| Nodaway County | |
| Organized February
14, 1845, from Andrew County and named for the Nodaway River. Nodaway is
a Potawatomi Indian word meaning "placid". "Jump over the
river" has also been suggested as the meaning.
County Seat: Maryville Address: Nodaway County |
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| Photograph | |
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| History | |
| First courts of Nodaway
County met in either private homes or a schoolhouse. In February 1846
the court appropriated $250 for a two-room, log courthouse. James Vaughn
superintended the construction done by Benjamin Sims, whose bond the
court approved on April 6, 1846.
According to the County Court Record, the court assigned a lot at the southwest corner of Second and Main for the courthouse. A complete description of the 32-by-20-foot building with central chimney is in the court record. The court encountered difficulty with the slow progress of Sims' construction; several times the court threatened to forfeit his work unless completed by specified dates. By February 1847 court was held in the courthouse, but work continued through the summer. Finally, the court accepted the building in October 1847. In July 1853 the court appointed James Ray superintendent of the anticipated new courthouse and appropriated $3,500; a month later, Ray, who operated a drinking establishment in Maryville, presented a plan. James C. Nelson contracted for building the courthouse. The square, brick building with cupola was received by the court in June 1855. Total costs amounted to $4,461. During the winter of 1856 the cupola leaked, and by May, roof and cupola were reported in poor condition. The inspector recommended covering with zinc or tin. Apparently, the courtroom on the first floor proved inconvenient. In 1869 the building was remodeled at a cost of $391.45 to place the courtroom on the second floor with offices on the first. The building was razed in September 1881 as construction began on the next county courthouse. An election on June 7, 1881 authorized $80,000 for building a courthouse and jail; $60,000 of this sum went to the third and present courthouse of Nodaway County. Edmond J. Eckel and George R. Mann, architects from St. Joseph, designed the building (see Figure 2). The contract was given to R. K. Allen for construction of courthouse and jail for $74,000. The 111-by-76-foot, red-brick building is trimmed in sandstone. County offices occupy the first floor; smaller offices and the courtroom are on the second. Few alterations have been made. In 1932 a new floor was put in the Circuit Court room, and the direction was changed so the room faces north rather than south. Exterior renovation in 1950 cost about $15,000. Nodaway County's courthouse is a fine example of a tall-towered, late 19th century courthouse. Architect Eckel and his partner, Mann, were members of an outstanding firm in northwest Missouri, and this courthouse is one of their earliest surviving works. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Used with permission: Copyright 2002 University of Missouri. Published by University Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia |
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| Additional History | |
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This
courthouse, the third one in Nodaway County, was built in 1882 on the
site where the first handmade flag was flown on July 4, 1845. J.M. Cue
was the architect of this The first Nodaway County Courthouse was a small two—room log building constructed on this site in 1846. When a new courthouse was built, this building was used for the first school and later as a general store. The present building bears a plaque donated by the D.A.R. commemorating the site. This building was renovated several years ago after some citizens had expressed a desire to replace it with a new building. With new outside lighting, it now stands as a beacon day and night. Go
here for
more information |
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| Records at Courthouse | |
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Recorder
of Deeds: Index
to deeds, 1845-1887; Deed records, 1845-1888; Quitclaim deeds,
1879-1887; Mortgage deeds, 1884-1886; Index to marriage records,
1845-1927; Marriage records, 1845-1916. Clerk
of the County Court: Permanent
record of births, 1883-1931; Register of births and
stillbirths, 1883-1889; Register of deaths, 1883-1893. Clerk
of the Circuit Court: Index
to circuit court records, 1845-1897; Circuit court records, 1846-1887. |
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