An email from Jan Emmert prompted this column on Bluffton mayors.

Prior to the town hall’s renovation in 2008, there existed a huge framed collection of Bluffton mayor photos. It covered an entire wall. 

Every Bluffton mayor’s photograph from its founding in 1861 made up this unusual collection. Today the photos are in two frames on the second floor lobby outside the police department.

Think about it. Someone, at some point, took the time to collect photos of every person who served as mayor since 1861. The task seems nearly impossible, and if started today, it would be impossible.

Jan Emmert’s email answered the question, “Who gathered and created the original photos of all those mayors?” The answer is in a Jan. 5, 1950, Bluffton News article Jan found.

Here’s part of that story:
Collecting the photographs of Bluffton’s mayors since the village was incorporated in 1861, a hobby of the late Lloyd Murray, for many years, Bluffton’s oldest native born resident, has resulted in one of the outstanding attractions in the mayor’s office in the town hall.

Mounted on a large frame are photographs of all Bluffton mayors  beginning with J.S. Powell in 1861.

Among the interesting aspects of the photographic display are the changes in men’s fashions. In the early days virtually every mayor wore full beards, with mustaches later being in vogue. Smooth faces have predominated since World War I days.

The article continues, stating that ex-Bluffton mayors are scarce these days (1950), largely because of long terms serviced by Fred Triblehorn and Wilbur Howe. Only living former mayors in addition to Howe and Triblehorn are M.M. Murray, Armin Hauenstein, Arden Baker and. Dr. John J. Sutter.

Three families have the distinction of having father and son elected mayor. J.H. Eaton from 1880-81, had two sons succeed in him office. They were M.V. Eaton from 1896 to 1900 and Frank A. Eaton from 1903 to 1908.

A.J. Owens, mayor from 1881-82, had a son, J.P. Owens serve as mayor for 1910-12.

Andrew Hauenstein, mayor from 1906-08, was father of Armin Hauenstein, who served from 1926-28.

From 1872 to 1883 the period of office for mayor was one year. From 1884 to 1964 the term was two years. Since 1965 the term is four years.

Here is the list of persons who have served the village as mayor. Today most of these early mayors are part of forgotten Bluffton, but thanks to Lloyd Murray we have their photographs.

Click here to view a photo montage  by Dennis Morrison of each mayor's photo from 1861 to 2011, created during the Bluffton sesquentennial.

J.S. Powell, 1861-63
William, Wilson, 1863-67
Abe Long, 1867-72
Ranson Bartlett, 1872-73
J.J. Ferrall, 1873-74

S.S. Yoder, 1874-75
A.J. Owens, 1875-76
G.R. Sutton, 1876-77
S.J. Brand, 1877-80
J.H. Eaton, 1880-81

A.J. Owens, 1881-82
T.P. Johnson, 1882-83
T. J. Steingraver, 1883-84
S.J. Brand, 1884-86
J.H. Patterson, 1886-90

H. L. Romey, 1890-94
Bateman Zoll, 1894-96
M.V. Eaton, 1896-1900
C.D. Amstutz, 1900-03
Frank Eaton, 1903-06

Andrew Hauenstein, 1906-08
Frank A. Eaton, 1908-10
J.P. Owens, 1910-12
A.D. Lugibihl, 1912-14
John J. Sutter, 1914-18

M.M. Murray, 1918-22
A.C. Spangler, 1922-24
B.D. Smucker, 1924-26
Armin Hauenstein, 1926-28
Fred Triblehorn, 1928-38

J. Norman King, 1938
Wilbur Howe, 1938-48
Arden Baker, 1948-49
Wilbur Howe, 1950-56
David Risser, 1956-60

Wilbur Amstutz, 1960-65
Wayne Matter, 1966-75
Porter King 1976-79
Fred Tschantz, 1980-83
Porter King, 1984-87

Roger Edwards, 1988-95
Porter King, 1996-2000
Peter Schwager 2000-01
Fred Rodabaugh, 2002-2011
Eric Fulcomer, 2012-13

Dennis Gallant, 2013-14
Judy Augsburger, 2014-17
Richard Johnson, 2017- present