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Decatur in Adams County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

The First County Jail

Adams County Historical Sites

— American Revolution Bicentennial 1776 - 1976 —

 
 
The First County Jail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 27, 2022
1. The First County Jail Marker
Inscription. The first county jail was built in the Southwest Corner of the Courthouse Square and was used until 1868. It was built of double hewn logs: two rooms up, two below at a cost of $325.00. The court house could wait, but the jail had to be built. The first contract was let to Richard McKnight and William Lewis. They appear to have sublet to Bazil Browing.
 
Erected by Decatur Optimist Club.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
 
Location. 40° 49.786′ N, 84° 55.506′ W. Marker is in Decatur, Indiana, in Adams County. It is at the intersection of South 3rd Street and Madison Street, on the right when traveling north on South 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 236 Madison St, Decatur IN 46733, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana and in Greater Fort Wayne. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds
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itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Scouting A Path To The Future (a few steps from this marker); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Adams County Peace Monument and Veterans Wall of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Election 1833 (within shouting distance of this marker); Decatur The County Seat (within shouting distance of this marker); To our pioneers (within shouting distance of this marker); Adams County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Adams County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.
 
The First County Jail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 27, 2022
2. The First County Jail Marker
The First County Jail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 27, 2022
3. The First County Jail Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on November 30, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 24, 2026