Rumsey in McLean County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Corp. James Bethel Gresham Memorial Bridge

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 1, 2025

1. Corp. James Bethel Gresham Memorial Bridge Marker

Inscription. Erected, 1928, honoring the first American killed in action in World War I on Nov. 3, 1917, at Battle of Sommerviller. Enlisted in 1914 in Indiana. With Pershing in Mexico, 1916. Sent overseas, June 14, 1917, with first American soldiers of AEF. Born McLean Co., Aug. 23, 1893. Buried in France, reinterred, Evansville, Ind., 1921.

Erected 1968 by Kentucky Historical Society • Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1199.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical date for this entry is June 14, 1917.

Location. 37° 31.841′ N, 87° 15.565′ W. Marker is in Rumsey, Kentucky, in McLean County. It is on Kentucky Route 81 north of Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rumsey KY 42371, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-State Region

and in the Western Coal Field.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rumsey (within shouting distance of this marker); County Named / Calhoun (approx. half a mile away); Camp Calhoun Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Camp Calhoun (approx. half a mile away); McLean County War Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Charles Hansford / Charles Hansford (1759-1850)

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(approx. 1.3 miles away); Union Camp Site / McLean County Recruits, Co. D 35 Regt. KY. Vol. Mounted Inf. (approx. 6 miles away); Livermore Bridge (approx. 7.6 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Forrest Reconnoitered (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 1, 2025

2. Corp. James Bethel Gresham Memorial Bridge Marker

Corp. James Bethel Gresham Memorial Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 1, 2025

3. Corp. James Bethel Gresham Memorial Bridge

Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.