County government initially inhabited the Jacob Wolf House in Norfork.

Today, the structure is the oldest standing county courthouse in Arkansas, built in 1811.

Ruthven was instrumental in the construction of the Cotter Bridge in Baxter County which opened the area to commerce in 1928.

[2] Ruthven acquired the services of T. Ewing Shelton, an architect from Fayetteville, Arkansas to draft plans for a new courthouse.

The plans were received and approved by voters, despite protests by Gassville and Cotter residents who wanted the county seat relocated to their cities with greater populations.