200th year Birthday of Edmonson County
Photo | Lynn Bledsoe – Ella Lindsey, Mae Warnell and Asher Warnell.
Lynn Bledsoe
Gimlet Editor
Edmonson County Historical Society held the 200th birthday for Edmonson County on Jan. 18, 2025. The celebration was held in the Edmonson County Circuit Courtroom and was open to the public.
Greg Hudson, Edmonson County Historical Society President along with Laura Lindsey provided the event. A beautiful cake was made by Tiffany Scoots and Warnell’s Soda Shop provided the food trays.
Rep. Michael Meredith was on hand to read the Edmonson poem written by John A. Logan. Logan was a former county attorney, congressman and publisher. Meredith stated he is a 9th generation Edmonson Countian and proud to be a part of this county and community. Meredith went on to inform everyone of how Edmonson County has impacted the nation; a US Senator, a US Congressman, multiple State Senators, multiple State Attorney Generals and too numerous to count State Representatives and even a former Governor of Tenn.
Former Judge Exec. and historian Wil Cannon gave a brief history on how Kentucky was founded and The First Kentucky Rifle Regiment. In 1812 John Edmonson formed the 1st KY Rifle Regiment. Edmonson had served with his father in the Revolutionary War. Edmonson then resigned his Captain commission to allow Richard Bledsoe to become Capt. The 1st KY Rifle Regiment went to serve in the Battle of River Raisin (Frenchtown). They were sent to fight native Indians, French and Canadians to repel the British out of the new United States. General Winchester surrendered but the 1st Regiment did not receive word for 2 more hours holding Frenchtown. During this battle John Edmonson was killed in battle.
In 1825 when Edmonson County was to be formed John Edmonson’s name was put forth as a suggestion for the county name. Wil Cannon believed that Richard Bledsoe put forth Edmonson’s name and that the name was a misspelling because John’s father’s name was spelled Edmiston according to Revolutionary War records.
Photo | Lynn Bledsoe – Judge Exec. Scott Lindsey
Judge Exec. Scott Lindsey spoke last and said he loved learning about Edmonson County history and 200 years later he gets to stand before everyone and speak on behalf of residents. He then read the proclamation celebrating the 200 years of Edmonson County.
Wil invited anyone to come to the Historical Society meetings, held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00pm at the public library, to hear more stories and learn more about the history of Edmonson County.
Videos of the full speeches can be watched on The Edmonson News Face book page.
