KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

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A Civil War Reprisal
(Marker Number: 725)

County: Owen
Location: 2 mi. E of Lusby's Mill, Jct. KY 1330 & Keefer Rd.

Description: Three Confederates, imprisoned at Lexington, were executed at Williamstown, Aug. 15, 1864, in reprisal for guerrilla murder of Union sympathizers, Joel Skirvin and Anderson Simpson. Victims were from this area: William P. and John L. Lingenfelter, brothers of Mrs. Simpson, and George Wainscott. Lingenfelter graves are quarter mile north.

(Subjects: Civil War)

A Friend to Morgan
(Marker Number: 943)

County: Owen
Location: 12 mi. N. of Monterey, KY 325 & 355

Description: On his way south, escaping from a Union prison in Ohio, Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan stopped at home of J. J. Alexander, mile east, for food and rest during daylight hours, Nov. 30, 1863. Morgan had been captured, July 26, in NE Ohio at end of his third and his farthest north raid. Morgan made way to Tenn., where he organized, led another raid into Ky., 1864.

(Subjects: Morgan, John Hunt)

Captain Samuel Sanders, 1813-1902
(Marker Number: 2265)

County: Owen
Location: US 127 at entrance to Monterey

Description: Samuel Sanders, a steamboat captain before and after the Civil War, braved the Kentucky River under occasional sniper fire from the Confederate army to bring supplies from Louisville to Monterey and up the Kentucky River to Shaker Landing.

(Subjects: Civil War | Confederate Army | Kentucky River | Steamboats)

Civil War Recruiting
(Marker Number: 564)

County: Owen
Location: Owenton, KY 227

Description: Two Confederate recruiting camps were located in Owen Co. in the Civil War. Camp Marshall, at Lusby's Mill 7 miles east of here, was organized in 1861 by Gen. Humphrey Marshall of Kentucky. The other was in Vallandingham's Barn near here. Hundreds enlisted from this county to protect their homes, but were sent to various parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.

(Subjects: Camps | Civil War | Marshall, Humphrey)

County Named, 1819
(Marker Number: 831)

County: Owen
Location: Owenton, Courthouse lawn, US 127 & KY 227

Description: For Col. Abraham Owen. Born Va., 1769. Came to Ky., 1785. In Indian campaigns of 1790 and '91. Member of the Ky. Legislature, Senate and Constitutional Conv. of 1799. First Kentuckian to join command of Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison in Indian campaign, upper Wabash Valley. Nov. 7, 1811, Owen killed in the battle of Tippecanoe. Owen County out of Scott, Franklin, Gallatin.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799) | Harrison, William Henry | Tippecanoe, Battle of | War of 1812)

First County Seat
(Marker Number: 1658)

County: Owen
Location: Hesler, KY 227

Description: Owen County was organized and Heslerville, now Hesler, chosen as its county seat in 1819. Jacob Hesler owned land where town was established. County court met in Hesler's home. An early justice of peace, Hesler later served as sheriff. In 1821, Ky. Legislature changed boundaries; a year later the county seat was moved to a new location, where Owenton developed.

First Rural Electric in County
(Marker Number: 1819)

County: Owen
Location: 6 mi. N. of Owenton, Jct. US 127, 227 & KY 36

Description: Gov. A. B. Chandler threw switch at New Liberty Substation, Jan. 29, 1938, to energize some 130 mi. and brought electricity to 370 homes and businesses by Dec. Owen Co. R.E.C.C. now includes 9 counties. Charter members, 1937, were: J. H. Satterwhite, Lister Ransdell, J. W. McElroy, J. L. Tackett, Ira Kemper; manager, Chester Clayton Roland. Presented by Owen County R.E.C.C.

(Subjects: Chandler, Albert Benjamin "Happy")

Gen. Washington's Guard
(Marker Number: 1608)

County: Owen
Location: Monterey, US 127

Description: 3rd Corp. Henry Sparks (1753-1836) was Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia; served with Commander-in-Chief's Guard, "the flower and pick of American army." While with this bodyguard Sparks fought at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Discharged at Valley Forge in 1778. Came to Kentucky, 1795; settled in present Owen Co., 1800. Buried at Sparks Bottom.

(Subjects: Brandywine, Battle of | Revolutionary War | Washington, George)

Jacob Hunter
(Marker Number: 1790)

County: Owen
Location: Owenton Cem., US 127

Description: This Rev. War soldier entered U.S. service from Boone's Station, 1780. Served as garrison guard there and as Indian spy; under Geo. Rogers Clark on raids at Old Chillicothe and Piqua. Marched with Benj. Logan to reinforce troops at Blue Licks; joined survivors of battle to bury the dead. Moved to Owen County ca. 1817. Hunter lived on Big Twin Creek; died and buried there, 1856.

(Subjects: Blue Licks, Battle of | Boone, Daniel | Clark, George Rogers | Creeks | Forts and Stations | Logan, Benjamin | Revolutionary War)

John Hammon
(Marker Number: 1575)

County: Owen
Location: Near Mussel Shoals Baptist Church, 8 mi. E. of Owenton, KY 330

Description: Born in Virginia, 1760, John Hammon was a Revolutionary War soldier. He served in the battle of King's Mountain, and was also a defender of Bryan's Station in Kentucky, 1782. Shortly afterwards, Hammon joined Colonel Benjamin Logan's expedition against Indian towns in Ohio. Helped establish Mussel Shoals Baptist Church in 1817; buried in churchyard, 1868.

(Subjects: Baptist Church | Forts and Stations | Indians | Logan, Benjamin | Revolutionary War)

Monterey
(Marker Number: 925)

County: Owen
Location: Monterey, US 127

Description: First named Williamsburg for James Williams, who came from Maryland, set up trading post about 1805. In 1847, legislature established town of Monterey, named for battle of Mexican War, on land owned by George C. Branham. Steamboats, in heyday on Ky. River, made regular stops at town wharf for passengers and cargo. Large tobacco market. Showboats visited town in summer.

(Subjects: Mexican War | Steamboats)

Old New Liberty
(Marker Number: 742)

County: Owen
Location: New Liberty, KY 227

Description: Settled before 1800, incorporated, 1827. Owen County formed, 1819. "Church on the Twins," organized 1801, first in the county. Now the New Liberty Baptist Church. One of earliest log cabins, built 1806 by John Gayle, stands as part of barn, two miles east. See other side.

(Reverse) New Liberty-Cont. - Gayle House, built 1865. For 20 years famous retreat for Kentucky politicians. Torn down, 1920. Union Agricultural and Mechanical Fair, organized in 1859. Old Concord College, started 1867. Used until first high school, 1906. The Owen News started here, 1868.

(Subjects: Newspapers)

Patriot-Pioneer
(Marker Number: 1181)

County: Owen
Location: Jct. KY 227 & KY 325

Description: Colonel Joshua Baker, b. 1762, d. 1816. Home site and graves 2 miles south. His wife, Mary Callaway, cousin of Boonesborough girls, kidnapped by Indians, 1776. Scouted across the Ohio with Simon Kenton in 1787. They led attempt to capture Chief Tecumseh in 1792. He was officer in Cornstalk Militia, 1792-1811. A delegate to convention framing second Kentucky Constitution, 1799.

(Subjects: Constitutional Convention (1799) | Kenton, Simon)