Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Robert S. Davis
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011
1. In 1884, Robert S. Davis recalls log cabin. Marker
Inscription.
Robert S. Davis. . In 1884, Robert S. Davis recalled that the first building was a round-log cabin, about sixteen feet square, erected by the Pore brothers, James and William, in April of 1821. Davis identified four families living at the site at that time. Records in Livingston County affirm that a town called "Pekin" claimed this site. In a letter to his son, William Clark wrote that he chose to re-name the town "Paducah" to honor an Indian tribe, the Padoucas, that once was quite large but had been decimated by contact with Europeans. Despite its late start Paducah soon became the largest city in the region because of its favorable location on the rivers, and later as the terminus of the New Orleans and Ohio Railroad which was connected to lines running south in 1860.
In 1884, Robert S. Davis recalled that the first building was a round-log cabin, about sixteen feet square, erected by the Pore brothers, James and William, in April of 1821. Davis identified four families living at the site at that time. Records in Livingston County affirm that a town called "Pekin" claimed this site. In a letter to his son, William Clark wrote that he chose to re-name the town "Paducah" to honor an Indian tribe, the Padoucas, that once was quite large but had been decimated by contact with Europeans. Despite its late start Paducah soon became the largest city in the region because of its favorable location on the rivers, and later as the terminus of the New Orleans and Ohio Railroad which was connected to lines running south in 1860.
Erected by Sponsored by Marshall & Marcia Nemer and Caroline Yaffe in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H Finkel.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1821.
Location. 37° 5.305′ N, 88° 35.653′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. Marker is on North Water Street. This mural is between Paducah 1873 "Birds Eye View" and George Rogers Clark, 1752-1818. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Paducah KY 42001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on September 24, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
