JENKS, F. S.

JENKS, MURPHY, NEISTER, JUNKINS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 3/9/2004 at 08:47:54

Biography reproduced from page 203 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

F. S. Jenks is the assistant postmaster at Ledyard, where he has resided for twenty-five years, during which time he has been identified with various business interests and has also actively participated in public affairs. He was born in Boone county, Illinois, April 11, 1950, and there he was likewise reared and educated.

Upon attaining his majority Mr. Jenks left home and went to California, where he remained for about five years. He subsequently returned to the middle west and in 1887 he located in Ledyard, Iowa, and has ever since resided there. There were only two dwellings in the town at that time, and these were owned by William B. Leslie and Gus Erengreen, who were employed by the Dunlap Brothers hay Company, who maintained a large barn here in which they stored their hay. Mr. Jenks obtained employment with this firm, in whose service he remained for four years. At the end of that time he erected a hotel known as the Jenks House, and also a livery stable, which he conducted until they were destroyed by fire in July, 1901. This was a very great calamity to Mr. Jenks, as he lost everything he owned with the exception of some of his horses. He subsequently rebuilt his stable and resumed the livery business, in connection with which he engaged in raising squabs. In January, 1907, he assumed his present duties under his son, Joseph, who was appointed postmaster to succeed W. A. Wright, when the latter was elected county treasurer. Mr. Jenks and his sons have also recently purchased the Ledyard telephone system, comprising twenty-five town phones and four rural lines.

While residing in California Mr. Jenks was married to Miss Katie Murphy, a native of that state, and to them have been born the following children: Fred, who married Blanch Neister, and resides in Ledyard; Alice, the wife of Charles Junkins, of Fort Lupton, Colorado; Joseph, who is postmaster of Ledyard; and Katie, who died at the age of one year and is buried at Bancroft. Mr. and Mrs. Jenks also have eight grandchildren. The sons and daughters of their eldest son Fred are Hattie, Earl, Grace, Ida, Clifford and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Junkins have two children, Frank and Eva.

Fraternally Mr. Jenks is identified with the Masonic order, Yeomen and Homesteaders, while he gives his political support to the republican party. On several occasions he has been called to public office during the period of his residence in Kossuth county. He served for one term as mayor of Ledyard, has also been a member of the school board, and for three or four years was one of the county supervisors, while for some time he discharged the duties of justice of the peace.