KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Benjamin Craig
(Marker Number: 893)

County: Carroll
Location: Carrollton, Jct. KY 36 & US 42

Description: Grave of one of founders of Port William (now Carrollton). Craig laid off town on 613 acres which he and James Hawkins owned; the legislature incorporated it in 1794. He erected the first brick house in this county, 1792. Born in Va., 1751, Benjamin came to Ky. at age 30. He accompanied the Traveling Church, led by Lewis Craig, his brother. Died, 1822.

Carrollton
(Marker Number: 216)

County: Carroll
Location: NE city limits of Carrollton, US 42

Description: First settled 1792, incorporated as Port William 1794. Carroll County formed and name of town changed to Carrollton by the Kentucky Legislature, 1838, both honoring "Charles Carroll of Carrollton" of Maryland, bold signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Col. Percival Pierce Butler
(Marker Number: 2080)

County: Carroll
Location: Carrollton, Gen. Butler State Park, Butler-Turpin Historic House, 1608 KY 227

Description: 1761-1821. Col. Percival Butler was appointed Ky.'s first adjutant gen. in Gov. Isaac Shelby's first term. Born in Penn., he was with Washington at Valley Forge and Lafayette at Yorktown. Immigrated to Jessamine Co., Ky., then moved to Carrollton, 1796. Establishing office in his Carrollton home, Butler served as adjutant general until ca. 1817.

(Reverse) Col. Percival Pierce Butler - Col. Butler served on staff of Maj. Gen. Samuel Hopkins during War of 1812. Following military service, he was elected clerk of Carroll County, serving until his death. Buried in Butler Family Cemetery, Carrollton. Butler Co., Kentucky, named for Percival's brother, Richard; Butler State Park named for his son, William Orlando. Presented by Kentucky National Guard.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War | Shelby, Isaac | War of 1812 | Washington, George)

First Explored
(Marker Number: 222)

County: Carroll
Location: 2nd & Highland Ave., Carrollton, US 42

Description: In 1754 James McBride canoed down the Ohio to the mouth of this river-now Kentucky. Here, as first explorer, he carved his initials and the date on tree, a landmark for 30 years. Cited for part in defense of Bryan Station and Battle of Blue Licks, 1782.

(Subjects: Blue Licks, Battle of | Indians | Ohio River)

Ghent
(Marker Number: 911)

County: Carroll
Location: Ghent, US 42

Description: Known as McCool's Creek Settlement, it was laid off in 1809 on land of Samuel Sanders, whose father was here early as 1795. Thirteen families came from Virginia, 1800. Traditionally, on visit here about 1816, Henry Clay, a member of the commission which negotiated the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812, suggested the name Ghent in honor of historic Belgian town.

(Subjects: Clay, Henry)

Grass Hills
(Marker Number: 1184)

County: Carroll
Location: Ghent-Eagle Station Rd., Sanders, just off I-71

Description: Home and family cemetery of Lewis Sanders, 1781-1861. House built 1819, on land wife inherited from Col. George Nicholas, key drafter of Ky. Constitution and the first state Attorney General. Sanders organized first Ky. fair on his farm in Fayette Co., 1816. With Henry Clay, 1817, made the first importation of shorthorn cattle from England, west of Alleghenies.

(Subjects: Clay, Henry)

Home of Gen. Butler
(Marker Number: 634)

County: Carroll
Location: Carrollton, Courthouse lawn, US 42

Description: Gen. William O. Butler, born Kentucky 1791, died here, 1880. War of 1812: River Raisin, Pensacola, and New Orleans. Gen. Andrew Jackson's staff 1816-17. Cited for heroism in Mexican War 1846-48. Practiced law here. Congressman 1839-43. Defeated as candidate for Governor 1844, Vice President 1848 and US Senate 1851. A Kentucky Commissioner to Peace Conference in Feb. 1861.

(Subjects: Jackson, Andrew | Mexican War | New Orleans, Battle of | Raisin River, Battle of)

James Tandy Ellis
(Marker Number: 1291)

County: Carroll
Location: Main St., Ghent, US 42

Description: Birthplace of poet, humorist, columnist, raconteur, soldier. He brought pleasure to thousands with his dialectal stories and banjo songs of the Blue Grass, and his unique fictional character of "Uncle Rambo." For 20 years did daily column, "Tang of the South," for 3 papers. The Adjutant-General of Ky., 1914-1919, World War I. Born in 1869. He died here, 1942.

(Subjects: World War I)

Sanders
(Marker Number: 1361)

County: Carroll
Location: Railroad St., Sanders, Jct. KY 36 & 47

Description: Gen. George Rogers Clark used route through here, ca. 1780s, called Clark's War Road, from Drennon's Lick to Ohio River. First called Rislerville, then Liberty Station. In 1874, renamed Sanders, for "Wash" Sanders, local citizen active in state politics. In the early 1900s, it became a noted resort. Guests came to enjoy healing waters of nearby wells.

(Subjects: Clark, George Rogers | Ohio River)

Scott's Blockhouse
(Marker Number: 1094)

County: Carroll
Location: Carrollton, Point Park, US 42

Description: Blockhouse built here, 1789, by General Charles Scott for protection of settlers against Indians who had massacred and driven off earlier families. Scott came from Virginia, 1785. He was in the French and Indian Wars. Organized first company south of James River in the Revolution. Indian fighter, in Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794. Gov. of Kentucky, 1808-12.

(Subjects: Fallen Timbers, Battle of | Forts and Stations | Indians | Revolutionary War)

The Masterson House
(Marker Number: 1725)

County: Carroll
Location: Highland Ave., 2 mi. E. of downtown Carrollton, US 42

Description: Oldest brick house still standing in county, this was home of Richard and Sarah Masterson. Bricks laid in Flemish bond. House was center of town's activities. Mastersons, leading Methodists, opened their home for services before church erected in 1810. Masterson was among early trustees of Port William, now Carrollton, which was incorporated in 1794. See over.

(Reverse) The Masterson House - First court of Gallatin County held here May 14, 1799. Bishop Francis Asbury visited "Widow Masterson" in 1808. Sarah and Richard Masterson are buried in the family cemetery nearby. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975. It was restored by the Port William Historical Society, 1979-1980. Over.

(Subjects: Asbury, Bishop Francis | Bishops | Methodist Church)