McDonough County is named for Thomas McDonough, who was a commodore who defeated the British on Lake Champlain in 1814.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Henderson County and Warren County
E – Fulton County
S – Schuyler County
W – Hancock County
Created: January 25, 1826
County Seat:
Macomb 1831 – present
County Courthouse – Macomb
Location: 1 Courthouse Square / East Jackson Street
Built: 1872 – 1873
Style: Victorian
Architect: Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia
Contractor: A Walbaum of Chicago
Description: The building faces west and is a two story reddish colored brick structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Macomb. The west front has a small portico at the top of a stone stairs. The portico is supported by two-double columns with the pediment at the top of the first story. Above the second story rises as square tower with three small windows, mansard roof and an octagonal cupola at the top. On the north, east and south sides, the brick walls form a peak. Porticos adorn all sides. White colored stone trim decorates the windows, corners and forms horizontal bands at each story. The base of the building is white colored stone. In the interior has a cross hall plan on the first story with tile floor. The walls are wainscoted with black walnut and ash. Doors are of ash with black walnut trim; the outside doors have a carved braided trim. Inside window shutters and casing are the same woods. The principle rooms had fireplaces and mantles. Some of the ceilings were corrugated iron painted a white color. The iron stair from the basement to the third story under the mansard roof cost $27,000. There is also a narrow stair in the southwest corner of the building which is just as decorative. Floors are still supported by wrought iron beams which also support brick inner walls. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the east side of the second story. There are two small courtrooms located on the northeast and northwest sides of the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit. The building was renovated in 1971 to 1973 when an ultra modern court room was dedicated. The architect was Bing Coney of Coney & Dahl and the contractor was Galesburg Construction Company.
Note: In the clock tower, the belfry framework of wrought iron is still in place today. The bell in the clock weighs 1500 pounds and there are faces on all four sides of the tower. The original clock had an 8 foot pendulum. The present clock is operated by electricity. There is an iron spiral staircase to the clock tower.
See: The architect, Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia designed state capitol buildings in Michigan, Texas and Colorado, and also designed the now demolished courthouse in Seneca County, Ohio and in Illinois in Knox County and Macoupin County, in Indiana in Grant County and in Ohio in Lorain County.
See: The 9th Judicial District includes Fulton County, Hancock County, Henderson County, Knox County and Warren County.
History: The county was created in 1826 and Macomb ( Washington ) was selected as the county seat in 1831. The first court met in the tavern built and occupied by Reverend James Baker. The first courthouse was a log structure erected by Sheriff William Southward in 1831 at a cost of $69.50. The second courthouse was a two story brick structure with stone foundation built by Joseph Updegraff in 1835 at a cost of $4,832. The courthouse was falling apart so the third and present courthouse was constructed in 1869 to 1872 at a cost of $155,000.
County Courthouse – Macomb
County Circuit Court small courtroom
County Circuit Court small courtroom
Photos taken 2012 and 2025
Images 16*