Beginning in 1886 and continuing through 1897, county commissioners and other county officials throughout the commonwealth were coming together each year at an Annual Convention to discuss important issues and enjoy the camaraderie such an event afforded them.

We believe a chairman of either the Executive Committee or a Convention Committee served as the group’s leadership until 1897. In 1897 at its October 6 and 7 Convention in Gettysburg, the Executive Committee made a motion to the full convention to create a more permanent association. That motion was approved. Wilson C. Kress, Esq., Clinton County was duly elected as the first president of the newly created permanent Association.

Wilson C. Kress, Esq. was first a teacher and later joined the Army. He also served as deputy provost marshal. He was shot in the line of duty. Passed the bar after the war and was admitted to practice at May term, 1866. Later he would argue some important cases in the PA Supreme Court and of course he was a county commissioner. Alas, there are no photos.

We only have the name of one chair and have not been able to identify those serving in that capacity prior to 1896.

*Helen Schluraff was appointed to fill the 1936 term of Ernest Posey and in so doing, became the first female president.

**Robert Huling died in office and Herman Kersteen served the remainder of Robert Huling’s term as president.

***R. Roscoe Simons fulfilled the unexpired term of Joseph H. Clapper in 1952.

Number of Presidents by County (Includes repeat office holders):

• Nine: Erie, Montgomery
• Seven: Tioga
• Six: Washington
• Five: Berks, Indiana
• Four: Dauphin, Lancaster, McKean, Mercer
• Three: Armstrong, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Delaware, Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton
• Two: Adams, Beaver, Cumberland, Fayette, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Venango, Warren, Westmoreland
• One: Allegheny, Bradford, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clinton, Elk, Franklin, Greene, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Susquehanna, Union, Perry
• None: Bedford, Cameron, Carbon, Clearfield, Columbia, Crawford, Forest, Fulton, Juniata, Lawrence, Mifflin, Potter, Somerset, Sullivan, Wayne, Wyoming, York