Greensburg in Green County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Home of Early Minister

American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

1. Home of Early Minister Marker

Inscription. Home of Rev. David Rice, founder of first Presbyterian churches west of Alleghanies, 1784. Born in Va., 1733; moved to Danville, Ky. in 1788 after having founded “Rice’s School,” or Transylvania Seminary near there, 1785. Member, State Constitutional Convention, 1792; urged gradual emancipation. Came here, 1798, forming in this area two churches. Died age 83.

Erected 1965 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 844.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1733.

Location. 37° 15.72′ N, 85° 30.076′ W. Marker is in Greensburg, Kentucky, in Green County. Marker is on North Main Street (State Highway 70) south of West Hodgenville Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greensburg KY 42743, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jeremiah Abell’s Log House (a few steps from this marker); Green County Architecture Heritage History (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Green County, 1792 (about 500

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feet away); Green Countians Memorial (about 500 feet away); Home of Gen. Edward H. Hobson (about 500 feet away); General Edward Henry Hobson (about 500 feet away); Greensburg Courthouse (about 500 feet away); Green County Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensburg.

Regarding Home of Early Minister. This log home, also known as Jeremiah Abell’s Log House (the original builder and owner), is one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

Rev. Jeremiah Abell built his house in 1796 on a plot of land purchased from the trustees of Greensburg. The log house, measuring 17 feet wide and 27 feet long, was constructed of yellow poplar. Abell was a Presbyterian Pastor in Green County in the first quarter of the 1800s. In 1802,
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

2. Home of Reverend David Rice
View to west across N. Main Street
Marker is to the left of the log cabin underneath the tree
Abell, then a minister of the Republican Methodist Society, became a member of Transylvania Presbytery. After Abell, the lot changed owners ten times before being purchased by the Greensburg Presbyterian Church, the current owners, in 1969. In 1970, Jeremiah Abell’s log house was uncovered in the removal of the home that had been built around it over the years, and the Green County Historical Society immediately began to work on restoration.

Also see . . . David Rice (Presbyterian minister) - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on August 14, 2016.)

Home of Reverend David Rice image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

3. Home of Reverend David Rice

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 410 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on August 15, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 14, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.