Richard Parks Bland

Historical marker location:

Hartford, Kentucky

( Ohio Co. Mus., 415 Mulberry St., Hartford)

This fiery native son of Hartford, later a Missouri congressman for 24 years, embraced bimetallism, or "Free Silver," as solution to widespread indebtedness. "Silver Dick" (1835-99), a noted orator, also denounced monopolies, high protective tariff, and imperialism. Richard Parks Bland was forerunner of another famous champion of "Free Silver," William Jennings Bryan.