First Putnam County Government Seat / Court Houses
Side A: First Putnam County Government Seat
February 19, 1829, an appointed Ohio Legislative Commission granted 160 acres of the southwest quarter of Section 5, Town 1 south, range 6 east for a government seat to Commissioners Thomas Gray, William Priddy, and Samuel Myers, Sr.
May 5, 1834, at the Abraham Sarber home, William Cochran, Henry Morris, and Silas McClish became associate judges; Daniel W. Gray, clerk; Amos Evans, prosecuting attorney; Abraham Sarber, town director; Ferdinand C. Fitch, surveyor; Samuel Myers, Sr., John Cochran, Isaac Owens, A.E. Martin, James Nichols, Daniel W. Gray, school examiners.
Moses Lee bought the first lot in Kalida on June 24, 1834. Sheldon Guthrie built the first frame house where the first store was established.
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Side B: First Putnam County Court Houses
In 1834, Surveyor Ferdinand C. Fitch, Daniel Ridenour, Henry Myers, and Samuel Myers, Sr., platted Kalida “the Beautiful” at the confluence of Plum and Sugar creeks.
Sale of an additional 160 acres purchased by Putnam County Commissioners paid for construction of a frame Court House and a log jail in 1835.
In 1839, a brick Court House was built on Inlot 69 at 125 East Main Street, Kalida. Also, a brick jail was constructed on lots 149-150 at 202 East North Street, Kalida.
December 18, 1864, the brick Court House burned beyond repair. A 485 majority vote on October 9, 1866, made Ottawa the county seat.
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Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling north on 4th Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
