Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-10-29
County Scat located.


County Seat Located.
"On the fifth day of August, 1S43.
the commissioners appointed Israel
lSlster and James A. Gallagher to To-
cate the county seat of kish-
kekosh county and they To-
Gated it on the present site
of Abba, and gave ii the name of
Princeton. AT the election held on August
| j, lSia. Warcham G.. Clark was elected
PROBATE judge, james Hilton the first clerk
OF the district court, Jeremiah Miller clerk
| of the board of county commissioners, r.
q. Tempieton treasurer, John Clark sheriff.
| Joseph McAlnllen. Noses H. Clark and
| james 5. Bradley members of the board
| OF commissioners.
! After the county seat had been survey
! ed by John n. Massey. a movement was
| made fcr contest of its location on the
| first Monday of April, 1916. an election was
| held to decide the county seat contest be-
| tween Princeton and Clarksville mt Clarks-
! point, which resulted in the favor of
| Princeton.
first Court House.
October, 1877 George r. Holiday sue
ceedcd Smita Judson on the board of com
missioners job Rogers was paid $40 for
building the log court house. October
1stT, John Clark took the place of Andrew
i Ellswck on the board. Alpheus y. Miller
and Doster Noland were given the contract
| for building the county jail. October. 1877
| AT the same session the sheriff was author
| iged TO rent the court house for 81 per
month payable in advance John Mark was
| one of the tenants and Or. Flint and his
/ family occupied part of ii ut the same
/ time Oscar Mark was born in this old log
| court house in the fall of 1S4I.
/ In October, 1850 Louis Arnold succeed
| ed George Holiday on the board of com
misstoners. The population of Kishkekosh
,ttst Ia, y {
1877 John Webb succeeded John Clark as
sheEih of the county.
Abba incorporates.
"Albia incorporated as Il town in 1886
and j. p. Teas was its tirst mayor but the
council ceased to meet after December %.
1856 1t revived again however in 1859
A. J. Warner was then elected mayor. In
1S62 1T WAS again reorganizcd and james
! Tate wss chosen as its mayor.
.Mantua township WAS organized in Kisll-
kekosh county on August 10, 1S45 Pleas
ant township on the same day. Davis
township was next organized. bounded on
the east by the center line north and
south of what is new Bluff Creek township,
aud extended TO the west boundary of the
\ county. On October Z, 1915. the board Of
county commissioners located this, Troy
township. including township -, range IL,
and all of township IL except the east tier
of the county. The township plat of
Princeton which had been produced by the
survey made by John n. Massey, was APP
proved by the board of commissioners sit
its October session In 1915, On January 10,
1916, the name Kishkekosh was changed
by the legislature to that of Monroe coun-
, ty and this change took effect August 1
the same year John Clark the first sher-
iH of the county, who still survives and is
present today, was appointed by the com
missioners to procure Il suitable room free
of charge for holding the first term of
court. 1t was at the house of Wareham G.
Clark. This was in April, 1876, Judge Ma
son presided H. b. Hendershott of OF,
tumwa. was appointed the first public pros
ecutor IN the county
The old court house was built in 1916
by job Rogers, Oliver Rowles furnished
him some of the logs that went unto the
construction and in return Rogers made
rails for Rowles. The building was 20x2C
feet with Ii half story above.
This was reached by 4 common ladder
, from the court room below. The jurors
assembled the ladder to the court room
above, and returned by the ladder to the
room below and reported their verdict
Ross Murder Trial.
This was done in the celebrated trial
of Ross for the killing of Wright Jacot
Webb, who still survives. was one of the
jurors in this trial. and with the jury re
turned a verdict of not guilty. The prose
, cution was conducted by Mr.. Brumield OF
Ottumwa, and Augustus G. Hall. of Keo
sauqua. two of the most able and celebrat
, ed lawyers of Iowa The defense was con
dueted by Mr.. Walker, the celebrated crm
inal lawyer Of Illinois, and j. G. Knopp
Of KeosauQua, one OF the great lawyers o.
Iowa. The jury climbed the ladder leadins
TO the loft and in the same manner de
scended the ladder leading to the cour1
room and delivered Its verdict
The Second caurt House.
THE old court house was taken dowr
in 1860 and the logs usel for foot walks
about the square. on Ma. II, 1858, The