This is the cemetery of Ellisville, the former county seat of Nicholas County. Ellisville used to be a 200 acre farm that was owned by James Ellis. Prior to 1782, James Ellis built a log tavern to protect himself and other pioneers from the attacks of the British and native Americans. It was there, on August 19, 1782, that the Soldiers en route to the battle at blue licks stopped to eat and rest.

In 1804, an Act was passed that moved the county seat of Nicholas County to the farm of James Ellis. Then, he deeded the county the necessary acreage of land, across the road from his home, to build a courthouse and a jail. Later in 1807, James Ellis built his final residence nearby his log tavern. This home was also a tavern that was later a residence of the McClanahan Family. Charles McClanahan, a pioneer who is buried in the cemetery, help move the stones to the site where the Stone Tavern was being built, when he was only 10 years old.

James Ellis sold scores of lots to individuals who wanted to live in the new county seat, and the residents named the area Ellisville in his honor. But the county seat was short lived, for in 1816 another act was passed that moved the county seat from Ellisville to Carlisle. The Courthouse and jail were razed and moved there also. Following its demotion from county seat, progress suffered at Ellisville and many of its businesses shut down.

Although the community was no longer the county seat, it still kept its name and persisted for many decades before it lost all its business. Many families continued living their, and soon Ellisville established a cemetery on the McClanahan's farm for the community to lay their loved ones to rest. Today, the cemetery is privately owned and is not visible when driving down US 68. James Ellis's Stone Tavern still stands to this day and the remains of the pioneers of Ellisville are interred in the cemetery just across the road. A few country homes, The Old Stone Tavern, and fields of tobacco are all that's left of the beautiful little town of Ellisville as we drive down US 68.