KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

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Battle of Lebanon
(Marker Number: 600)

County: Marion
Location: At R.R. Station, off US 68, Lebanon

Description: Morgan's 2,400 Raiders, on way to Ohio, met by Colonel C. S. Hanson's 380 Union men here, July 5, 1863. During battle Hanson barricaded in railroad depot. Raiders fired buildings but rain prevented wide destruction. After 7-hour battle, Union troops, almost encircled, gave up. Forced at double-quick to Springfield, then paroled. Raiders crossed Ohio River at Brandenburg.

(Subjects: Civil War | Lebanon, Battle of | Morgan's Raiders)

Cartwright's Station
(Marker Number: 1339)

County: Marion
Location: 3 mi. N. of Lebanon, KY 55

Description: Here, in 1779, Samuel Cartwright located his station on the trail from Wilderness Road to Falls of the Ohio. Earlier, in 1774, he and Simon Kenton explored Big Sandy-Ohio River region. Stopped for a while at Harrodsburg, then settled here. Kenton came here in 1782 to get Col. Philemon Waters as a scout for Gen. George Rogers Clark's attack on the Indians.

(Subjects: Clark, George Rogers | Falls of the Ohio | Forts and Stations | Indians | Kenton, Simon | Roads | Wilderness Road)

Catholic Pioneers
(Marker Number: 913)

County: Marion
Location: Holy Cross, KY 527, 457

Description: Basil Hayden, Sr., led 25 Maryland Catholic families to settle near here, on Pottinger's Creek, 1785. Father Whelan said first Mass in Kentucky here in 1787. First Catholic church west of Alleghenies built here in 1792. First monks, 1805, Trappist Fathers (Cistercians). Present church erected in 1823, under direction of famous Belgian missionary, Charles Nerinckx.

Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 585)

County: Marion
Location: Lebanon, Courthouse lawn, US 68

Description: Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months; twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union acccident. See map on reverse side. July 5, 1863, clerk's office at Lebanon was burned by Morgan to destroy treason indictments against some of his men. All the county records were destroyed.

(Subjects: Civil War | Courthouses Burned | Morgan, John Hunt)

Death of a Morgan
(Marker Number: 543)

County: Marion
Location: Lebanon, US 68

Description: Lt. Thomas Morgan, 19, one of four brothers then in Morgan's Raiders under another brother, Gen. John Hunt Morgan, was killed near here July 5, 1863 as he led an attack on Union forces in the depot at Lebanon. He died in his brother Calvin's arms as the Union troops surrendered. He was reinterred in the Lexington Cemetery in 1868 where this Morgan family rests.

(Subjects: Civil War | Lexington | Morgan, John Hunt)

Eminent Theologian
(Marker Number: 1303)

County: Marion
Location: Spalding Ave., Lebanon, KY 55

Description: Bishop John Lancaster Spalding, also sociologist and writer, born here on June 2, 1840. Graduated St. Mary's College, 1856, at age 16. He was ordained at American College, Louvain, Belgium, in 1863. Organized first Louisville Negro parish, St. Augustine's, in 1866. Consecrated first Bishop of Peoria, Ill., in 1877. "A great influence on US Catholic education." Died 1916 at Peoria.

(Subjects: Catholic Church)

Governor's Home Site
(Marker Number: 1341)

County: Marion
Location: 1 mi. S. of Lebanon, KY 49

Description: J. Proctor Knott, Governor of Kentucky, 1883-1887, lived at this site until 1902, when house burned. He then gave this land to be used for chautauquas. These gatherings combined entertainment, education, and religion. For 27 years, 1906 to 1932, they flourished here. Central Kentucky Chautauqua Association formed, 1906. Renamed Proctor Knott Chautauqua Association in 1908.

(Subjects: Knott, J. Proctor)

Knott of Lebanon
(Marker Number: 728)

County: Marion
Location: Lebanon, Courthouse lawn, US 68, KY 49

Description: J. Proctor Knott, 1830-1911. Born in this county. Missouri Legislature, 1851-59; Att. Gen., 1859-60. Came back here, 1863. U.S. Congress six terms, became famous as statesman, satirist, Governor of Kentucky, 1883-87. In 1891 Constitutional Convention, led keeping capital at Frankfort. First Dean Centre College Law School, 1894-1901. Knott County named for him.

(Subjects: Centre College | Constitutional Convention (1890-91) | Knott, J. Proctor)

Lebanon
(Marker Number: 867)

County: Marion
Location: Lebanon, Courthouse lawn, US 68

Description: First settled and church built, 1789, by Va. Presbyterians led by Samuel and James McElroy. Town's main founder, 1815, and developer was Benedict Spalding, who gave the site of first Catholic Church organized 1815, church built 1825. Center of Kentucky Three miles north-northwest, just east of Ky. 429. See over.

(Reverse) County Named, 1834 - For Gen. Francis Marion, 1732-95, "Swamp Fox" of the Am. Revolution. A South Carolina planter. In the Cherokee campaigns, 1759 and 1761. Member of South Carolina Prov. Cong., 1775. During Revolution, his men harassed and fought the British thruout South; became a symbol of resistance to tyranny. State Senate four terms. Commanded Ft. Johnson, 1784-90. South Carolina Const. Conv., 1790. See over.

(Subjects: Presbyterian Church)

Loretto
(Marker Number: 207)

County: Marion
Location: Entrance to Loretto Academy, KY 49, 152

Description: Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Sisters of Loretto, an American congregation founded in 1812 by Reverend Charles Nerinckx, dedicated to education of youth. Located on the site of home of Rev. Stephen T. Badin, the first priest ordained in U.S. (1793).

Loretto Sisters
(Marker Number: 206)

County: Marion
Location: St. Mary, KY 84, 327

Description: In a log cabin, on this site, Rev. Charles Nerinckx, a pioneer missionary, founded the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross, April, 1812. Since that time, their educational work has expanded to many parts of the United States and South America.

Martin John Spalding
(Marker Number: 1302)

County: Marion
Location: Calvary, KY 208

Description: Born May 23, 1810, near Calvary on the banks of the Rolling Fork. Graduated St. Mary's College, 1826. Ordained in 1834 at Urban College, Rome. Christian education and charity were his main interests. Established St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1854, for Christian charity. Appointed by the Pope as Archbishop of Baltimore in 1864. He died at Baltimore, Feb. 7, 1872.

Old Calvary Cemetery-1/4 mile
(Marker Number: 1667)

County: Marion
Location: Calvary, KY 208 at the road leading to cem.

Description: Early Catholic settlers came to Rolling Fork area after 1790 and established Calvary Settlement. Among those buried in the Catholic cemetery, later renamed Holy Mary, are Revolutionary War soldiers, originally from Maryland: John Barton Abell, Henry Hudson Wathen, and Benedict Spalding. Another soldier-settler, Samuel Abell IV, died 1795, before cemetery created.

(Subjects: Catholic Church | Cemeteries | Revolutionary War)

Old Grist Mill-Distillery
(Marker Number: 1509)

County: Marion
Location: At Distillery, approx. 10 mi. NW of Lebanon, KY 52

Description: Formerly known as Burks' Mill and distillery. At the site of the present still house, Charles Burks erected, Sept. 1805, a water-powered grist mill. The limestone walls of that early structure still stand, providing foundation support for the present stillhouse. Except during time of prohibition, milling of grain has been continuous since 1805. Over.

(Reverse) Old Grist Mill-Distillery - Charles Burks began a distillery operation, circa 1805-1815, in connection with the family grist mill. It was located near the present stillhouse. Burks died in 1831, and the distillery was in operation until then. In 1889, distilling was begun again by George R. Burks, a great-grandson. He erected present plant now known as Maker's Mark Distillery. Over.

(Subjects: Distilleries | Grist Mills | Mills)

Raywick
(Marker Number: 1673)

County: Marion
Location: Between school & church, Raywick, KY 84

Description: Settlers here, 1778, included Henry Prather and James and John Ray. After marriage of Lloyd Ray and Nancy Wickliffe in 1811, town known as Raywick. Gov. J. Proctor Knott was born nearby. His grandfather, Thos. P. Knott, came in 1796 and taught first school in area. His father, Joseph P., was surveyor of Marion County. State legislature established Raywick in 1838.

(Subjects: Knott, J. Proctor)

Rosenwald School
(Marker Number: 2048)

County: Marion
Location: 1/2 mi. SE of Lebanon, 337 S. Harrison St.

Description: This Rosenwald School (1931-1961) is one of 158 schools built in Ky., 1917-1932. The building projects were initiated by the African American community and funded with aid of Julius Rosenwald and philanthropists to provide quality education to the African American community. This effort educated over 500,000 students in the South. Presented by City of Lebanon and the Ky. African American Heritage Commission.

(Subjects: African American | Schools)

Saint Mary's College
(Marker Number: 1026)

County: Marion
Location: Marion Adjustment Center, KY 84

Description: Oldest extant Catholic College for men west of the Alleghenies and third oldest in the nation. Founded in 1821 by the Reverend William Byrene. Conducted by the Jesuit Fathers, 1833-1846, by the Holy Cross Fathers, 1846-1848, by the Diocesan Fathers, 1848-1869. Closed 1869-1871. Directed by the Resurrection Fathers since 1871.

(Subjects: Catholic Church | Schools)

Sandusky Station, 1776
(Marker Number: 670)

County: Marion
Location: 6 mi. NE of Lebanon, 4 mi. N. of US 68 on KY 1195

Description: James and Jacob Sadowski (later Sandusky) came from Virginia in 1774 with Hite's surveying party and helped lay out Harrodstown. James chose site at Pleasant Run Spring, 150 feet S.E. of here for settlement. Harrod's men helped him erect fort in 1776. He and Jacob moved, 1785, to present Jessamine County; James' son, Anthony, stayed. Family long identified with area.

(Subjects: Forts and Stations | Harrodsburg)