Clara Cagle Senecal (July 15, 1865-November 29, 1944) was the first woman to hold the office of sheriff in the State of New York. She was appointed to the position of sheriff for Clinton County by Governor Al Smith on April 10, 1926, filling the vacancy caused by the death of her husband Eli by a stroke. Her husband asked the governor that she appointed as his replacement shortly before his death. She had served as matron of the county jail during her husband's term. She served in the position until January 1, 1927, following an election for a replacement sheriff in November 1926. Eli Senecal had been elected sheriff of Clinton County in November 1925, as a Democrat in a Republican county, after serving 11 years as the Chief of Police of Plattsburgh, and a total of 35 years on the police force.(15 April 1926). Widow Becomes 1st Sheriff of County, The Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post(9 April 1926). Sheriff Senecal Dies After Suffering Paralytic Stroke, Plattsburgh Sentinel(16 April 1926). Clinton Mourns Loss of Sheriff, Chateaugay Record
Senecal was born in Saranac Lake, New York on July 15, 1865.(30 November 1944). Mrs. Eli Senecal, 79, Died Here Yesterday, Plattsburgh Press Republican, p. 5, col. 5 Senecal married Eli in January 1895.(3 January 1895). Marriage notice, Plattsburgh Daily Press She had a son, Orrin.(26 April 1960). Postal Clerk in City Dies, Plattsburgh Press Republican (Orrin died on April 25, 1960, in Plattsburgh, at age 64.) She died in Plattsburgh, where she had been living for 52 years, on November 29, 1944, at age 79. She is buried at Saint Peter's Cemetery in Plattsburgh.
Being appointed sheriff to replace a deceased husband happened several times in the United States in the early part of the 20th century.(18 March 2025). The History of Women in Law Enforcement, Florida Sheriff's AssociationBills, E.R. (June 2013). The First Madam Sheriffs, Texas Co-Op Power (discussing Emma Daugherty Banister, appointed to fill out husband John Riley Banister's term in Coleman County, Texas, in 1918)Gottsacker, Erin (2 December 2025). 100 years ago, Ohio’s first female sheriff donned her badge, The Ohio Newsroom (discussing Maude Collins, appointed as first female sheriff in Ohio after husband was killed, and was elected to an additional term)
See also List of first female sheriffs in the United States
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