KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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"Elmwood"
(Marker Number: 1623)

County: Logan
Location: Near Dennis, KY 80

Description: This was last home of Capt. John Lewis, born 1747 in Va., son of Col. Fielding Lewis and Catherine Washington, first cousin of George Washington. Col. Lewis and John supplied Va. troops with gunpowder during Rev. War. In 1811, John and daughter Mary Ann moved to Warren Co. Losing his land to squatters, he came to his sons' home, died in 1825, and was buried here.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War | Washington, George)

Alice Allison Dunnigan - 1906-1983
(Marker Number: 1960)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, at City Park

Description: Born near Russellville, Logan Co., the granddaughter of slaves, Alice Dunnigan gained recognition as a journalist and civil rights leader. During an 18-year teaching career, she also wrote for African American newspapers and continued her education. Based in Washington, D.C., in 1940s, she reported on government at the highest levels.

(Reverse) Civil Rights Activist/Author - In 1948, Alice Dunnigan was first black reporter on campaign trail with a president-Truman. Under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, she was member of President's Committee on Equal Opportunity. Author of: A Black Woman's Experience-From Schoolhouse to White House (1974) and The Fascinating Story of Black Kentuckians: Their Heritage and Traditions (1982). Over.

(Subjects: African American | Books | Journalists | Truman, Harry S.)

Bowie, A Kentuckian
(Marker Number: 958)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, Courthouse lawn, US 68, 79

Description: James Bowie, Col. of Texas Rangers and co-commander at the Alamo, was native of Logan Co. With 187 others-P. J. Bailey, D. W. Cloud, W. Fountleroy of Logan Co. among them-he chose death rather than surrender. "Remember the Alamo" was battle cry of Texas victory and freedom from Mexico, 1836. The Bowie Knife, famed weapon of frontier days, designed by Bowie.

(Subjects: Bowie, James)

Boyhood Home, 1793-1802
(Marker Number: 1334)

County: Logan
Location: Adairville, KY 591

Description: The Rev. Peter Cartwright, 1785-1872. A dedicated itinerant Methodist preacher in Kentucky for 22 years. Saved from "sins of his youth" and "licensed to exhort" during the Great Revival of 1800. Ordained 1808. He was Presiding Elder for 50 years and delegate to 13 General Conferences. Moved to Illinois in 1824. Defeated by Abraham Lincoln in race for Congress, 1847.

(Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham | Methodist Church)

Brodnax-Conn House
(Marker Number: 2278)

County: Logan
Location: 3288 Conn Rd., Adairville

Description: H. P. Brodnax born 1769 Dinwiddie Co., Va.; admitted to Ky. Bar 1796; law associate c. 1801 of W. P. Duval, who became 1st territorial gov. of Fla; circuit court judge, Logan Co. 1804-30; built house and resided here c. 1830-39; died in 1857 in Russellville. Acquired by pioneer physician Dr. N. T. Conn in 1854. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

(Subjects: National Register of Historic Places | Lawyers)

Cedar House
(Marker Number: 1071)

County: Logan
Location: Bowling Green Rd., Russellville, US 68, 431

Description: Site of the seat of justice for all Western Ky., 1793-1798. Logan Co. citizens erected two story, four room house of cedar logs, 1792, for first Logan Co. sheriff, Wesley Maulding. First court was held here, 1793. Also used as inn and tavern where members of court and visitors lodged. Then it was considered to be the most elegant house in the Green River country.

(Subjects: Courthouses)

Colony
(Marker Number: 1455)

County: Logan
Location: South Union, near Jct. US 68 & KY 73

Description: Organized 1807, as Gasper Society of United Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. Building program started and trade established in textiles, seeds, mill products, and purebred cattle. Peak membership 350; acreage 6,000. Most prosperous period 1840-60. Last western colony to disband, 1922. Museum moved here, in 1972, with handicrafts and furniture of the Shakers.

(Subjects: Shakers)

Confederate State Convention
(Marker Number: 74)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, US 68, 431

Description: Here November 20, 1861, Confederate leaders from 64 Kentucky counties seceded from the Union. The state was admitted as the 13th into the Confederate States of America Dec. 10, 1861.

(Subjects: Civil War)

County Named, 1792
(Marker Number: 1138)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, Courthouse lawn, US 68, 431

Description: For Gen. Benjamin Logan (1743-1802), pioneer and Indian fighter who called the Danville Assembly, 1784, leading to ten conventions preceding Kentucky's separation from Virginia, 1792. Logan served as a delegate in all ten, later in the legislature. Logan County was formed from part of Lincoln County, and organized immediately after Ky. admitted to the Union.

(Subjects: Logan, Benjamin)

Dromgoole's Station
(Marker Number: 1252)

County: Logan
Location: lst St., Adairville, US 431

Description: Site of station, built 1788, one of several erected in this area. James Dromgoole came from Tenn. with Philip Alston, whose daughter he had married, and settled at Alston's Station, on the Red River, about 1785. After three years he established his own station here on the Nashville to Russellville route. Dromgoole Station's name changed to Adairville, Nov. 1818.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations)

Gasper River Meeting House
(Marker Number: 170)

County: Logan
Location: Jct. of US 68, & KY 73

Description: One of three churches of Reverend James McGready, a Presbyterian minister, in Logan County-Gasper River, Muddy River, and Red River-around which the great frontier revival of 1797 to 1805 began.

(Subjects: Presbyterian Church)

Governor's Corner
(Marker Number: 657)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, 113 W. 9th St.

Description: John J. Crittenden, 1787-1863, lived here, 1811-18. War of 1812, State Legislator, 15th Kentucky Governor. U.S. Atty. Gen. under three Presidents. Five times U.S. Senator. Noted for Crittenden Compromise, 1860, futile effort to avert Civil War and preserve the Union. His last words: "Let all the ends thou aimest at be thy country's, thy God's and truth's."

(Subjects: Crittenden, John J. | Governors)

Governor's Corner
(Marker Number: 658)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, 145 E. 5th St.

Description: Home of Governor John Breathitt, born 1787, Virginia. Came here, 1800. Lawyer, legislator. Elected Lieut. Governor, 1828, and Governor, 1832. He was advocate of need for preserving Kentucky's valuable documents. He wrote: "There is a laudable solicitude to know everything in respect to our history." Breathitt died in office, 1834. Monument in Maple Grove Cem. by Kentucky.

(Subjects: Governors)

Governors from Logan
(Marker Number: 1260)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, Courthouse lawn, US 68, 79

Description: Seven residents of Logan County became governors in four states:

KY.	John Breathitt James T. Morehead John J. Crittenden Charles S. Morehead	1832-34 1834-36 1848-50 1855-59
FLA. ILL. TEX.	Richard Call Ninian Edwards Fletcher Stockdale	1836-39, 41-44 1826-30 1865

(Subjects: Crittenden, John J. | Governors)

Jackson-Dickinson Duel
(Marker Number: 100)

County: Logan
Location: Adairville, Town Square, US 431

Description: On the Jeff Burr farm in second "Poplar Bottom" is the site of the duel fought May 30, 1806. Andrew Jackson was wounded. Half mile west of site is Will Tyler farm where Charles Dickinson died. Miller's "Buttermilk Spring" is south on highway 75 two miles, on Old Burr farm.

(Subjects: Duels | Jackson, Andrew)

John Littlejohn
(Marker Number: 871)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville town square, US 68, 431

Description: Born Eng., 1756, came America, 1767. Became Methodist preacher at age 20, riding the circuits in Md., Va., Ky. Came to Louisville from Leesburg, Va., 1818. Moved Warren Co., Ky., and then 7 miles south of Russellville in 1822. Died in 1836 after 60 years as minister. His priceless journals (1772-1832) are preserved by the Methodist Church. See over.

(Reverse) John Littlejohn - Guardian of the Declaration of Independence, other state papers, which were entrusted to him by President James Madison in War of 1812. As the British advanced on Washington, Aug. 1814, the President ordered the national archives loaded onto a wagon and sent about 35 miles to Littlejohn, Methodist preacher, Leesburg, and sheriff, Loudoun Co., Va. Over.

(Subjects: Madison, James | Methodist Church | War of 1812)

John Littlejohn Cemetery
(Marker Number: 2275)

County: Logan
Location: Second & Caldwell Streets, Russellville

Description: Burial place of John Littlejohn, esteemed Methodist preacher. He came to Russellville in 1822 and conducted camp meetings, services, & ministered throughout Logan Co. While he was a sheriff in Virginia, during the War of 1812, he was entrusted by Pres. James Madison to protect the National Archives.

(Reverse) Land given by Marmaduke Beckwith Morton VIII. Burial site of persons who died during the 1835 cholera epidemic. Many buried without any markers. Several founding fathers of Russellville buried here. Their slaves were buried on the north end of the cemetery; those graves were marked with fieldstones.

(Subjects: Cemeteries | Methodist Church | War of 1812)

Lewis and Clark in Kentucky- William Clark's 1809 Visit & Death of Meriwether Lewis
(Marker Number: 2218)

County: Logan
Location: US 68 & KY 80, Russellville

Description: William Clark, coleader of the famous Lewis & Clark Expedition, visited Russellville with his family October 3-7, 1809, while traveling to Louisville and farther east. Benjamin & Eleanor Clark Temple, Clark's niece, lived in Russellville. Over.

(Reverse) On Oct. 21, 1809, Russellville Farmer's Friend newspaper ran one of the first reports of the death of Meriwether Lewis, coleader of the Expedition. Taken from a Tenn. paper, it detailed his suicide at an inn on the Natchez Trace.

(Subjects: Clark, William | Lewis and Clark Expedition | Lewis, Meriwether)

Logan County Jail, 1874-1977
(Marker Number: 1791)

County: Logan
Location: W. Fourth St., Russellville

Description: This building replaced an old jail three blocks east which burned. To finance construction of new jail, a property tax was passed, 1869. By December 1874, jail operated on this site. Jail restored, 1979-1980. County records stored here by order of Fiscal Court. Logan County Genealogical Society designated to clean and file the records. Presented by Rena Milliken.

Maulding's Fort
(Marker Number: 1137)

County: Logan
Location: 10 mi. S. of Russellville, KY 663

Description: Site of stockade, built in 1780 on the Red River as protection against Indians. Named for the James Maulding family, immigrants from Virginia and leaders in Russellville's early development. Morton Maulding was the first representative of Logan County to Kentucky legislature, 1794. In 1782, Indians compelled a temporary abandonment of fort.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations | Indians)

McCutchen Meadows
(Marker Number: 1931)

County: Logan
Location: Auburn, 12345 Bowling Green Rd., US 68/80

Description: Earliest land grant to property is dated 1798 and signed by James Garrard, 2nd gov. of Ky. Issued to Elizabeth, widow of John McCutchen. Built by 1825, mansion originally had four rooms and wide central hall upstairs and down, with rear wing. Family owned home some 150 years. Burial ground on property. On National Reg. of Hist. Places. Presented by Ken and Neda Knowles Preservation Society.

(Subjects: National Register of Historic Places)

O'Bannon House
(Marker Number: 1261)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, S. Main St., site of house, US 68, 79

Description: Lt. Presley N. O'Bannon, USMC, the first American to raise our flag on foreign soil, April 17, 1805. Barbary coast pirates who were holding 180 American seamen for ransom were overcome in an attack led by O'Bannon. He came to Logan County in 1807. Served in state legislature 1812, 17, 20-21, and Senate 1824-26. Died in 1850. His remains moved to Frankfort, 1920.

Old Bank, Robbed 1868
(Marker Number: 969)

County: Logan
Location: South Main & 6th St., Russellville

Description: Part of building erected about 1810 by Wm. Harrison, used as a residence by him and later by the Nortons. In 1857 front part built for Southern Bank of Ky. Building owned by Judge Hardy family sixty yrs. (1966). Mar. 20, 1868, it was scene of holdup by notorious Jesse James gang, who escaped with over $9,000 after they shot, slightly wounded bank president, N. Long.

Red River Meeting House
(Marker Number: 71)

County: Logan
Location: 10 mi. S. of Russellville, US 431

Description: Three miles east is site of early pioneer church. Organized by "A Society of Presbyterians" in 1789. Here The Great Revival of 1800 was conducted by Reverend James McGready. First Camp Meeting held here.

(Subjects: Presbyterian Church)

Rev. Valentine Cook (1763-1822)
(Marker Number: 1761)

County: Logan
Location: 4 mi. NE of Russellville, Jct. KY 1588 & John Rob Williams Rd.

Description: Pioneer Methodist preacher who settled on Muddy River in 1806 where Camp Meeting was held, 1800. A teacher, orator and organizer of churches, he attended Cokesbury College in Md. and began ministry, 1788. Presiding Elder of Cumberland Dist., 1798. Married Tabitha, niece of Gov. Slaughter, same year. Buried near Camp Meeting site. Presented by Rena Milliken.

(Subjects: Methodist Church | Rivers)

Revolutionary War Widow
(Marker Number: 1314)

County: Logan
Location: 2 mi. SE of Russellville, KY 100

Description: Abigail, wife of General Daniel Morgan, died in 1816 and was buried in family cemetery 1/2 mi. south. Her husband, one of Washington's chief strategists during the Amer. Revolution, campaigned from Boston and Quebec, 1775, to the Carolinas, 1781. After Morgan's death and burial in Va., 1802, Mrs. Morgan came here and lived in this area about 10 years.

(Subjects: Morgan, Daniel | Revolutionary War | Washington, George)

Shaker Colony
(Marker Number: 179)

County: Logan
Location: Near Warren Co. line, US 68

Description: Organized in 1807 as the Gasper Society of United Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. Last western colony to disband, 1922. Enrollment reached 349; acreage, 6000. Noted for silk and woolen cloth, furniture, tools, seeds, preserves and purebred stock.

(Subjects: Shakers)

Shaker Museum
(Marker Number: 203)

County: Logan
Location: Auburn, US 68

Description: Handicrafts, furniture, books, and inspirational drawings of the Shakers, 1807 to 1922. It is located on land that formerly was Shakers' sugar maple farm, a part of 6000 acre holdings. Headquarters of colony at South Union. Top enrollment was 349.

(Subjects: Museums | Shakers)

The Shaker Tavern
(Marker Number: 716)

County: Logan
Location: South Union, KY 73

Description: Built 1869, nine years after the completion of the Louisville and Nashville railroad thru South Union land. Members approved tax to build line thru here, furnished material and constructed depot. Visitors increased and trustees built the hotel, replacing use of frame office building, center of village. One outside chimney for three fireplaces, unique feature.

(Subjects: Louisville and Nashville Railroad | Shakers)

Town House of Maj. Richard Bibb
(Marker Number: 1514)

County: Logan
Location: Eighth & Winter Sts., Russellville, US 431

Description: Bibb, a Revolutionary War soldier, was born in Va. in 1752. He came to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1798; moved to Logan Co. the next year where he built Bibb's Chapel. Later, erected this house for his wife. Maj. Bibb freed 29 of his slaves in 1829 and sent them to Liberia. He died in 1839, and his will provided for the release of his other slaves and gave them land.

(Subjects: African American | Revolutionary War)

United Methodist Temple
(Marker Number: 1972)

County: Logan
Location: Russellville, 395 S. Main St.

Description: Began 1808 as Methodist Society in home of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Emmit with ten charter members. Bibb, Caldwell, Morton, and Barclay among first families. Early minister H. H. Kavanaugh became a noted bishop. First church was built ca. 1819 at site of Russellville Middle School. Present church completed, 1854; A.M.E. Zion Church formed, 1872. The temple was remodeled in 1917.

(Reverse) United Methodist Temple - Church became known as a temple after a news story praised its windows during 1917 renovation. Its first pipe organ was provided by matching funds from Andrew Carnegie. Here, on Christian Heritage Day 1965, Logan Countians honored the memory of John Littlejohn and other circuit riders of all faiths. Over. Presented by Rena Milliken.

(Subjects: Baptist Church | Methodist Church | Schools)

Young Memorial Park
(Marker Number: 1345)

County: Logan
Location: 7 mi. S. of Russellville, US 79

Description: Honoring Paul Everett Young, Sr., in recognition of his dedication to roadside beauty and conservation. Directed his interest, energy, and influence toward development of these parks. Logan County native, 1904-1966. Served this 20th District in Kentucky House of Representatives 12 years, 1954-1966. Lawmaker, county official, banker, farmer. Presented by Judge Robert Brown and Fiscal Court members.