Near Zanesfield in Logan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Kenton's Farm
Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail
Image courtesy of the Historical Marker Database
1. Kenton's Farm Marker
Two miles north was the last
home and farm of the famous
pioneer, scout and soldier,
Simon Kenton. Here after
his long and active life in the
interest of civilization, he
died in 1836.
Erected 1930 by Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission. (Marker Number C.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 40° 21.001′ N, 83° 40.493′ W. Marker was near Zanesfield, Ohio, in Logan County. Marker was at the intersection of County Route 5 and County Route 25, on the left when traveling north on County Route 5. This marker, in all probability, was originally located at the junction of County Road 5 and County Highway 25, opposite the west end of the bridge over the Mad River. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Zanesfield OH 43360, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Jefferson Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away);
this page online
More about this marker. This historical marker is part of the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail series (type C) which was put in place in 1930 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Ohio's Revolutionary War era Battle of Piqua, by the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission.
In order to accomplish this, in 1929 the state of Ohio created the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission, and then in 1930 this commission created 22 military trails, throughout western Ohio, between Cincinnati, Ohio on the state's southern border and Toledo, Ohio on the state's northern border. Each of these military trails represented the routes, or trails, used by military leaders during either the Revolutionary War, the
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 22, 2019
2. Kenton's Farm Marker
View of the most probable original site of this marker, looking north along what is presently County Road 5, but what was once an Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail route. This marker was most probably situated very near the telephone pole, across the street, from the west end of the bridge.
The routes of these military trails were in turn marked by type A and type B Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission markers that served as directional (type B) and distance (type A) markers.
Originally, back in 1930, there were erected 70 some of these Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission, type C, markers. To date, there are only 20 some of them that have been located and posted on the Historical Marker database. A number of them are presently missing, including this particular marker, which is listed on page 72 of the ORMC 1931 Planning Report.
Thanks to the input of Reverend Ronald Irick, who is a long time native of Logan County Ohio, I have relocated the probable site of this missing historical marker, from a street corner in downtown Zanesfield, to a nearby rural county road intersection, just north of Zanesfield, but nearer to the location of General Simon Kenton's last home and farm.
It was primarily because of the nearby placement of a Logan County historical marker entitled "General Simon Kenton / Historical Home Site," that I guessed that this Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission marker was once
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 22, 2019
3. Kenton's Farm Marker
Back in 1930, this marker was most probably situated directly across the street from the west end of the bridge, along what was then the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail route. Today, County Road 5, comes up from the south, and then takes a turn, and goes across the Mad River bridge, while County Highway 25, begins at this intersection, and proceeds northward (the roadway to the left in the picture). County Road 5 (to the lower right in the picture) and County Highway 25 (to the upper left in the picture) were, I believe, the 1930, Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail route.
It is primarily because of the Reverend Irick's childhood memories of this marker, that I have repositioned the probable location of this now missing marker to what I believe is a better, and more accurate, location. It is more accurate because this site is 2.3 miles away from the site of "The Original Burial Place of General Simon Kenton" marker, which would match the distance stated on this missing marker. Then too, this location, would keep the missing marker situated along the 1930 era, Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail route.
Also see . . . Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail System. A description of the Revolutionary Memorial Trail System developed by the state of Ohio in 1929 - 1930. (Submitted on July 15, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
Additional commentary.
1.
I remember this marker as a child. I have been trying to locate it for years. It was originally located at the west side of what was then US 33. The site is now the junction of County Road 5, and County Road 2, opposite the west end of "Mad River Bridge" over "Mad
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 22, 2019
4. Kenton's Farm Marker
The bridge, that this marker was once situated just opposite the west end of, goes across the Mad River, right at one of the river's water falls.
— Submitted July 17, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 22, 2019
5. Kenton's Farm Marker
This marker was most probably situated very near the telephone pole, across the street, from the west end of the bridge. To get to the site of Simon Kenton's farm, the traveler would have had to leave the 1930 era Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail route (running from top to bottom on left side of picture), and crossed the bridge, and proceed a little more than 2 miles, to the northeast.
Image provided by Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission publication, dated 1931., June 26, 2019
6. Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission Marker Types
View of the three types of markers used by the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission. The marker on the left is a type A marker, the marker in the middle is a type C (just like our featured marker), and the marker on the right is a type B. For a better view double click on this picture.
Image courtesy of the MidPointe Library System (www.MidPointeLibrary.org)
7. Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail Map
A view of an original Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail Map, from 1930. For a better view double click on this picture.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 360 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 15, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 31, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6, 7. submitted on July 15, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
