Kentucky Historical Marker Database
Search Results
A Pioneer Route
(Marker Number: 1185)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Mattoon, 41/2 mi. NE of Marion, US 60, 641
Description:
The "Chickasaw Road," part of the old Saline Trace, used by Indians in pursuit of the vast herds of bison, deer, elk which came this way to the salt licks in Illinois. Flynn's Ferry began operating at the Ohio crossing of this trail in 1803, making it an important route of migration and commerce. Movement of Civil War troops was the last major use of this road.
Subjects: Indians | Roads
A Renowned Senator
(Marker Number: 668)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
4 mi. W. of Marion, US 60, KY 297
Description:
Ollie M. James born 1871, three miles N.W. United States Representative, 1903-13, and Senator, 1913 until death, 1918. Chairman, Democratic National Conventions that nominated Woodrow Wilson for President, 1912 and 1916. Last speech, in Senate Feb. 1918, upheld Wilson's conduct of World War I. "Liberty will be safe and Americanism secure." Monument in Marion Cemetery.
Erected in 1966.
For more information, see ExploreKYHistory: A Renowned Senator
Subjects:
World War I
Centerville
(Marker Number: 1097)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
US 641 at Caldwell County line
Description:
County seat, 1804, of the original Livingston County. A Presbyterian Church was started, 1797, by the Rev. Terah Templin. County seat moved to Salem, 1809. U.S. Army used earlier buildings as supply depot on the "Trail of Tears," Cherokee relocation, 1834 to '38. By Civil War days little remained of the town. Landmarks today are only the foundations and earth depressions.
Subjects:
Indians
Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
(Marker Number: 1526)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
W. of Crayne, KY 688
Description:
Organized in 1883 at the home of John A. Hill. Services were held in an old school house until this building was constructed on T. M. Hill's land in 1884. Rev. A. J. Thomson was first pastor. Provision for the perpetual upkeep of the nearby cemetery was made in the will of N. T. Bigham. Presented by relatives of Chapel Hill members.
(Reverse) Pioneer Church - The frontier religious revival of the early 1800s led to Bethany USA Presbyterian church in 1803. This church moved to Marion in 1846; remained there until 1882 when a majority of its members seceded to the US church. The USA Presbyterian church was reorganized at Chapel Hill, 1883. Presented by relatives of Chapel Hill members.
Subjects:
Presbyterian Church
County Named, 1842
(Marker Number: 1160)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Marion, Courthouse lawn, US 60, 641
Description:
For John Jordan Crittenden, 1787-1863, one of Kentucky's great statesmen. 15th Governor of state. Attorney General under three Presidents. United States Senator five times. Noted for Crittenden Compromise, 1860, futile effort to avert Civil War and preserve the Union. Crittenden, the 91st county established in state, was formed out of eastern part of Livingston.
Subjects:
Crittenden, John J.
Courthouse Burned
(Marker Number: 596)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Marion, Courthouse lawn, US 60, 641
Description:
Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side. The courthouse at Marion was burned by guerrillas in January, 1865. Building a total loss, though walls stood. County records lost. Courthouse again burned in 1870.
Erected in 1963.
Subjects:
Civil War |
Courthouses Burned
Crittenden Furnace
(Marker Number: 1210)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
21/2 mi. N. of Dycusburg
Description:
Built a mile west by Gideon D. Cobb in 1847, 9 feet across inside, 30 feet high, charcoal-fueled, with steam-powered machinery. In 1855 made 1300 tons of iron. Named for newly formed county, it was last of several ironworks operated by the Cobb and Lyon families, who came to area about 1800, when Andrew Jackson told them of iron ore deposits here. See over.
(Reverse) Iron Made In Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.
Subjects:
Iron Industry |
Jackson, Andrew
Deanwood Post Office
(Marker Number: 2077)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Deanwood, 9 mi. W. of Marion, KY 120
Description:
First established in 1873 as Iron Hill Post Office, located 1/2 mile west of present location. First postmaster James W. Woolf. Joseph M. Dean, appointed postmaster in 1874 and again in 1881, relocated post office to building in front of his home. Joseph N. Dean, son of Joseph M. Dean, moved post office into a building on present site; appointed postmaster in 1900.
(Reverse) Joseph N. Dean replaced the building with the existing one in 1910 and installed new post office boxes, which are now on display at Crittenden County Bob Wheeler Museum in Marion. The official name was changed to Deanwood in 1914, and the community is still known as Deanwood. Presented by the Dean Family.
Subjects:
Post Office
Deer Creek Furnace
(Marker Number: 1450)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Approx. 4 mi. SE of Tolu at Jct. KY 135 & 1668
Description:
Stood one mile south. It was a brick blast furnace, smelting iron ore from the numerous small pits still visible nearby, using locally made charcoal fuel, and having a steam-powered air blast. Built in 1850 by Alleniah Cole and Carey Allen Darlington, but operated only briefly. Land owned later by Hurricane Furnace, one mile west. See over.
(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal-furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. Over.
Subjects:
Iron Industry
F. Julius Fohs (1884-1965)
(Marker Number: 2065)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
201 N. Walker, Marion
Description:
F. Julius Fohs was born in N.Y. but moved to Marion, Ky. in 1890. He graduated from Marion High School. Managed fluorspar mining operation, 1900-1904; served as assistant state geologist for Ky., 1905-12. Received honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Israel Institute of Technology for his assistance in the development of mineral resources, 1957.
(Reverse) Fohs Hall - Julius Fohs had structure built and gave it to people of Marion, 1926. Located on lot where Fohs family lived. Fohs Hall, Inc., formed 1981 for perpetual preservation of Hall; to be used by citizens of Marion and Crittenden Co. as a community center and civic auditorium. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Presented by Fohs Hall, Inc.
Subjects:
National Register of Historic Places |
Schools
Family of Judges
(Marker Number: 1522)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
225 W. Bellville St., Marion, KY 91
Description:
T. J. Nunn, 1846-1917, represented Crittenden and Livingston counties in 1890 Convention which framed present constitution of Kentucky. He was Judge of Kentucky's Court of Appeals, 1903-1914; resigned because of ill health. His son, C. S. Nunn, appointed to complete his father's term. C. S. was State Senator, 1920-24. T. J. lived in this house many years; C.S. born here.
Subjects:
Constitutional Convention (1890-91)
Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 615)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
1 mi. NE of Marion, US 60
Description:
Returning from reconnaissance and foraging mission to Ohio River, CSA Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest with cavalry here Dec. 1, 1861, learned of threats to and arrests of Southern sympathizers. While capturing a few instigators, regimental Surgeon S. M. VanWyck was killed. Forrest stayed here another day before returning to Hopkinsville. See map other side.
Erected in 1964.
Subjects:
Civil War |
Forrest, Nathan Bedford
Hurricane Furnace
(Marker Number: 1225)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
2 mi. E. of Tolu, KY 135
Description:
Built 1/4 mile southeast in 1850 by Andrew Jackson, Jr. Also known as Jackson Furnace. As rebuilt in 1856, it was 34 ft. high, with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft. In 6 months of 1857, made 1200 tons of iron from ores of the Jackson Bank, two mi. south. Its soft iron was prized by rolling mills. Operations ceased in the early 1860s. See other side.
(Reverse) Iron Made in Kentucky - A major producer since 1791, Ky. ranked 3rd in US in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads. See over.
Subjects:
Iron Industry
Piney Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church
(Marker Number: 2188)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Highway 506, Marion
Description:
Considered first Cumberland
Presbyterian church in Kentucky.
Organized 1812 by a founder of
the C.P. denomination, Rev. Finis
Ewing. First structure made of
logs; used as a place of worship
and public school. Second building
1843; third structure built in
1867 of bricks made on the grounds.
Present building constructed 1957.
On this site great church camp
meetings, held 1812-1955. Famous
for two open-air tabernacles
near one of the oldest roads in
western Ky., Saline Trail,
historically Flynns Ferry Road.
Two historical markers on grounds
show continuous C.P. “Whosoever
Will Gospel” ministry since 1812.
Given by Piney Fork Cumberland Pres. Church.
Subjects:
Presbyterian Church
Senator W. J. Deboe
(Marker Number: 1499)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
South Main St., Marion, US 60 & KY 91
Description:
Born 1849, eight mi. SE of here. Deboe was elected County School Superintendent and opened law office, 1889. State Senator, 1893-97. Elected by Legislature to U.S. Senate, 1897. He sponsored the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which provided for the popular election of U.S. Senators. Marion Postmaster three years. Died, 1927. Over.
(Reverse) Senators from Marion - Marion's two U.S. Senators lived one block east at College and Depot Streets. The home of W. J. Deboe, first Kentucky Republican Senator, was on the northwest corner. Senator Ollie M. James, a Democrat, resided on southwest corner. Both were prominent political leaders. Their graves are in cornering lots in Mapleview Cemetery, 1/2 mile west. Over.
Subjects:
Cemeteries
Weston
(Marker Number: 1298)
County:
Crittenden
Location:
Mattoon, US 60
Description:
West-town, as early name implies, was most important river port for western Kentucky pioneers before Jackson Purchase opened in 1820s. Incorporated as a town in 1854. It developed around Flynn's Ferry at Ohio River crossing of the old Saline Trace. With the passing of the golden age of river trade, the town's prosperity faded. Site of Weston, 10 mi. north. Over.
(Reverse) Vital Junction - George Flynn improved the north-south trace, previously used by animals on way to salt licks, into a wagon road. This intersection of the two main roads of that day, Weston to Princeton and Caseyville to Marion, was vital to the free movement of troops during Civil War. Hotly contested by Confederate raiding parties and US occupation forces until war's end. See over.
Subjects:
Ferries |
Ohio River
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