KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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Ben Hardin, 1784-1852. Grave
(Marker Number: 1363)

County: Washington
Location: 3 mi. S. of Springfield, KY 55

Description: One of the ablest orators, lawyers, lawmakers in early Ky. Moved to Nelson, now Washington Co., with parents. In 1808, he settled at Bardstown where his career earned him the title "last of race of giants." Member state legislature 9 yrs.; U.S. congressman, 10 yrs.; Ky. Constitutional Convention, 1849. Requested his children to bury him beside his parents.

(Subjects: Bardstown | Constitutional Convention (1890-91))

Elenores
(Marker Number: 1046)

County: Washington
Location: 510 North Walnut, Springfield, KY 53

Description: Home of Elizabeth Madox Roberts, novelist, poet. Best known works, Time of Man, 1926, Great Meadow, 1930, both written here. The latter also published in England, Germany, Spain; made into successful movie. She wrote all of her novels, short stories and most poems, 1922-37. Born, Perryville, 1881. Family home here, 1904, Elenores added, 1928. Buried in Springfield Cemetery, 1941.

(Subjects: Authors | Books | Cemeteries)

Elmwood
(Marker Number: 1040)

County: Washington
Location: 3 blocks S. of Courthouse, Lebanon Hill, Springfield

Description: Built in 1851, by Wm. S. Davison, son of the town's first merchant. Typical Italianate style employed by Blue Grass architect Lewinski. Purchased by Hugh McElroy, 1858. In early Oct., 1862, Union forces moved through Springfield before Battle of Perryville. Gen. Buell made hdqrs. here. Forced owner's son to map water sources in area because of bad drought condition.

(Subjects: Architects | Buell, Don Carlos | Perryville, Battle of)

Felix Grundy (1777-1840)
(Marker Number: 1618)

County: Washington
Location: Springfield, Courthouse lawn, US 150

Description: Grundy gained prominence in Ky. as a celebrated criminal lawyer and political leader. He practiced law on Main St., Springfield, took part in 2nd Constitutional Conv., served Washington County in legislature (1800-02); Nelson Co. (1804-1806). Became judge to Court of Appeals, then Chief Justice of Ky., in 1807. In U.S. Senate, from Tenn. 1829-38; 1839-40; was U.S. Attorney General, 1838-39.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799))

Grundy Plantation
(Marker Number: 2264)

County: Washington
Location: 636 Valley Hill Rd., Springfield

Description: Settled by George and Elizabeth Grundy in 1780 after fleeing war-torn Berkeley Co., Va.. This wilderness frontier of Va., then called Kaintuckee, became a state in 1792. Son Samuel stayed on the farm and expanded it. Another son Felix chose law and politics. This portion of the farm still remains in the Grundy family.

(Reverse) Felix Grundy- Gained prominence as a celebrated criminal lawyer & political leader. He practiced law in Springfield, took part in 2nd Const. Convention, served Washington Co.(1800-02) & Nelson Co. (1804-06) in legislature. Became judge of Ct. of Appeals, then Chief Justice of Ky. in 1807. U.S. Senator 1829-38, 1839-40 & U.S. Attorney General, 1838-39.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799) | Early Settlers | Lawyers)

House of History
(Marker Number: 1446)

County: Washington
Location: 301 Walnut St., Springfield, KY 555

Description: Built on part of Matthew Walton's land used to establish Springfield. Deeded, 1817, to John Thompson by the town trustees. Bought same year by John Bainbridge, who operated a tavern there. Sold in 1830 to D. H. Spears, noted silversmith. Later owned by James Calhoun, who boasted he cast only vote for Lincoln tallied in county, 1860. Named Ky. Landmark House in 1969.

(Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham | Silversmiths)

Jesse Head Homesite
(Marker Number: 1038)

County: Washington
Location: Lincoln Park Road, Springfield, KY 528

Description: On June 12, 1806 he performed the marriage of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, who, in 1809, became the parents of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the U.S. Head, born in Maryland in 1768, "came-a-preaching" to Kentucky in 1798. Cabinet maker, justice of peace, on Sundays he preached fearlessly. Moved shop to Harrodsburg, 1810, kept on preaching, began newspaper.

(Subjects: Hanks, Nancy | Harrodsburg | Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln, Nancy Hanks | Lincoln, Thomas)

John Hardin, 1753-92
(Marker Number: 931)

County: Washington
Location: 3 mi. E. of Springfield, US 150

Description: Soldier, Indian fighter, surveyor. In Dunmore's War, 1774. Served under Gen. Daniel Morgan in the War of the Revolution. Cited for bravery, Saratoga. Explored this area, 1780; Q. M. for General Clark, Wabash expedition, 1787; Colonel, Nelson Co. Militia, 1789; Cmdr., Ky. troops, Maumee Campaign, 1790. In 1792, U.S. peace envoy to Ohio Indians; foully murdered by them.

(Subjects: Clark, George Rogers | Dunmore, John Murray | Indians | Morgan, Daniel | Revolutionary War)

John Pope, 1770-1845
(Marker Number: 930)

County: Washington
Location: S. of High St., Springfield, KY 53

Description: Eminent Washington Co. citizen. Brilliant Kentucky lawyer, statesman. Born, Va. Represented Shelby Co., 1802, Fayette Co., 1806, in Leg.; U.S. Senate, 1807-13; Ky. Sec. of State, 1816-19; Ky. Sen., 1825-29; Gov. Arkansas Ter., 1829-35, named by Pres. Jackson; U.S. Congress, 1837-43. Federalist and Democrat. Built this home, 1839. Died here; buried in Springfield Cemetery.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Jackson, Andrew)

Lincoln Homestead
(Marker Number: 526)

County: Washington
Location: Springfield, Courthouse lawn, US 150, KY 55

Description: The certified marriage bond of Thomas Lincoln to Nancy Hanks, parents of Abraham Lincoln, is on file here in Washington Co. Courthouse. Here also preserved is full account of the wedding. Lincoln Homestead State Park, seven miles north, now marks the site of log house where marriage was performed June 12, 1806 by the Reverend Jesse Head, Methodist pastor.

(Subjects: Hanks, Nancy | Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln, Nancy Hanks | Lincoln, Thomas)

Lincoln Homestead State Park
(Marker Number: 2297)

County: Washington
Location: KY Route 438, 5 miles N of Springfield

Description: Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the parents of future president Abraham Lincoln, were married near here on June 12, 1806. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to Elizabethtown, where their daughter, Sarah, was born. The family eventually lived near Hodgenville, where Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809.

(Reverse) Nancy died of milk sickness in 1818, when Abraham was 9 years old. His father, a farmer and carpenter, died in Ill. in 1851. Mordecai Lincoln, Abraham’s uncle, lived a half-mile south of here. Mordecai also moved to Ill., and, Lincoln wrote, “I often saw Uncle Mordecai.” Lincoln Homestead State Park was established 1936.

(Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln, Nancy Hanks | Lincoln, Thomas | State Parks)

Matthew Walton, 1759-1819
(Marker Number: 933)

County: Washington
Location: 2 mi. W. of Springfield, US 150

Description: Home, office of political "father" of Washington Co. Born, Va. Came Ky., 1784. Danville Convs., 1785, 1787; Va. Fed. Const. Ratification Conv., 1788; Va. Assembly, 1790; Ky. Const. Conv., 1792; Legis., 1792, 1795, 1808; Ky. Sen., 1800-03; US Cong., 1803-07. Owned nearly 200,000 acres. This house erected about 1784. Manor house built here about 1791. It was razed in 1900.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1792) | New Orleans, Battle of)

Mt. Zion Covered Bridge
(Marker Number: 1581)

County: Washington
Location: KY 458, 2.2 mi. N. of Jct. with KY 55

Description: The covered bridge over Little Beech Fork is 211 feet long and 16 feet wide. It utilizes the Burr truss design and is one of the longest multi-spans in Ky. The contractors were H. I. and William F. Barnes of Mount Washington. Original cost of structure was $5,000; completed on November 6, 1871. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1976.

(Reverse) Covered Bridges - Covered bridges were first built in the 1790s but did not become widely popular until after 1814. They were covered to protect them from the weather. At one time there were more than 400 covered bridges in Ky. The timbered spans have played a romantic role in our history. Some were destroyed during the Civil War. The remaining ones are a nostalgic link with the past.

(Subjects: Covered Bridges | National Register of Historic Places | Rivers)

On Civil War Routes
(Marker Number: 689)

County: Washington
Location: Springfield, US 150, KY 55

Description: CSA Gen. John H. Morgan's cavalry moved thru Springfield on raids, July 12 and December 30, 1862. On third raid, into Ohio, after battle of Lebanon, July 5, 1863, Union prisoners brought here but paroled to speed CSA movement. Confederate invasion force of 16,000 here before meeting Union Army in battle at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. See map other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Morgan, John Hunt | Perryville, Battle of)

Saint Catharine
(Marker Number: 1095)

County: Washington
Location: 3 mi. W. of Springfield, US 150

Description: Cradle and Mother House of the Dominican Sisters in U.S. First settlement at St. Rose Farm, 1822. Known as St. Magdalen Academy from 1823 to 1851. Renamed, 1851, St. Catharine of Sienna. Mother Angela Sansburgy, O.P., and Reverend S. T. Wilson, O.P., co-founders. Former buried in Columbus, Ohio. Latter in St. Rose. The Academy was chartered, 1839. College in 1931.

(Subjects: Schools)

Saint Rose Priory
(Marker Number: 941)

County: Washington
Location: 3 mi. W. of Springfield, KY 152

Description: Founded, 1806, by Fr. Fenwick from Maryland. First Dominican religious house and second oldest priory in the U.S. Site of first Catholic college west of Alleghenies, 1807. St. Thomas School here, 1809-28. Jefferson Davis, later President of Confederacy, student, 1815-16. In 1822 Fr. Wilson founded first community of Dominican Sisters in U.S. Present church built, 1852.

(Subjects: Catholic Church | Davis, Jefferson | Schools)

Washington County
(Marker Number: 853)

County: Washington
Location: Nelson County line, US 150

Description: The first county formed by first Assembly of Kentucky, 1792. Named for Geo. Washington. Springfield, county seat, laid off, 1793, by Matthew Walton; veteran of War of Revolution, legislator. Courthouse built in 1816, oldest used as such in state (1965). First settlers in area, 1776. Pres. Lincoln's grandfather came this part Ky., 1782; parents married in county, 1806. Over.

(Reverse) Washington Co. Contd. - Col. John Hardin, Revolutionary soldier, laid claim in area, 1780. Settled, 1786. On peace mission in Ohio, 1792, murdered by Indians. First Dominican Priory in U.S., 1806, where Jefferson Davis went to school, 1815-16. John Pope, U.S. Senator, 1807-13, came to Springfield, 1820. Governor, Arkansas Terr., 1829-35; Congress, 1837-43. Home and grave in city. Over.

(Subjects: Davis, Jefferson | Hanks, Nancy | Lincoln, Abraham | Lincoln, Nancy Hanks | Lincoln, Thomas | Revolutionary War | Washington, George)

Washington County
(Marker Number: 854)

County: Washington
Location: At Marion County line, KY 55

Description: The first county formed by first Assembly of Kentucky, 1792. Named for Geo. Washington. Springfield, county seat, laid off, 1793, by Matthew Walton; veteran of War of Revolution, legislator. Courthouse built in 1816, oldest used as such in state (1965). First settlers in area, 1776. Pres. Lincoln's grandfather came this part Ky., 1782; parents married in county, 1806. Over.

(Reverse) Washington Co. Contd. - Col. John Hardin, Revolutionary soldier, laid claim in area, 1780. Settled, 1786. On peace mission in Ohio, 1792, murdered by Indians. First Dominican Priory in U.S., 1806, where Jefferson Davis went to school, 1815-16. John Pope, U.S. Senator, 1807-13, came to Springfield, 1820. Governor, Arkansas Terr., 1829-35; Congress, 1837-43. Home and grave in city. Over.

(Subjects: Davis, Jefferson | Lincoln, Abraham | Washington, George)