Obadiah Dickerson's name is largely forgotten today.

But the man whose Louisiana Missouri business served as the first Pike County Courthouse also played a big role in three other Northeast Missouri counties.

Louisiana is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2018, and plans a big celebration June 30th to July 4th. The next big fund-raiser is the President's Ball in February.

Dickerson was a Kentucky native who came to Missouri in 1816 or 1817. He built his dwelling as a hotel and tavern at the corner of Second and Georgia streets in Louisiana during the spring of 1819.  The first circuit court case was heard there on April 12th of that year. 

Dickerson also played a role in the development of Palmyra in Marion County and settlements in Shelby and Lewis counties.

If you'd like to know more about Louisiana's bicentennial, go to www.louisiana200.com.