Dr. James Oliver Jenkins & The Jenkins Hospital
Newport, Kentucky
Submitted by
Kyle Randall 25 Jan 2013
James Oliver Jenkins was born in Cincinnati on August 8th
, 1851 to William & Lemarian Jenkins. James went to the public schools in Cincinnati before briefly pursuing a career in electro-plating. He soon after began work as an assistant librarian at the Public Library of Cincinnati. During his time at the library, he began taking an interest in medical studies. By the Fall of 1873, Jenkins had enrolled in the Ohio Medical College. He graduated with honors in 1882, and immediately moved across the river to Newport to begin his practice.His first Newport residence was 170 Isabella St. and his office was at 119 Isabella St. both of these locations would be under the earthen levee today. The following year, in 1883, Dr. Jenkins married Mary Ann Clark (b-19 Nov 1851, d. 18 July 1923). The couple had one son (Robert) and three daughters Ruth, Grace, and Helen who died of pneumonia in 1886.
By 1892, Dr. Jenkins had established himself as a notable figure in Campbell County. He contributed to leading medical journals (eschewing the common treatment of blood-letting) and was reputed to be one of the finest general practitioners in Northern Kentucky. When the Campbell County Health Center opened that year, Dr. Jenkins was an obvious choice to serve on the board and in 1893, he was also elected President of the Board of Education in Newport.
Prior to the opening of the Phythian Hospital at 810 Washington Ave in the early 1890s, there were no civilian hospitals in Campbell County. Urgent medical needs had to be treated at the military hospital at the Newport Barracks (this is the site of Gen. James Taylor Park now). Dr. J. L. Phythian died in 1896, so it's possible that he was no longer able to operate his hospital by 1895 or earlier.
Phythian Hospital-810 Washington
Speers Memorial Hospital in Dayton, KY operated from 1897 to 1973.
Because of the need for another civilian hospital in Newport, Dr. Jenkins founded the Jenkins Hospital in 1895 with Dr. E. B. Bayliss at the NE corner of 7th & Isabella. The hospital had an operating unit on the first floor and a ward of five or six beds on the second floor. At the time, hospitals did not admit people with contagious diseases. State law mandated that people with contagious diseases be quarantined at what were called pesthouses. The Campbell County pesthouse was located in Cold Springs near where the Lakeside Place nursing home stands now.
Jenkins Hospital at 625 Isabella St. The building later served as apartments.
The same corner today: All of the buildings have been demolished and ranch style houses were erected in their place in 1986.
Jenkins Hospital closed after 2 years, coinciding with the opening of Speers Hospital in Dayton, KY, of which Dr. Jenkins was a charter member. Jenkins went on to become the President of the Speers Hospital Training School for Nurses. The old Jenkins Hospital building served as Dr. Jenkins' office, where he kept regular office hours of 1-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. until 1912 when he opened a new office at 29 W. 8
th St.
Dr. Jenkins lived at 818 Isabella St. from 1895 to 1907.
Dr. Jenkins lived at 839 Washington Ave. (next to St. Stephens Catholic Church) from 1908 to 1924.
By September of 1910, many Newport residents had grown weary of the long, rough road to Dayton's Speers Hospital for treatment and Dr. Jenkins was plotting the next incarnation of the Jenkins Hospital. He enlisted architect Louis H. Wilson to build a 2-story brick hospital. This new hospital was to contain 9 rooms, a large consultation room, an operating room, two bathrooms, and a private office. It's not clear why, but the second Jenkins Hospital was never built. The hospital was to be located on 8
th St, between York and Columbia. By 1910, the only plots not accounted for were 15 and 17 W. 8th St, behind the present day York St. Cafe to the corner at Putnam St.
Planned site of the second Jenkins Hospital –15 & 17 W. 8th St. 15 W. 8th St (covered in ivy) was later built in 1915. 17 W. 8th St. (at corner) was built in 1916.
On July 18th
1923, Dr. Jenkins' first wife, Mary Clark died. He remarried nearly two years later on July 1st 1925 to Caroline (Carrie) Orr and they moved into his office at 29 W. 8th St., where Dr. Jenkins would continue to keep regular hours of 8-9 a.m., 1-3 p.m., and 7-8 p.m.Newport lost their most distinguished physician and a respected community leader on January 23
rd, 1927 when Doctor James Oliver Jenkins passed away at his residence. He was 75 and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
29 W. 8th St. – Final office and residence of Dr. Jenkins
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 1 July 1896, page 5
Rialto Senate KAEO, elected officers Tuesday night; Trustee, Dr. J O Jenkins.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 16 July 1896, page 5
Clara Glazer, 11, was brought into the Newport Police Court Thursday in a shocking physical condition. The police brought her father, Tony Glazer and a one legged man named Joseph Jackson to the bar and questioned them closely. The men and the girl came down from Dayton O. a few days ago and the girl was placed in Dr. J O Jenkins private hospital for treatment.
When the doctor discovered the nature of the girls disease he notified police. The girl was sent back to Dayton for treatment and the two men were detained.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 4 September 1896, page 5
John McDermott fell through a skylight at M J Costigans livery stable on East Fourth street, Thursday and received severe injuries. He was taken to his home on Patterson Street and Dr. Jenkins summoned.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 28 September 1896, page 5
An association to be known as the Northern Kentucky Medical Association was organized Saturday at the residence of Dr. W A Young. Dr. C B Schoolfield of Dayton, was elected President; Dr. J O Jenkins, Vice President; Dr. L C Wadsworth, Secretary; Dr. J G Herman, Recording Secretary and Dr. F H Southgate, Treasurer.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 3 October 1903, page 5
Miss Macon, one of the trained nurses at Speers Hospital in Dayton, was operated on Friday by Dr. J L Phythian and Dr. J O Jenkins for blood poisoning.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 28 November 1903, page 5
Mayor Nelson sent in the name of James Arnold for Water Works Commissioner, to succeed Dr. J O Jenkins whose term expired last May. Dr. Jenkins has made an excellent record in the Water Works since he has been in charge and Mayor elect Helmbold and the Alderman desire he remain on the board.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 3 October 1906, page 3
The first of the fall series of lectures were delivered before the Nurses Training School at Speers Hospital by Dr. J O Jenkins. There are 17 in the class.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 15 April 1925, page 2
Dr. W E Senour, Dr. J L Phythian and Dr. J O Jenkins, trustees of Speers Hospital filed petition in Campbell County Circuit Court asking permission to issue $25,000 worth of bonds to be used clearing the indebtedess on the new Nurses Home erected last summer.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 24 January 1927, page 12
Funeral services for Dr. J O Jenkins, 75, who had practiced medicine in Campbell co. Ky. for 45 years will be conducted late Wednesday at St Paul Episcopal Church by Rev Frank E Cooley, rector. Dr. Jenkins, who died Sunday at his home, 19 W Eighth st. was president of the Nurses Trainig School of Speers Hospital. He once was president of the Newport Board of Education.
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