The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-05-22
were never TAXED BEFORE!
No Living Person was ever Taxed to Build the
Old Court House.
A History of the Four Court Houses Decatur
County has had.

County has had.
Decatur to live in as
any that might be named the central has through
and by the enterprise an industry of people really grand
its carly settlement being inland long way from any
Market that transportation expensive addition there
the location Of the county which first placed
City by three appointed the governor 1880
this location objections made and demand for
ana OF the county seat the exact of the
county or at some point the than Decatur City
favorable to relocation petioned the legislature that question
Submitted to vote OF the people at special election The
of 1923 passed special act for that purpose fixed the
election for the first Monday April 1853 The points voted
for Decatur City, Indianapolis he cente Independence
ow Leon The count of the vote showed Independence clear
and majority of all the Some Decatur
asserted and there do that ckery deception
the part of adheren of Independence fragrant
amount political theft of the county point it NAV be
that matter of fact there rclery
that effected the vote and there deception played
Independence and against Decatur City was never
thing fairly and openly done than presentation of the
matter the legislature and all the proceedings that followed But
to relate bad feelings of the greater
degree continued Notwithstanding half century has
elapsed and the different points the and prosper
Decatur City neat substantial and fourshng town. nepend
ence fine farming community and Leon Just is
Still the feeling that the location was never rigb
exists the minds of and resent
heavy with age and began in and AMONG
ton of good nearly all passed away in the minds
of aged who boys hen yet to the front
does duty new and much needed house
dropped and reeated the silent shades the past
thousands of forgotten memories of things that wee unite
audab endeavor to enhance all interests part and
point of the entire comfy just sensible uptoate people
should nearly always only one town in the
county be the county and when that established
law and equity and the need exists there ought eo
pie auiabe court house adequate good
and worthy county change Of the county being
question is idle to spend time discussing it Many who talk
of doing it simply their opposition
light court house
Nearly all of the county would be proud house
the county that would be honor county as whole
but hoping that not them not
living in the county to-day single who paid levy
the four court houses the county fifty
assisted by taxation in building court house, this
court house voted direct yet county
The first in Decatur City and cost from $3.50 to $500
paid for out of the county the being within
the jurisdiction to appropriate Thenex
Leon the square where the fine house Stephen
stands 1t of frame of large dimensions Its completion
delayed Court held in it about sessions county
found objections finally the con
tractor There had been sales Of lots laid the forty
given the county The proceeds together with the ordinary
being sufficient the county the
the brick which burned in 1874 So 0OO
1875 the present house built and howe
supervisors which had succeeded the county Judge system
talking OF how get house, tired of paying
another loss Of records Decatur City the Just nov
asked that the county be ocate there town would
build fine house of pocket expense
the county They took subscriptions that end addition
they petitions townships asking the boac
to locate the house Decatur City their to build it.
This petition was presented to the board at its June meeting
this meeting of the board the people opposed
another change the building
court house much needed at the county established
the petition The June meeting the apart day
and demonstrators and patiently
the contention Decatur City represented by able
After eiberaon iur
dcon the matter presented The great need that stared
board the face court house and plan
getting The state of Iowa had years prior donated swamr
lands to the county which had been selling tem
the county had $4,000 sswamp had
estimated about The approp
ate the the people would furnish enough money
people raised S. 900 and completed the building you
with the fourth house The swamp county