KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Chalybeate Springs
(Marker Number: 1233)

County: Russell
Location: Russell Springs, Corner Jamestown & Main Sts.

Description: A health resort long known as Big Boiling Springs, operated before 1850 by family of Sam Patterson, among the earliest settlers. Log cabins (12) called Long Row were built for guests who came here for amusement, pleasure, and the medicinal iron and sulphur water. In 1898, large hotel built which burned in 1942. The spring has been capped for use as a well.

(Subjects: Springs)

Civil War Actions
(Marker Number: 1301)

County: Russell
Location: Freedom, Jct. KY 55 & US 127

Description: On April 19, 1863, US Lt. Col. William Riley ordered to Creelsboro, 5 mi. west, to scout enemy strength. Surprised CSA, took 12 prisoners. On December 31, 1863, USA troops under Lt. Col. A. J. Cropsey arrived at Creelsboro with two gunboats, forty sharpshooters. They came on scouting expedition from Nashville, turned back because of rapidly falling waters. See over.

(Reverse) Zollicoffer Here - On November 22, 1861, CSA Gen. Felix Zollicoffer reached Jamestown, 4 mi. north, anxious to secure strong defensive position on Cumberland River to protect approaches to SE Ky. His plan to seize 9 ferry-boats along river was defeated. Federal troops under Colonel Thomas Bramlette, Kentucky governor, 1863-1867, had destroyed them earlier in their effort to confine the CSA. Over.

Creelsboro
(Marker Number: 1109)

County: Russell
Location: Creelsboro, KY 1313

Description: Laid out, 1809, named for Elijah and Elza Creel, pioneers whose son, Reuben, served US in Mexico; his son Enrique served Mexico in US. An interpreter for General W. T. Ward during Mexican War, Reuben stayed on there, was appointed US Consul, 1863, by Pres. Lincoln. Enrique was Governor of Chihuahua State, 1903 to 1906, and Mexican Ambassador to US, 1906 to 1909.

(Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham | Mexican War)

Early Paper Mill
(Marker Number: 838)

County: Russell
Location: Roadside Park, 11/2 mi. SW of Jamestown, US 127

Description: Site of early Kentucky paper mill north on Greasy Creek. Erected by Joseph Crockett about 1800. Tax records indicate profitable operations. Large quantities of paper were shipped by river steamer in 1830's from Creelsboro to Nashville, Tenn. The mill operated for more than sixty years, apparently closed because of Civil War. See other side.

(Reverse) Pioneer Business - An early industrial area located along Greasy Creek. In addition to a paper mill, there were the Alex Dick and Geo. Lewis meat house, 1785; a grist mill, 1799; an iron furnace and forge, 1824; the Wooldridge's Roller Mill; a cotton and two woolen mills. The Farmers Woolen Mill, owned and operated by Esco Reese, was in operation until late 1940. See other side.

(Subjects: Mills)

Forage Depot-Civil War
(Marker Number: 1486)

County: Russell
Location: Poplar Grove Church, US 127

Description: In Dec. 1861, Col. Frank Wolford, USA, with Companies A, B, C and H left Camp Billy Williams enroute to Webbs Cross Roads. Here they guarded forage collected and stored by Lieutenant Silas Adams, Regimental Quartermaster of First Ky. Cavalry. July 4, 1862, the First Ky. Cavalry bivouacked here one night; next day Col. Wolford marched with them on to Lebanon.

(Subjects: Camps | Civil War | Lebanon, Battle of)

Jamestown Skirmishes
(Marker Number: 724)

County: Russell
Location: Jamestown, US 127

Description: Dec. 25, 1861, part of First Ky. Cav., USA, camped at Webb's Cross Roads to guard stored corn and forage and scout CSA operations. Detachment skirmished with enemy here resulting in one death, CSA. Both armies in area again, 1863. On June 2, 300 CSA attacked Union pickets, driving them into town. CSA retired when met by alert USA. One CSA man and weapons captured.

(Subjects: Civil War)

Kentucky Diamond
(Marker Number: 734)

County: Russell
Location: 61/2 mi. W. of US 127 on KY 55

Description: In the summer of 1888 on the farm of Henry Burris, two miles north, a brilliant stone was found. It was appraised gem quality diamond, octahedral in form, 0.776 carat by G. A. Schultz, a jeweler of Louisville, who bought it for $20. Diamond is now on display in the Smithsonian Institution. No other has been found in area although many have searched. See other side.

(Reverse) Other U.S. Diamonds - Up to 1964, only Kentucky gem type diamond was found here: see over. Low grade ones in Elliott County, 130 miles northeast. In the Great Lakes Region, found at one place each in Michigan, New York, Ohio; two places in Indiana, Tennessee; six in Wisconsin. Source of these probably glacial action, although Canadian origin not located. Also diamonds found in 10 other states.

Phelps Acres Farm
(Marker Number: 1802)

County: Russell
Location: At farm, N. of Jamestown, KY 92

Description: John Phelps served in the Revolutionary War as defender of Boonesborough. He and son Shadrach were still at fort with Daniel Boone in 1795. Shadrach and Celia (Stapp) Phelps settled here circa 1798. This farm continuously owned and operated by their descendants. Original log house was home for 3 generations. Two-story structure built by grandson John Quincy Phelps, 1875.

(Subjects: Boone, Daniel | Boonesborough | Forts and Stations | Revolutionary War)

Russell County
(Marker Number: 954)

County: Russell
Location: Jamestown, Courthouse lawn, US 127

Description: Established, 1825, out of parts of Adair, Wayne, Cumberland. Named for Col. Wm. Russell (1758-1825). Lieut., Revolution; came Fayette Co., Ky. In Indian campaigns of 1791 and 1794. At Tippecanoe, 1811. Succeeded Gen. William H. Harrison in command Ind., Ill., Mo. frontier. Representative in Ky. Legislature for 13 sessions. Jamestown was established by Legislature, 1827.

(Subjects: Harrison, William Henry | Revolutionary War | Tippecanoe, Battle of)