Maude Collins appointed sheriff in 1925 – In October 1925, Maude Collins was appointed Vinton County sheriff after her husband was killed in the line of duty, becoming Ohio’s first female sheriff [1].
First woman to deliver prisoners to state penitentiary – Collins was the first woman to transport inmates to the state penitentiary, a notable milestone in the county’s law‑enforcement history [1].
Solved a double homicide using footprints – She solved a double homicide by analyzing footprints, noting the killer wore someone else’s shoes, which led to the correct identification of the perpetrator [1].
Continued to win elections after appointment – Collins served the remainder of her husband’s term and then won both primary and general elections to retain the sheriff’s office for subsequent terms [1].
Post‑sheriff career in courts and education – After leaving the sheriff’s office, she served as clerk of courts and later as a matron at Columbus State School until her death in 1972 at age 78 [1].
Mural unveiled to mark 100‑year anniversary – In October 2025, the Vinton County Department of Tourism and artist Pamela Kellough unveiled a mural of Collins on the courthouse wall, funded by the Ohio Arts Council, to commemorate the centennial of her appointment [1].
Deanna Tribe, president of the Vinton County Historical Society – “Of course she was very knowledgeable of what a sheriff did, so it did not take very long before Maude took over as sheriff,” and “Those were moonshining days, so she has a record of breaking up some stills.” She also noted Collins was the first woman to deliver prisoners to the state penitentiary and solved the double homicide by studying footprints [1].
Deanna Tribe – “People still talk about it to some extent because that was a very important case and Maude actually solved it,” and “That’s pretty exciting to know that the first female sheriff actually occurred in this rural county and it was in the first decade when women had the right to vote.” [1]
Vinton County – A rural county in southeast Ohio where Maude Collins served as sheriff and where the commemorative mural was installed.
Ohio Arts Council – A state agency that funds arts projects, including the funding for Collins’s mural.
Columbus State School – A state institution in Columbus where Collins worked as a matron after her law‑enforcement career.
Moonshining – Illegal production and sale of distilled alcohol, a common activity in rural Ohio during the 1920s that Collins helped suppress.
State penitentiary – The Ohio state prison system; Collins was the first woman to transport inmates to this facility.