8
GOVERNMENTAL ORGAIQIZAT ION AND RECORD SYSTEM
When Knox County was created in 1799, the second constitution had al-
4, ready been adopted, providing that, when new counties were to be created sub-
` sequent to this constitution, the governor should appoint justices of the
_ a peace, a sheriff, and a coroner from persons recommended to him by a majority
of all the members of the house of representatives from the senatorial dis-
trict in which the county was to be situated (Const. of 1799, art. 4, sec. 9).
Five justices composed the first county court of Knox County, which
court conducted the fiscal and administrative affairs of the county, and was
authorized to appoint a clerk (Littell, Statute Laws of Kentucky, vol. 2, p.
298; £EEEg;§ppk, entry 204; see Fiscal Court, office of County Court Clerk).
A jailer, surveyor of highways, and other inferior officers of the coun-
ty were also appointed by the court at this time (Const. of 1799, art. 4,
sec. 8). The county court was also authorized to lay the county off into
four districts and to appoint four constables (Const. of 1799, art. 5, sec.
9; Littell, op. cit., vol. 2, p. 55; Order Book:—ehtry 204).
In ease of vacancy in the office of sheriff, the second constitution au-
thorized the governor to appoint a successor for two years from the justices
of the peace (See office of Sheriff). For vacancies in the offices of sur-
veyors, coroner, and juStiCsa*sr‘tss peace, the governor appointed a success-
or from one of two persons recommended for each position by the county court
(Const. of 1799, art. 5, soc. 51; art. 4, secs. 6, 8; Littoll, op. cit., vol.
2, p. 298 S . me-
ln 1825 the county court divided the county into school districts and
appointed school trustees (Morehead and Brown, Digest, vol. 2, pp. 1418,
1419). Tax commissioners were appointed by the court under an act of 1799,
which provided that the county court should appoint as many tax commissioners
as necessary for one year KLittc1l, pp: cit., vol. 2, p. 516).
From 1799 to 1802 Knox County had a district court. ln the latter year
the circuit court was established and Knox County, together with Lincoln
County, formrd one district. In 1eO4, the quarter sessions court was abol-
ished in Knox County, and the county constituted a circuit district by itself.
These first courts were presided over by nine circuit judgws who were appoin-
ted by the governor and who apportioned the districts among thcmsclvvs, sit~
ting as a general court. They were assisted by two assistant judges tech, np-
pointed from the county in which the circuit courts were held (Littell, op.
cit., vol. 5, pp. 57, 184). ln 1816 the office of assistant judgt was abol-
ishbd and its powers included with those of th» circuit julgc (ibid., vol. 5,
p. 546). The office of circuit clerk em·rqcd out of th~ confusion— r zted s··‘ by
the abolition of the quarter sessions court and th< establishment of the cir-
cuit court. An act of 1802 provided that the circuit clerk should bc uppoin-
ted by the circuit court and should hold office during good behavior (Const.
of 179V, nrt. 4, soc. 10; Littell, op. cit., vol, 5, p, 57), As provided for
by the general assembly in 1808, xsBE“cG$5sy-was in the ninth circuit court
district, which wt that time was compostd of M rcor, Casey, Lincoln, Currcrd,
ri- s 1- J 1