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Formed in 1780, Lincoln County is one of
Kentucky’s three original territories. Named
in honor of Revolutionary Army Officer
Benjamin Lincoln who was asked by Congress
to conduct the war in the southern states.
The original territory of Lincoln comprised
about one-third of the state but was reduced
by cut ting
off sections to form other counties until
its present area of 450 square miles.
Lincoln County is “The Land of Firsts.” It’s
home of Kentucky’s first governor, Isaac
Shelby; first chartered school in the state;
first brick house in
Kentucky;
first courthouse west of the Alleghenies;
first bank west of the Alleghenies; as well
as America’s first circular race track.
Lincoln County’s rich heritage is revealed
in its vast array of communities.
Preachersville is the only community so
named in the United States. The first
settlers were part of a traveling church,
Gospel Christian Church (also known as Halls
Gap Christian Church). The church bell is
203 years old. Carrie Nation and U. S.
Ambassador to Russia, Carlos Britain, once
lived in the area. The old Waynesburg Bank
and Post Office stands in the center of two
cross streets which entirely surround it.
Waynesburg Masonic Lodge holds the oldest
continuous charter in Lincoln County. Hubble
was settled by the Irish and Scotch. The
McKendree Methodist Church, built in 1886 ,
is one of the oldest in the county. Eubank
is home of the 1944 Miss America.
Stanford got its name after Benjamin Logan,
who along with other early settlers,
repeatedly and successfully fought off
Indian attacks. It is said the name came
about from these Indian attracts. The
Indians Repeatedly attempted to burn the
fort but was always unsuccessful. The
Indians began to call Fort Logan Standing
Fort.
Logan’s Fort,
which was located near the existing Stanford
downtown district, was the final jewel of
the “triple crown” of forts in Kentucky.
Cumberland Trace which goes to Nashville and
turns into the Natchez Trace, began at
Logan’s Fort. Court was held within the
walls of the fort from 1781 to 1783, the
original beginnings of many Kentucky
counties south of the Kentucky River. The
settlement, which evolved into the present
day town of Stanford is the second oldest
permanent settlement in the state. Historic
downtown Stanford is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The Wilderness
Trail, originally called the “Great Road,”
passes through Lincoln County. The trail,
which was the gateway to the west, runs
along St. Asaph’s Creek of present-day
Stanford.
Lt. Richard Caswell Saufley was born and
reared in Stanford. This pioneer aviator was
the first man to fly an American plane over
enemy territory, the first to be filmed in
action in a war plane, the first to fly a
plane off the deck of a ship, and he set
world endurance and altitude records. Named
in his honor are NAS Saufley Field in
Pensacola, Florida and U. S. Navy Destroyer,
U.S.S. Saufley, DD-465 |
