Jamestown

Jamestown, also known as Berrien, Jimtown, and Old Jamestown, was just south of Wilds Creek in eastern Smith County three miles north of Overton in Rusk County. The site, settled in 1846, was part of the Edward Pierce survey and was located at the intersection of Mound Indian Trail and the Starrville-Omen Road. In 1853 David and Elizabeth Steber began laying out streets and selling lots at the townsite-with the stipulation that no taverns be opened-and in 1855 the settlement was granted a post office called Berrien; J. B. Hall was postmaster. Hall changed the post office name to Jamestown in 1856, and that same year a Masonic lodge was chartered. By 1858 the community had three blacksmiths, two wagonmakers, two general stores, and a cabinetmaker. The 1860 census listed Thomas Hall, B. F. Skinner, and J. T. Kenedy as teachers in the Jamestown common school. The area was served by five Methodist ministers and one Baptist minister; the twenty-seven members of the Baptist congregation met every two weeks.