The Champaign County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday morning and approved a resolution honoring former Sheriff Jacob K. Bosler and recognizing the 100th anniversary of his line-of-duty death.
Bosler served as Champaign County sheriff beginning in 1925 until he was fatally shot while responding to a domestic disturbance in Urbana on September 11, 1926. The commissioners’ resolution recognizes September 11, 2026, as the 100th anniversary of Bosler’s line-of-duty death.
According to historical information from the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and information provided by Mike Pelfrey, Bosler responded to an Urbana apartment after reports that a woman, Mrs. Sprague, was being threatened by her husband, Harry Sprague. Sprague was a 40-year-old World War I veteran who had recently been discharged from a state hospital.
Bosler and Urbana Police Sergeant D. L. Hill arrived at the apartment to take Sprague into custody, but Sprague barricaded himself inside. He told officers he would only come out if his wife returned.
Bosler had Mrs. Sprague return to the top of the stairs and told Sprague that she was there. When Sprague opened the door, Bosler stepped inside and was immediately shot. Bosler was shot in the arm and chest before taking one fatal blow between the eyes. He died from his wounds. Sergeant Hill was also wounded during the confrontation but survived.
Other officers at the scene returned fire and took Sprague into custody. He was held in the Champaign County Jail before being committed to the Lima State Hospital for the Insane on January 8, 1927. He died in 1932.
Bosler had served as sheriff for less than two years at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, who completed the remainder of his term as sheriff.
Bosler remains the only Champaign County sheriff killed in the line of duty.
The commissioners’ resolution states that the 100th anniversary provides an opportunity for Champaign County residents to remember Bosler’s service and sacrifice, while also recognizing the generations of law enforcement officers who have continued to serve the community.
A copy of the resolution will be presented to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and preserved as part of the county’s historical record.
*There are historical documents that suggest a difference with the timeline: https://champaigncounty.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=bosler&i=f&by=1926&bdd=1920&d=09111926-12311926&m=between&ord=k1&fn=urbana_daily_democrat_usa_ohio_urbana_19261011_english_1&df=1&dt=10 *
