Linn County Courthouse - Linneus, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 39° 52.764 W 093° 11.372
15S E 483793 N 4414389
Built 1913 by court appointed architects.
Waymark Code: WM6RWR
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 07/15/2009
Views: 1
Col. John Holland, familiarly called "Jack" Holland, was Linneus' first settler. He came from Virginia in the spring of 1834 and located his claim on the section where Linneus now stands and constructed a two-room edifice. In this pioneer edifice, court was afterward held, a school was taught and the business of the county was transacted.
In March 1846 the court appropriated $4,000 and instructed Thomas Barbee to prepare plans for a new courthouse to be in the center of the square. Contractor of the brick, two-story building was Joseph (or James) L. Nelson, who built the Daviess County courthouse in Gallatin. Nelson completed the building in the fall of 1848 for $3,894.85.
Early in the 20th century grand juries repeatedly reported the courthouse in deplorable condition. Linn County citizens presented a petition to the court calling for a new courthouse. After receiving the petition, the County Court scheduled an election for a $60,000 bond issue Aug. 1, 1911.
The court appointed a Kansas City firm, Rae Sanneman and R. W. Van Trump, to prepare plans. Together the court and the architects visited Carroll, Daviess, Vernon, Johnson and Grundy counties to examine recent projects.
he building measured 55 by 80 feet. Offices were on the first two floors; the Circuit Court room was on the third. Ray and Son received the building contract in January 1913 for $56,000. Cornerstone ceremonies were conducted June 5, 1913. A year later the dedication took place. Final costs came to about $60,000.