lawfully and feloniously fighting each other. Another against a person for setting out a prairie fire. The other four were for similar incidents.

None of the cases were tried at the term of court. The second term was called and dismissed for lack of a suitable place to convene. The first Court House was built in Frankfort in 1857. It was a 1 1/2 story frame building about 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. This building was moved to Red Oak in December 1866.  The citizens of Red Oak per agreement bore the expense of the moving. It is thought at this time of year was chosen as there were no roads and the building would have to be moved along frozen trials. It took 30 yoke of oxen to draw the huge sleds upon which the building was place.

They moved northward from Frankfort around the dividing ridge between the waters of the little streams flowing into Red Oak Creek and those flowing into Nishnabotna River. When only half of the route had  been covered  the heavy clouds and intense cold coupled with the fact that the movers were off their course and going down a decline, they unhitched and abandoned their charge.. Not one of the party could definitely locate the court house during the continuance of the storm. Not a man in could locate it, it was lost on the prairie. It was later located and brought around by the old McLean homestead two miles northeast of Red Oak and then to the County Seat via Washington Avenue and from there to the northwest corner of the public square, which is the present location of Sellergren Furniture Store. This building was used for court house purposes for several years. Some offices rented additional space in other buildings. In 1871 the County levied a tax of one mill to be used for building a new court house.  This was kept up for three years. This money was later transferred to the bridge fund. It was not until July of 1890 that a cornerstone was laid for a new court house in Red Oak. After the first court house was moved to red Oak another half story was added making it two stories in height. The original cost of this building was $3000.00 and later sold to Mr. Wadsworth for $200.00 and he used it as a feed barn.

First Courthouse.   Later a part of old Wadsworth Feed Barn.

   One of the now obsolete towns of the county was Frankfort in Frankfort Township.  There was peculiar charm about the small  cluster of houses huddled together on a summit showing against the distant horizon. There were four buildings facing the east. On the west side was a plat designated the public square in which stood a flag pole. On the north side was the court house. Jason Strait occupied the next building south built by R. W. Rogers, ex-County Treasurer. Then came a residence called " Castle." Next came a large building devoted to general merchandise owned by Strait and Strout. There was another two story building facing northward toward the square.  On the west side of the street was the home of Dr. Amasa Bond, a treble log house sometimes used for a hotel. Doctors Davis, Glover and Adair occupied the first three homes. John Shaffer lived near the west line of the town. Judge J. R. Horton lived on his farm just outside the town limits. There were a few smaller buildings in the town such as a blacksmith shop, stables, etc.

   The original owners of the land upon which Frankfort was located were Samuel Bear and Dr. Enas Lowe, John Burnsides dug the first well in Frankfort.  Owing to the scarcity of lumber for a windlass and the want of a chain or rope this well was descended and ascended by means of a ladder. Mr. Burnsides also ground corn for meal in his coffee mill. His was probably the first house built in Frankfort.  The first 4th of July celebration in was held in the school house in Frankfort in 1858.

   The first record of a wolf scalp bounty for $1.50 on October 30, 1958 was paid to Armsted Milner, in Frankfort.

   The first doctor to practice in was Dr. Amasa Bond who came from Hamilton County, Indiana and settled in Frankfort in 1856 and died there in 1857. It is believed that the first grave of a white person in is at the corner of the four townships, Frankfort, Pilot Grove, Sherman and Red Oak.  A Mrs. Haefflick, the wife of a pioneer who just arrived in the county from the east, died and was buried in June of 1854. A roughly constructed  coffin made from a wagon box. The grave is