[caption id="attachment_9785" align="alignright" width="225" caption="This statue commemorates Abraham Lincoln's request for a "Writ of quietus" to silence the swine under the original Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville."][/caption] By Judge Ron Spears Only three courthouses have been built on the same two-acre public square to serve the needs of the people of Christian County since the county’s creation in 1839. These courthouses have centered the community, not just symbolically, but literally by occupying the center of the main square of the county seat in Taylorville. On that plot of ground have walked Lincoln, Douglas, Vandeveer, and some of the other important figures of Illinois legal history. The stories of these historic courthouses and the people and events linked to them are an important part of the development of the county. After the county was created by legislation in 1839 (originally Dane County), the first courthouse was completed in 1840 at a cost of $2,350. Court was held on the ground floor with other county offices on the second. Lincoln practiced law in this courthouse - which was his last stop while riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit. During one trial the hogs wallowing under the courthouse made so much noise that Lincoln humorously asked Judge David Davis for a “Writ of quietus” to direct the Sheriff to quiet the swine. This original courthouse is now reconstructed at the Christian County Historical Museum. The second courthouse was completed in 1856 at a cost of around $15,000.