HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Hickman County Named, 1821

Clinton, Hickman County, Kentucky

Marker Inscription

County Named, 1821. For Capt. Paschal Hickman who was massacred by Indians after River Raisin battle, Jan., 1813, one of nine Ky. officers killed in that action for whom counties named. Resided Franklin County, extensive landowner. Originally, Hickman comprised the Jackson Purchase in Ky. Later eight counties have been formed within initial area. First county seat was Columbus.

Erected by Kentucky Historical Society

The Story

Formed in 1821, Hickman County took its name from Capt. Paschal Hickman, a Franklin County landowner and one of nine Kentucky officers killed in the aftermath of the River Raisin battle in January 1813—each later honored with a county. The original Hickman County once encompassed the whole Jackson Purchase, the vast tract acquired from the Chickasaw, and was later subdivided into eight counties. Columbus served as its first seat of government.

Why it matters

The marker ties Kentucky's frontier expansion into the Jackson Purchase to the sacrifices of the War of 1812 along the Northwestern frontier.

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Related people

  • · Paschal Hickman

Related events

  • · Battle of River Raisin

Themes & tags

War of 1812Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryLandmark

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