Who Shot the Sheriff?

Estella Edna Scott Kendall was born in the small town of Jewell, Kansas February 21, 1873 to Walter and Sarah Jane Scott. She went to school through the 8th grade. In 1901 she and Charles M. Kendall were married in Jewell, and the couple soon moved to California where their son Clark was born. After the San Francisco Earthquake the couple moved to Albany, Oregon. 

In 1910, Charles was working as an entertainer and Estella worked as a dressmaker from their home. Charles joined the Linn County Sheriff’s Department, and in 1920, Estella was the sheriff’s office clerk. By 1922, Charles Kendall was Linn County Sheriff and the family was living in a home at 140 East 5th St., Albany. On June 21st, 1922, Sheriff Kendall was investigating an illegal still on a Plainview farm about 14 miles from Albany. The still’s owner, 70 year old D. Wist(?), resisted arrest and shot Sheriff Kendall, killing him. Wist committed suicide the following day while barricaded inside his home. Kendall had been Linn County Sheriff for three and a half years.

Estella never remarried. She turned their home into a boarding house, and continued to live there for the next thirty-eight years. During this time she worked as a dressmaker and sold cosmetics. Their son Clark became an attorney. Late in 1960 she moved to Rose Villa (Cottage 78). While here she acted as a judge for flower shows and did flower arrangements for the Rose Villa lobby. She died in October 1963 and is buried in Albany.

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