Fort McArthur Marker

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Kenton in Hardin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fort McArthur
About 3 miles west - site of

Fort McArthur Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Dale K. Benington, June 17, 2008

1. Fort McArthur Marker

Inscription. Erected 1812, by Colonel Duncan McArthur, as one of the forts along the line of General Hull's march against the British headquarters at Detroit.

Erected 1930 by Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission. (Marker Number C 35.)

Location. 40° 38.836′ N, 83° 36.554′ W. Marker is in Kenton, Ohio, in Hardin County. Marker is on North Detroit Street (U.S. 68) near East Franklin Street (Ohio Route 309), on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kenton OH 43326, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. The Hardin County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Liberty Garden" (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); Mad River Railroad (about 700 feet away); Kenton Hardware Company (approx. 0.6 miles away); Jacob Parrott (approx. 1.1 miles away); This Tablet Marks Hull’s Trail; 1812 (approx. 3.1 miles away); Fort McArthur Cemetery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Hull's Trail, 1812 (approx. 4.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Kenton.

More about this marker. Although this historical marker is located in downtown Kenton, Ohio, on the front lawn of the Hardin County Courthouse, it is not situated at the actual site of Fort McArthur. The actual location of this War of 1812 era fortification is about 3 miles, to the WSW, outside of town, on the banks of the Scioto River.

By Dale K. Benington, June 17, 2008

2. Fort McArthur Marker

View of the historical marker in front of the Hardin County Courthouse.

Regarding Fort McArthur. Shortly before the start of the War of 1812 the American General William Hull, the commander of the American fortification on Michigan's border with Canada (located in Detroit), believed that unless his position was reinforced with additional troops, that his command would be in serious trouble once the war finally got under way. So he took it upon himself to travel down to southern Ohio in order to raise those additional troops.

As soon as General Hull had raised himself an army of soldiers, he began to march northward from Urbana, Ohio. Since much of the territory between Urbana and Detroit was a hostile wilderness through both territory controlled by pro-British Native Americans and an inhospitable region know as the Black Swamp, General Hull built a string of fortifications, along his route, in order to protect his lines of supply and communication. One of those fortifications, built to protect the crossing of the Scioto River, was Fort McArthur.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Hull's Road. This is a link to information provided by Ohio History Central, an online encyclopedia of Ohio History. (Submitted on August 13, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

By Dale K. Benington, June 17, 2008

3. Fort McArthur Marker

View of the historical marker situated near the intersection of US 68 and State Route 309. Much of General Hull's Trail northward, from Urbana, Ohio to Findlay, Ohio, follows modern day US 68.

2. Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail System. A description of the Revolutionary Memorial Trail System developed by the state of Ohio in 1929 - 1930. (Submitted on November 17, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

By Dale K. Benington, June 17, 2008

4. Fort McArthur Marker

View of the historical marker that is located near the actual site of Fort McArthur, 3 some miles from the Hardin County courthouse. The actual site of the fort is along the tree line that is situated along the banks of the Scioto River, which is in the background of the picture.

Credits. This page originally submitted on April 27, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,376 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 27, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.