Biography - WILLIAM H. JENKINS

One of the most extensive landowners and successful agriculturists of Macoupin county is William H. Jenkins, whose homestead is located in North Otter township. Born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, on the 8th of July, 1851, he is the eldest child born to Nicholas and Harcalana (Connell) Jenkins. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Mississippi, but she was reared in the Blue Grass state and there she was also married. They had ten children, those beside our subject being: Isaac, Robert and Lucy, all of whom are deceased; Annie, the wife of W. Lovell, of Morgan county; Jane, who is deceased; Charles and Alice, who were twins, the former a resident of Carlinville, and the latter deceased; Lorraine, the wife of John Evans, of Arkansas; and Eliza, the deceased wife of John Fulmiller, of Sangamon county.

William H. Jenkins obtained his early education in the common schools after which he entered Blackburn University. When he attained his majority he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account, renting land from his father. Subsequent to his marriage he purchased sixty acres of land upon which he erected a residence and made other improvements, adding to his holdings at diverse times until he owned one hundred and forty acres. Later he disposed of this property and purchased some land adjoining his wife’s property, their joint holdings aggregating four hundred and twenty-four acres. Upon this land be has erected a brick residence and made other modern improvements, until it is now one of the most attractive, as well as valuable, properties in the township. His holdings are located on sections 29, 30 and 32 of North Otter township, and section 23 of South Otter township. Here he engages in general farming in connection with which he also raises stock.

On the 15th of July, 1875, Mr. Jenkins married Miss Charity Ellen Hayes, a daughter of Aaron and Sina (Chapman) Hayes. She is one of a family of five children, the others being: John, now deceased; Stewart, who is living in Macoupin county; Jane, the wife of John W. Goode, of this county; and Emma, the deceased wife of E. Parks, also of Macoupin county. To Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have been born eleven children: Arthur, who died in infancy; Della, now the wife of Oliver Conlee, of this county; Osa, the wife of George Lomelino, of Macoupin county; Oscar, deceased; Ray, the wife of James Hamner; Rhoda, the wife of Arthur Hammonds; Charles, deceased; twins who died in infancy; and two others who died in infancy.

Although believers in the Bible, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are not members of any church but give their support to the moral progress of the community. In politics Mr. Jenkins is a democrat but has never sought official honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests and his home.

Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 581-582.