Mary J. Ellsworth Jenkins 1822-1912

JENKINS, ELLSWORTH, SMITH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/14/2015 at 19:08:26

Emmet County Couple Married 70 Years
Armstrong Journal: Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Jenkins, who reside two miles south of Armstrong, have lived together in the holy bonds of matrimony longer than any other couple in the state of Iowa, and perhaps in the United States. This worthy couple were married in Woodbine, N.Y., on February 9, 1848, hence on the ninth day of February they will celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary. They are both natives of Jackson [Jefferson] county, New York, and were born in 1822. They came west to Janesville, Wis., in 1860 and in 1904 came to Iowa to be near their daughter, Mrs. E.C. Smith of Armstrong, who is their only living child out of a family of four. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are in good health physically, and Mr. Jenkins, who has full use of his perceptive faculties can recite many interesting reminiscences of early pioneer life in the states of New York and Wisconsin. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 1, 1912)

Armstrong
Mary Ellsworth Jenkins was born in Ellsbury, N.Y., April 18, 1822, and died at the residence of Mrs. E.C. Smith near Armstrong, aged 90 years, 1 mo. and 26 days [June 13, 1912]. [per cemetery records, June 8, 1912] On Feb. 9, 1848, she was united in marriage to Daniel H. Jenkins and four children were born, two dying in infancy. Mrs. Jenkins and husband moved to Wisconsin in 1860 where they lived until 1904 when they moved to Armstrong where they have lived ever since. Mrs. Jenkins long ago joined in the ranks of Christianity, being a consistent member of the Methodist church. Grandma was a whole souled, high in character and ideals, music loving person, and had shared the joys and sorrows of this life with fortitude. On account of the extreme age of the father and husband the funeral services were held at the home, conducted by her pastor, Rev. A. Pruitt, of the Armstrong Methodist church after which the body was laid to rest in Armstrong cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 19, 1912)