Kentucky Historical Marker #1791
Logan County Jail, 1874-1977. 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.
W. Fourth St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1260
Governors from Logan. 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
Courthouse lawn, US 68, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0071
Red River Meeting House. 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.
US 431, 10 mi. S. of Russellville, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0657
Governor's Corner. 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." Dedicated June 17, 1964.
113 W. 9th St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0871
John Littlejohn. 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.
Town Square, US 68, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0958
Bowie, A Kentuckian. 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.
Courthouse lawn, US 68, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0969
Old Bank, Robbed 1868. 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.
South Main & 6th St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1071
Cedar House. 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.
Bowling Green Rd., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1138
County Named, 1792. 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.
Courthouse lawn, US 68, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1137
Maulding's Fort. 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.
KY 663, 10 mi. S. of Russellville, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1314
Revolutionary War Widow. 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.
KY 100, 2 mi. SE of Russellville, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1345
Young Memorial Park. 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.
US 79, 7 mi. S. of Russellville, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1514
Town House of Maj. Richard Bibb. 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.
Eighth & Winter Sts., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1761
Rev. Valentine Cook (1763-1822). 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.
Jct. KY 1588 & John Rob Williams Rd., 4 mi. NE of Russellville, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1972
United Methodist Temple. 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.
395 S. Main St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2275
John Littlejohn Cemetery. 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.
Second & Caldwell Sts., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2480
Bethel College. The school began as a Baptist-sponsored high school for boys in 1854 and was chartered as a college in 1856. It closed in 1861 due to the Civil War but reopened two years later. It continued as a four-year college until 1920. From 1921 until closing in 1933, it was a two-year junior college. In 1928 it became co-educational. Over. (Reverse) The sixteen-acre campus had five buildings: main building, the president’s home, two dormitories, and library & gymnasium. Also had sixteen small homes for married ministerial students and an athletic field, Brookside Park. Confederate Convention met here, 1861. Campus was later used as a hospital during Civil War. Buildings razed in 1968.
88 South Bethel St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2471
Civil War Skirmish/ Future President. On September 30, 1862, 600 Union troops led by Colonel Benjamin Harrison came here and surprised an element of Confederate Colonel John Hunt Morgan’s cavalry, led by Captain John Baker Dortch. After a sharp skirmish, in which thirty-five Confederates were reportedly killed and wounded, Morgan’s troops retreated. Over. (Reverse) A Future President- Harrison, whose troops were victorious in the skirmish here, was a twenty-nine-year-old Indiana attorney. The Russellville fight was his first engagement; his military career continued throughout the Civil War, including service under Gen. W. T. Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign. In 1889, he became the 23rd president of the United States.
225 Armory Dr., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0074
Confederate State Convention. 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.
US 68, 431, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1960
Alice Allison Dunnigan - 1906-1983. 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.
City Park, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #2218
Lewis and Clark in Kentucky- William Clark's 1809 Visit & Death of Meriwether Lewis. 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.
US 68 & KY 80, Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #0658
Governor's Corner. 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. Dedicated June 17, 1964.
145 E. 5th St., Russellville, KY, United States
Kentucky Historical Marker #1261
O'Bannon House. 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.
S. Main St., Russellville, KY, United States