KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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A Renowned Piscator
(Marker Number: 651)

County: Harrison
Location: Cynthiana, S. of bridge, US 27

Description: Dr. James A. Henshall, 1836-1925, author Book of the Black Bass and others, brought fame to Kentucky's South Licking, Elkhorn, and Stoner streams. He came here to practice medicine. During Civil War healed wounds for men in Blue and Gray. Left, regained health, returned in 1880, wrote book. With U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, 1896-1917, he found new method for fish propagation.

Battle of Cynthiana
(Marker Number: 109)

County: Harrison
Location: 300-400 ft. S. of US 27, 62, bridge

Description: Here Colonel John Hunt Morgan defeated Federal forces and captured the town July 18, 1862. On June 12, 1864, Morgan, as Brigadier General, was defeated here by Federal General Stephen Burbridge.

(Subjects: Burbridge, Stephen G. | Civil War | Cynthiana, Battle of | Morgan, John Hunt)

County Named, 1793
(Marker Number: 1171)

County: Harrison
Location: Cynthiana, Courthouse lawn, US 27, 62

Description: For Colonel Benjamin Harrison, who came to area, 1776. Served as Col. in Revolution from Penn. He was a member, 1787 and 1788 Kentucky Conventions, 1792 Constitutional Convention at Danville. Elected to Kentucky Legislature in 1793. County formed from Bourbon and Scott. Portions of Campbell, Boone, Pendleton, Owen, Grant, Kenton, Robertson taken from Harrison.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1792) | Revolutionary War)

Death Valley Scotty
(Marker Number: 1069)

County: Harrison
Location: S. of Cynthiana, US 27

Description: Native of Cynthiana. Walter E. Scott (Death Valley Scotty), gold prospector, whose fabulous tales of Death Valley, Calif., lost gold mines fooled investors. Stories supported by $3,000,000 castle in desert provided by millionaire of Chicago, who "got it all back in laughs." Old miner was found out in 1941 but had become a legend. Died in 1954, at age 81.

Home of Walter Scott
(Marker Number: 2271)

County: Harrison
Location: 115 N. Locust St., Cynthiana

Description: Birthplace of Walter E. Scott on 9/20/1872. His mother died soon after his birth. At age 11, Scotty left Ky. & headed west to join his brothers. Hired by Harmony Borax Works with the 20-mule team wagon. After other odd jobs, he went to work as cowboy performer in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. Worked with A. Oakley, Sitting Bull 12 yrs.

(Reverse) Teller of extravagant stories of striking gold & fabled wealth at mine in Death Valley. In 1905, he chartered train “Coyote Special”; broke time record from Los Angeles to Chicago by nearly 8 hrs. Subject of play, Scotty, King of the Desert Mine, countless books & articles for 50 yrs. His Death Valley home, “Scotty’s Castle,” now Nat’l Park.

(Subjects: Actors)

Indian Creek Baptist Church
(Marker Number: 1457)

County: Harrison
Location: In front of church, KY 32 & 36

Description: This is original building erected on this site by pioneer families of Indian Creek Settlement. Church constituted in 1790; in continuous use until 1965. Buried in church cemetery are Rev. Charles Webb, an early minister; Revolutionary soldiers, Moses Endicott, Edward McShane, Henry Talbert, and Hugh Wilson; and many of first settlers.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Lindsey Cemetery
(Marker Number: 1220)

County: Harrison
Location: 11/2 mi. N. of KY 36 on KY 1743

Description: Located one-half mile east, this pioneer cemetery is the burial place of settlers, among them four Revolutionary War veterans, Rangers of the Frontiers, 1778-83: Capt. Thomas Moore, Capt. William Moore, Lt. David Lindsey, John Makemson. This plot set aside about 1800 by David Lindsey, who brought his family here about 1780. See over. Marker presented by descendants, 1968.

(Reverse) Makemson Mill and Distillery - Operated in the early 1800s and located on adjacent Mill Creek, on land purchased in 1795 by the Makemson (McKemson) family, who intermarried with the Lindseys. David Lindsey appointed Harrison County's first coroner, 1794. John and Andrew Makemson appointed surveyors in 1807. See over. Marker presented by descendants, 1968.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Revolutionary War)

Morgan's Last Raid
(Marker Number: 692)

County: Harrison
Location: Claysville, US 62

Description: On tragic last Kentucky raid, CSA Gen. John H. Morgan and Raiders entered state June 1, 1864, took Mt. Sterling June 8, lost it on 9th, took Lexington on l0th, and Cynthiana on 11th. USA under General S. G. Burbridge defeated CSA next day. Morgan retreated through here, reaching Virginia June 20. See map on other side. Raiders never recovered from this reverse.

(Subjects: Burbridge, Stephen G. | Civil War | Cynthiana, Battle of | Morgan, John Hunt | Mt. Sterling)

Old Log Court House
(Marker Number: 1539)

County: Harrison
Location: 10 Court St., Cynthiana

Description: Oldest house in Cynthiana, built 1790. Young Henry Clay practiced law here, 1806. In 1817, city's first newspaper, the Guardian of Liberty, was printed by Adam Keenan, assisted by H. H. Kavanaugh, later a noted Bishop, and Dudley Mann, who became a diplomat to France. Guthrie's Arithmetic, first to be published west of Alleghenies, was also printed here.

(Subjects: Bishops | Books | Clay, Henry | Courthouses | Cynthiana, Battle of | Newspapers)

Ruddle's Station
(Marker Number: 107)

County: Harrison
Location: 4 mi. S. of Cynthiana, US 27

Description: Settled by John Hinkston, 1775. Abandoned 1776. Rebuilt by Isaac Ruddle 1779. Destroyed by British and Indians under Captain Henry Bird 1780. Hinkston later settled opposite this site.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations | Indians)

Stony Castle
(Marker Number: 1084)

County: Harrison
Location: Near Berry, KY 1054

Description: Here was first post office between Lexington and Covington. Built by Postmaster John Smith in 1807 on land granted by Patrick Henry, Governor of Commonwealth of Virginia. Home withstood Civil War and was commandeered by CSA raider John Hunt Morgan for his wounded and weary troops. Postal room located in large closet in front parlor, right of main entranceway.

(Subjects: Henry, Patrick | Morgan, John Hunt | Post Office)

The Confederates Here
(Marker Number: 673)

County: Harrison
Location: N. of Viaduct, Cynthiana, US 27

Description: CSA Gen. John H. Morgan's Cavalry on first Kentucky raid defeated USA here, July 17, 1862. Burned railroad depot and Union stores. June 11, 1864, Morgan again took area. Next day reinforced USA defeated CSA who retreated to Virginia. Gen. Henry Heth's forces held Cynthiana, Sept. 6-17, 1862, in Confederate threat to Covington. See map on other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Morgan, John Hunt)

The Old Cemetery
(Marker Number: 1428)

County: Harrison
Location: At cem., adjacent to Main St., US 27

Description: Only burial ground in Cynthiana from 1793 to 1868. Located on four acres deeded to the city by Robert Harrison, owner of land on which Cynthiana founded. Samuel January, first Mayor, and other prominent early citizens buried here. First school in city, Harrison Academy, situated on corner of this plot. Cynthiana named for Harrison's daughters Cynthia and Anna.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Cynthiana, Battle of)