Cass County is named for General Lewis Cass, who was a United States Senator and Vice President under Presidents Adams and Jackson.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Schuyler County and Mason County
E – Menard County and Sangamon County
S – Morgan County
W – Brown County and Schuyler County
Created: March 3, 1837 
County Seat:
Virginia 1839 – 1843
Beardstown 1843 – 1872
Virginia 1872 – present
County Courthouse – Virginia
Location: 100 East Springfield Street / South Main Street
Built: 1872 – 1874
Style: Georgian
Architect: Jacob Dunaway and the citizens of Virginia
Contractor: Pierce & Jobst of Peoria
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Virginia. The south front has a wide one story portico on the first story. The windows are narrow and arched. White colored stone trim decorates the windows and corners of the building. The roof is mansard style. There is an older wing on the east side and a newer wing on the west side with flat roof. In the interior, the courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 8th Judicial Circuit. The architect was Jacob Dunaway and the citizens of Virginia including T J Kemper and Butler, Sandmyer and Company. Two additions were built in 1891 on the east and west sides. An addition was built in 1913 on the east side. In 1939 the west wing was enlarged. The contractor was Wessell and Sons. In 2011 to 2012, the building was remodeled. The contractor was Laverdiere Construction Inc. of Macomb.
Note: Jacob Dunaway developed a plan to build a new city hall and then turn it over to the county for the purpose of stealing the county seat from Beardstown. He was assisted by the citizens of Virginia including T J Kemper and Butler, Sandmyer and Company. The contract for construction was awarded in 1872 before the vote to move the county seat and the plan succeeded.
Old County Courthouse – Beardstown
Location: 101 West Third Street / State Street
Built: 1843 – 1844
Style: Federal
Architect: Thomas Beard
Contractor: B W Schneider
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds opposite the Town Square in the center of Beardstown. The building has a central entrance with white colored trim on the northwest front. The windows have white colored trim. The roof is hipped. The building was used as a courthouse until 1872. The building is now the Old Lincoln Courthouse Museum.
See: The 8th Judicial District includes Adams County, Brown County, Calhoun County, Mason County, Menard County, Pike County and Schuyler County.
History: The county was created in 1837 and Virginia was selected as the county seat in 1839. The first courthouse was a two story structure built in 1838 to 1839 by Dr. Henry H Hall. The county seat was moved to Beardstown in 1843. The second courthouse was constructed in 1843 to 1844 and is still standing. In 1872, the county seat was moved back to Virginia. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1874 at a cost of $20,000.
County Courthouse – Virginia
Old County Courthouse – Beardstown
Photos taken 2007 and 2012