About Rock County's
First Courthouse in 1889
Thanks to Sue Barnes for researching and transcribing the past newspaper!
Courtsey of the Rock County Historical Society Photo Collection
Excerpts from March 9, 1939
The following excerpts were taken from "THE ROCK COUNTY LEADER" issued on the 43rd Year, Number Seventeen on March 9, 1939 under the W. E. Buckendorf's editorial section of "Bucking the Trail".
"Coming to my desk a short time ago were a number of old papers and among these were three copies of Bassett papers, published 49 and 50 years ago: two Republican-Heralds and one Rock County Bugle. Others were an Omaha Weekly Bee of the issue of Jan. 22, 1890; a Scholar's Companion of Nov. 1889 and the World Herald of Jan. 12, 1890."
"The earlier dated paper carries the official vote of the first election held in the county at which J. D. Likens was elected treasurer; W. T. Phillips was elected clerk; Henry Harris, Sheriff; E. Opp, S. Corder and E. B. Brain county commissioners; Fred R. Morgan county judge; Will H. Rugg, county superintendent, J. H. Davenport, surveyor; J. J. Carlin, county attorney; and Jas. D. Brayton, coroner."
"Another co-incident with the recent county court house bonds is an item in the Nov. 14, 1889 issue of the Republican-Herald as follows: "Eureka, the bonds have carried and Bassett will have another new court house before another summer clothes the earth in verdure. Thanks to a few enterprising spirits, court house rent will have to step down, and Bassett presents Rock county with a $5,000 court house and jail as a monument to the energy, patriotism, benevolence and charity of Bassett and the good precinct of Bassett. Every citizen of the precinct will join with the free-holders of the county in tendering the 106 voters of the 150 in Bassett who voted for bonds, their sincere and heartfelt thanks for a present without compensation. The citizens of the county rejoice, not only with the present of the courthouse that will grace the hill south of Bassett, but at the glad tidings that the county seat question is practically settled.'"
Excerpts from March 23, 1939
The following excerpts were taken from "THE ROCK COUNTY LEADER" issued on the 43rd Year, Number Nineteen on March 23, 1939 under the W. E. Buckendorf's editorial section of "Bucking the Trail".
"Having read the brief summary of several items mentioned in early day papers a few weeks ago causes Dan Crowley to sit down and pen me an interesting letter. Real old timers of the community will recall that the Crowleys were early residents of Bassett. They now reside in Stevenson, Wash., but the letter was written from Los Angeles, Calif., where they are visiting."
"The Leader has been keeping them in touch with local happenings. The letter follows:
"In your issue of March 9 I find an account of some of the old files of the Bassett papers of 1889 and 1890. This is very interesting to us who were residents of Bassett during that important period of making Bassett and Rock county. We settled in Bassett in 1883. There was no town at that time. Louis Canenburg lived on his homestead, he being the only settler in Bassett. In 1894 the town began to grow. New settlers began to come in. Then came the question of dividing old Brown county. This contest lasted six years, Bassett and Ainsworth finally winning out, and the county was divided. Then came the question of where the county seat should be located. The first election brought out five different locations, all contending for the county seat honors."
"After one of the hardest long drawn out fights in the history of Nebraska, Bassett came out victorious. Then the question of a court house came up. I must go back a little to say that during the county seat fight Newport came out with a proposition agreeing to construct a $5,000.00 building and donate it to the county if the county seat was located in that town. While this was an illegal proposition the citizens of Bassett realized that it was winning votes, hence the boys who were making the fight for Bassett decided that a counter proposition would offset the claim of Newport. Five residents of Bassett executed a bond agreeing to build a $5,000.00 court house at Bassett if the county seat was located there."
"After the final location of the county seat, those of us who had signed the bond were holding the sack so to speak. Newport demanded that we carry out the terms of the bond. We got our working committee and decided on trying to put over the bond as agreed and build the court house. I wish to say here that if were not for that committee Bassett would not have the county seat or the court house. In 1890, the bonds having carried, Bassett proceeded to erect the first court house. On completion of the same the working committee decided to have an old settlers ball to dedicate the new building. The writer and his family were honored guests at that dedication and on the morning following we took the train for the Pacific coast."
"As to the little band of fellows who went through that fight I want to say they have mostly passed on to where there is no county seat fight. I know of but three of the old band left----H. B. Madison, now living at Kent, Wash.: E. E. Cushman, federal judge, at Tacoma, Wash.; and your humble servant, Dan Crowley"
"Thanks, Mr. Crowley, in clearing up a little more of the early history of this community."
Excerpts from March 31, 1939
The following excerpts were taken from "THE ROCK COUNTY LEADER" issued on the 43rd Year, Number Twenty on March 31, 1939 under the W. E. Buckendorf's editorial section of "Bucking the Trail".
"Have heard many ask the question when the work on the courthouse will be started, but so far, no one seems to be able to furnish the information. The question has generally resulted in some talk about the first courthouse in Rock county. By again checking over the old issue of the Rock County Bugle I find in its issue of April 17, 1890, this item:"
"C. J. Houseman was on hand with a force of carpenters and commenced laying the foundation of the new courthouse. The brick was purchased at Ainsworth are of excellent make. Every day Materials of all kinds to be used in the construction of this elaborate structure are constantly being conveyed to the place of structure and the work is successfully being carried on rapidly. The court house square is one of the finest sites to be found in this section of the country, lying just west of the schoolhouse. Of course just being commenced, a full outline cannot be given but suffice to say Rock county will have a new court house by the first of July her people will be greatly proud of."
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