As soon as Lafayette had been declared the legal seat of justice, the county offices were established and the real county government machinery was set in motion. From the date of organization of the county in 1826, the county rented rooms in which to hold court and keep the necessary offices. But in 1829 the first court house was provided for. It stood on the site of the present building and was, of course, a rude, small affair, but suited to the times in which it served. It was a two-story brick structure longer north and south than it was east and west. Later, on either side, east and west, smaller office buildings were built, and these all served the county until the second court house was erected. The old brick buildings were temporarily moved to leased lots where now stands the new post office, where the county business was transacted until the next court house was completed, business was transacted until the next court house was completed, after which the brick of which the original buildings were made were converted into the iron foundry south from the square and are still doing service in that foundry.
    The original court house was followed by the second building, which was erected in 1845 was a two-story building, of the old colonial style of architecture. It was well built and cost the county about five thousand dollars. It had upon its roof a good sized cupola. Additions and internal changes and modifications were from time to time made, and with such improvements it was the home of the county officials and courts up to the time the present more modern building was provided the county. The new building had long
been needed, as the rooms for storing public records had outgrown their former usefulness. Luckily, however, no fire has ever been permitted to destroy the county's records, although in the forties a fire broke out in the old building, occasioned by a pipe or cigar, but happily was seen in time to be extinguished.
    The present court house was erected between 1881 and 1884. The basement was put in under a contract with a contractor who was to build the superstructure, but he failed and a new contract was let with Charles Pierce at two hundred and forty-one thousand dollars, but when finally completed ready for occupancy, the building cost the tax-payers about half a million dollars. The building contract was made by Elias C. White and J. W. Scott, as county commissioners. The cornerstone was laid under direction of the Masonic fraternity, October 26, 1882, and September, 1884, it was first occupied. It is a stone building in the heart of the city on the site where the other court houses stood. When first erected it was counted as being one of the best county buildings in Indiana, but with the passing of years, it begins to show some marks of decay, especially its steps of approach and some of the basement sections, both of which would scarce pass in present day systems of building. Its interior is well planned for the various county offices, including its court rooms.
    At the northeast corner of the public square there stands a memorial fountain, where both city water and mineral water flows through constantly. On the sides of the fountain are numerous historic tablets, relative to the settlement of county and city ; also dates of 'the construction of the three court houses the county has had and surmounting this handsome drinking fountain is a bronze statue of General Lafayette, for whom the city was named.
    The four corners of the court house square are provided with silent yet suggestive defenders, in the way of Civil war and other cannon, while near
by may be seen a pyramid of cannon-balls and shells.
    From the curbing to the crest of the statue of "Justice" on the court house the distance is two hundred and twelve feet.
    The drinking fountain already mentioned was erected by the council committee on public improvements, with T. J. Levering, chairman, who made the design. It cost two thousand two hundred dollars.
        The dome of the court house is supplied with a town clock that strikes off the hours of passing time.

    But little can be given concerning the first county jail of Tippecanoe county, more than to say it was made of logs and stood on the southeast corner of Fifth and Columbia streets, where the Yeakel building was afterwards erected. Prisoners were let down into it and taken out by means of  a trap-door from the second floor. Most of the persons confined there were imprisoned for debt. Verily the world has grown wiser and more considerate of the people who become involved in debts and they are at least given a chance to earn money with which to pay their indebtedness.
    This log jail served until 1842, when it was deemed unsafe and the county commissioners' books show that in June, 1841, stone had been contracted for for the purpose of erecting a jail. The building was erected and much expense put on the same. It served the county until the present jail was constructed in 1868. It stands on the corner of Fourth and Alabama streets and is a large two-story brick building, with residence apartments for the sheriff. The whole building cost one hundred and five thousand dollars. It was built under the superintendency of County Commissioners O. P. Evans,  John Opp and Samuel Favorite.