Marshall County - American Courthouses

Marshall County is named for Frank J Marshall, who was a member of the first territorial legislature and who operated a ferry on the Big Blue River at Oregon Trail crossing.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Gage County, Nebraska and Pawnee County, Nebraska

E – Nemaha County

S – Pottawatomie County and Riley County

W – Washington County

Created: August 25, 1855

County Seat:

Marysville 1855 – present

Old County Courthouse – Marysville

Location: 1209 Broadway Street / South 13th Street

Built: 1891 – 1892

Style: Romanesque

Architect: H C Koch and Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Contractor: Groves & Hackett of St. Joseph, Missouri

Description: The building faces north and is a two story red brick faced and red colored sandstone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Marysville. On the first story at the central north entrance are polished red colored granite columns. Above the entrance rises an eight sided tower with round north side and topped by a steep roof. The floor of the tower and the steps are Joliet stone. The corners of the building have peaked rises and on the sides are third story rises with rounded windows. The base is white colored native stone. The roof is hipped. In the interior, enameled brick was used for the walls of the corridors and stairways. The stairs are iron with slate treads. The floors are laid on brick work arches and iron girders. The courtroom is located on the south side of the second story and the arched ceiling rises to 23 feet. During construction, William Daugherty of Marysville was the superintendent. I B Davis did the excavation work during April of 1891. The building now houses a museum.

See: The architect, H C Koch and Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, designed courthouses in Iowa in Jefferson County, Mahaska County, Montgomery County and Webster County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Marshall County Courthouse

County Courthouse – Marysville

Location: 1201 Broadway Street / South 12th Street

Built: 1978 – 1979

Style: Modern

Architect: Wilbur F Kruse

Contractor: McBride Dehmer Construction of Wichita

Description: The building faces north and is a one story buff brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the west side of the old courthouse in the center of Marysville. The entrance is along the north end of the east side. A wide green colored header runs at the flat roof line. The windows are divided by vertical brick sections. In the interior is a long north-south hall. The Commissioner’s Meeting Room is located along the east side. The County District Court courtroom is located on the southwest side of the building. There is a small courtroom on the south side. The building houses the County District Court of the 22nd Judicial District.

See: The 22nd Judicial District includes Brown County, Doniphan County and Nemaha County.

History: The county was created in 1855 and Marysville was selected as the county seat. The county used rented premises. The first courthouse was constructed in 1873 to 1874. The courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 30, 1890. On June 3, 1891, the contract was awarded for $43,028 to construct the second courthouse which is still standing. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1978 to 1979.