Page "Dent County, Missouri" Paragraph 6

An earlier log courthouse, built about 1851 or 1852, was Dent County's first and was located on the Wingfield farm northeast of Salem.

In 1852-53 a courthouse was built south of the present courthouse.

The building measured about 20 by and was built by J. T.

Garvin for $ 800.

It was burned during the Civil War.

The next courthouse, built in 1864, also fell victim to fire in May 1866.

The beautiful Victorian courthouse — which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places — was built in 1870 for $ 15, 500.

A. E.

Dye came to Dent County to build this courthouse.

His son, E. L. Dye, assisted him and was to become the leading builder in the county.

W. P.

Elmer in his history reports that when the courthouse was finished, pictures of it were published in McClure's Magazine and newspapers in the East to show the development of the West.