Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1899 — First Court House Still Standing. [ARTICLE]

First Court House Still Standing.

Brook Reporter:—Last week’s Goodland Journal illustrated, with a half tone out, the first court house jot Newton and Jasper oounties, with a history of the first court held, by John Ade of Kentland. The old building stands on the farm now owned by Bherman White, 2$ miles south of Brook, and is used for a general purpose shed. It was used in 1839 for the first session of court for what is now Newton and Jasper oounties, but at that time the newly organized Jasper county. The building at that time was the residence of Geo. W. Spitler, who held the offioes of clerk, auditor and recorder. While the building has weathered the storms for over sixty years, v it cannot be said, but what with the addition of a little siding, a few shingles and a little paint, it would be a credit to the leaky old shack at Kentland that has done service as a hall of justice for the iMt thirty _yey__ Buy the light running and Deering binder and mowers.

L. S. RENICKER, agent