Hawthorne in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Farmington

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, April 7, 2024

1. Farmington Marker

Inscription. Historic residence completed 1816 for John and Lucy (Fry) Speed. The Jefferson-inspired plan by Paul Skidmore includes octagonal rooms, rare in 19th c. Kentucky. As many as 64 African Americans enslaved at Farmington worked the 550-acre hemp plantation. Abraham Lincoln spent three weeks here in 1841 as guest of the family of his closest friend, Joshua Speed.

After his visit, Lincoln described a group of shackled slaves he saw on his steamboat trip home. Later he called the memory a “continual torment to me.” During the Civil War the Speeds supported the Union and Joshua’s ties to Lincoln helped secure Kentucky for the Union. Lincoln appointed James Speed Attorney General in 1864.

Erected 2007 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2231.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Architecture • War, US Civil. 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. 38° 12.798′ N, 85° 40.349′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County

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. It is in Hawthorne. Marker is at the intersection of Bardstown Road (U.S. 31E) and Wendell Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Bardstown Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3033 Bardstown Road, Louisville KY 40205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Abraham Lincoln & Farmington — 1841 (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Brothers Speed — Joshua and James (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Cabin at Farmington (approx. ¼ mile away); Agriculture & Farmington (approx. ¼ mile away); Bowman Field (approx. ¾ mile away); Hayfield (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bray Place / Scoggan-Jones Horse Farm (approx. 0.9 miles away); Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton / African American Jockey (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Also see . . .
1. Farmington (Louisville, Kentucky) — Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 9, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Asset Detail | Farmington (PDF). National Register of Historic Places registration and photographs. (Submitted on December 9, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, April 7, 2024

2. Farmington Marker

Farmington Marker (Side A) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 28, 2020

3. Farmington Marker (Side A)

Farmington Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 28, 2020

4. Farmington Marker (Side B)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 28, 2020

5. Farmington Marker

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 28, 2020

6. Farmington

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3, 4. submitted on December 7, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 5, 6. submitted on December 9, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.