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community in the entire county, bar none. Prior to the construction of Route 40, or the National Road, there were practically no good, passable roads other than Indian trails. One mud road had been opened from Franklinton (Columbus) west to Urbana, which passed through Jefferson and Canaan Townships somewhere near the Township lines. Somewhat of a road had been cleared between Amity and Georgesville which crossed the National Road. There was a stage coach route running from Circleville in the southeast, northwesterly through New Hampton to the northwest. This road was generally as the Circleville Road.
As important as it was to this area, the National Road in the 1830’s should in no way be compared with the National Road as it exists today. Old pictures taken of this new community show the National Road to be no more than a cleared dirt road, with little or no gravel and certainly no solid foundation. The road consisted simply of the clearing of trees, a little smoothing or grading and a passable dirt road, that is, during good dry weather. In the winter months and the rainy season even this new road was for the most part difficult to travel.
Immediately after the construction of the National Road, the residents of New Hampton, one by one, abandoned their old homes in New Hampton and moved their dwellings to the Town of Jefferson. Reports are that many of the old houses were actually picked up and moved intact to the new location. The old New Hampton Cemetery apparently was still used by the residents of the new Town of Jefferson for several years, as is indicated by the inscriptions on the tomb stones, some bearing dates of death as late as 1881. The last building in the Town of New Hampton to be abandoned was the Baptist Church which had been presided over by Rev. Isaac Jones. When a new Baptist Church was built in the Town of Jefferson, located in the center of Center Street about 175 feet north of Main Street, in or about the year 1840, the old church was abandoned.
The growth of the new Town was phenomenal for the period. Jones First Addition, consisting of Lots Nos. 64 to 82 both inclusive was dedicated by Isaac Jones February 4, 1834 (Plat Book 1 page 9-10); James Burnham Addition was laid out and dedicated September 9, 1835, by James Burnham by adding Nos. 83 to 92 both inclusive. (Plat Book 1 pages 13-14) Mortimore addition was laid out and dedicated November 15, by David Mortimore containing Lots No 1 thro 40 both inclusive. (Plat Book -1 pages 15-16) Hancock addition was laid out and dedicated October 15, 1836 by Jonathn Hanckock containing lots numbered 1 through 13, both inclusive, and located on the north side of Water Street (Plat Record 1 pages a-22), Mortimore and Newmans Addition was laid out and dedicated October 13, 1836, by David Mortimore and John Newman containing lots numbered 42 to 80 both inclusive, located on both sides of Main Street west of Mortimore Addition (Plat Record 1 pages 23-24). Isaac Jones Second Addition was laid out and dedicated April 22, 1837, by Isaac Jones containing but four lots on the north side of Main Street (Plat Book 1 pages 23-24). Burnham and Bliss Addition was laid out and dedicated April 4, 1849 by James Burnham and O. H. Bliss containing nine lots lying north of Water Street and east of West Street (Plat Book 1 pages 31-32). Railroad Addition was laid out and dedicated by Milo Sawyer July 2, 1860 containing 74 lots north of the Little Miami Railroad line (Plat Book 1 pages 45- 46). Fickey Addition was laid out and dedicated October 26, 1872, by William R. Fickey (Plat Book 1 pages 69-70). At this point the Town of Jefferson was laid out principally along Route 40 and the Little Miami Railroad, extending a little over a mile in length from east to west.
Although there were a few log houses that had been built in the new town of Jefferson, the greater part of the houses were actually built of rough sawed and milled lumber. Several of these old houses preserved through the years are still standing to this date.
By far the greatest advance in the community was in the nature of new businesses, trades, manufacturing, and marketing. The first house built in the town was that occupied by Dr. Wilson. The first business house, called the Mantle House, was a hotel, tavern and store operated by a Mr. Dalby. Mr. Dalby was associated with a Mr. Gilmore and apparently continued in Jefferson. John Simpkins, father of Gaines Simpkins was next to open a tavern. The first blacksmith in the town was George W. Lewis who also at one time was the Mayor. The first physician was Dr. David Wilson who ceased practicing about 1855. Benjamin Pike, who had operated a tavern and the Post Office in New Hampton, opened a new tavern. A tavern was opened by a Mr. Atkinson on the State Road about 100 rods north of the residence of John Roberts. A tavern was opened by J. W. Simpkins where the American Hotel stood. It was once claimed that at one time there were at least thirteen taverns or saloons operating.
At one time there were five hotels profitably operating in Jefferson by the following parties: R. S. Nichols, Nathan Patterson, Baltzar Mantle, James Hughes and George Chapman. The "American", one of the finest, was destroyed by fire in 1882. The old stage company, known as Neil Morse and Company, was established at an early date when stages first began to use the old road north of Route 40. When the National Road was built they continued to prosper, added new facilities to the enterprise, running from three to five coaches each way daily through Jefferson greatly increasing, the passenger travel, and making business in the Town lively. The five hotels were, according to the early historians of the area, always thronged with travelers and the streets were always lined with stages and horses. Abraham Hare, a hatter, opened a place of business manufacturing hats. Jeannette Stutson, Crabb, and Parks, a partnership, started two large slaughter houses, killing and butchering most of the pork and cattle in the area. Later on two large grist mills were established by Crabb and Parks who shipped flour and feed to distant parts. There were also two tanneries owned by E. S. Hancock and Baltzar Mantle. Charles C. Jones, one of the sons of Isaac Jones, operated a large wool carding mill. There was a carriage factory, two hardware stores, one undertaker. Several large sawmills were in operation. One large mill was owned by John Mills and another which had been started by Isaac Jones and was located at the easterly end of the large mill pond was sold to Thomas Cartmill who operated it for many years. There were numerous grocery stores, two drug stores, six physicians, one lawyer, several blacksmith shops, a large livery stable, three barbershops, a large dry goods store operated by O. H. Bliss, and several other business places and shops. Also, four Churches were well attended and school was erected.
At this early date the estimated population of the new Town, just four years after its dedication plat had been filed was set at 700 persons. Certainly this is a most remarkable growth and clearly shows the benefit of transportation and what a good road can mean to a hungry and demanding community.
In contrast with the early days before New Hampton, the settlers had a ready market for their products. They had something to exert themselves for. There was religious teaching and schools for the children. Therefore, the lazy, leisurely days of the early nineteenth century, the brawling and contesting of the town bullies was at an end. An era of prosperity had begun, much like the gold rush days in the far west which followed.
The tax duplicate for the year 1833, based on the ownership of lots in the year 1832 shows that the original owners of lots in the original Town were as follows: Orin Adkins, Zekiel Arnett, Aury Brown, John B. Caroney, William Crabb, R. W.Dalby, Daniel Francis, Ira Finch, Wilson Graham, Henry Gates, Ezra Gates, Nehemiah Gates, John Gilmer, Abraham Hare, John Hedges, Isaac Jones, Thomas Nowland, Eli Nowland, Conrad Kirtz, John Mills, John Mills, Jr., Jereniah Olne, Robert Mortimore, John F. Mortimore, Joseph Powars, John W.Simpkins, Alvah Winchester, David Wilson, Samuel South, Washington Lewis, John Lynn, and James Thompson.
It is interesting to note that on this duplicate the total tax valuation of the entire town was only $4886, the tax levy was .008 or 8 mills and the annual tax for all 63 lots for this year was $39.08. Obviously, taxes did not play a major roll in the finances of the period. Since there were no gas, electric, water, sewer, sanitation, or telephone bills, this period must have been what the "old timers" refer to as the "good old days."
The prosperity period of the early 1830's continued for about twenty-five years at an unbelievable pace. However, with the completion of the railroad by about the year 1855, this great prosperity came to an end, and important as it was, the National Road became less controlling of the destiny of Jefferson business and trade. Much of the old stage coach business ceased as passengers and freight could more conveniently, quickly, and economically be carried by rail. The manufactured products could be purchased in the east, and carried by rail much cheaper than the Jefferson establishments could produce them. Some establishments had to close shop, the hotels no longer were crowded with travelers because much longer distances could now be traveled. The period following 1855 to the end of the century could be referred to as the transition period in which Jefferson business had to change its method of operation and adjust to the era of railroad transportation. The frontier prosperity era formerly enjoyed to such a full degree was passed on to communities farther west.
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