Marker #678 Founder of Edmonton

Historical Marker #678 “Founder of Edmonton” is named after Edmund Rogers, Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia, arrived in Kentucky in 1783 as a surveyor with his cousin, George Rogers Clark. While surveying, he selected a spot for himself around the South Fork of Little Barren River. By the early 1800s, this area became known as Edmonton, a community that was named for him.

As a soldier in Virginia, Rogers served in the capture of British Gen. Charles Cornwallis and the battles of Jamestown, Green Springs, and the siege of York, all in Virginia. Although Congress had funded pensions for Revolutionary War veterans, Rogers refused to apply for one.

Rogers began surveying north of the Ohio River with Clark in 1783 and worked his way toward the Green River. According to the Metcalfe County Historical Society, Rogers felt that divine intervention led him his homestead. While surveying, he supposedly fell off a log into a creek. John Shirley lived in the area and Rogers went to Shirley’s home to dry off his clothes and surveying records. There, he met Shirley’s daughter, Mary.

Because Rogers’ surveying papers were wet, he returned to a local station to salvage his work. He met another surveyor and traded papers and land warrants for the area known as “Edmunton”.

Rogers is often described as a man of great character who acted kindly toward others and held a strict love of justice. In fact, he served as justice of the peace in Barren County but resigned after becoming disillusioned with the proceeding of his first trial. He resolved to never hold office again and kept to his word. Rogers passed away in 1843 and was buried on his farm.