Adolphus Jenkins, 1826-1886

JENKINS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/9/2009 at 10:34:00

Death of Adolphus Jenkins

The death of another Emmet county pioneer was announced Monday as having occurred the evening previous [3 Oct 1886 in Swan Lake.] Although in failing health for the past ten years and unable to take an active part in business, he has been an interested observer and participant so far as circumstances would permit of all matters of public import. Born in New York [Cohockton, Steuben county] a little over sixty years ago [12 Feb 1826], after living in Michigan and Minnesota for some years, he finally moved to this county in the spring of 1857. Upon the organization of the county in 1860 he was elected county judge; at the time when that official performed the duties now exercised by the Board of Supervisors, and to the very last he had great interest in this county and was always hopeful for its future.

At an early date he became interested in the mill property at this point, adding to and improving from time to time, and for some years the Jenkins mill at Estherville was the only mill in all this region--farmers coming here from Humboldt county. It was in this line of business he contracted the asthma, finally one of the causes of his death.

He was a man of varied attainments having been a student all his life, and there were few questions of public interest he had not a decided opinion upon--often in advance of his associates.

The family consisting of wife and six children have the sympathy of a host of friends in their bereavement. [His wife's maiden name was Lydia Ellen Davis.]

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Northern Vindicator, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, October 8, 1886 and Jenkins family records.