From the Introduction...

This book is dedicated to all the friends of the City of Walton. We have put together some stories and pictures for your enjoyment. Hopefully, to bring back to mind some pleasant memories for some and record some for the future. The past and present articles and pictures are compiled to observe our 150th Anniversary.

L and N Railroad Station Walton

Walton was the largest town in Boone County. There was no US 25. The now US 25 was Lexington Pike. This was mostly a dirt and rock road. To travel to Covington round trip would take a full day by horse and wagon. Merchants would start the trip around 4a.m. They would bring such staple foods as flour, sugar and coffee.

L and N Railroad was a local drop-off for furniture and large items from Sears and Roebuck. L and N was a passenger and freight line. In the picture of the double tracks, the train is on the main track. The track to the left is a switch track so trains could pass on busy days.

Abner Gaines House -- Gault House

Each small town has its own history and beginning. Walton is no different. The city of Walton found its origin in the travel westward by many of the early pioneers. Settlement was the goal of these traveling individuals. For Abner Gaines, settlement was his purpose as he decided to move in 1785 and build his home in what is now known as Walton.

Moving to the wilderness of the state of Kentucky, Abner Gaines chose a piece of ground located only twenty miles from Cincinnati. Upon this site he built a log cabin with the help of his family and slaves. A short time later, Colonel Gaines, as he was now called, cleared land in order to build a bigger log cabin for his growing family.

Mr. Walton, a well-to-do steamboat captain, came on horseback to visit with his friend Abner Gaines. Finding the Colonel building a log cabin, Mr. Walton suggested a brick house instead. Upon discovering the Colonel was not in the financial status to build such an expensive home, Mr. Walton soon offered to pay for the building of a brick house, telling the Colonel to pay him back at a more convenient time. It was for this generosity that Colonel Gaines named his small village Walton, after Mr. Walton, who had made his beautiful home possible.

Walton School

Before 1800 there was a County public grade school at the corner of Beaver Grade and Stephenson Mill Road. The first school to offer High School subjects was a private school started by a Mrs. Clara Myers. In 1883 a Mr. Henry Newton was a "Teacher of the Select School, offering all branches of Mathematics and a regular course of thorough instruction." In 1902 this private school became a public school. It was located on S. Main Street just north of the Walton Christian Church and known for years as the Ryle property.

a 12-year public school, built in 1901 located on N. Main Street, now an apartment building, had the first high school in Boone County. There were four graduates in the first class of 1902; none in 1903, but there has been a graduating class every year since. A Mr. William Ransler was very active in getting this Walton public school started.

• Introduction
• Dedication Poem
• Cover Story
• Dignitaries
• City Hall
• City Council
• City Employees
• Police Department
• L&N Railroad
• Atlas
• Old Map
• New Map
• Voters, 1851
• Abner Gaines House
• Civil War
• Memorial Plaque
• CCC
• Community Public Service
• Walton Advertiser
• Churches
• Walton Schools
• City Services
• Disasters
• Some Outstanding Citizens
• Businesses
• Pictures
• Chambers & Grubbs
• Clarion
• IGA
• Flying J
• Pictures
• Old Fashion Day
• Community Park
• Birthday Celebration
• Sponsors
• Prayer
• Tid Bits from Walton's History