Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff William Gresham was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant upon a subject. The subject had become enraged and disorderly after learning a whipping had been administered to his younger brother by a local school teacher in Blue River Township. When a local constable was unable to serve an arrest warrant that had been issued, Sheriff Gresham was summoned. While attempting to take the young man into custody, Sheriff Gresham was shot and died immediately. The suspect was arrested and convicted of manslaughter. In April 1835, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison and fined $1,000. The governor pardoned him in 1840 and remitted the fine. Sheriff Gresham had served with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department for one year and was in his first term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and by his mother. He is buried in the Lanesville Protestant Cemetery in Lanesville, Indiana.
Sheriff William Gresham was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant upon a subject.
The subject had become enraged and disorderly after learning a whipping had been administered to his younger brother by a local school teacher in Blue River Township. When a local constable was unable to serve an arrest warrant that had been issued, Sheriff Gresham was summoned. While attempting to take the young man into custody, Sheriff Gresham was shot and died immediately.
The suspect was arrested and convicted of manslaughter. In April 1835, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison and fined $1,000. The governor pardoned him in 1840 and remitted the fine.
Sheriff Gresham had served with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department for one year and was in his first term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and by his mother. He is buried in the Lanesville Protestant Cemetery in Lanesville, Indiana.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-B3731409- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
192 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Gresham gave the Harrison County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Corydon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William Gresham is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Harrison County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Gresham's cause is highlighted.
How William Gresham Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1840
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Gresham is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Gresham was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Harrison County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
