Montgomery County Courthouse

Perched on a small rise in the center of the Hillsboro public square, the Montgomery County Historic Courthouse was built over a period of time from 1868 to 1872, but is on the same site of the previous courthouse well known to Lincoln. 

On July 15, 1843, Lincoln was in Hillsboro speaking on behalf of candidates for the Whig congressional ticket, and he spoke at the county’s second courthouse, a wood-frame structure built in 1833. His speech was not recorded in writing as Hillsboro was without a newspaper at that time. Oral histories stated that his speech was humorous and filled with stories. At that same courthouse on July 20, 1844, Lincoln addressed a large crowd, advocating for Henry Clay for President, who was defeated by James K. Polk. It’s also known that Lincoln filed legal papers at the county courthouse, but these documents were vandalized and stolen many years ago. The thief was caught, but the Lincoln signatures that had been cut from the documents were not recovered. 

The current Historic Courthouse is the third building Montgomery County has used as its courthouse since the county was formed in 1821. The need for this larger courthouse resulted from the county’s increased population, as documented by the 1870 census showing 25,314 persons living in Montgomery County.The cost of this courthouse totaled over $130,000, which included furnishings, an iron fence and sidewalk. Originally, the county jail was located on the bulding’s third floor, with the sheriff’s living quarters on the second.

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