Near Bellefontaine in Logan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton
A Place of Legend
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, November 13, 2012
1. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
close up, showing text
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is April 29, 1836.
Location. 40° 22.694′ N, 83° 39.393′ W. Marker is near Bellefontaine, Ohio, in Logan County. It is on Old Sandusky Trail (Ohio Route 533), on the right when traveling north. marker is about 800 feet north of the tiny hamlet of New Jerusalem (intersection of St Rt 540). It is back a grassy lane, after the 2nd driveway to the east.
This is private property, but I have always been told there was a public easement to the site. In 2014, St Rt 533 was downgraded to its original status as a section of Logan County Road 5, the Old Sandusky Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 199 OH-533, Bellefontaine OH 43311, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Myeerah Nature Preserve (approx. 1.3 miles away); Myeerah Freshwater Marsh (approx. 1½ miles away); Jefferson Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); Ebenezer Zane Cabin (approx. 2.9 miles away); Helen Wonders Blue Memorial Park (approx. 2.9 miles away); China Flats
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Kenton's Farm (was approx. 2.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Additional commentary.
1. Simon Kenton's Original Gravesite
Thank you for posting this. Went to Urbana to see Kenton's Grave and then learned it was not the original site. I would like to stop at the original Kenton Gravesite, but this page is suggesting the Boulder Depicted above is no longer there. What a shame.
— Submitted June 22, 2025, by Mark Shoemaker of Coshocton, Ohio.
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, November 13, 2012
2. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
full view of boulder with bronze plaque
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, November 13, 2012
3. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
boulder can be seen at the top of the hill, grassy lane leads from St Rt 533 up through the tree line
circa 1966
4. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
John Francis Curl, grandfather of Don Holycross, at the original burial site of Simon Kenton. John owned thr farm from 1942 to 1977. He then sold it to Frank Taylor, Don's uncle. This is the way I found it in 1969. Ron Irick
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, November 13, 2012
5. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
the grassy lane, east off St Rt 533. marker is just out of site at the top of the hill
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, November 13, 2012
6. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
my grandson standing beside the marker for perspective
7. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
1846 drawing of the site, by Henry Howe, from Vol. II of Historical Collections of Ohio. House in background is William Kenton's farm (son of Simon Kenton) The fork in the creek is now under the pond. The original stone marker, in the picket was moved to Urbana. The road in front of the house is the Old Sandusky Trail, now Co Rd 5
8. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton site
a page from a 1980's tour guide. The pond has recently been built, and trees planted throughout the area.
(photo by Logan County Chamber of Commerce)
9. General Simon Kenton
cuts by Henry Howe in his 1880 edition, Vol. I
By Rev. Ronald Irick, April 2, 1971
10. The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton Marker
Hand drawn map by Ron Irick. Area was open grass pasture fields in 1971. Stone foundation of William Kenton's house was visible. Fork in creek was clearly visible. Grassy lane led up hill from two fence posts to single boulder. Further east was the "Simon Kenton Spring"
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,129 times since then and 142 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 5, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 4. submitted on February 14, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on February 5, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.
