County Named, 1819

For Capt. John Simpson, one of the nine officers killed at Battle of River Raisin, Jan. 22, 1813, for whom Ky. counties named. Fought under "Mad Anthony" Wayne, Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794. Settled in Shelby Co., Ky. Speaker of Ky. House, 1811. U.S. Congressman. County formed from Allen, Logan, Warren. "Cut-Off" three-mile strip along Logan Co. added in 1869.

<h5>Reverse</h5>Franklin - When Legislature formed county, it authorized commission to purchase site for county seat. Three owners of land sought to sell site. Water source essential. William Hudspeth dug well here, but it was dry. He hauled water secretly to fill well, sold 62 acres. Water primed well and it was used many years. Town surveyed, 1819, and made county seat by Legislature, Nov. 1820.