Jamestown History
Condensed from an article by Jim Reis in
Pieces of the Past-Volume 3
Jamestown was incorporated on March 1, 1848. The plat was dated three days later and filed in Campbell County records. According to the state charter, the founding fathers were James T. Berry, James M McArthur and Henry Walker.
Berry was a grandson of James Taylor, founder of Newport and the father of Albert S Berry, who became a congressman. James Berry's wife, Virginia was a daughter of Nathaniel Vice, founder of Visalia. McArthur was a former state representative who became a state senator.
The name "Jamestown" may have simply been in honor of one or more of those men named James or in honor of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Another prime mover in the creation of Jamestown was John N Taliaferro. He also was a state representative.
Jamestown was the eastern section of Dayton bounded on the north by the Ohio River, east by Clay Street, south by Seventh Street and west by Clark Street. Named as trustees by the state charter were John Richards, Hubbard Helm, Lewis Thacker, Hiram Shellcross, Samuel Masters and John Baltson. They were to serve until the second Monday in March 1848, when all white male inhabitants of the town were to meet to elect new trustees. Similar elections were to be held each March.
The plat also included a "reserved" lot at the foot of Main Street, apparently for a ferry dock. Berry, McArthur and Walker had specified in the incorporation agreement that they retained the right to operate a ferry in Jamestown. The incorporation also called for the trustees to plant "a large stone deep in the ground at every corner of the boundary line of" the new town.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 April 1849, page 3
We find there are other improvements going forward besides those that are right in our midst. Some of our enterprising citizens, flattered with the success that has attended the little village of Jamestown, a couple of miles up the river, on the Kentucky side, have resolved to lay out another on the Ohio side.
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By the 1850s, the trappings of a civilized community were taking hold. A ferry was operating from the foot of what is Dayton Street, and ordinances were passed prohibiting nude swimming or bathing in the Ohio River during daylight hours and prohibiting dogs from running loose. Those who violated the bathing/swimming law faced a $1 fine for the first offence, $2 for a second and $5 for any subsequent conviction. The dog ordinance gave people the right to shoot dogs they saw running loose in the city and to bill the owner for the expense of removing the dead carcass.
Peddlers also were required to obtain a license before selling anything in Jamestown, and anyone with a stagnant pool of water on their property was ordered to remove it for heath reasons.
The First Baptist Church was organized in May 1850, a Presbyterian church in March 1851, St. Francis Catholic Church in 1852 and a Methodist church in 1853. One of the older cemeteries is the St. Francis Cemetery. The cemetery is no longer in use and is located on the hill above Kentucky 8, near the F&N Steakhouse. St. Francis Church no longer exists.
It suffered a setback in 1877 when its pastor was accused of forging the name of Campbell County Sheriff Hubbard Helm on a $3800 note. The pastor disappeared and creditors tried to lay claim to the church building to regain their loses. In the end, the Diocese of Covington purchased the church building and property. The parish continued until 1913. But a new church was built and the parish is now at St. Bernard Church.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 February 1859, page 2
NEWPORT NEWS
Commonwealth vs. Jacob Haas, for keeping a disorderly house in Jamestown. Verdict, not guilty.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 April 1859, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
The prospect for the completion of the bridge over Taylor's Creek is now fairer than ever and it is a consummation devoutly to be wished. One of the arches has been finished by Mr. Mosely and was yesterday morning brought over and the other will soon arrive.
The travel is so great between this point and Jamestown that the sooner we can have the bridge to cross over the better.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 27 September 1859, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
Sheriff Helm, in accordance with an announcement made several weeks ago, proceeded on Saturday last to make sale of the steamer Judge McClare, lying in the Licking, just below the bridge. She brought the sum of $4805 and was purchased by Messrs. Casey, Hyne & Co.
The Jamestown ferry boat was subsequently sold at the landing, at that place, to Messrs. Mayer & Walker, of New Richmond Ohio, for the sum of $346.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 28 October 1859, page 3
On Tuesday night last some chicken thief made a descent upon the premises of Charley Stone, the efficient Constable of Jamestown and stole all his chickens in one fell swoop.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 4 November 1859, page 3
POACHERS BACK OF JAMESTOWN-There were on Monday or Tuesday last, four men arraigned before Esquire Luken, for trespassing on the manors of the farmers in that region with the foul intent to shoot their chickens and turkeys. They were fined two dollars each and when paid their guns were given up to them.
On Monday night last, a fellow who had been lurking about Jamestown during the day disappeared soon after dark with a fine horse belonging to Billy Waters. Officer Charley Stone, accompanied by Waters, got on his trail and followed him on foot as far as the mouth of the Four mile Creek, where they came so lose upon him that he dismounted from the horse, leaving him in the road and taking to the woods made his escape.
Though they will not e enabled to fasten the theft upon him, he will be arrested should he return and be confined in the city jail for vagrancy.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 12 February 1860, page 3
A number of young ladies and gentlemen of Jamestown and Brooklyn, have organized a Theatrical Reading Club, for their own improvement and amusement. The society, so far has indeed been a source of improvement to many of them and should be encouraged by the citizens of the aforesaid towns.
Dr. W F Taft is one of the prominent leaders in this movement. The meeting last Friday evening was a very pleasant one. The regular meeting of the Club will be held hereafter on Thursday instead of Friday night.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 6 November 1860, page 3
The Jamestown Meeting-The Douglas Democracy of Jamestown on Saturday night last had a large meeting at Kulhman's Hall and there seemed to be a good deal of enthusiasm among the crowd. A speech was made by Colonel Geo W Fearons, at the close of which three cheers were given for Douglas.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 26 January 1861, page 2
We were yesterday informed by one of our intelligent citizens that Mr. McArthur, resident of Jamestown, left home on Tuesday last for Cincinnati, in the expectation of returning at night. Our informant states that he has not been heard from since and as he was known to have considerable money with him, it is feared he has been foully dealt with.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 26 June 1861, page 2
NEWPORT
QUITE A RIOT IN JAMESTOWN-Some fellows from Camp Clay, among whom were Philip Kennedy, of the Montgomery Regiment, William Bricker and, Patrick White, paid a visit to Jamestown on Sunday last, and contrived to kick up a general row, during which they engaged in a quarrel with each other.
Kennedy, while in the act of beating Bricker, was secured by Esquire Lukens and some friends, when he drew a knife upon the Esquire and inflicted a cut upon him; also cutting a small boy standing close by. the whole party were finally secured, brought down to this city Monday morning and examined before Judge F A Boyd. That official fined Kennedy $25 and costs, and the other two $5 each and costs, in default of which the whole party were committed.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 12 September 1861, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
Messrs. W P Eagan, T J Nelson, and Geo Grants have opened a recruiting office in Coleman's Building in Jamestown, for the purpose of recruiting a company for Colonel Mark Munday's Regiment. From all appearances, Colonel Munday will soon be able to parade a full regiment in camp.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 8 October 1861, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
A camp has been commenced at Jamestown, two miles above this city, where it is proposed to organize a regiment. About three hundred men are ready to go into camp at once and the regiment is rapidly filling up. Great inducements are offered to those desiring to enlist. Gustavus Artsman is in charge of the camp, which is called in compliment to the Representatives from Campbell County, Camp Webster.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 20 October 1861, page 3
NEWPORT NEWS
Captain W G Halpin, commandant of the Meagher Guards, has withdrawn his company from the Fiftieth Ohio Regiment and transferred it to Camp Webster, at Jamestown. Halphin is desirous of procuring a few more recruits and as they are sure of a month's pay in advance, and clothing as soon as their names are entered upon the pay roll, we presume hewill have no trouble in filling up his company.
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During the Civil War, the allegiance of most Northern Kentucky communities was divided. Many residents were devoted to the southern cause. Helm, the former Jamestown trustee who later became sheriff, was arrested and spent time in a prison in Louisville. He was accused of telling Union troops who passed through Northern Kentucky on the way to fight Confederates in the South that he hoped they would never return alive.
After the war, crime put Jamestown in the news. On December 16, 1865, the body of an infant was found in the St. Francis Cemetery. The account said the body, which appeared to have been about a week old, showed "marks of violence." The parents were a common-law couple and the mother had disappeared, but the father was found, arrested and charged with the murder.
Jamestown elected a board of trustees in March 1866. George Maxwell was elected mayor and the trustees were M R Harris, James Kesler, Theodore Kuvens, Martin Betsch, J K Edwards and Charles Clark. A month later it was announced that Jamestown and Brooklyn were talking merger. Jamestown approved it 97 to 5, and Brooklyn voted 51 to 6.
A Cincinnati newspaper account on July 4, 1866
said the name selected was "Dayton". The writer added, "We predict at some
future day she will rival the beautiful city in Ohio after which she was named."
Dayton was created March 9, 1867 when Governor Thomas E Bramlette signed the act
merging the two cities. The first meeting of the new Dayton council was on
March 12, 1867.