Audrain County was established on December 17, 1836.  The city of Mexico was founded the same year by Rev. Robert Mansfield and Mr. J. H. Smith, who donated twenty-five acres of their land on the condition that the town would be the county's permanent seat of justice.  The donation was accepted by the commissioners and was approved by the circuit and county courts.

The Sheriffs of Audrain County

The following is a list of Sheriffs who have served Audrain County since it became a county in 1836.

Matt Oller - January 1, 2017 - Present
Stuart D. Miller - 1985 - 2016
James A. Barber - March 18, 1980 – 1984
Gary D. Kitchen - January 15, 1980 - March 17, 1980
Arthur A. (Bud) Riley - 1973 - January 15, 1980
Harold L. Sulgrove - 1969 – 1972
H. Ross Vance - 1949 – 1968
James (Jim) Beatty - 1945 – 1948
Robert Willam Baker - 1941 – 1944
Paul E. Hammett - 1937 – 1940
Emmett S. Haycraft, Sr. - 1933 – 1936
Churchill (Pap) Kennan - 1929 – 1932
C. H. Fox - 1925 – 1928
J. Ernest Blum - February 11, 1924 – 1924
Chalmus L. Blum - 1921 - February 10, 1924
James G. Ford - 1917 – 1920
J. William Barnett - 1913 – 1916
J. B. Woolery - 1909 – 1912
Price Johnson - 1905 – 1908
Quincy James - 1901 – 1904
M. N. Melson - 1897 – 1900
Joseph N. Shephens - 1893 – 1896
G. W. Adams - 1889 – 1892
John W. Atchison - 1885 – 1888
D. D. Woodard - 1881 – 1884
H. Glascock - 1877 – 1880
John Steele - 1873 – 1876
William H. White - 1871 – 1872
Joseph W. Carson - 1866 – 1870
Hamilton Hall – 1865
Amos Ladd - 1863 – 1864
John W. Gamble – 1863
​Alexander Carter, Sr. - 1861 – 1862
Franklin Cave - 1857 – 1860
William Hendrix - 1855 – 1856
Joel Haynes - 1851 – 1854
Samuel B. Gass - 1847 – 1850
A. B. Tinsley - 1841 – 1846
Jack Willingham - 1839 – 1840
James M. Hicks - 1836 – 1838
James Jackson - Appointed in 1836, but refused to serve.