The office of county treasurer was created in the Northwest Territory on August 1, 1792, but in 1799 the law was amended. On April 16, 1803, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act conferring the power of appointing the county treasurer on the associate judges. The following year, February 13, 1804, this power was transferred to the county commissioners. It remained an appointive position until March 12, 1831, when the office was made biennially elective. The following citizens have held this office in Madison county: 1810-11, Thomas Gwynn; 1811-15, Levi H. Post, who resigned in December of the latter year; 1815-16, John Simpkins; 1817-25, Amos G. Thompson; 1826-38, Robert Hume; 1838-50, Henry Warner; 1850-56, William A. Athey; 1856-60, William T. Davidson; 1860-64, William H. Chandler; 1864-66, Abraham Simpson; 1866-68, Alva L. Messmore; 1868-69, Horace Putnam, who began his duties in September and died in May, of the latter year, Biggs D. Thomas being appointed to fill out the unexpired term; 1870-74, Benjamin T. Custer; 1874-78, Henry T. Strawbridge; 1878-82, E. R. Florence; 1882-86, Abraham Tanner; 1886-90, W. M. Jones; 1890-94, J. T. Vent; 1894-98, Benjamin Emery; 1898-1902, J. Scott Chenoweth; 1902-06, R. L. Farrar; 1906-10, E. S. Gordin; 1910-14, Charles A. Wilson; since September 6, 1915, M. E. Hummel.