Clay County

US States / H-L / Illinois / Clay County
Clay

Clay County is named for Henry Clay, who was an American statesman, United States Senator and Congressman from Kentucky 1806-1852, U.S. Secretary of State 1825-1829, three times Speaker of the House and three times candidate for president.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Effingham County and Jasper County

E – Jasper County and Richland County

S – Wayne County 

W – Marion County and Fayette County

 

Created:  December 23, 1824                                                    Map of Illinois highlighting Clay County

County Seat:

Hubbardsville   1825

Maysville          1825 – 1841

Louisville          1841 – present

 

County Courthouse – Louisville

 

Location:  111 West Chestnut Street / South Main Street

Built:  1912 – 1913

Style:  Neo-Classical

Architect:  Joseph W Royer of Urbana

Contractor:  English Brothers of Champaign

 

Description: The building faces north and is a two story gray colored limestone and concrete structure. The north and south wings extend from the main building and have two large columns framing the recessed entrance on the first story. Around the roof line is a balustrade. On the first story, double-doors on the southeast corner of the lobby open to the Circuit Courtroom. The judge’s bench, witness stand and desk are on a raised platform on the northeast wall. The grand staircase on the north wall leads to a narrow lobby, running east on the second story. The courtroom has coffered ceilings with a stained glass skylight in the center. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit. 

 

See:  The architect Joseph W Royer of Urbana, Illinois designed courthouses in Illinois in Bureau CountyChampaign CountyDouglas County, Ford CountyGrundy CountyMarion County, Piatt County and Richland Countyin iowa in Linn Countyand in Wisconsin in Douglas County.

 

See:  The contractor, English Brothers of Champaign constructed courthouses in Jackson CountyMadison County and Tazewell County.

 

See:  The 4th Judicial District includes Christian CountyClinton County, Effingham County, Fayette CountyJasper CountyMarion CountyMontgomery County and Shelby County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1824 and Hubbardsille was selected as the county seat in 1825. The Court first met at the home of John McCawley. The first courthouse was built by Daniel May on the public square and the name of the county seat was changed to Maysville in 1825. The county seat was moved to Louisville in 1841. The second courthouse was built by Samuel Slocumb and completed by Hartwig Samuelson in 1846. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1913.

 

 

1674i-i08

County Courthouse – Louisville

 

 

1676i-i08

 

 

1677i-i08

Photos taken 2008