McDonough County is named for Thomas McDonough, who was a commodore who defeated the British on Lake Champlain in 1814.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Henderson County and Warren County
E – Fulton County
S – Schuyler County
W – Hancock County
Created: January 25, 1826 
County Seat:
Macomb 1831 – present
County Courthouse – Macomb
Location: 1 Courthouse Square / East Jackson Street
Built: 1872 – 1873
Style: Victorian
Architect: Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia
Contractor: A Walbaum of Chicago
Description: The building faces west and is a two story reddish colored brick structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Macomb. The west front has a small portico at the top of a stone stairs. The portico is supported by two-double columns with the pediment at the top of the first story. Above the second story rises as square tower with three small windows, mansard roof and an octagonal cupola at the top. On the north, east and south sides, the brick walls form a peak. Porticos adorn all sides. White colored stone trim decorates the windows, corners and forms horizontal bands at each story. The base of the building is white colored stone. The courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit. The building was renovated in 1971 to 1973. The architect was Bing Coney of Coney & Dahl and the contractor was Galesburg Construction Company.
See: The architect, Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia, also designed the now demolished courthouse in Seneca County, Ohio and in Illinois in Knox County and Macoupin County, in Indiana in Grant County and in Ohio in Lorain County.
See: The 9th Judicial District includes Fulton County, Hancock County, Henderson County, Knox County and Warren County.
History: The county was created in 1826 and Macomb ( Washington ) was selected as the county seat in 1831. The first court met in the home of Reverend James Baker. The first courthouse was a log structure erected by Sheriff William Southward in 1830 at a cost of $69.50. The second courthouse was a two story brick structure with stone foundation built by Joseph Updegraff in 1835. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1869 to 1872 at a cost of $155,000.
County Courthouse – Macomb
Photos taken 2012