KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database

KYHistorical Society

Search by County:

Select the county name from the selection box below or see the clickable state map and county list.

Airdrie Furnace Site
(Marker Number: 1086)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Drakesboro, US 431

Description: East five miles. Furnace, 55 ft. high, and stone machinery house built by Robert Alexander, 1855. Brought in Scottish workers, unfamiliar with American ores. Never produced any salable iron. Alexander named town of Airdrie for his Scottish home. Incorporated, 1858. Union General Don Carlos Buell lived there, 1866-98. His plan for industrial city at Airdrie never materialized. 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: Buell, Don Carlos | Iron Industry)

Buckner-Churchill Furnace
(Marker Number: 1389)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Approx. 51/2 mi. S. of Greenville, KY 181

Description: A round stone blast furnace built a mile northwest in 1837 by Aylette Hartswell Buckner and Cadwallader Churchill. Using local ore and charcoal fuel, it produced pig iron, which was hauled eighteen miles to South Carrollton for shipment on Green River, and kettles, shovels, tongs and andirons for sale in this vicinity. Last blast was in 1842. See the 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. Charcoal-furnace era ended in 1880s with depletion of ore and timber and use of modern methods. Over.

(Subjects: Iron Industry)

Capt. Henry Rhoads, Jr. 1739-1814
(Marker Number: 1946)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: 3/4 mi. E. of Browder, KY 70

Description: This house was built ca. 1792 by Henry Rhoads, Jr., a capt. in Rev. War under Gen. John Muhlenberg. Rhoads led settlers from Penn. to Green River area of Ky. in 1785. He laid out town of Rhoadsville, now called Calhoun. In 1798, as state legislator, he proposed name of Muhlenberg for new county. Presented by Rhoads Descendants.

(Reverse) Capt. Henry Rhoads, Jr. - Before moving to Ky., Henry Rhoads served as captain in Pennsylvania militia during Revolutionary War. He was a delegate to Pennsylvania state constitutional convention of 1776. As member of Kentucky state legislature, he suggested that newly formed county be named for his beloved commander, Gen. John Muhlenberg. He became this county's first state legislator (1798-1800).

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

First Presbyterian Church
(Marker Number: 2157)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: 158 South Main Street, Greenville

Description: Church established 1804 on land given by early Presbyterians Col. and Mrs. William Campbell. Rev. Thomas Nelson was first resident pastor. Early visiting ministers included Rev. Terah Templin and Rev. David Rice. Early elders included Claiborne Rice, Hugh Martin and John Bone. Rev. Isaac Bard became pastor in 1823; first church built 1825 on Martin St.

(Reverse) This Gothic-Revival structure was initiated in 1873 by building committee members Lewis Reno, M.C. Hay, John Barkley Sr., T.J. Slayton and W.H. Yost. Church dedicated on July 19, 1885, on South Main St. Rev. Robert G. Brank, grandson of church founder Col. Campbell, performed the dedication. Bricks made by John Barkley on his farm.

(Subjects: Presbyterian Church)

Forrest Reconnoitered
(Marker Number: 614)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Greenville, Courthouse lawn, US 62

Description: CSA General Nathan Bedford Forrest and cavalry came here 3 times on reconnaissance missions from Hopkinsville. Captured USA arms and equipment here, Nov. 24, 1861. Moved through here Dec. 28 on way to victory over larger USA force at Sacramento and returned for camp here that night. Jan. 1862, here to burn Pond River bridges, delay Union army. See the other side.

(Subjects: Civil War | Forrest, Nathan Bedford)

George Short House / George W. Short (1805-1863)
(Marker Number: 2155)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: 151 North Main St., Greenville

Description: Built in 1841, this is one of the oldest homes in Greenville. Materials and its detailed interior woodwork came by flatboats from Cincinnati. George Short had the house built for Tabitha A. Brank in hopes she would marry him, but she refused. Tabitha was daughter of Ephraim M. Brank, hero in War of 1812. House listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1980.

(Reverse) George W. Short was a prominent businessman, tobacconist, and a state legislator in 1849. He never lived in the house nor did he ever marry. He gave the house to his sister, Susan Ann Short Harbin. Her children became active civic leaders and benefactors of the Harbin Memorial Library.

(Subjects: National Register of Historic Places)

Hunt Settlement
(Marker Number: 1521)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: At New Hebron Church Rd., near Penrod, KY 949

Description: John Hunt, a Revolutionary War soldier, came here with his family in the early 1800s. Area became known as Hunt Settlement. He acquired large land acreage for his service in the Revolutionary War. His son, Daniel, gave land for the cemetery and Old Hebron Church, first log chapel in Hunt settlement. John and his wife Charity are buried in this cemetery.

(Subjects: Baptist Church | Revolutionary War)

John W.I. Godman
(Marker Number: 1666)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Near entrance to Cem., South Carrollton, US 431-North

Description: As an infant Godman was brought from Va. to this county by his cousin, Col. Moses Wickliffe, ca. 1800, after his parents died. A protege of Wickliffe and friend of Henry Clay, he was first judge of Muhlenberg County to be elected. Versatile and largely self-educated, he read and practiced both law and medicine. His farm was in northeast part of county, near Green River.

(Subjects: Clay, Henry)

Jonathan E. Spilman
(Marker Number: 1202)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Greenville, near Jct. US 62 & KY 601

Description: Birthplace of Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for Robert Burns' "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton," best remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music used in one of the tunes to "Away in a Manger," words by Martin Luther. Lawyer 18 years. Became minister when 46. Born 1812. Died 1896.

(Subjects: Transylvania University | Musicians)

Mount Zion Presbyterian Church
(Marker Number: 2245)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Hwy. 62 E, Central City

Description: Historic mountzion meetinghouse built 1804 at crossroads of wagon trails. A plain hewed log house 24x42 with shingle roof, plain pulpit & common seats. In 1810 Muhl Co Court named it in surveys of 3 precincts. Circuit riding missionaries from Philadelphia served the group until Rev. Isaac Bard came in 1822. Over

(Reverse) Deeded in 1822 by Thomas Irvin to congregation of Mountzion Society. Organized Dec.1, 1823 by Rev. Bard with Andrew Glenn, William Young and John Culbertson as its elders. Revolutionary & Civil War soldiers rest beside slaves in the cemetery. An original axe-hewn floor beam with wooden peg is exposed to view in the basement. Over

(Subjects: Civil War | Presbyterian Church | Revolutionary War)

Muhlenberg County
(Marker Number: 821)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Greenville, Courthouse lawn, US 62

Description: Formed 1798 out of parts of Logan and Christian counties. Named for Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, 1746-1807, of Pa. Ordained minister, 1768. "A time to preach and a time to fight." Entered Revolutionary Army as Col., Eighth Va. (German) Regt. Active from 1776 to surrender of Yorktown. U.S. Congress, Senate. Collector of Customs, Phila. Many from his regiment pioneered here.

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)

Muhlenberg Hero
(Marker Number: 761)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Greenville, US 62

Description: Site of home of Ephraim M. Brank, 1791-1875. Born in North Carolina and came to Kentucky about 1808. Lieutenant, Kentucky militia, sent by Gov. Shelby in response to call of Gen. Andrew Jackson for troops to repel British at New Orleans. On January 8, 1815 Brank's daring coolness on breastworks at battle inspired Ky. and Tenn. riflemen to crucial defeat of the British.

(Subjects: Jackson, Andrew | New Orleans, Battle of | Shelby, Isaac)

Old Greenville Cemetery
(Marker Number: 1609)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Entrance to cem. on Court Row, Greenville

Description: Land for this cemetery given to Presbyterian Church by Charles and Nancy Wing in two deeds, 1825 and 1826. One plot deeded by Jas. Weir, 1827. Trustees of the Church-Ephraim M. Brank, M. C. Hay and Alney Dennis-deeded cemetery to city of Greenville, 1874. Ephraim M. Brank, distinguished war hero of 1812, and other pioneer citizens of Greenville are buried here.

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

Revolutionary War Soldiers
(Marker Number: 1735)

County: Muhlenberg
Location: Greenville, Courthouse lawn

Description: Those who settled in Muhlenberg County:

Josiah Arnold
Elisha Atkinson
John Bone
James Craig
Albritain Drake
David Edward
Joshua Elkin
David Engler
Mathew Ganey
Sikes Garris
Andrew Glenn

Isaiah Hancock
John Harper
Nathan Harper
Michael Hill
Richard Hill
Hardy Hines
William Hopkins
John Hunt
Edward Jarvis

(Reverse) Revolutionary War Soldiers

Peter Kincheloe
John Littlepage
Ephraim McLean
John McMahon
Hugh Martin
Benjamin Neal
Abraham Newton
Jesse Oates
Joseph Pitt
William B. Rice
Richard D. Reynolds
Henry Rhoads

Michael Roll
Thomas Tetterton
Abraham Unsell, Jr.
Frederick Unsell
Henry Unsell
Lewis Webb
Arrington Wickliffe
Britton Willis
William Worthington
William Young
Matthew Zimmerman

(Subjects: Revolutionary War)