Putnam County is named for Israel Putnam, who was a general during the American Revolutionary War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Defiance County and Henry County
E – Hancock County
S – Allen County
W – Van Wert County and Paulding County
Created: April 1, 1820 
County Seat:
Ottawa 1820 – present
County Courthouse – Ottawa
Location: 245 Main Street / North Hickory Street
Built: 1909 – 1913
Style: Neo-Classical and Second Renaissance
Architect: Frank L Packard of Columbia and Ralph Snyder
Contractor: R H Evans & Company
Description: The building faces south and is a three story gray colored stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Ottawa. The south front has a stone framed entrance on the first story with small balcony and arched window above. The third story has double columns dividing the windows which have small pediment above. The eave along the roof extends from the building. The roof line is flat. The interior has a grand staircase. The large County Court of Common Pleas courtroom is located on the west side of the third story and the small County Court of Common Pleas courtroom is located on the east side. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas.
See: Ohio Court of Appeals – Lima ( 3rd Appellate District )
History: The county was created in 1820 and Kalida was selected as the county seat in 1834 when the county was organized. Before, the county was attached to Williams County for judicial purposes. The first courthouse was a wood structure built in 1834. The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1838. The courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 18, 1864. The county seat was moved to Ottawa and the third courthouse was built in 1866 at a cost of $15,000. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1909 to 1913 at a cost of $200,000.
County Courthouse – Ottawa
County Court of Common Pleas courtroom
County Court of Common Pleas small courtroom
Photos taken 2011 and 2018
Images 23*