James Armstrong, a native of South Carolina, was the first actual settler in the territory of what is now Crittenden County.
Coming to Russellville in 1785, he found the best land already claimed. He then moved on into Western Kentucky.
In 1786 he built a log cabin near the water of Livingston Creek. This twelve-foot log cabin was the first home ever built in Crittenden County by a white man. It had no door and its only window was so high that it was reached by a ladder. The ladder could be pulled inside the cabin for protection from Indians and wild animals.
In 1791 James returned to South Carolina and bought his family back with him. By this time other settlers were entering the area.
As other settlers came into the area a settlement grew up nearby. By about 1787 sixty families were living in the area. The newly formed town was called Centerville.
In 1799 Centerville was established as the county seat of the newly formed county of Livingston. From this date until 1809 Centerville was the seat of government for the area from Christian County to the Mississippi River, and from Webster County to Tennessee.
Because Centerville was the center of the settled territory it grew rapidly. Its buildings included a court house, a jail, a land office, dry good stores, a blacksmith shop, and academy or school, a Presbyterian church, and a loom building.
The jail had a reputation for a place one wouldn't want to be placed.
It was constructed in the ground, being 12 by 14 feet in size and about 8 feet deep. The top was covered with heavy timbers, with an opening in the center covered with a large flat rock which could be removed when prisoners were placed inside. w
When the prisoners were put in they would sometimes try to hold to the sides of the opening to keep from dropping to the floor of the jail.
The officers would keep a short ladder handy, and when they wished to let a prisoner out, they could remove the stone top, and place the ladder down so he could climb out. It is said that the top of the prison resembled the top of a large jug, and that the saying "Putting prisoners in the Jug" probably originated here.
In 1809, Caldwell County was formed from Livingston, and Centerville was no longer the most convenient settlement in Livingston County. The county seat was moved to Salem and Centerville quickly declined.
Today nothing remains and even the once visible rock cornerstones of some of the buildings have been removed by the clearing of the land for farming purposes.
The Kentucky Highway Historical Marker marks the location of the once important town of Centerville. I hope some people will take the time to stop and read the important highway maker that was placed there to try and help preserve the history of the area. (Centerville was located near the Crittenden/Caldwell County line on S. R. 641. This is where the Highway Marker is located.)
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