This building was above was built in 1776 after one similar to it burnt in that year. The previous building was built in 1871 when the Town company of Seneca  had gave the County ever other lot in the city to sell to raise money to build a court house. 

In the History of Kansas by William G. Cutler (1883) the previous court house to the one above, Quote: "The city lots owned by the county had been sold, the last of them in August, 1870, netting to the court house fund to the sum of $17,473.83. The question of building a court house was submitted to the people, carried by a majority of 289, and on March 30, 1871, ground was broken for it by Major Sargent, of Seneca, and in 1872, the building, 57x80 feet, ninety-six feet in height, from the basement to the top of the tower of brick, with sawed stone trimmings, was competed. It's cost was $29,172.78". 

The City held a bond election for the purpose of building a new building after the  tornado of 1896 which failed  and the building was repaired.  The that was repaired failed and a new court house was built in 1907.  The building above was the fourth  Court House in Seneca.