Frenchburg in Menifee County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Menifee County

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2017

1. Menifee County Marker

Inscription. Formed 1869 out of part of five joining counties; named for Richard H. Menefee, regarded as one of Kentucky's great orators. Born in Owingsville, 1808. Elected Commonwealth Attorney of 11th Judicial district, 1831; State Representative, 1836-37; U.S. Representative, 1837-39. Died at age of 32. Kentucky lost "one of her proudest and fondest hopes."

Erected 1964 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 787.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 37° 57.062′ N, 83° 37.549′ W. Marker is in Frenchburg, Kentucky, in Menifee County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 460) west of Kentucky Route 36, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, at the entrance to the Old Menifee County Courthouse building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Main Street, Frenchburg KY 40322, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Outer Bluegrass and in the Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the

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American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Menifee Countians Who Gave Their Lives for Their Country on Foreign Soil (a few steps from this marker); Beaver Dam Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 6.1 miles away); Olympian Springs (approx. 8.1 miles away); Murder Branch Massacre (approx. 8.4 miles away); Clear Creek Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 11½ miles away); Unwind with Us (approx. 11.6 miles away); Caney Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. 12.9 miles away); Alvan Drew School (approx. 13.1 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Menifee County Kentucky History. Menifee became the Commonwealth's 113th county in 1869 when it was formed from the adjoining counties of Bath, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, and Wolfe counties.

Menifee County Marker (<i>wide view; looking east; old Menifee County Courthouse in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2017

2. Menifee County Marker (wide view; looking east; old Menifee County Courthouse in background)

Menifee was named after Richard H. Menefee, a well-regarded statesman and successful lawyer. Mr. Menefee was serving in the state legislature when he ran for Congress in 1837 and defeated Judge Richard French in a vigorous campaign. Mr. French was equally well known and admired; and his name was chosen for the county seat, Frenchburg. Mr. Menefee's untimely death in 1841 at the age of 31 ended a successful career. He was the youngest person in Kentucky and perhaps in the nation to have a county named for him. The misspelling of the county name occurred in the legislature when the county was chartered. (Submitted on August 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Richard Hickman Menefee. Due to his oratory skill, he was dubbed "the young Patrick Henry of the West." He was presumed the successor to Henry Clay as leader of the Whig Party until his death at age thirty-one. His best known speech in that body urged restraint in the Caroline affair with the British. His reputation, and that of fellow Kentuckian John J. Crittenden, were tarnished due to their involvement in a duel between Representatives William

Menifee County Marker (<i>wide view; looking west; new Menifee County Courthouse in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2017

3. Menifee County Marker (wide view; looking west; new Menifee County Courthouse in background)

J. Graves and Jonathan Cilley in which the latter was mortally wounded. In 1841, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, but died five days later before he could take office. (Submitted on August 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Menifee County Marker (<i>front view of courthouse from Main Street; marker visible edge-on</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2017

4. Menifee County Marker (front view of courthouse from Main Street; marker visible edge-on)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,002 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.