Scottsville in Allen County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

County Named, 1815

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 9, 2013

1. County Named, 1815 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

For Lieut. Col. John Allen, born in Va., 1771, came to Ky., 1779. Practiced law in Shelby County. State Representative, 1801-07, and State Senate, 1807-13. Killed in battle at River Raisin, Jan. 22, 1813, and one of nine officers at that battle for whom Kentucky counties named. Allen County formed by Act of Assembly, from Warren and Barren Counties.
1964 • Kentucky Historical Society • Kentucky Department of Highways • 760

Erected 1964 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 760.)

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list.

Location. 36° 45.214′ N, 86° 11.511′ W. Marker is in Scottsville, Kentucky, in Allen County. Memorial is on West Main Street (Kentucky Route 2152) west of South Cemetery Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the left (west) side

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of the sidewalk at the Allen County Courthouse/Scottsville City Hall entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 West Main Street, Scottsville KY 42164, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Civil War Action (here, next to this marker); Jacksonian Hotel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Morgan in Scottsville (about 300 feet away); Scottsville Public Spring (approx. 0.2 miles away); Scottsville, 1862 (approx. 0.4 miles away); An Army Restored (approx. half a mile away); An Army in Crisis (approx. half a mile away); Lilly’s Artillery (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scottsville.

Also see . . .
1. Colonel John Allen. Kentucky History website entry:
Allen’s family moved to Kentucky when he was a child. Allen studied law in Virginia, married the daughter of famed pioneer Benjamin Logan, and eventually opened a successful law practice in Shelbyville. Allen, who served in the Kentucky House and Senate and lost a bid for governor, was soon recognized as one of the Bluegrass State’s best attorneys. The War of 1812 took this promising Kentuckian. Allen County, established in 1815, was named in his honor. (Submitted on March 20, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Colonel John Allen and the River Raisin Debacle. Warfare History Network:
At the Battle of River Raisin, fought during the War of 1812 in present-day Michigan,

County Named, 1815 Marker (<i>wide view; Allen County Court/Scottsville City Hall in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 9, 2013

2. County Named, 1815 Marker (wide view; Allen County Court/Scottsville City Hall in background)

400 Kentucky militiamen were killed. Following the struggle, nearly 65 of the wounded were brutally murdered by Indians who were allied with the British. Many of the dead Kentucky militia were led by Allen, an attorney and state legislator whose political prominence, had he survived, might have rivaled many national politicians, including that of fellow Kentuckian Henry Clay. But Allen’s career and his life were cut short at the River Raisin. (Submitted on March 20, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.