Kenova in Wayne County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Ceredo - Kenova

Photographed By John Desaulniers, Jr., September 1, 2010

1. Ceredo - Kenova Marker

Inscription. Ceredo - Founded in 1857 by Eli Thayer of Massachusetts, an Abolition leader, in his plan to create sentiment against slavery in western states. Kenova - named for the meeting place of three states, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Erected 1975 by West Virginia Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 38° 24.199′ N, 82° 35.451′ W. Marker is in Kenova, West Virginia, in Wayne County. Marker is at the intersection of Chestnut Street (U.S. 60) and Virginia Point Drive, on the right on Chestnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kenova WV 25530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. West Virginia (Wayne County) / Kentucky (within shouting distance of this marker); Dreamland Pool (within shouting distance of this marker); Here Lies James H. McCoy / Here Lies Floyd McCoy (approx. ¾ mile away in Kentucky); County Named, 1860 (approx. 0.9 miles away in Kentucky); Country Music Highway

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(approx. 0.9 miles away in Kentucky); Judge John M. Elliott (approx. 0.9 miles away in Kentucky); Mary Elliott Flanery (approx. one mile away in Kentucky); Civil War Army Base (approx. one mile away in Kentucky). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kenova.

Also see . . .
1. Biographical Directory of the US Congress - THAYER, Eli. Eli Thayer's political career is provided here with minor acknowledgment of his pro-Abolition views. Interestingly, he appears to have been a sitting Massachusetts US Representative when he helped establish Ceredo. It's also intriguing to see he was an Oregon delegate to the RNC in 1860, though it appears he never moved from Massachusetts. (Submitted on September 2, 2010, by John Desaulniers, Jr. of Mingo, Iowa.)

2. Eli Thayer. Wikipedia's entry about Eli Thayer is much more focused on his Abolitionist interests as noted on the sign. It also describes why he chose the site of Ceredo for his town, rightly noting that, when the town was founded, it was still part of Virginia. (Submitted on September 2, 2010, by John Desaulniers, Jr. of Mingo, Iowa.)

Photographed By John Desaulniers, Jr.

2. Ceredo - Kenova Marker

Ceredo - Kenova Marker with Kenova Welcome Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Desaulniers, Jr., September 1, 2010

3. Ceredo - Kenova Marker with Kenova Welcome Sign

Internet Archive

4. Eli Thayer

from The Biographical Dictionary of America, 1906, by Rossiter Johnson.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2010, by John Desaulniers, Jr. of Mingo, Iowa. This page has been viewed 1,557 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2010, by John Desaulniers, Jr. of Mingo, Iowa. 4. submitted on July 5, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.