General History

“Four mural painting adorning the stairway walls at the courthouse were part of an over all interior redecorating program which the county supervisors authorized in 1920.

The name of Frank Enders, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is lettered into the corner of one scene, so it is believed that he was the artist.

Old timers recall that the paintings, all

done on canvas, were accomplished on the wall rather than being painted and then put up. One painting is of the first courthouse at Magnolia, one is the first courthouse at Logan, one had a horn of plenty theme and one has “Lady Justice” with her scales, using

a Grecian motif.” (Logan Centennial Book, p. 44)

Harrison County was at one time a part of Keokuk County. It was established in 1851 and became an organized county, March 7, 1853, by an act of the Fourth General Assembly, which enactment also appointed Abram Fletcher, Charles Wolcott and A. D. Jones, respectively from Fremont, Mills and Pottawattamie counties, as Commissioners to locate the county seat, the name of which was to be Magnolia, and who were to meet early in March for such purpose. The county derived its name in honor of the Ninth President of the United States - William Henry Harrison.

The Commissioners selected the southeast corner of T80, R43, section 32 and then gave to the 160 acres thus selected the name of “Magnolia” and the Organizing Sheriff called an election on the first Monday of April, the same year - 1853, at which time a full corps of county officers was elected. There were other locations claiming the county seat Daniel Brown wanted it at what he platted and called Calhoun, while another faction wanted it located where Logan now stands, or on the opposite side of the Boyer River.

Properly speaking, Magnolia and Jefferson were the two voting precincts of the county, upon its first being organized, however, some of the persons living in the county prior to March 14, 1853 - time of organization, had exercised the right of franchise by going to Council Bluffs to cast their votes

February 4, 1854, County Judge P. G. Cooper attempted to subdivide the county into civil townships as follows: Magnolia, Sioux, Washington, Wayne, Jefferson; but through some irregularity this division did not stand.

Again in September 1857, the entire county townships were redrawn, making the civil sub-divisions to conform to the Congressional townships. Some of the civil townships have had their names from time to time. The present twenty civil townships of the county are as follows:

Allen, constituted in 1872, was named from an old settler. Boyer, constituted prior to 1857, was named from the river of the county bearing that name. Cass, constituted prior to 1857, derived its name from Lewis Cass, the Michigan statesman.

Calhoun, constituted prior to 1857, was named secondary from the village within its border. The village was named from old Fort Calhoun, which was located on the right bank of the Missouri River at a point opposite where the village was platted in 1853.

Cincinnati, constituted in 1856, was so named because of the large number of persons, headed by Jacob S. Fountain, who came from Cincinnati, Ohio. He laid out a town, near a present railroad junction, called Cincinnati.

Clay, constituted in 1856-60, was named for Henry Clay. Douglas, constituted in 1868, derives its name from Stephen A. Douglas. Harrison, constituted in 1856, was named in honor of the county, which took the name from President William Henry Harrison. Jackson, constituted in 1856-60, was named in honor of old Andrew Jackson, of New Orleans fame.

Jefferson, constituted in 1854, derives its name from President Thomas Jefferson.

La Grange, was constituted prior to 1855. Lincoln, constituted in 1868, derives its name from that of our lamented President - Abraham Lincoln. Little Sioux, constituted in 1854, was named from the Little Sioux river flowing through its domain.

Magnolia, constituted in 1853, derives its name from the county seat, which the Fourth General Assembly of Iowa named "Magnolia" - a beautiful, sweet scented flower of the Gulf States.

Morgan, constituted in 1867, was named in honor of Morgan County, Ohio, from which section Capt. John Noyes, an early settler of Harrison county, came. Raglan, constituted in 1857, was named by Capt. John A. Danielson, for Lord Raglan, of Crimean War fame, who was then at the height of his glory. St. John was constituted in 1856. Taylor, constituted in 1861, was named after Gen. Zachary Taylor.

Union, constituted in 1858, was named by Samuel Wood because of the great friendship and unity of feeling among neighbors.

Washington, constituted in 1872, derives its name from the "Father of his Country", President George Washington.

In 1854, the county commenced building a courthouse at Magnolia, from funds derived from the sale of town lots. This was a small frame structure, but met the requirements of the day in which it was fashioned; however as the years rolled on, the elements caused this pioneer landmark of public work to decay and in 1873, it was considered as unsafe by the Board of Supervisors, and they, that year, caused the erection of a frame office building, in which the records and county business matters were kept until Logan was made the seat of justice, in 1876.

The courthouse at Logan was erected in 1876. It was situated within a level block of land given by the city. The structure was of brick and is 55 x 70 feet and two stories high.

The first floor was divided into six offices - Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff and School Superintendent. All but the last named was provided with a good fire-proof vault.

The second floor of the building was used for court room purposes and jury rooms.

The building was erected by contractors Yeisley & Stowell during the Centennial year.

It was built by an appropriation of $5,000 on the part of the tax payers of the county and $9,000 donated by the people of Logan.