JOHN H. JENKINS is a son of Nimrod Jenkins, a native of Ohio County,
Ind., who was born June 9, 1816. He was reared on the farm, receiving little
education in school, but being a young man of bright intellect and quick and
accurate observation, he acquired a fair practical education and made a fair
success of his life. In 1856 he placed all his house hold goods, horses,
cattle and hogs, on a flatboat and floated down the broad and beautiful Ohio
River to Cave in Rock, Ill., where he bought a piece of timbered land and
began to improve a farm. He was married in 1846 to Margaret Cooper, a
daughter of John W. Cooper, a native of Maryland. To this marriage were born
seven children, only two of whom are now living, William G. and the subject
of the sketch. The former is now living in Hardin County, engaged in
farming. The father died in Hardin County, March 20, 1873, but the widow,
since then married to James Rose, is still living on the old homestead. John
H. Jenkins was born in Ohio County, Ind., on the 24th. of November, 1852. In
the summer months he assisted his father on the farm and in the winter
attended school. At the age of eighteen years his father gave him one day
out of each week for his own use and he devoted this time to the raising of
a crop of wheat, which he sold for $65. This money he used to pay his
expenses at Ewing College for six months; he then taught four years in the
country schools, after which he attended the State Normal School at
Carbondale for two years. Returning to Elizabethtown he taught two sessions
of school in that town, and then attended the State Normal School at
Bloomington, Ill., for one year. Again returning to Elizabethtown, he taught
two sessions of school and in the year 1881 was appointed County
Superintendent of Schools for one year by the County Commissioners, after
which time he was elected to the same position for four years, in the
meantime attending the State Normal School at Carbondale, Ill., for one
year, and graduating in 1884. After his graduation he held the position of
Principal of the school at Elizabethtown for one year, and then engaged as a
merchant in the same place. Relinquishing that business at the end of a
year, he taught for another three years in Elizabethtown, and for one year
at Halstead, Kan., and then returned to this place and accepted the position
of Principal of Schools, which position he still holds. Mr. Jenkins was
married April 8, 1885 to Mattie E. Wilkerson, widow of Charles Wilkerson, an
attorney of Elizabethtown. Her maiden name was Smith and she is a daughter
of Dr. W.E. Smith, of Benton, Ill. Mr. Jenkins and his wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Elizabeth Lodge No.
276, A.F. & A.M., and also of Empire Lodge No. 54, I.O.O.F. In politics, he
is a member of the Democratic party. In social circles, our subject is
widely and favorably known for his earnest purpose, useful activity and
integrity, and is a credit to Elizabethtown, for whose support and
advancement he has long used both his influence and finance. [1898. The
Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties, Illinois,
Chicago, Biograhical Publishing Co. 616]
Submitted by Wanda (Patton) Reed
| Saline | Gallatin | Union KY |
| Pope |
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| Livingston KY Crittenden KY | ||
