Editing Johnson County, Iowa (section)

==History==
Johnson County was established in December 1837 by the legislature of the [[Wisconsin Territory]], one of thirteen counties established by that body in a comprehensive act.<ref>The other counties created on December 21, 1837: Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Fayette, Jackson, Jones, Keokuk, Linn, and Scott.</ref> The county's area was partitioned from [[Dubuque County, Iowa|Dubuque County]], and was not initially provided with a civil [[government]], instead being governed by [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar County]] officials. It was originally named for the US Vice President [[Richard Mentor Johnson|Richard M. Johnson]] (1780–1850).<ref>''History of Johnson County, Iowa 1836-1882'' (1883). Reproduction by Unigraphic Inc. pp. 165-6.</ref> In 2020, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to change the county's namesake to be [[Lulu Johnson|Lulu Merle Johnson]] (1907–1995), the first black woman in the state to earn a doctorate. Vice President Johnson had a common law wife whom he could not marry since it was against the laws at that time to have an interracial marriage. They had two children together and she was in charge of his plantation when he was away on business. He was open about his relationship with her which was unusual for the time. Many feel that either namesake is worthy. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Cymphanie|date=September 24, 2020|title=Johnson County votes unanimously to change namesake|url=http://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/johnson-county-votes-unanimously-to-chage-namesake|access-date=May 14, 2021|website=KGAN}}</ref>

The first [[courthouse]] in the county was a two-story [[log cabin]] structure, built in 1838 in the settlement of Napoleon,<ref>This no longer exists as a separate settlement but as part of Iowa City. Its former existence is recognized by the present Napoleon Park, accessed via Napoleon Lane (41.63350N, 91.53147W). [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Napoleon+Ln,+Iowa+City,+IA+52240/@41.6321278,-91.5327896,16.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87e44032f68627d1:0xe5594c9bd80af08c!8m2!3d41.6309205!4d-91.5306138 ''Napoleon Lane''  Google Maps (accessed 18 August 2018)]</ref> about two miles south of the current courthouse.<ref name=Aurner492>Aurner, p. 492.</ref> The building stood across from what later would become the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, Iowa|James McCollister Farmstead]] on land later owned by Philip Clark.
[[Image:Old Johnson Cty Courthouse.JPG|thumb|left|Old Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, 1857-1899]]

After Iowa City was established by fiat as the new territorial capitol of Iowa, the county seat was removed there.<ref>Aurner, pp. 47, 72.</ref> The second Johnson County Courthouse, the first in Iowa City, was built on Lot 8 Block 8 of the County Seat Addition to Iowa City in 1842 for $3,690.<ref name=Aurner492/> This location was in the southeast corner of the intersection of Harrison and Clinton Streets. The building was 56 x 28 feet and two stories tall.<ref>Aurner, pp. 21, 492.</ref> It was built by James Trimble, who had previously built the first jail.<ref name=Aurner492/>

A third courthouse was built in 1857 in the courthouse square on Clinton Street between Court and Harrison Streets. It was used until 1901, after cracks appeared in its south wall in 1899.<ref>Aurner, p. 494.</ref> The building was apparently built of brick with stone and wood ornamentation.<ref>Aurner, p. 65.</ref>

The [[Richardsonian Romanesque]] style courthouse in use today was designed by the firm of Rush, Bowman and Rush of [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]].<ref>Daily Iowa State Press, April 1, 1899, p. 5</ref> It was bid at a cost of $111,000 and built by the firm Rowson & Son of Johnson County.<ref>Aurner, pp. 496-7.</ref> The cornerstone was laid in December 1899.<ref>Aurner, p. 496.</ref> The building's tower was based on [[Henry Hobson Richardson]]'s design for the spire of [[Trinity Church, Boston|Trinity Church]] in Boston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnson-county.com/johnsoncounty/courthouse.shtml|title=The Johnson County Courthouse|access-date=July 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617174209/http://www.johnson-county.com/johnsoncounty/courthouse.shtml|archive-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref> The building was dedicated on June 8, 1901.<ref>Aurner, p. 496</ref> The currently unused jail that stands to the west of the courthouse was designed by C.L. Wundt of [[Burlington, Iowa]] on behalf of the Stewart Iron Works in [[Cleveland]] and bid for $14,000.<ref>Aurner, p. 497.</ref>