Elizabethtown in Hardin County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

The Lincolns Move From Kentucky

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. The Lincolns Move From Kentucky Marker

Inscription.

The Lincolns Move From Kentucky. . In 1816, the Lincoln family moved from present-day Larue County, Kentucky, to present-day Spencer County, Indiana. Abraham Lincoln, future president of the United States, recounted the reason for this move north of the Ohio River in a short autobiographical sketch to Chicago Times editor John Locke Scripps, stating: , , From this place (Knob Creek) he removed to what is now Spencer county Indiana, in the autumn of 1816, A[braham] then being in his [eighth] year. This removal was partly on account of slavery; but chiefly on account of the difficulty in land titles in Ky. , , Challenges to land titles were a regular occurrence in the early years of Kentucky, and the experience of Thomas Lincoln was no exception. The departure of the Lincoln family from Kentucky was not uncommon, as many more Kentucky families continued westward to the newly organized states of Indiana (1816) and Illinois (1818). The approximate route the Lincolns traveled is marked by Kentucky Historical Highway Markers in present-day Hardin, Breckinridge, and Hancock counties. , , Sidebar , Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail , 1809 Abraham Lincoln born at Sinking Spring farm, in present-day Larue County, Kentucky. , , 1816 Lincoln family moved from Kentucky. , , 1841 Abraham Lincoln visited his friend Joshua Speed at Farmington, the Speed family plantation, in Louisville, Kentucky. , , 1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd of Lexington, Kentucky. , , 1847 The Lincoln family visited Lexington, Kentucky enroute to Abraham's only term in Congress. , , 1860 Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States in November. , , 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. , (captions) , An example of the Kentucky Historical Highway Markers that follow the Lincoln route from Kentucky to Indiana , , The map to the right, created by Lincoln scholar R. Gerald McMurtry in 1937, shows the approximate route traveled by the Lincoln’s from their Knob Creek farm to present day Spencer County, Indiana, 1816. Courtesy of the Lincoln Museum, Fort Wayne, IN (Ref#989)1

In 1816, the Lincoln family moved from present-day Larue County, Kentucky, to present-day Spencer County, Indiana. Abraham Lincoln, future president of the United States, recounted the reason for this move north of the Ohio River in a short autobiographical sketch to Chicago Times editor John Locke Scripps, stating:

From this place (Knob Creek) he removed to what is now Spencer county Indiana, in the autumn of 1816, A[braham] then being in his [eighth] year. This removal was partly on account of slavery; but chiefly on account of the difficulty in land titles in Ky.

Challenges to land titles were a regular occurrence in the early years of Kentucky, and the experience of Thomas Lincoln was no exception. The departure of the Lincoln family from Kentucky was not uncommon, as many more Kentucky families continued westward to the newly organized states of Indiana (1816) and Illinois (1818). The approximate route the Lincolns traveled is marked by Kentucky Historical Highway Markers in present-day Hardin, Breckinridge, and Hancock counties.

Sidebar
Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail
1809 Abraham Lincoln born at Sinking Spring farm, in present-day Larue County, Kentucky.

1816 Lincoln family moved from Kentucky.

1841

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Abraham Lincoln visited his friend Joshua Speed at Farmington, the Speed family plantation, in Louisville, Kentucky.

1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd of Lexington, Kentucky.

1847 The Lincoln family visited Lexington, Kentucky enroute to Abraham's only term in Congress.

1860 Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States in November.

1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.

(captions)
An example of the Kentucky Historical Highway Markers that follow the Lincoln route from Kentucky to Indiana

The map to the right, created by Lincoln scholar R. Gerald McMurtry in 1937, shows the approximate route traveled by the Lincoln’s from their Knob Creek farm to present day Spencer County, Indiana, 1816. Courtesy of the Lincoln Museum, Fort Wayne, IN (Ref#989)1

Erected by Kentucky Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 37° 41.647′ N, 85° 51.58′ W. Marker is in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in Hardin County. It is at the intersection of W Dixie Avenue and N. Mulberry Street (U.S. 62), on the left when traveling east

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. The Lincolns Move From Kentucky Marker

on W Dixie Avenue. The marker is located in front of the Hardin County History Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 W Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown KY 42701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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: Lincoln’s Hardin County Connections (here, next to this marker); Kentucky Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Historic Post Office Building (here, next to this marker); Lynnland Institute Bell (a few steps from this marker); Early Settlers (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elizabethtown.

Also see . . . Route of the Lincoln’s. (Submitted on June 22, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 410 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.