Henry County Historical Society - KY

06/01/2026

Happy Birthday, Kentucky!

June 1, 1792 - 234 Years Ago Today - Kentucky became the 15th state admitted to the union of the United States of America.

On April 2, 1792, five delegates from each of Kentucky’s nine counties gathered in Danville for a constitutional convention after the United States finally accepted Kentucky’s petition for statehood following nine conventions held over seven years. The state’s first constitution created a structure for state government but it never mentioned taxation, education, or a means of adding amendments. Ironically, Kentucky’s 100,000 citizens never voted on the constitution.

Two hundred thirty-four years later, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that Kentucky's current population is 4,629,682.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that celebrates and honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Observed every year on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day in a nod to the tradition of placing flowers or other decorative displays at gravesites.

The origins of Memorial Day date back to the Civil War, which claimed the lives of some 620,000 soldiers. In the aftermath, devastated communities sought to honor their dead. The commemoration caught on across the nation, eventually expanding to honor fallen soldiers from all wars, but it wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day became a federal holiday.

Today, many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

05/22/2026

Revolutionary War Memorial was ordered today!
It should arrive in 8-10 weeks.

Send a message to learn more

05/19/2026

The Henry County Historical Society is inviting the community to help preserve today’s history for future generations!

As part of the America 250 celebration, we will be collecting small items to place inside a Henry County Time Capsule that will be buried later this year. We’re looking for items that capture the spirit of life in Henry County in 2026 — from farm life and local events to school memories and community traditions.

Suggested items include:
• Local business memorabilia
• Event tickets or flyers
• 4-H, FFA, Scouts, or sports items
• Photos with short stories
• Letters “To the People of 2076”
• Recipe cards, postcards, and more!

📌 All items must:
✔ Fit inside a sandwich bag
✔ Be non-perishable

Bring your item to the America 250 Celebration:
📅 Thursday, July 3rd
🕓 4PM – 8PM
📍 John Logan Brent Memorial Park

Help us tell the story of Henry County for the next generation. Your item today becomes history tomorrow!

05/18/2026

Down payment met!
Monument will be ordered later this week!

05/18/2026

We are $350 from having the down payment for the Revolutionary War Memorial.
Thank you to all that have donated so far!

05/13/2026

Almost weekly—sometimes daily—the Historical Society receives research requests about Henry County history. We charge $10/hour to complete research, or you can schedule an appointment to visit and do your own.

Many of you said you’d like to see the requests we’ve received this year—so I’ll be sharing them over the coming days!

Please do not submit new requests in the comments. Instead, message us here or email [email protected]

~~Research Request #7~~

Katherine Gividen contacted us requesting any photos, newspaper articles, obituaries, election notices, political ads, court or sheriff records and any local history mentioning Joseph P. Gividen Sr. who served as HC Sheriff from 1898-1902.

This was a very extensive request. We did not have any photos but were able to find everything else via FamilySearch or on the digitized Henry County Local at the HC Library. My favorite was the write ups after Joseph Sr’s death, they were quite reflecting of what a good man he had been.

05/12/2026

A brand new Revolutionary War Memorial is set to be displayed on the Henry County Courthouse lawn in New Castle, according to Henry County Historical Society President Olivia Herrell.

Herrell said that the monument will include a list of 90 Revolutionary War patriots from Henry County, with the following inscription above the names:

“Revolutionary War patriots of Henry County Kentucky. This marker commemorates the men and women who achieved American Independence. These patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new nation.”

One patriot who will be listed on the monument is Charles LeCompt, the ancestor of local resident Carla Gerding. Herrell told the Local that Gerding provided a short bio on LeCompt, who was born in Maryland around 1749 and later travelled to Fort Pitt, Penn. during the early years of the American Revolution.

"He was in the militia there, defending the fort against both Indian and British efforts," wrote Gerding. "Ft. Pitt was the ‘jumping off point’ for those anxious to explore and settle the western lands of Ky. Charles was with the McConnell brothers at the site of a spring when they heard the news of Lexington and Concord and named this location Lexington.

"Charles was an early signer of petitions to the government in Williamsburg for autonomy and assistance for Ky. territory. He was in the defense of Georgetown and later claimed 1,400 acres on the forks of the North Elkhorn — present day Scott Co. In 1800, this land was sold and Charles bought riverfront property where it is known today as Lecompts Bottom. His will was probated by April 1825 in Henry County."

Sam Frazier, the owner of Lucas Monument in Eminence, said the monument will be five feet tall, three feet wide, and eight inches thick. Frazier said that it will take eight to ten weeks for the monument to be ready after he orders it.

Herrell said she received other quotes for the monument, but Lucas Monument was the best quote and a local vendor as well. The quote was $6,800, and after lettering the stone, she anticipates the final cost to be approximately $8,000. Herrell said the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) has agreed to pay half of the costs for the memorial.

United Citizens Bank and Ballard's Hardware have pledged a donation. The Historical Society is donating $500, the City of Smithfield has pledged $500 and Glenn Ballard has also made a generous donation. Harrell said any excess donations will go towards landscaping around the memorial and to adding names in the future.

Herrell said anyone desiring to donate to this project can mail a check to the Henry County Historical Society, PO Box 806, New Castle, Kentucky 40050, and to please write in the memo of your check, Revolutionary War Memorial.

A brand new Revolutionary War Memorial is set to be displayed on the Henry County Courthouse lawn in New Castle, according to Henry County Historical Society President Olivia Herrell.

05/05/2026

A reminder that we are collecting donations for the Revolutionary War Memorial that will be placed at the Henry Co. Courthouse. Our goal is $3,000 but anything over that helps too. It will take approximately 10 weeks to get the memorial in once the order is placed so the sooner we can get the down payment secured, the better.

—

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Henry County has the opportunity to honor the Patriots who helped secure our nation’s independence.

Our President, Olivia Herrell, has personally taken on the task to raise funds to get a memorial monument for these Patriots. The Revolutionary War Memorial will be placed at the Henry County Courthouse—a lasting tribute to the local men who served in the fight for freedom.

This memorial will preserve their names, share their stories, and connect our community to the founding of our nation for generations to come.

Join us in creating a meaningful legacy for America 250. 🇺🇸

To support this project or learn more, please contact us or consider making a donation today.

Donations can be sent to the Henry County Historical Society PO Box 806 New Castle KY 40050. Please note "Rev War Memorial" in the memo line if sending a check.

Below is a MOCK UP ONLY. Here is the list that will appear on the memorial:

Adams, John
Adams, David
Adams, William
Bell, Thomas
Beetom, Adam
Bice, Dennis
Bishop, Elisha
Blackburn, John
Blakemore, John
Brewer, William
Bush, Charles
Bryan, Barrick
Collett, Isaac
Conine, Andrew
Conn, William
Creswell, David
Dogan, Jeremiah J.
Downey, John
Downey, Thomas
Dunaway, Samuel
Dunn, Alexander
Ellis, Leonard
Elston, David
Ford, Warner
Fore, Peter
Gevedann, John
Guthery, William
Hardin, Benjamin
Hardwick, Robert Lindsay Jr
Haskins, Achilles
Haskins, James
Hayden, Benjamin
Hisle, Samuel
Housworth, Henry
Hugueley, Charles
James, Thomas
Jeffers, William
Jones, George
Johnston, James
Johnston, John Sr
Johnston, John 3rd
Johnston, Joseph
Kidwell, Jonathan
Kiphart, Henry
LeCompte, Charles
Lindsey, Anthony
List, Jacob
Logan, James
Logan, John
Martin, John
Marshall, William
Maynard, Richard
McGuire, Joseph
McCarty, Thomas
Mead, John
Meek, Basil
Meek, Jacob
Meek, John
Miles, John
Mitchell, George
Minton, John
Montfort, Francis
Morgan, Peter
Neill, Lewis
Peake, William
Perry, Benjamin
Prindle, John
Riddle, John
Ringo, Cornelius
Scott, Levi
Scott, Thomas
Shelton, Wilson
Shuck, Matthias
Sidebottom, Joseph
Simmons, William
Smith, David Sr
Smith, Nicholas
Spillman, George
Sutherland, Traverse
Sutherland, Walter E.
Swift, Thomas
Taylor, David
Van Voorhees, Albert
Vanhorne, Samuel
Wallace, Joshua
Watkins, Evan
Wells, Littlebury
Williams, John
Wooldridge, Thomas
Younger, Kanard