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BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
1798
PIONEER and GENERAL HISTORY of
GEAUGA COUNTY
with
SKETCHES OF
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men.
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County,
1880
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Newbury -
WELCOME A. JENKS was born in
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Sept. 15, 1797. His father died when he
was three years old, leaving him to the care of a mother of ten
children, most of whom were young.
He was put to work in the first cotton factory erected
in america, at the early age of six years, working for two shillings per
wee. He remained in the same factory until fourteen years of age,
when he removed to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with his uncle, with
whom he lived the first year. He then worked for Simeon Hodge
until he was twenty-one.
He arrive in Newbury Feb. 23, 1819, having come from
Massachusetts on foot, in company with Charles Dunham, their
journey occupying about twenty day' time. He brought most of his
worldly possessions in a knapsack on his back.
Soon after their arrival, they, together, bought a farm
one mile east of the center of the town; worked there two years, then
they gave up the place, and he went to work by the month, in Mentor,
working one year for Colonel Nathan Corning, and one year
for Asa Webster, at ten dollars per month, and saving one
hundred dollars per year. After working till the fourth of July,
on the second year, for Webster, he returned to Rhode Island, and worked
one year; then came to Mentor and worked part of a year for Mr.
Hodges; then went the second time to Rhode Island, and worked
three years for a Mr. Dexter. He arrived again in Newbury
on presidential election day, 1828, and came to the farm he now
occupies, the following February.
On Apr. 28, 1830, he married E. Jenette Jackson,
daughter of John Jackson, one of the earliest settlers of
Auburn. They have always resided on the same farm where they now
are; have raised three children - two girls and one boy. Sarah
married H. L. Canfield, and died soon after; Lola married
Edwin Robinson, jr., and has one son, Harry, and lives in
Auburn. Mr. Jenks and wife united with the Methodist
Episcopal church in 1834, and have always been members of the church
since.
Mr. Jenks was a Whig in politics in an
early day, and has been connected with the Republican party, but is not
given to arguing politics.
He came to this country in an early day, and has seen
the early settlements change into an old and well settled country,
always earning his bread by the sweat of his brow on the farm and in the
woods. When a lad of fourteen he could neither read nor write, but
after that by earnest application of his time in the years he was in
Massachusetts, he acquired a passable education.
He has always been a jovial, honest, hard-working, good
citizen, well liked by his neighbors and friends, of which he has many.
He has lived to see most of the early settlers of Newbury pass away,
there being but three of his early associates now residing in town,
viz.: David Walker, Jotham Houghton, and
Mrs. Calislia Parker.
His son, Edward J., was born Aug. 25, 1832.
His father, seeing the convenience of an education, tried to give him a
chance at school, but in his early life he was a very dull and careless
scholar; he would rather play than study. But in later years he
did a little better. In the winters of 1853 and 1854 he taught
school in his own district, afterwards teaching in southern Ohio and
Illinois, having taught ten terms in all with very good success.
He was married to Ann Canfield in 1856,
and has a family of five girls - Jennie, Sarah, Lola,
Flora, and Zue. In 1863 they moved to Illinois, and
remained five years; from there to Iowa, and lived five years; then
returned to Newbury, and now lives on the old homestead with his father.
Edward J. has always been a Republican in politics, and has
held a reasonable share of township and school offices in the States
where he has resided.
Source:
1798 Pioneer and General History of Geauga County
with Sketches of
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. -
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880 - Page 253 |
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Burton - 1833.
CALEB JOHNSON
Source:
1798 Pioneer and General History of Geauga County
with Sketches of
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. -
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880 - Page
578 |
NOTES:
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