Monday |
1898 | -1888 | 1907 | John E. Prichard | 1st Monday |
1900 | -1895 | 01-Sep-00 | John E. Prichard | 1st Monday |
1902 | 05-Nov-01 | 01-Sep-02 | Abner B. Penny | 1st Monday |
1904 | 03-Nov-03 | 03-Sep-04 | Abner B. Penny | |
1906 | 07-Nov-05 | 01-Sep-06 | Frank A. Poling | 1st Monday |
1908 | 01-Sep-08 | Frank A. Poling | Extended One Year | |
1909 | 03-Nov-08 | 06-Sep-09 | Frank A. Poling | |
1911 | 08-Nov-10 | 01-Sep-11 | H.A.Mohler | 1st Monday |
1913 | 05-Nov-12 | 01-Sep-13 | H.A.Mohler | 1st Monday |
1915 | 07-Nov-14 | 06-Sep-15 | Burton C. Conn | |
1917 | 07-Nov-16 | 03-Sep-17 | Burton C. Conn | |
1919 | 05-Nov-18 | 01-Sep-19 | Edmund A. Leathers | 1st Monday |
1921 | 02-Nov-20 | 01-Sep-21 | Edmund A. Leathers | 1st Monday |
1923 | 07-Nov-22 | 03-Sep-23 | John J. Jones | |
1925 | 04-Nov-24 | 04-Sep-25 | John J. Jones | |
1927 | 02-Nov-26 | 01-Sep-27 | Benjamin O. Chilcote | 1st Monday |
1929 | 06-Nov-28 | 02-Sep-29 | Benjamin O. Chilcote | |
1931 | 04-Nov-30 | 01-Sep-31 | E. V. Walborn | 1st Monday |
1933 | 01-Nov-32 | 04-Sep-33 | E. V. Walborn | |
1935 | 06-Nov-34 | 01-Sep-35 | Gaylord M. Brown | 1st Monday |
1937 | 03-Nov-36 | 06-Sep-37 | Gaylord M. Brown | |
1939 | 05-Nov-40 | 02-Sep-41 | Walter E. Putman | |
1941 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1945 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1949 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1953 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1957 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1961 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1965 | Walter E. Putman | |||
1969 | 05-Nov-68 | 23-Feb-69 | Lloyd P. Basil | Appted to fill unexpired term official 9/01/69 |
1973 | 01-Sep-73 | Lloyd P. Basil | ||
1977 | 02-Sep-77 | Lloyd P. Basil | ||
1981 | 07-Sep-81 | Lloyd P. Basil | ||
1985 | 02-Sep-85 | Lloyd P. Basil | ||
1989 | 04-Sep-89 | Lloyd P. Basil | Started Credit Card | |
1992 | Lloyd P. Basil | Resigned effective August 31, 1993 | ||
1993 | 03-Nov-92 | 01-Sep-93 | Harold L. Merkle | Apptd to serve from 9/1/93 |
1994 | Official Term 09/06/1993 | |||
1995 | Started Del Pay 1994 | |||
1996 | Started Prepay 1995 | |||
1997 | 05-Nov-96 | 01-Sep-97 | Harold L. Merkle | Started ACH 1997 |
2000 | 07-Nov-00 | 08-Sep-01 | Harold L. Merkle | Resigned effective 11/30/02 to become County Commissioner |
2002 | 01-Dec-02 | Beverly A. Fuerst | Appointed Interim Treasurer 12/1/02 Appointed to serve unexpired term 12/11/02 |