Cloverport in Breckinridge County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Lincoln Family Trail

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

1. Lincoln Family Trail Marker

Inscription.
Abraham Lincoln, then a lad of 7, with other members of the Thomas Lincoln family crossed the Ohio River on a log raft ferry near here in 1816. The Lincolns were moving to Indiana.

Erected by Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 73.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 37° 50.223′ N, 86° 38.073′ W. Marker is in Cloverport, Kentucky, in Breckinridge County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (Kentucky Route 2200) and Center Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Marker is located in a pull-out on the north side of the street, overlooking the Ohio River, across Main Street from Cloverport Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 West Main Street, Cloverport KY 40111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Western Coal Field.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Breckinridge County Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Cloverport Veterans Monument (here, next to this marker); First Coal Oil (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Early Shipping Point (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cloverport History 1729-1802 (about 600 feet away); Cloverport History 1803-1813 (about 700 feet away); Cloverport History 1816-1828 (about 700 feet away); Cloverport History 1830-1860 (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cloverport.

Also see . . .
1. The Lincolns followed the old pioneer trail (established in 1802). The Lincolns left Kentucky by crossing the Ohio River at Cloverport on a log ferry operated by Jacob Weatherholt, from mouth of Clover Creek, through Thompson's Ferry, which operated on the Ohio River in the vicinity of the mouth of Anderson Creek, to Tobinsport, Indiana. The next day, the Lincoln family made their way down to Rock Island (Indiana), and camped at "Lafayette Springs". Next they stopped at Troy, and then on to take up a Federal Land Claim near Little Pigeon Creek in what was then Perry County and is now Spencer County, Indiana. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Lincoln Family Trail. Abraham Lincoln recounted the reason for

Lincoln Family Trail Marker (<i>tall view; looking northwest across Ohio River</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

2. Lincoln Family Trail Marker (tall view; looking northwest across Ohio River)

this move as “partly on account of slavery; but chiefly on account of the difficulty in land titles in Kentucky.” Challenges to land titles were common in the early years of Kentucky, and the experience of Thomas Lincoln was no exception. Thomas fought to keep his two farms near Hodgenville, Kentucky, but was compelled to vacate each due to the competing claims of other land owners. The westward migration of the Lincoln family was not uncommon, as many Kentucky families moved to the newly organized states of Indiana (1816) and Illinois (1818). (Submitted on July 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lincoln Family Trail Marker (<i>wide view; looking northeast across Ohio River</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

3. Lincoln Family Trail Marker (wide view; looking northeast across Ohio River)

Lincoln Family Trail Marker (<i>wide view; looking northwest across the Ohio River</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

4. Lincoln Family Trail Marker (wide view; looking northwest across the Ohio River)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,386 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.