73 The judge promptly called out, in dry nasal tone, “Sheriff take that old hoss, put him in the stable, and see that he is not stolen before morning” Wednesday, Aug. 24th 1800, the contract for erecting a jail was let to Peter Minnich for $1500, he being the lowest bidder, and the time was fixed at eighteen months. There were two early payments of $100 each, and the remaining $1300 was to be paid in two years, with the provision that if the commissioners could dispose of the lands granted the county for public purpose, it should be paid as soon as the jail was under roof agreeably to contract. It was a two story log structure, about 30x40 ft. and stood near the site of the present court-house. The lower story of this primitive combined hall of justice and place of durance, contained two cells for prisoners, and a large apartment for the residence of the sheriff. The upper flooi’ was used as the court room. This jail' served as the felon’s home until more commodious and stronger rooms were prepared on the ground now occupied by the county jail, which was contracted for in 1834.
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