KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Bethel College
(Marker Number: 1269)

County: Christian
Location: Site of college, 15th Street, Hopkinsville, US 41, 68

Description: Organized by the Bethel Baptist Association and opened in 1854 as Bethel Female High School. Used by CSA as hospital during Black Measles epidemic, 1861-1862. Bethel Women's Jr. College, 1917. Closed 1942-1945; rooms rented to Camp Campbell Army officers. Became co-educational in 1951; name changed to Bethel College. Closed, 1964. Buildings razed, 1966.

(Subjects: Civil War | World War II)

Charles S. Morehead, 1802-1868
(Marker Number: 1910)

County: Christian
Location: Pioneer Cem., W. 13th St., Hopkinsville

Description: This Ky. governor and congressman was born near Bardstown. A graduate of Transylvania, he began law practice in Hopkinsville. Morehead served in state legislature, as attorney general, in U.S. House of Rep., and as governor of Ky., 1855-59. During his administration, geological survey completed, state prison enlarged, and funds allotted for annual state fair. See over.

(Reverse) Charles Slaughter Morehead - Hoping to avert civil war, Morehead attended Washington Peace Conf., 1861. Although neutral, he sympathized with Confederacy and criticized Lincoln's policies. Arrested by federal leaders and imprisoned for several months. Warned of another arrest, he fled to Canada, Europe, and Mexico. Died at his Mississippi plantation, 1868. Buried in Frankfort Cem.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Frankfort | Kentucky State Penitentiary | Lincoln, Abraham | Transylvania University)

Church Hill Grange House
(Marker Number: 1179)

County: Christian
Location: Church Hill, 5 mi. S. of Hopkinsville

Description: Built 1878 by the Grange. Used ever since for public meetings. Kentucky's first farm cooperative, the Church Hill Grange operated a livestock market here. Leading this pioneer cooperative were two Christian County farmers, Winston J. Davie, first Ky. Commissioner of Agriculture, 1876-79, and his brother Montgomery Davie, Master of the Kentucky Grange.

County Named, 1797
(Marker Number: 1224)

County: Christian
Location: Hopkinsville, Courthouse lawn, US 41, 68

Description: For Col. William Christian, native Virginian, soldier, politician, and pioneer. Served as Colonel in Revolution, member Va. Legislature. Moved family to Jefferson County in 1785, where his Virginia land grants totaled 9,000 acres. Killed 1786, defending frontier against Indians. Original county, taken from Logan, included area of 16 present-day counties and parts of 4 others.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 577)

County: Christian
Location: Hopkinsville, Courthouse lawn, US 41, 68

Description: Gen. Hylan B. Lyon with 800 men invaded Ky., Dec. 1864, to enforce CSA draft law and divert USA from Nashville. In 23 days he burned seven courthouses used by Union forces. (See map on reverse side.) Courthouse at Hopkinsville burned Dec. 12. All county records saved. Commandeered clothing and went on. Returned on 16th, skirmished with US force and moved to Madisonville.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses Burned)

Famous Prophet
(Marker Number: 1313)

County: Christian
Location: Entrance to Riverside Cem., Hopkinsville, US 41

Description: Edgar Cayce-a psychic counselor and healer. Accepted nationally, he was one of the best known in this field. A humble and religious man, Cayce never profited from his predictions. Used reputed gift of extrasensory perception, including medical diagnosis, to better man's understanding of God's purpose for him here on earth. Born near here, 1877. Died, Va., 1945. Buried here.

First Presbyterian
(Marker Number: 1045)

County: Christian
Location: 9th & Liberty Sts., Hopkinsville, US 41, 68

Description: Organized in 1813, traditionally by the Reverend Gideon Blackburn, a pioneer minister and missionary to the Cherokee Indians. Present church building, not including later additions, was built during the period 1848-1852. Used as a hospital during severe epidemic that swept the camp of Confederates under Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest through the winter of 1861-62.

(Subjects: Cherokee Indians | Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford | Presbyterian Church)

Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 618)

County: Christian
Location: Hopkinsville Stone Company, US 41

Description: CSA General Nathan Bedford Forrest with 6 cavalry companies joined Gen. Charles Clark here November 15, 1861. Forrest made reconnaissance and foraging expeditions out of here. See map on other side. When on one he defeated USA forces in Battle of Sacramento on December 28. After occupation of Hopkinsville for almost three months CSA evacuated. They withdrew into Tennessee.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

Genoa
(Marker Number: 851)

County: Christian
Location: 5 mi. S. of Hopkinsville, KY 107

Description: Winston Jones Davie, 1824-87, home and burial site. Native of Christian County. He was Kentucky's first Commissioner of Agriculture, 1876-79. Appointed by Gov. James B. McCreary. Davie was an outstanding farmer, banker, legislator, and agricultural writer. Elected to Kentucky Legislature, 1850. Devoted life to improvement of agriculture and rural life.

Grace Episcopal Church
(Marker Number: 1690)

County: Christian
Location: Liberty St., US 41 southbound, at Sixth St., Hopkinsville

Description: Organized in 1831 by local laymen with aid of George P. Giddinge, Md. missionary, who became first rector, and Benjamin B. Smith, later first Bishop of Ky. and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. First church was built ca. 1850 on Virginia St. On Oct. l0, 1875, Jefferson Davis, an Episcopalian and native of Christian Co., worshiped there. Over.

(Reverse) Grace Episcopal Church - Present church built 1883-84. Liberal contributor was John C. Latham, Jr. Under rectors John W. Venable, 1883-94, and George C. Abbitt, 1902-29, church became center for social and cultural community activities. Parish house, a memorial to Emma Glass Gaither, built 1906. Tower destroyed in 1978 by tornado, restored in 1979. Presented by Grace Episcopal Church.

(Subjects: Davis, Jefferson | Episcopal Church)

Hdqrs. CSA Commander
(Marker Number: 880)

County: Christian
Location: Riverside Cem., Hopkinsville, US 41

Description: Nathan Bedford Forrest, stationed in Hopkinsville during winter of 1861-62, resided, with wife and daughter, in log house, the third residence south. As colonel, in command 6 companies CSA Cavalry, reconnoitered Union forces between here and the Ohio River, defeated gunboat, CONESTOGA, at Canton, also US force at Sacramento. Withdrew when CSA left Bowling Green. Over.

(Reverse) 101 CSA Unknown - Six companies CSA Cavalry under Col. Forrest were camped a mile to the north at the old fairgrounds, while reconnoitering this area in winter, 1861-62. A severe epidemic swept the camp and several hundred men died. When the city enlarged cemetery, 1887, John C. Latham, native of Hopkinsville, had bodies of 101 unknown reinterred and a large monument erected. Over.

(Subjects: Confederate Army | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

Hotel Latham
(Marker Number: 1501)

County: Christian
Location: 7th & Virginia Sts., Hopkinsville, US 41

Description: Erected on this site, 1894, and named for Hopkinsville native and philanthropist, John C. Latham, Jr. Structure was Italian Renaissance style. It became a well-known tourist stop, social and civic center. Among its famous guests: Vice President Charles Curtis, William J. Bryan, John Philip Sousa, Ethel Barrymore, and Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. Hotel burned, 1940.

(Subjects: Actors | Hotels)

Lewis & Clark in Kentucky
(Marker Number: 2190)

County: Christian
Location: Main & Court Streets, Hopkinsville

Description: WILLIAM CLARK William Clark, coleader of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and his family stopped at Allsbury’s Tavern in Hopkinsville on Oct. 2, 1809. In 1807 Clark was appointed militia brigadier general and chief Indian agent for the Louisiana Territory. Over.

THOMAS ALLSBURY Thomas Allsbury was an early tavern keeper in Hopkinsville. In the War of 1812 he organized a company and served as a captain in the First Regiment of Kentucky Mounted Militia. Over. *Sponsored by Ohio River Chapter-Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Fdn.; Christian Co. Fiscal Court; Col. John Green Chapter, D.A.R.; John Manire Chapter, S.A.R.; Pennyroyal Area Museum; Hopkinsville/Christian Co. Hist. Soc.; Christian Co. Gen. Soc.; Natl. Park Service, Ky. Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Com.

(Subjects: Clark, William | Lewis and Clark Expedition | Allsbury, Thomas)

No-Tillage Farming
(Marker Number: 1759)

County: Christian
Location: Approx. 2 mi. S. of Herndon, KY 107

Description: First practice of no-tillage crop production in Ky. occurred on this farm in 1962. Harry and Laurence Young, of Christian Co., were among first in nation to experiment with no-tillage techniques, which use herbicides in providing seed bed in residue stubble. Conserves soil and water; saves time, labor, fuel, and often produces higher crop yields. Presented by the Du Pont Agricultural Chemicals Dept.

Peace Park
(Marker Number: 1041)

County: Christian
Location: Hopkinsville, at park site, US 68 & 41

Description: Bequest to city of Hopkinsville with funds for beautification and maintenance by John C. Latham of New York, a native of Hopkinsville. A generous and forgiving gift. Mr. Latham was owner of a large tobacco warehouse on this site that was destroyed, when burned by Night Riders, disgruntled tobacco growers, Dec. 8, 1907. The next year death came to Mr. Latham.

Pioneer Graveyard 1812-1858
(Marker Number: 1268)

County: Christian
Location: 301 W. 13th Street, Hopkinsville, US 41, 68

Description: Within this enclosure are buried 185 named persons, and many more unknown, all early settlers of Christian County. The land for this cemetery was donated in 1812 by Bartholomew Wood, the first settler in Hopkinsville. He also donated land and timber for the first public buildings, 1797. He died in 1827 and was buried here.

The Trail of Tears
(Marker Number: 1042)

County: Christian
Location: E. 9th St. at Little River, Hopkinsville, US 41

Description: A camping ground, Oct. 1838, for a part of the Cherokee Indians who were forcibly moved from their homes in the Smoky Mountain region of N. Car. and Tenn. to Indian Terr., now Okla. Badly clothed and fed, hundreds became ill and many died, among them the aged and highly respected chiefs, Fly Smith and Whitepath. Their graves on bank of Little River.

(Subjects: Cherokee Indians | Indians)

U.S. Vice President
(Marker Number: 740)

County: Christian
Location: S. Christian H. S., Herndon, KY 117

Description: Adlai Ewing Stevenson, 1835-1914, one of four Kentuckians-more than any state, except New York-who were U.S. Vice Presidents. Others were Richard M. Johnson, John C. Breckinridge and Alben W. Barkley. Stevenson, born here, moved to Illinois, 1852. Member Congress two terms. Elected Vice President with Cleveland in 1892. Bryan's running mate in 1900.

(Subjects: Barkley, Alben W. | Breckinridge, John Cabell | Vice Presidents )

Union General's Grave
(Marker Number: 882)

County: Christian
Location: Riverside Cem., Hopkinsville, US 41

Description: Brig. Gen. James S. Jackson, USA, killed in the battle of Perryville on Oct. 8, 1862, is buried in south end of cemetery. Born Woodford Co., Ky., 1823. First Lt., Mexican War, then practiced law in Greenup. He came to Hopkinsville, 1855. Elected to Congress, 1861. Authorized by Lincoln, he recruited 3rd Ky. Cav. during fall 1861. In battles, Shiloh and others, before his untimely death.

(Subjects: Perryville, Battle of)

Universalist Church
(Marker Number: 1625)

County: Christian
Location: 14 mi. NW of Hopkinsville, KY 109

Description: Near this site, the Consolation Universalist Church was organized by a traveling preacher, William Lowe, in the home of James E. Clark in May 1819. It was the first Universalist Church organized west of Allegheny Mountains. Early ministers were L.T. Brasher, J.E. McCord, D.M. Wooldridge, W.E. McCord, Joab Clark, and L.M. Pope. Presented by the Kentucky Universalists.