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As the
Mormons moved westward across America in the winter of 1846-47 to escape
religious persecution, about 20 families stopped in a place called Indiantown.
They stayed for several years.
Cass County was
not organized until 1853 when the first commissioners met in Indiantown to fix
the location of the first Cass County seat. Their choice was a site called
Lewis, in honor of Lewis Cass, and a two-story house was used for court and
county business.
The railroad
passed through Atlantic and this growing city offered a block of land for a
courthouse in hopes of becoming the new county seat. Their offer was accepted in
1869 and a small framed building was constructed. It soon became inadequate and
the county rented the Park House across the street for $1,200.
In 1888, a new
two-story brick and stone building was built. In March 1932, a fire destroyed
the courthouse, but the county records were saved. Salvaged materials, insurance
money, and a federal grant were used to construct the current courthouse, which
cost $119,000.
This brick
building is trimmed in Indiana limestone and stands three stories high. It was
dedicated in 1934.
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