Macon County Courthouse - Macon, Missouri - Courthouses on Waymarking.com

Built in 1865, the Macon County courthouse is built in the Romanesque Revival style of architecture with Italianate detailing. Aside from this courthouse, only one other nineteenth centry courthouse survives in Missouri of similar style, that being the Clark County Courthouse, in Kahoka completed in 1871.

Macon County was established by an act of Missouri Legislature on January 6, 1837. It was namved for Nathanial Macon, a Revolutionary War hero and a member of the North Carolina Senate, the U.S. House of Reprsentatives and the U.S. Senate. The county seat was located in Bloomington as of April 13, 1838.

As the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Bloomington became decidedly Pro-Southern. General Lewis Merril ordered Major Thomas Moody to burn the entire town. Major Moody was from the area, and had friends amougst the population. The Major convinced General Merril that he would reduce the influence of the town, by running for state legislature. If elected, he promised to introduce a bill to move the county seat from Bloomington to Macon.

Macon was regarded a a strategic key to Northeastern Missouri during the Civil War. Macon brought together the junction of two railroads. With its importance in consideration, the Union garrisoned troops within the town.

In 1863, Moody was elected to the state legislature. Subsequently, he proposed legislation to move the Macon County Seat to the junctoion of the North Missouri and the Hanibal and St. Joseph Railroads at Macon. As an act of military necessity, the bill was adopted by the legislature within 48 hours after its introduction on March 18, 1863.

The construction cost totaled $30,000 and was completed in September 1865. A two-story annex was erected on the public square in 1895.

Year Built: 1865 Current Use of Building: Courthouse Level of Courts: County Architect: Romanesque Dates this building was used to house judicial proceedings: 1865 to present Physical Address: 101 E. Washington Street Macon, Missouri 63552 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Related Website: [Web Link]

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