County of the Month: Taylor County
Image: "Zachary Taylor, half-length portrait. 1848"
(Library of Congress)
Named for Gen. Zachary Taylor, famed Kentucky soldier. Noted as Indian fighter: Ft. Harrison, War of 1812; Black Hawk War, 1832; Florida Seminoles, 1837. Defeat of superior Mexican forces at Battle of Buena Vista, 1847, made him a national hero. Elected US President, 1848.
"Campbellsville High School after construction completion, 9/9/1940."
(Goodman-Paxton Photographic Collection, 1934-1942, Kentuckiana Digital Library)
Taylor County/Campbellsville Websites
Taylor County Tourism Commission
MapStats Links for Taylor County Kentucky
Campbellsville Kentucky - Detailed Profile
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Taylor County, the 100th county in order of formation, was founded on March 1, 1848, with Campbellsville as its county seat. It is named in honor of General Zachary Taylor, soldier and President of the United States.
Campbellsville, established in 1817, is considered one of the more important manufacturing, medical and recreational centers of south-central Kentucky. It is named for the family of Andrew Campbell, one of five brothers who migrated from Augusta County, Virginia to operate a gristmill on Buckhorn Creek. The trustees of Campbellsville sold the public square as a courthouse site to the county for one dollar, and a courthouse was erected in 1848.
Source: Kentucky Encyclopedia, K 976.9003 Kent
Taylor County Trivia
According to old will books dating from 1848, the first year of the county's history, on up to 1870, these prominent family names are credited as some of the first founders of Taylor County:
| Atkinson | Fawcett | Richeson |
| Allen | Fleece | Robinson |
| Bailey | Gabehart | Roberts |
| Benningfield | Gaddie | Sanders |
| Bowen | Hackley | Skaggs |
| Buchanan | Hash | Shively |
| Buckner | Hazelwood | Smith |
| Burress | Hiestand | Spurling |
| Campbell | Hubbard | Sublett |
| Cave | Kerr | Tate |
| Chandler | Kirtley | Thompson |
| Cowherd | Lemmon | Tucker |
| Davidson | Mann | Underwood |
| Davis | Mardis | Wise |
| Dearen | Marshall | Williams |
| Durrett | Puryear | Wilson |
| Edrington | Parrott | Willson |
Source: Early Taylor County History, K976.967 NESB
Family History and Taylor County Research Resources
Below are some resources available at KDLA for genealogists and researchers interested in the Taylor County area.
County Clerk records
- Agency history
- Articles of incorporation books (indexed) - 1912-1993
- Administrator's bonds books (indexed) - 1850-1977
- List of executors and administrators books - 1848-1864
- Executor's bonds books (indexed) - 1848-1887 and 1950-1977
- Committee's bonds book (indexed) - 1952-1978
- Committee's and trustee's bonds book - 1876-1952
- Guardian's bonds books (indexed) - 1848-1977
- List of guardians books - 1848-1909
- Public official's bonds books (indexed) - 1849-1853, 1867-1974, and 1978
- Occupational bonds books (indexed) - 1874-1973
- General cross indexes to deeds - 1848-1945 and 1947-1977
- General indexes to deeds - grantee - 1848-1947
- General indexes to deeds - grantor - 1848-1947
- Deed books - 1848-1993
- General index to commissioners deeds - grantee - 1877-1900
- General index to commissioners deeds - grantor - 1877-1900
- Commissioner's deed books (indexed) - 1872-1973
- Reports of commissioners' of division of land (indexed) - 1879-1932
- Record of the board of election commissioners - 1934-1985
- Indenture of apprenticeship book - 1848-1877
- Inventory, appraisement and sale bill books (indexed) - 1848-1977
- Lunatic inquest books - 1886-1918
- Marriage bond books (indexed) - 1848-1851 and 1866-1900
- Marriage books (indexed) - 1851-1993
- Marriage registers - 1848-1851 and 1860-1879
- Freedmen's declaration of marriage - 1866-1875
- Medical registers (indexed) - 1888-1978
- Memorandum book - 1864-1876
- Militia book - 1861-1864
- Mineral lease books (indexed) - 1897-1989
- Miscellaneous books - 1920-1993
- General cross index to mortgages - 1848-1890
- General index to mortgages - mortgagee - 1848-1901
- General index to mortgages - mortgagor - 1848-1901
- Mortgage books - 1848-1963
- Order books (indexed) - 1848-1985
- General cross index to real estate conveyances - 1977-1981
- Road orders books (indexed) - 1880-1925
- Settlement books (indexed) - 1870-1978
- Sheriff's additional tax lists - 1913
- Sheriff's land sold for taxes books (indexed) - 1882-1938
- Tax assessment books - 1849-1874 and 1879-1892
- Board of supervisor's revised assessments book - 1917-1941
- Will books (indexed) - 1848-1992
Circuit Court records
- Agency history
- Reports of Grand Jury - 1966-1974
- Order books (indexed) - 1848-1886
Fiscal Court records
- Order books - 1893-1986
- Sheriff's settlements with Fiscal Court book (indexed) - 1875-1918