Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

First County Seat - Braxton Small

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

1. First County Seat ~Braxton Small Marker

Inscription. Established in 1827, Wilmington served as the first County Seat. During the flood of February 1832, Braxton Small, serving as the first County Court Clerk for McCracken County (1825-1858), removed all records to Paducah from the original Courthouse in Wilmington. He is shown loading the skiff boat, putting the records in a “cracker barrel” which he used as a filing cabinet, with the important papers under his Beegum hat to keep them dry. He also served as a trustee of Paducah, selling the property to the County where the present Courthouse is located. His marriage was the first recorded in Paducah, to Grace Walters, a beautiful woman who gave birth to the first girl officially born in the county. He was a founder in Paducah's first bank. “The Exchange Bank”. They are interred at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Erected by Sponsored by Eric T. Small in memory of Erica Hilary Small.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location. 37° 5.282′ N, 88° 35.64′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is on South Water Street south of Broadway Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 S Water Street, Paducah KY 42001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Iced Solid - Clear to Illinois! (here, next to this marker); Marine Ways (here, next to this marker); Chickasaw Tribe in Kentucky (here, next to this marker); Visitors Coming to Paducah (a few steps from this marker); Historic River Front (a few steps from this marker); Woodland and Mississippian Indians (a few steps from this marker); May 1913 Paducah Homecoming (a few steps from this marker); Paleo and Archaic Indians (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . . The Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Mural Project. Renowned artist Robert Dafford and his team of muralists capture Paducah’s rich history in paintings on the city’s floodwall overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. (Submitted on October 25, 2011.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

2. First County Seat ~Braxton Small Marker

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

3. First County Seat ~Braxton Small Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 657 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.