KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

Search by County:

Select the county name from the selection box below or see the clickable state map and county list.

Casey County Courthouse
(Marker Number: 1835)

County: Casey
Location: Courthouse lawn, Liberty

Description: Present seat of justice, built 1888, was preceded by log building, 1809, and brick structure, 1837. Architects for current courthouse were the noted McDonald Bros. of Louisville. Its asymmetrical design and lavish use of stone trim (by T. D. Dunhauser of Germany) are unusual features among courthouses of McDonald firm. Listed on Nat'l Register of Historic Places, 1977.

(Subjects: Architects | National Register of Historic Places)

Colonel Silas Adams
(Marker Number: 888)

County: Casey
Location: Liberty, Courthouse lawn, US 127

Description: A spirited USA Civil War leader. Enlisted July 11, 1861. Aided Col. Frank Wolford with recruiting of lst Ky. Cav. Distinctive service many campaigns. Succeeded Wolford in command, Mar., 1864. Mustered out, Dec. 31, 1864. Born, 1839, Pulaski Co. Elected Casey County Attorney two terms; Legislature, three terms; Congress, two terms. Buried, 1896, Brown Cem., Mt. Olive, Ky.

County Named, 1806
(Marker Number: 781)

County: Casey
Location: 1 mi. N. of Liberty, Roadside Park, US 127

Description: For Colonel William Casey, early Ky. pioneer and great-grandfather of Samuel L. Clemens, "Mark Twain." Casey born in Va. Came to Ky. in 1779. Built Casey's Station on the Dix River in 1791. Member of Convention, 1799, to frame second Ky. Constitution. Trustee, town of Columbia, 1802. 1813, Presidential elector. Lived Adair Co., died, 1816. County formed from Lincoln.

(Subjects: Clemens, Samuel Langhorne (Mark Twain) | Constitutional Convention (1799) | Forts and Stations)

Dedicated to the memory of General Christopher Riffe 1764-1850. Site of His Cabin and Grave
(Marker Number: 250)

County: Casey
Location: Middleburg Cemetery, Lynn St., Middleburg

Description: Christopher Riffe accompanied Col. William Casey (Great-Grandfather of Mark Twain) to Kentucky in 1784. Riffe lived at Bryan's Station, Boonesborough, Logan's Station and Carpenter's Station. He bought 800 acres of land from the Grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. Riffe became the first white settler of Casey County in 1793. He was the first State Representative from Casey County, served seven terms. He fought in the Battle of the Thames (in which Tecumseh was killed) in the Kentucky Sixth Regiment. He was Lieutenant-General of the Kentucky State Militia.

(Subjects: Boonesborough | Clemens, Samuel Langhorne (Mark Twain) | Forts and Stations | Thames, Battle of | War of 1812)

First Kentucky Cavalry
(Marker Number: 684)

County: Casey
Location: Liberty, Courthouse lawn, Near US 127

Description: Casey County, home of one-third of this Union regiment and of its commanders Col. Frank L. Wolford and Col. Silas Adams. Others came from eight nearby Ky. counties. Recruited July 1861, trained at Camp Dick Robinson. Saw active service from Wildcat Mt. battle, Oct. 19, 1861, until mustered out, Dec. 31, 1864. Became famous for skill and daring. See over.

(Reverse) 1st Ky. Cav. - Efficient in battle, infantry as well as cavalry. Unsurpassed in fighting guerrillas and scouting. In Mill Springs, Perryville and Lebanon (Tenn.) battles and scores of other engagements. Led pursuit of CSA Bragg's retreat, Oct. 1862. First Kentucky was at surrender of John Hunt Morgan, Ohio, July 1863. Later that year in East Tenn. and Sherman's Atlanta campaign, 1864.

(Subjects: Camps | Civil War | Morgan, John Hunt)

John Fry
(Marker Number: 917)

County: Casey
Location: N. of Liberty, US 127

Description: Entered land on Carpenter's Creek 8 miles north, 1780, on a Treasury Warrant for service in Revolution. Land grant signed, 1783, by Gov. Benj. Harrison. Engaged in Battle of Point Pleasant, 1774. Served in Rockingham Militia, Va., during Revolution. With Kentuckians when killed at Blue Licks Battle, 1782, at age of 28. Four generations of family owned land over a century. Presented by Mrs. Mary Frye Barley, Whittier, Calif.

(Subjects: Blue Licks, Battle of | Indians | Revolutionary War)

Silas Wesley, 1852-1931
(Marker Number: 1305)

County: Casey
Location: Bethelridge, KY 70

Description: A community and church leader, businessman and farmer, he opened first general store in 1876. Gave Bethelridge its name, 1890, and was the first postmaster. Sponsored first telephone. Helped establish banks at nearby Middleburg and Eubank. His ancestors were among the first settlers in this area. Presented by a committee of his descendants.