County Seat, Harrison County, Missouri

The county seat had been located a few miles south of the geographical center of the county. The early settlements were generally made with reference to timber and water, hence the southern and central parts were sought by the pioneers. This in connection with the fact that the Iowa boundary line was a matter of dispute between the states in 184-5 probably induced the commissioners to locate the seat of justice as they did south of the center of the county.

With the increase of the population in the northern part of the county, and the settlement of the boundary dispute, a feeling began to grow among those in the northern part of the county desiring a removal of the county seat to a point nearer the geographical center.

The first definite action was taken in the year 1870 when a petition signed by a large number of citizens in the central and northern parts of the county was presented to the County Court asking that the proposition for removal be submitted to a direct vote of the people. In accordance with the law relating thereto the court at the October term, 1870, entered the following order:

"Whereas it appearing to the County Court within and for Harrison County in the State of Missouri, that at least one-fourth of the legal voters of said county have this day submitted a petition to the County Court of said county in words and figures following, to-wit:

"To the Honorable County Court for Harrison County, State of Missouri:

"We, the undersigned legal voters of Harrison County in the State of Missouri, respectfully petition your honorable body for a removal of the seat of justice of said county from Bethany in said county, to the geographical center of said county, and for an order submitting a proposition for such removal to be voted upon by the voters of said county at the next general election to be held November 8, 1870, and for such other orders and proceedings in such case as the law directs.

"It is therefore ordered by the County Court of said County of Harrison in the State of Missouri that at the next general election in said county to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 1870, at the usual places of voting in said county, the proposition to remove the seat of justice of said County of Harrison, from the city of Bethany in said county, to the geographical center of said county, the place named in the petition, be submitted to the qualified voters of said county."

Pending the election the friends of removal put forth all their efforts in behalf of same, while those opposed made a determined fight to keep the county seat at the original location.

The election was held in November with the following result, by townships:

For Removal - Against Removal
Union Township 181 1
Bethany Township 39 346
Cypress Township 4 162
Sugar Creek Township 160
Trail Creek Township 93 56
Madison Township 125 12
Clay Township 116 2
Marion Township 168 130
Lincoln Township 54 5
Washington Township 43 3
Dallas Township 32 33
White Oak Township 2 89
Butler Township 93
Totals 857 1,097

This, of course, registered the defeat of the petitioners as by Section 30, Art. 4 of the Constitution (1865) "two-thirds of the qualified voters of the county" was necessary to a removal. See also Wagner's Statutes, Vol. 1, Art. 2, Chap. 40, Sec. 22, "two-thirds of the legally registered voters of such county" required for removal of county seats.

The destruction of the court house in January, 1874 served to revive the controversy and in January, 1874, a large meeting to consider the county seat removal was had in Eageville. Committees were appointed to circulate petitions asking for another submission to vote upon removal and a subscription of $3,000 raised to help defray the expense of erecting the necessary public building provided the removal be effected.

Those in favor of removal selected as the site to which removal was asked, the town of Lorraine, situated at the center of section 12, township 64, range 28, Jefferson Township. It was surveyed into lots, which were offered gratuitously to any persons who would erect thereon buildings to cost at least $250.

The citizens of Bethany to counteract these movements raised by subscription the sum of about $10,000 and put their greatest energy forth to secure the rebuilding of the court house.

The petition asking for the removal was signed by 1,850 voters. Under it the court, under the law, ordered the submission to election to be held Tuesday, November 3, 1874.

The election was held accordingly, resulting in a majority in favor of removal, but less than the requisite two-thirds. The vote standing for removal 1,508, against removal 1,150. It will be noted that whilst those for removal had a majority of the votes cast, they had much less than the number signing the petition.

At the general election of 1880 the question of removal of the county seat from Bethany to Lorraine was again submitted to vote, resulting in 1,310 votes for removal and 2,347 votes against removal. At the November election, 1892, action was again had on removal of the county seat from Bethany. This time to Ridgeway, located on section 3, township 64, range 27, Grant Township. The result of this election was 1,480 votes for removal and 2,472 votes against.

Thus the matter remained at rest until the year 1912 at which, upon petition therefor, the County Court again submitted to a vote of the people the question of removal of the county seat to Ridgeway, resulting this time in 2,304 votes for removal and 2,708 votes against removal. As this was the last submission to date, battle-scarred old Bethany still flies Old Glory from a flag pole on the court house.

By order of the County Court a special election was had on July 9, 1912, for the purpose of voting whether there should be an issue of bonds for the sum of $100,000 for the building of a new court house. The issue of bonds was defeated, the vote standing for the bonds 1,119; against the bonds, 2,812. This was the last attempt to build a new court house in the county. 

 Harrison County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Harrison County, Missouri, by Geo. W. Wanamaker, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1921