KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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County Named, 1842
(Marker Number: 809)

County: Letcher
Location: Near Whitesburg, US 119

Description: For Robert P. Letcher, during term as Governor of Kentucky, 1840-1844. Born Va., 1788; came Ky. in 1800. Ky. Mounted Militia, War of 1812. Legislature, 7 years, Speaker of House, two years. U.S. Congress, 1823-1835. Presidential elector in 1836. During term as governor he proclaimed first Thanksgiving. Minister to Mexico, 1849-1852. Died 1861; buried Frankfort Cemetery.

(Subjects: Lexington | War of 1812)

Early Settler
(Marker Number: 1700)

County: Letcher
Location: 2 mi. E. of Whitesburg at Ermine, Jct. KY 119 & 2034

Description: Archelous Craft of Wilkes Co., N.C., was with small band of pioneers who immigrated to Upper Ky. River Valley in 1804. Born December 25, 1749, in Roanoke River area, Craft was a veteran of Revolutionary War; he fought in battles of Hanging Rock and Eutaw Springs. He died November 8, 1853. His unmarked grave is three miles north of Crafts Colly. Presented by Craft Family Reunion Assoc.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Inspiration Mountain
(Marker Number: 777)

County: Letcher
Location: S. of Whitesburg, US 119

Description: Little Shepherd Trail, part of setting for: Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, Hell for Sartain, Trail of the Lonesome Pine, by John Fox, Jr., famous for eleven novels of Ky. mountains and the Bluegrass, written 1893 to 1919. Born Paris, Ky., 1863. Harvard, 1883. Spanish-American War, 1898. Moved to Big Stone Gap, Va., 1886, had mining business. Died in 1919.

(Subjects: Books | Spanish-American War)

Jenkins
(Marker Number: 1804)

County: Letcher
Location: Jenkins, at city limits, US 23

Description: Land bought by John C. C. Mayo and sold to Consolidation Coal Co. to develop town and coal mines. Coal company laid out streets and built houses, stores, hospital, churches, and schools. Town named for George C. Jenkins, a promoter and Baltimore banker. The railroad reached Jenkins ca. 1912. With Consolidation's 14 tipples, Letcher Co. was largest coal producer in Kentucky in 1916.

(Subjects: Coal)

Kingdom Come
(Marker Number: 1294)

County: Letcher
Location: KY 931, near Kingdom Come Rd. Jct.

Description: Early settlers, ca. 1816, were deeply religious and God-fearing. They chose a name for this beautiful and fertile valley from the words in "The Lord's Prayer." History of this area is typical of that of many communities along the creeks and hollows where descendants of the first settlers still live. It was immortalized by John Fox, Jr., in Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.

Lt. Darwin K. Kyle
(Marker Number: 1906)

County: Letcher
Location: Near Jenkins, US 23 & 119

Description: This Congressional Medal of Honor winner fought in Korean War. Born in Jenkins, June 1918, Second Lt. Kyle in U.S. Army with Co. K, 7th Inf. Regt., 3d Inf. Div. Lt. Kyle rallied his men amid intensive fighting to renew attacks on enemy machine-gun positions. He killed 7 men in 2 assaults, then was slain by enemy fire, February 16, 1951. Presented by Letcher County Historical and Genealogical Society.

(Subjects: Korean War | Medal of Honor Winners)

Pilot-Spy-Hero
(Marker Number: 1732)

County: Letcher
Location: Whitesburg, Courthouse lawn

Description: Francis Gary Powers and the "U-2 Incident" catapulted activities of the United States into world view. This Burdine native, with other pilots directed by CIA, flew U-2's (high altitude jet gliders) over Russia, photographing missile and industrial sites and nuclear tests. On May 1, 1960, when his plane was diasabled 1300 miles over Russia, Powers parachuted to safety. Over.

(Reverse) Francis Gary Powers, 1929-1977 - Taken prisoner, Powers stated his compass had malfunctioned on a weather flight. Finding film intact in plane's wreckage, the Russians told him he would stand trial for espionage. Sentenced to ten years imprisonment, Powers was released in 1962 in exchange for a Soviet spy. Later decorated by CIA. Died in civilian helicopter crash.

Pioneer Ancestor
(Marker Number: 1197)

County: Letcher
Location: Near Isom, 4 mi. S. of Jct. KY 15 on KY 7

Description: James Caudill, born in Virginia in 1753, first came to Big Cowan Creek in 1787. Because of Indians, he took his family back to North Carolina. Returning here in 1792 with his family, he built a cabin, stayed several years, went back to North Carolina. They settled here permanently in 1811. He was progenitor of a large, widespread mountain family. He died in 1840.

Pound Gap
(Marker Number: 510)

County: Letcher
Location: Jenkins, US 23, 119

Description: Route through here discovered by Christopher Gist, April 1, 1751. Brig. Gen. Garfield and 700 Union troops forced 500 CSA men from here Mar. 16, 1862 and burned CSA supplies. On last raid in Kentucky, Morgan's Raiders dislodged Union forces here June 1, 1864 and moved on to Mt. Sterling, Lexington and Cynthiana. They then returned to Virginia.

(Subjects: Civil War | Garfield, James A. | Morgan's Raiders)

Scuttle Hole Gap Road
(Marker Number: 1188)

County: Letcher
Location: Near Whitesburg, 7 mi. S. of Jct. KY 15 on KY 931

Description: Indians or buffalo probably were the first to follow this gap and make a trail across Pine Mountain. First white settlers, about 1800, made trail into treacherous wagon road, their only route to Virginia for supplies of flour, salt, and sugar. Called Scuttle Hole Gap, meaning deep gorge through cliffs. Trail goes 7 miles from here into the Cumberland River Valley.

(Subjects: Roads)