The county was named in 1819 for Col. John Todd, who was born in Pa. in 1750, fought in the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, came to Kentucky in 1775, served in the Va. legislature in 1776 and again in 1780, joined the expedition led by Gen. George Rogers Clark that captured the Illinois country from the British in 1778, was named Civil Commandant of Illinois County, procured land-grants for public schools, and was killed at Blue Licks in Aug. 1782.