Although there is no record, it is quite likely that Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played chess during his time as a soldier during the American Civil War, and he may even have developed his gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+) then.
It is also quite possible that Jerome encountered (or played) what is now known as the "Scholar's Mate", 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qh5, with a look toward 4.Qxf7#; although he may have known it at the time as the Kentucky Opening (see "Kentucky Opening" Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 as well as "The Kentucky / Danvers Opening").
Following the Kentucky, if Black defended with 3...Qe7, White would still have the gambit 4.Bxf7+ Qxf7 5.Qxe5+, winning two pawns for the piece, as in the Jerome. The difficulty with this line, however, is that Black can answer with 5...Qe7, and after the exchange of Queens Black's King can still castle to safety.
In casual or club play, someone more skilled with pawns than his opponent was skilled with piece play might still be able to hold on with White; but one can already see, as AWJ may well have, that the Jerome Gambit would, at least in one way, be an "improved Kentucky Opening".
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