KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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Army of Six
(Marker Number: 1103)

County: Hopkins
Location: Arch & Spring Sts., Madisonville

Description: Union troops, 300, ordered to burn the CSA Madisonville sympathizers' homes, 1862; withdrew, bluffed by CSA Gen. Adam Johnson and six men. CSA went on to Henderson, crossed river to Newburg, taking medical supplies, arms and rations for the Confederates. Johnson and his Breckinridge Guards became famous for daring raids until he was blinded in battle, 1864.

(Subjects: Breckinridge, John Cabell | Civil War | Johnson, Adam R.)

Carlow's Stone Wall
(Marker Number: 1620)

County: Hopkins
Location: 304 Union St., Madisonville

Description: This wall was originally located at Carlow, on the main Madisonville-Henderson route. It was built by Thomas J. Jackson in 1857 to enclose his stage coach inn, a general store, Masonic Lodge No. 314 and post office. This work of art, reconstructed here in 1975, is hand quarried, hand cut and hand carved with all joints friction fitted.

Century of Coal Mining
(Marker Number: 1338)

County: Hopkins
Location: Earlington, US 41-A & KY 112

Description: Earlington founded in 1870 by St. Bernard Coal Co. Named for John Baylis Earle, who discovered No. 11 coal vein not far from this site, in 1869. John Bond Atkinson, the president of St. Bernard Coal, planned free public schools, free public library, Loch Mary Reservoir, an arboretum, home and church sites. In 1870, L & N Railroad began coal shipments from this area.

(Subjects: Louisville and Nashville Railroad)

Cmdr. D. W. "Mush" Morton, USN
(Marker Number: 1612)

County: Hopkins
Location: In front of Nortonville City Building, US 62

Description: This World War II hero spent his early youth and attended elementary school in Nortonville; high school at Madisonville. Graduated from U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., 1930. Became Commanding Officer of the submarine, Wahoo. Morton received his first award of the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism during action against enemy forces in the Pacific area. See over.

(Reverse) Wahoo - The Wahoo, with "Mush" Morton as its Commanding Officer, sank 31,890 tons of Japanese shipping. Wahoo left Pearl Harbor Sept. 9, 1943, headed for Sea of Japan but was lost through enemy action. Morton was awarded 4 Navy Crosses and the Army Distinguished Service Cross; his submarine won the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance in combat.

(Subjects: World War II)

County Named, 1806
(Marker Number: 849)

County: Hopkins
Location: Madisonville, Courthouse lawn, US 41-A

Description: For Samuel Hopkins, 1753-1819. On Washington's staff and in many campaigns, War of the Revolution. Came to Ky., 1797, as Transylvania Company agent. In 1799, organized and named judge of first court held in original Henderson County, which included this area. In Ky. House, 1800-06; Senate, 1809-13. Commander in Chief, Western Frontier, 1812; U.S. Congress, 1813-1815.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War | Transylvania University)

Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 580)

County: Hopkins
Location: Madisonville, Courthouse lawn, US 41-A

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 Madisonville burned December 17. All county records saved. All able-bodied men conscripted, took oath to meet Lyon, Jan. 20, released, but oath not fulfilled.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses Burned)

Dawson Springs
(Marker Number: 915)

County: Hopkins
Location: Dawson Springs, US 62

Description: In its heyday, from the start of the century until mid-1920's, this was one of best known spas, health resorts in the South. Thousands of the sick, the lame, the well came for the curative waters and to enjoy the social activities. Six firms bottled and shipped the chalybeate water all over the U.S. W. I. Hamby, resident of Hopkins County, discovered springs, 1881.

(Subjects: Springs)

Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 613)

County: Hopkins
Location: US 41-A & Hanson St., Madisonville

Description: CSA General Nathan Bedford Forrest, on reconnaissance and foraging mission toward the Ohio River Nov. 24 to Dec. 5, 1861, passed here with 300 cavalry on way to Caseyville. There he found large supply of hogs and took some along. After he left, USA picked up remainder. While returning to Hopkinsville Forrest captured horses, cattle and more hogs. Map on other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

Gov. Ruby Laffoon
(Marker Number: 1232)

County: Hopkins
Location: Madisonville, Courthouse lawn, US Alt. 41, KY 70

Description: Born January 15, 1869, Madisonville. Began law practice, 1892. Served as chairman of the first Insurance Rating Board, 1912. Circuit Court Judge, 1921-31. While Governor, 1931-35, he reorganized charitable and penal boards; recodified the educational laws; was responsible for building of more highways and bridges than in the previous 15 years. He died March 1, 1941.

Hanson
(Marker Number: 1948)

County: Hopkins
Location: 7250 Hanson Rd. at Kentucky Bank, Hanson, KY 40 & 260-E

Description: This town, named for Henry B. Hanson, the civil engineer who planned it, was founded in 1869 and incorporated in 1873. Hanson became bustling tobacco center. "Hanson Twist" tobacco was shipped throughout the U.S. Four costly fires in 1889, 1894, 1905, and 1906, changed the town's history. Presented by Citizens for Historic Preservation.

Jackson Stage Stop
(Marker Number: 1797)

County: Hopkins
Location: KY 1069, 4 mi. NW of Hanson

Description: Original two-room brick building, unusual in design, was constructed in 1830 of handmade brick from clay on farm. It served as a stagecoach stop between Hopkinsville and Henderson before completion of the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad, 1871. Beckley Jackson, who came from Va. by 1815, provided extra horses and mail distribution point for stage line.

(Subjects: Railroads | Stagecoach Stops)

Madisonville
(Marker Number: 1104)

County: Hopkins
Location: Madisonville, Jct. KY 70 & US 41

Description: Named for former President James Madison. One year after Hopkins County established, Madisonville made county seat, 1807, on 40 acres given by Daniel McGary and Solomon Silkwood. Incorporated in 1810. Home of Maurice K. Gordon, who gave The American Legion its name when founded at Paris, France, in March, 1919, and later led in its organization in Kentucky.

(Subjects: Madison, James)

Partisan Rangers
(Marker Number: 1971)

County: Hopkins
Location: Hanson, City Park, Sunset Rd., KY 260 W.

Description: Civil War Confederate irregular troops operated in western Ky. These Partisan Rangers, under Brig. Gen. Adam R. Johnson, fought skirmishes and disrupted Union communications and supply lines. Among Hopkins Countians serving were 2 brothers from Hanson-James Waller, who was killed, and J.S., who later urged reconciliation. Presented by Citizens for Historic Preservation.

(Subjects: Civil War | Johnson, Adam R.)

Steuben's Lick
(Marker Number: 140)

County: Hopkins
Location: 31/2 mi. N. of Madisonville at Manitou, US 41-A

Description: Named for the Prussian soldier Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von Steuben. Born in 1730, he came to America in 1777 to aid the cause of the Revolution. Steuben instructed Washington's army at Valley Forge and was first Inspector General of the Army. Came here to inspect his military grants and visited the Lick. Died in New York, 1794.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War | Washington, George)

The Hockersmith House
(Marker Number: 1425)

County: Hopkins
Location: 218 South Scott, Madisonville

Description: The home of L. D. Hockersmith, Captain, l0th Ky., General John Hunt Morgan's Cavalry, CSA. Hockersmith captured by Federal troops during Morgan's Ohio raid, July 20, 1863. Held with Morgan in Ohio State Prison at Columbus. Helped dig tunnel by which he and five other officers escaped with Morgan on Nov. 27, 1863. This escape was one of most daring of all time.

(Subjects: Morgan, John Hunt)