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Prominent Local Figures: James Wilkinson

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Similar to the level of involvement Jonathan Dayton had, James Wilkinson’s contributions to Dayton Ohio were mostly in name. Wilkinson, Dayton, Arthur St. Clair, and Israel Ludlow, were the purchasers of the land now known as Dayton, Ohio.Born March 24th, 1757 in Benedict, Maryland, Wilkinson grew up with a sense of superiority over others. He believed that his social standing excused any and all bad behavior on his part. At age 7, Wilkinson’s father died, leaving him with the parting words,

“My son, if you ever put up with an insult, I will disinherit you.”

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The Man who Danced his Way to the Noose

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Sunday, February 16, 1863 – The body of farmer George Lindemuth is found by a pedestrian taking a short cut. His throat had been slashed from ear to ear, and he had been robbed of all valuables.

Police learned that two days prior, Lindemuth had been seen in the company of John W. Dobbins, a well-known troublemaker in the area. Lindemuth had come to Dayton to sell some of his tobacco crop and decided to stay and have some fun before he returned to his farm. He met with Dobbins in a saloon and the two made their rounds in Dayton’s saloons and bars. One bartender reported seeing Lindemuth count his money and remark that he had just over $40 cash. He then asked Dobbins to go with him to the riverbank, where a house of ill-repute was operating. Lindemuth and Dobbins were seen walking toward Water Street (now Monument Avenue) and Jefferson Street.

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Local Street Names – Part 3

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Time for more Dayton street name origins!

  • Ashley Street: Ashley Brown, son-in-law of Colonel Robert Patterson.

  • Schantz Road: Named for Adam Schantz, local brewer.

  • Spinning Road: Isaac Spinning, a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, and a judge in Dayton.

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On this day in 1796…

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In March of 1796, the Thompson party started its journey from Cincinnati to Dayton. Split into two groups, one by land and one by water, they traveled 60 miles, pulling the boat through shallow channels with a rope tied to a tree, sometimes for miles. On land, they lead the Thompson cow that paid for itself in milk.

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