At the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1783, scores of its veterans scattered the frontier in search of a new start for themselves and their families.
As some of the first settlers to this area, more than 70 such soldiers chose Christian County well before its 1839 founding to set roots here — and eventually died and were laid to rest in and around Hopkinsville.
Twelve years ago this July, the John Manire Chapter for the Sons of the American Revolution were on hand for the presentation of a memorial at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery — honoring those 70-plus citizens for their contributions to the country.
Since then, the organization has been ardent with its efforts in discovering, and preserving, the resting places of those soldiers. Of the 19 burial plots found, three have been destroyed, two have been successfully moved, seven are in “good, well kept” locations, and seven others are in need of critical care and relief.
Those efforts will soon be on the way.
During Tuesday’s Christian County Fiscal Court meeting, magistrates approved a resolution — authorizing the Judge-Executive to designate local governmental offices or agencies to help keep and maintain these gravesites, while further noting county funds could be appropriated for such.
Terry Henderson, registrar for the SAR Hopkinsville chapter, said he and the organization were beseeching of county officials for years — particularly so after plots for Francis Buckner, William Dupuy and John “Jack” Hawkins were lost, respectively, to the airport runway extension, the Browning McKinney Farm on Cadiz Road, and the construction of an apartment building on what used to be the property for Bethel College Gymnasium.
A year ago, the remains of Isaac Palmer were exhumed from Womack Farm and re-interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, and the remains of Robert Usher were also handled effectively from the Lowe’s property and transferred to Riverside Cemetery.
Henderson said those were “done right,” and he wanted to see the seven sites currently in need to receive county assistance.
Magistrate Rich Liebe kept it simple, stating it’s “the right thing to do.”
Magistrate Darrell Gustafson asked if there was any way to make any recovery of the three destroyed sites, to which Henderson said there wasn’t.
But Henderson reiterated that, with county protection and maintenance, such negligence would be avoided in future plot discoveries and care.
19 Known Revolutionary War Plots
- Francis Buckner (destroyed); Airport Runway Extension
- William Dupuy (destroyed); Browning McKinney Farm on Cadiz Road;
- John “Jack” Hawkins (destroyed); Bethel College Gymnasium, Apartment Construction;
- Isaac Palmer (moved); From Womack Farm to Kentucky Veterans West;
- Robert Usher (moved); From Lowe’s to Riverside Cemetery;
- George Barnes (well-kept); Campbell Cemetery, north of Crofton on Campbell Cemetery Road;
- Joseph Caskey (well-kept); Joseph Caskey Cemetery, Henry Gould property on Pembroke Road;
- Jonathan Clark (well-kept); Jonathan Clark Cemetery, 3500 Crofton-Fruit Hill Road;
- Samuel McJunkin (well-kept); Riverside Cemetery;
- Laban Shipp (well-kept); Ben Wood property on Cadiz Road;
- Thomas Waggoner (well-kept); 980 Thompsonville Lane in Oak Grove;
- Bartholomew Wood (well-kept); Pioneer Cemetery in Hopkinsville;
- John Cain (needs repair); Cain Cemetery, Newton property on Canton Pike;
- James Davis (needs repair); Robert Gray Farm on Mason Lane, south of Pembroke;
- William Gray (needs repair); Ronnie & Carol Fletcher Farm, Hwy. 800 east of Crofton;
- William Henry (needs repair); Mac Greenwood Farm, on Newstead Road;
- Charles Thomas (needs repair); Means & Fort Farm on 5505 Pembroke Road;
- Thomas Woosley (needs repair); 5105 Gracey-Sinking Fork Road;
- Samuel Younglove (needs repair); Keeling Cemetery, Kathy Fillingham Farm near 3915 Butler Road
