Change of County Seat

Far West continued to be the County Seat until 1842.  But, Far West was within a few miles of the western boundary of the County, which rendered it less accessible to the citizens of the eastern part than was desirable. So a law was passed in 1842, directing a change of County Seat to a more central point, and John Donahue, of Daviess County, Robert Ray of Carroll, and George W. Dunn, of Ray, were appointed commissioners to locate the same. They thought at first of locating the County Seat on land of W.B. Bryan, two miles south-west of Kingston, on the south side of Log Creek; but Bryan refused to donate land. The commissioners then selected the site of Kingston, which was so named after Austin A. King, then judge of our circuit court.  In 1843, all the public offices and records were transferred from Far West to the new town.

Crosby Johnson, An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Caldwell County, Missouri.    1876.  Edwards Brothers