It was built of small round hickory logs, about eight inches in diameter and was in size sixteen feet square and about eight feet high. It stood where the highway now makes an elbow, on the Samuel Squares farm. The reader of today and later generations may be interested in a description of this, the pioneer 'courthouse,' so called. (See Bench and Bar chapter for the first court.) While it was the first courthouse, it was not a public building owned by Jasper County, at all, but the residence of Mr. Springer, which he had erected the autumn before (1845) and to which he had added a small room in which the court might be held. Springer's residence, in Buena Vista Township, or rather in Palo Alto Township, near the line between the two townships named. In accordance with the above provision, the first term of court was held at Mr.

Springer, in said county, or at such other place as may be designated by the board of county commissioners of said county, until the seat of justice of said county may be located.'

Here in Jasper County, the organizing act of the Legislature of the Territory of Iowa, had one section which reads: 'That the District Court of Jasper County shall be held at the house of Matthew D. So in speaking of the 'first court house' in any given county it is always well to understand which construction is placed on the building being talked about. It may mean simply a place for holding various kinds of court, or it may also mean a county building, or buildings, wherein courts are held, as well as office rooms for the various county officials, such as recorder, treasurer, etc. The term 'courthouse' is sometimes wrongly applied.

Jasper county courthouse iowa number