The first acts of the state of Ohio that made provisions for county commissioners were adopted from the statutes of Pennsylvania. By an act published June 19, 1795, three commissioners were ordered to be appointed in each county for one year, and each succeeding year one was to be appointed to take the place of the commissioner first named. These appointments were made by the justices of the court of general quarter sessions of the peace on the first day of their January term. In 1799, the length of the official term was designated as follows: The first commissioner named on the list, one year; the second, two years, and the third, three years; one being appointed every year, as before, to supply the place of the retiring member. Their powers and duties were fully defined, and they were to meet annually on the first Monday in July to attend to all the county business coming under their jurisdiction. This law of appointment lasted until February 13, 1804, when a law was enacted requiring three commissioners to be elected in each county, said election to be held on the first Monday in April, 1804. The commissioners-elect were determined by lot the length of time each should remain in office, as follows: One to serve until the following October; one until the October election in 1805; and the third until the same election in 1806. Thus the ofiice became rotary and has remained so every since. Vacancies were filled by the associate judges, said appointee to remain in office until the succeeding October election. The board was to meet annually in June to perform such duties as the law required. On February 22, 1805, an act was passed by which, upon the erection of a new county, the commissioners elected at the first election only held office until the next annual election; and on January 15, 1810, all former acts were amended or repealed, but no changes were made in the manner or time of holding office or elections, the duties of the commissioners simply being enlarged and more fully described. A great many acts have since been passed defining and regulating the powers and duties of the county commissioners but these laws have not affected the office to a great extent.