The land upon which the town of Huntington is in part located was originally deeded by the government to Joel and Champion Helvey. Upon this part the original town was laid out, while the western part of the town belonged to John B. Richardville, the separating line running north and south through where the Catholic Church now stands. Gen. John Tipton had become the owner of this at the time the county was organized, and, as an inducement for the location of the seat of justice on the same, offered to deed a number of valuable lots in the town site to the county. The offer was accepted, and the County Agent was ordered to sell lots at private sale by the Commissioners at their August session 1834. Elias Murray, it seems, had a large interest in the town plat, and sold the lots for his own and Tipton's benefit, although the latter was ostensibly the sole owner.

As a further inducement for the location of the seat of justice, Tipton and Murray caused the building, still standing on the southwest corner of Franklin and Jefferson Streets, to be erected in 1840-41.

The first jail in the county was erected in the winter of 1834-35, and stood in the street east of the present courthouse.