Henry County - American Courthouses

Henry County is named for Patrick Henry, who was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War and was later, the Governor of Virginia.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Rock Island County and Whiteside County

E – Bureau County and Stark County

S – Stark County and Knox County

W – Mercer County and Rock Island County

Created: January 13, 1825

County Seat:

Richmond 1837 – 1840

Morristown 1840 – 1843

Cambridge 1843 – present

County Courthouse – Cambridge

Location: 307 West Center Street / South Main Street

Built: 1878 – 1879

Style: Victorian / Second Empire

Architect: Thomas J Tolan & Son and Brentwood S Tolan of Fort Wayne, Indiana

Contractor: Julius W Hinkley

Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and limestone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds on the center of Cambridge. The brick is stacked in bond pattern with limestone trim. The east front of the building has a small entrance with light colored stone facing rising to the top of the second story. On the second story is a double arched window. Above the second story rises a gray stone tower ascending to four clocks and a steep roof with parapet at the top. At each corner of the building is a pavilion with narrow vertical windows. Other windows across the building are also narrow, vertical and have a small arch at the top. In the interior, the first story has black and white colored marble tiles and corrugated ceilings. The hallways run east-west and terminate with a circular arch. The main County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the east side of the second story and has elaborate ceiling paintings, a marble fireplace and wooden benches. The paintings are the work of Frank Dirkson and depict the skylines of Cambridge, Galva, Genesco and Kewanee. There is a large chandelier in the center. Across the hallway is a smaller courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 14th Judicial Circuit. In 1940, an addition was built to store legal records. The second story was renovated in 1969 to 1970 by architect Italo J Milani. The building was renovated in 2028 to 2026 and the contractor was Estes Construction of Galesburg. On the west side of the building is a new modern two story red colored brick addition constructed in 1997 to 1999. The addition is attached to the courthouse by a two story atrium with stairs ascending to the second story. On the first story are two County Circuit Court courtrooms along the west side of the atrium. The architect was Phillips Swager Associates and the contractor was William Brothers Construction.

See: The 14th Judicial District includes Mercer County, Rock Island Count y and Whiteside County.

History: The county was created in 1825 and Richmond was selected as the county seat in 1837. The first county commissioners met at the home of George Brandenburg at Dayton ( Cleveland ) The first courthouse was a two story frame structure built in 1838 to 1839 and was destroyed by fire in April 1839. In 1840, the county seat was moved to Morristown. The second courthouse was built in 1841. In 1843, the county seat was moved to Cambridge and the second courthouse was moved by oxen to Cambridge. The third courthouse was a large wooden structure built in 1845 opposite the second courthouse. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1878 to 1880 at a cost of $77,147. The cost of the 1940 addition was $80,000.