Henry Jenkins was my 4th great grandfather. He was born about 1860 and was the youngest child born to Bridget Guy and Robert ‘Bob’ Jenkins. As I’ve written in previous blog posts, it has been difficult to research Henry because I have not been able to find him in the 1880 US census and I have only found 1 marriage record for Henry–his 1898 marriage to Mary Mathieu.
Henry was recorded as the father of several children: Simon Felix, Oliver, Victoria, Louisa, Henry Jr., Matthew, Lloyd, Profit, Clarence, Agnes, Mary and Maviola. He was recorded on the 1900 US census, living in St Mary Parish, Ward 7, with Mary to whom he’d been married 2 years. He was listed as John Jenkins, instead of Henry. Included in their household were: Victoria, 7; Louisa, 5; and Henry, 3.
The 1900 census added the question regarding how many children a woman had given birth to and how many of those children were still living. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine how many children Henry or any man may have fathered. I obtained social security card applications for 2 of Henry’s sons; Simon Felix Jenkins and Henry Jenkins Jr. This provided me with the names of Henry’s 2 wives: Elsie Edwards and Madeline Charles. As mentioned in an earlier post, I believe that Henry’s earlier wives may have died shortly after giving birth. I could only find Elsie (Alcee) Edwards on the 1870 Iberia Parish census. I found a Madeline Charles on the 1870 St Mary Parish census, but have not been able to determine if this person was the mother of Henry Jenkins Jr. and presumably Victoria and Louisa as well, since both were older than Henry Jr.
According to the 1900 census, Henry worked as a day laborer who owned his own home and could neither read or write. Information was provided to the census taker that Henry’s parents were both born in Maryland, despite the fact that his mother, Bridget, was most likely born in St Mary Parish. Bridget’s parents’ place of birth was recorded as Maryland on 1880 census and as Louisiana and Virginia on 1900 census. That Maryland was listed as Henry’s mother, Bridget’s birthplace may indicate that he was aware of a connection to a Maryland ancestor.
Census data for 1910 Census data recorded Henry’s answer that he had been married 3 times. Henry, Mary, Louisa, Henry Jr as well as 3 children born since the previous census: Matthew, Lloyd, Crawford (Profit), were living together in St Mary Parish, Ward 7. Henry’s employment status was recorded as ‘working out‘ and he was described as a ‘renter’ and not as owner as he was per the 1900 census. I will see if I can find out if the term ‘working out’ meant that Henry was paying off a debt and that is the reason for the change in his home ownership status.
Missing from Henry’s 1910 household was daughter Victoria. I have not found Victoria on the 1910 census, but I know that she married Matthew Schaffer. I found a death record for a child born in 1915 to Victoria Jenkins and Mat Schaffer. I did find Mat Chaffer (Schaffer) listed on the 1910 St Mary Parish census as a twenty-seven-year-old man who had been married for five years but there was no listing for a wife in his household. Mat worked as a railroad laborer. All branches of my family tree originated from enslaved people that lived in Iberia and St Mary Parish. Because of this, I think it is inevitable that marriages would occur between the 2 branches. I have not been able to say definitively, but I theorized that Mat Schaffer was the eighteen-year-old Matthew Smith who was recorded in the home of Joseph and Charlotte Smith (my maternal 3rd great grandparents on my Smith tree) on the 1900 Iberia Parish census.
Henry and Mary were still living in Ward 7 at the time of the 1920 census. Four more children were recorded in their household: Clarence, Agnes, Maviola and Mary. The family lived on Pepper Road in a home that per the census was rented. No person in the household was recorded as being able to read or write. Henry, Mary, Matthew, Lloyd and Profit all worked as farm laborers.
Henry’s daughter Victoria , 25 and husband Matthew Chaffer, 31 (Schaffer) were recorded on the 1920 St Mary Parish census living on Jefferson Highway. Living with them were children: Beatrice, 8; Liza, 6; and Cigas, 1. The household listed next on the census included Matthew’s aunt Cora Smith. That household included Jack Elware, his wife Cora, his nineteen-year-old stepdaughter Agnes Robertson and his sixteen-year-old daughter Alma.
Henry’s son Felix and wife were living in Beaumont at the time of the 1920 census. Felix worked as a shipyard laborer and his wife Mary as a cook for a private family.
As I mentioned previously, Henry’s son Oliver Jenkins, wife Amelia Smith and family were missing from the 1910 and the 1920 census.
I have not yet found Henry’s daughter Louisa on the 1920 census, but I did find her on the 1930 St Mary Parish census living in the household with her in-laws, Thomas and Lucy Volter. Also living there were Louisa’s children Jacob, Thomas and Moses.
Henry died October 21, 1925. His age was recorded as seventy, suggesting that he was born in 1855. The information regarding his parents was recorded as unknown. The informant for the death certificate information was Henry’s son-in-law Nathan Volter. Henry’s burial place was ‘near Jeanerette’.
Henry’s daughter Victoria Jenkins Schaffer died Aug. 1, 1921 of breast cancer. Her place of death was listed as Albania. For the 1930 census, Victoria’s children Eliza Schoffer (Schaffer), 15; and Cedgis Schoffer (Schaffer), 11; were recorded in the household with their aunt, Cora Henry. Also in the home was Cora’s husband Jack Henry and her 6-year-old grandson LeRoy Thomas.
Henry’s widow Mary, son Clarence and daughter Maviola were living together on 1930 St Mary Parish census in Ward 7 in a home that they owned per census records. Both Clarence, 18; and Maviola 11; could read and write. Fifty-two-year-old Mary and Clarence worked as farm laborers. Living with Mary was daughter Agnes, her husband Charles Wesley and their son Henry.
Henry’s sons Matthew and Lloyd were married and living in Texas by 1930. Matthew Jenkins and wife Viola LaFleur were living in Jefferson County. Lloyd Jenkins and Ida Griffin were married 1929 in Harris County, Texas.
Henry’s son Oliver Jenkins and wife Amelia Smith who had were missing from the 1910 and 1920 US Census, miraculously were recorded on the 1930 Iberia Parish census. Their household included Oliver, 52; Media, 42; Livingston, 17; Olie (Oliver), 12; Solomon, 6; Charlotte, 15; and Cora, 10. Solomon was not Oliver’s son, but his grandson. Solomon’s mother was Elsie Jenkins. Olie (Oliver Jr.), Charlotte and Cora were recorded as being able to read and write. Oliver and Amelia’s children: Elzenia, Florence, Elsie, Gladys and Austin had all married and were living in their respective households in Iberia Parish and in California.
If you have been following my genealogy trek to find my early ancestors, you know that telling Amelia and Oliver’s story has been complicated by the fact that Amelia’s parents were missing from the 1880 census records as were Oliver, his brother Simon Felix and his father Henry Jenkins, Sr. Additional complications to telling Oliver’s story was that his mother, Elsie Edwards most likely died soon after his birth in 1878 and Elsie’s parents, Handy aka Anthony and Versy aka Olivia Edwards, were missing from the 1880 census as well. It is only because I found Simon Felix Jenkins social security card application that I know the name of his mother. Felix died in 1941, but not before he applied for a social security card in 1935. That application gathered information supplied by the actual applicant and is often the only time we find the maiden names of mothers. When Felix died in 1941, his half-brother Matthew Jenkins provided the name of Henry Jenkins as Felix’s father for the death certificate but said that the mother’s maiden name was unknown.
One of the greatest unknowns about Amelia and Oliver is where they and family were for the 1910 and 1920 census. I spent a great many unsuccessful hours sitting at genealogy libraries, painstakingly turning the microfilm reader wheel slowly, looking at every frame hoping to see the family. I used every genealogy search engine–searching for near matches on variations of their names. I searched for them living in different states but still didn’t find them until 1930.
In 2012, I found a book written by Amelia and Oliver’s granddaughter, Leanna Williams that detailed the family’s life in The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane. She painted a vivid and inspiring glimpse into our shared family story. She described the house as being situated at the end of a road, separated from the quarters where other plantation workers lived. She told of the many fruit and nut trees that surrounded the house in addition to the acreage devoted to food crops and to truck farming. So, I thought that perhaps census workers overlooked the house when on their rounds. Perhaps the road was too muddy or the house too isolated and so the house was skipped? But Leanna also wrote that an uncle named David and his wife Sarah had lived in the house and it was only after Sarah’s death did her father Livington Jenkins and family move in to help him with the farm. She placed the family moving in with David sometime shortly after her sister Theresa was born. That would have been about 1933 or so.
This confused me because Amelia and Oliver were still alive in 1933–why weren’t they living in The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane? I’d theorized that Sarah Smith and her husband William Davis were actually the Sarah and David mentioned in Leanna’s book, but they were living in New Iberia at the time of the 1930 census. Sarah died in 1939 and by 1940 William was living in Patoutville, which is where the family farm was located.
Did Amelia have a brother named David? Answering that question is a unanswered puzzle. Amelia was born about 1881 or so and first appeared on the 1900 Iberia Parish census. 1900 census data revealed that Amelia’s mother Charlotte had given birth to fifteen children of which 9 were still living. The problem is that through all of my research, I can only account for eleven children, living or deceased: Maria, Eliza, Ida, Lincoln, Louvenia, Ella, Charlotte, Oliver, Sarah, Amelia and Cora. Four of Charlotte’s children: Maria, Eliza, Ida and Lincoln were never seen after the 1870 census. Were any of these 4 children alive somewhere. I have only found 7 of the 9 children reported to be living in 1900: Louvenia, Ella, Charlotte, Oliver, Sarah, Amelia and Cora. After more thinking, I wonder if Charlotte was counting among the 9 living children, her daughter Charity who lived in Maryland? Charlotte had been born in Calvert County, MD and then sold and shipped to Louisiana in 1851?
I tossed out my assumption that Amelia and Oliver were not listed on census records in 1910 and 1920 because they were living in The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane. My focus now was on their children and on what became of them. I want to tell know their stories! I know some of their descendants moved to Texas, California and Arizona. But I suspect that we, the Guys/Jenkins/Bernards/Charles/McGees, are out there in every state, county and continent on this great earth!
Amelia and Oliver’s children
Elzenia Jenkins 1901-1952 Iberia Parish, LA & Louis Newchurch
Florence Jenkins 1905-1961 Shasta County, CA & Sidney Benjamin
Gladys Jenkins & Polite
Elsie Jenkins & Ivory Hills
Austin Jenkins 1913-1986 CA & Corinne Rosette 1912-1984 AZ
Livingston Jenkins & Reverta
Charlotte Jenkins & Andrew
Oliver Jenkins Jr. & Sarah
Cora Jenkins & Phillip
And so, I invite everyone who is a descendant of Amelia and Oliver to join me in gathering stories and photos as well as celebrations of birth and of lives well lived. I hope you join me if only to ask a question.
Bridget Guy and her union with the mysteriously invisible Robert aka ‘Little Bob’ Jenkins
He was referenced as ‘Little Bob’ because there was an older man on the Weeks’s plantation named Bob. I haven’t found any description of Bob to otherwise explain the diminutive.
In fact, I have not found Robert Jenkins alive on any census. He was listed on David Weeks’ 1835 probate as Bob, twenty years old. On the following line was Hannah, 18, wife of Bob. Twelve-year-old Bridget was included in that same probate.
A thirty-one year old Bob was listed in the partition of slaves allotted to Alfred Weeks in the 1846 finalization of David Week’s probate. Included in that partition is Bridget 23, and children Nancy, 7; Emily, 4; and Isaac, 1.
Hannah, previously listed as Bob’s nineteen-year-old wife may be the Hannah in the allotment given to William F Weeks. That Hannah is 29 and has a 6-month-old child named Nimrod.
Was thirty-one-year-old Bob, Robert Jenkins? I have not found any solid proof that he was. Alfred Weeks left with his slaves in 1862 for Texas during the Civil War. His journal listed the names of slaves that went with him. That journal listing pretty closely reflected names on the 1846 partition: Isaac, Spencer, Sheppard, Johnson, Bob, Somerset, Nancy and Violet to name a few. But missing from that list taken to Texas was Bridget. New names to Alfred Weeks’ partition were Stephen and Lewis. I theorize that Stephen and Lewis are Bridget’s sons.
Alfred Weeks died in in 1864. Most of the slaves that he brought to Texas were accounted for and back in Iberia Parish for the 1870 census. I found Bridget’s son Isaac living in Fort Bend County, Texas in 1870 and after when the others returned to Texas.
In 1870, I found Louis Jenkins on Iberia Parish census where I expected him. I also found a Stephen Hanking who I theorized was Stephen Jenkins. Bridget’s daughter Nancy was listed on the 1870 St Martin Parish Census with husband Martin Joseph. I have been unable to find with Emily with any certainty after she was listed on the 1846 probate. But I did not Bridget or Robert Jenkins. So, where was Bridget if she did not go to Texas with Alfred Weeks? And why wasn’t she in Iberia Parish in 1870 with Louis and Stephen?
I first found Bridget and daughters Dora and Caroline and their children on the 1880 Iberia Parish census in Patoutville, LA. I had scoured the Iberia and neighboring St Mary and St Martin Parishes for Bridget and children in 1870 but had been unable to find them. I knew that Bridget was also the mother of Louis and Stephen Jenkins. Their death certificates listed Robert Jenkins as their father and Bridget as their mother. Although in Stephen Jenkins’ case, someone started writing Bridget and then crossed it out.
I widened my search for Bridget, Dora, Caroline and Henry. I looked for a Bridget anywhere in Louisiana with a child name Dora and then a Bridget in Louisiana with a child named Caroline. And then I found a Bridget that had children with all the correct names, even though their ages did not quite match. I found Bridget on the 1870 St Charles Parish census in Boutte Station. In the household was Gabriel Thomas. Thomas was the last name for everyone in the household. Could there be another different Black woman named Bridget with children with the same names, Dora, Caroline and Henry? I am not a numbers person, so I am betting that the Bridget in St Charles Parish in 1870 is my Bridget.
Was Bridget in Iberia Parish when Bob returned? Did she and Robert Gibson head for New Orleans and he died along the way. Did Bridget meet Gabriel Thomas along the way? Who was Gabriel Thomas? And why was Bridget with him in 1870? Perhaps she followed the Union troops as they marched through Iberia and St Mary Parish and ended up in Boutte Station! But if she left in 1862, would she still be away from home in 1870?
Bridget’s youngest child Henry is the Guy/Jenkins branch from which I belong. In 1870, Henry’s age is listed as 2, but on later censuses his birth year is given as 1860 or 1862.
Until I find out something to the contrary, I am sticking with this telling of Bridget’s story! Bridget was in St Charles Parish at the time of the 1870 US census for some reason that I have yet to discover.
Bridget was born about 1821. I last found her on the 1900 Iberia Parish census, where she was recorded twice. The family owned a piece of property in Patoutville on the corner of Patoutville Road and Patout Road. Saint Matthew Baptist Church once stood on this property. The church has since burned down, but the cemetery is still is use. Bridget is most likely buried there.
Henry Jenkins, Where Was He in 1880 & How Many Wives Did He Have?
By 1880 when I find Bridget and daughters in Iberia Parish, Henry is not with them. I did a broad search for him and have not found him listed 1880 census anywhere.
Where was Henry Jenkins in 1880? Additionally, where were his 2 oldest sons Simon Felix and Oliver Jenkins as both were born about 1876 and 1878? Where was the woman reported to have been their mother Elsie Edwards? Where were her parents Handy aka Henry Edwards and wife Versy aka Octavia? And were Elsie’s siblings Lyman, Octavia and Florestine?
The Edwards family had been listed on the 1870 Iberia Parish census, and then totally missing on the 1880 census, only to be partially listed on the 1900 Iberia Parish census. The 1870 Edwards household included Handy 48, Versy 39, Octavia 18, Alcee 14, Florestin 9, Lyman 5, Cornelius 3, Elizabeth 4/12. Handy and Versy’s birthplace was recorded as Arkansas. All of the children were born in Louisiana. Fourteen-year-old Alcee was Elsie Edwards.
Nancy Jenkins was born about 1841 at Weeks Island, Iberia Parish. She was the first child born to Bridget and Robert Jenkins. She was listed on the 1846 final probate of David Weeks along with Emily and Isaac.
I next found Nancy on the 1870 US census living in St Martin Parish with husband Martin Joseph and children Vina 9 and Lloyd 5. Recorded on the same page with them is the manager of one of the Weeks’ family plantation, William Lourd as well as other newly freed Weeks slaves: Rachel Davis and family, Lewis Butler and family and Katy Butler.
By 1880, Nancy and Martin Joseph were living in Iberia Parish with children: William 7, Martin Jr. 5, Briddy (Bridget) 3 and 7-month-old King. They wer now surrounded by Nancy’s family members: aunt Amanda Guy and husband Jacob Williamson; first cousin Cina (Sinah Seaberry) and husband Phillip Joseph; second cousin Abraham Guy and family; second cousin Louisa Guy; uncle Louis Jenkins; and first cousin Mary Ann Seaberry and husband Isaac Rose.
By 1900, Nancy and Martin were living in a home that they owned with sons King and Jefferson. According to census data, Nancy and Martin had been married for twenty-nine years and neither could read or write. Nancy was reported to have given birth to fifteen children of which 9 were still living. Recorded in neighboring houses was daughter Bridget, husband Henry Anderson and their 3 sons; Julius, Houston and Henry; and son Martin Joseph Jr and wife Sindy.
Nancy and Martin were counted on the 1910-1920 census living near family or as extended family units. Nancy died May 9, 1921 at the age of 76. Her death certificate listed her place of birth as Weeks Island.
Nancy’s son Martin Joseph, Jr. and second wife Carrie Antoine were listed on the 1920 Iberia Parish census living on Henkle Street with children: King, Oliver, Clifford, Stephen, Leola and Neoma in a home that they owned. The family grew to include children: Frances, Lloyd, Leothel and Ning.
Nancy’s son Jefferson Joseph and wife Rose Coleman were listed on the 1910 and 1920 census with children: Sylvinia, Hilda, Warren, Flossie, Sarah and Jefferson Jr. He registered for the WWI draft and was described as medium height and weight. Jefferson had died by the time of the 1930 census, because his wife Rose is recorded as a forty-year-old widow living with children and grandchildren. Rose was employed as a washerwoman for a private family. Her 4 oldest children were all employed by a private family as cooks or as a yard boy or a house-girl.
Nancy’s son King Joseph married Jessie Miller in 1908. I could not find King on the 1910 census but did find him on the 1920 census living on Henkle Street in a home that he owned free of any mortgate. In his household were 2 children that were listed as orphans. One child was Helen Joseph whom he raised as his daughter. King’s occupation varied from saw mill laborer to gardener for a private family. He died in Dec. 29, 1950.
Emily Jenkins
The second child born to Bridget and Robert was Emily. I know the least about her. She was born about 1842 and I have not been able to find her on any census listings. I did find a marriage of an Emily Jenkins to Paul Davis in April 1895. The wedding was officiated by J.A. Rushaw at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Patoutville. I can’t confirm that this was Bridget’s daughter. I found Paul Davis on the 1900 Iberia Parish census, but he was recorded as a widower.
Isaac Jenkins
Isaac Jenkins was the third child of Bridget Guy and Robert Jenkins. He was born about 1845 In St Mary Parish. He was listed on David Weeks’ 1846 succession inventory and was in the partition provided to Alfred Weeks, son of David Weeks and Mary Clara Conrad. One year-old Isaac was listed with his mother Bridget, 23; and sisters Nancy, 7; and Emily, 4.
The next documentation of Isaac is in Alfred Weeks’ journal of slaves that he took with him to Texas in 1862 as the Civil War came to southern Louisiana. Included on the list of slaves with Isaac were Stephen and Lewis, his younger brothers. The list recorded only the first names of each slave.
I found Louis, Stephen, Emily and Nancy all in Iberia Parish, living in are near Patoutville in 1870, 1880 or 1900. I searched the 1870 census and found twenty-three-year-old Isaac Jenkins living in Fort Bend County, Texas. He was recorded on page 531A and described as working on shares. On page 531B was David Joe and wife Rachel as well as Orange, Hetta and Eliza Weeks. David, Orange, Hetta and Eliza had been listed in the 1846 probate allotment of Harriet Weeks, sister of Alfred Weeks.
Isaac Jenkins paid a state poll tax of $1 and a county poll tax of $.50 in 1867 and 1868 which means he registered to vote. He married Sylvia Williams on Jan. 31, 1871 in nearby Harris County. Per the 1879 Fort Bend Tax schedule, Isaac owned: 2 carts, wagons or buggies worth $45; 2 horses or mules valued at $30; and 4 cattle, valued at $20; and 6 hogs. His estimated property valuation was $116. I last found Isaac on the 1910 Fort Bend census. I have not yet found a death certificate for him.
Isaac’s children with Sylvia were:
George Jenkins Sept 7, 1874-1935 TX; and Roberta Carpenter
Josephine Jenkins born 1877 and wife of Jesse Peters
Emily ‘Emma’ Jenkins and James Lemons
Andrew Jenkins born 1871, last found on the 1900 Harris County, TX census
Dora Jenkins
Dora was born about 1854 and was the 7th child of the family. I found Dora Jenkins, husband Richard Robertson and 9-month-old son George on the 1880 Iberia Parish census. In neighboring houses were her sister Caroline Jenkins and family and their mother Bridget (Brigit) Jenkins. Dora had most likely died around 1890 because the 1900 Iberia Parish census data indicated that Richard Robertson had been married 4 years to wife Alice. The 2 youngest children in the household were Sealy (Celia) born 1889 and Ernest, 2, born 1897. Other children listed in Richard’s 1900 household were: Isaac, Stephen and Alex.
Dora Jenkins & Richard Robertson Descendants
George Robertson 1879-1951 Iberia Parish, LA & Odelia Alexander
Isaac Robertson born 5/25/1880
Stephen Robertson b 1882-1949 Iberia Parish, LA & Gertrude Frelow
Alexander Robertson 1885 LA-1952 Detroit, Michigan & Alzina Alexander 1888 LA – 1971 Michigan ->Anna May Robertson born 1914 ->Lee Alma Robertson 1915-2000 ->Aexander Robertson Jr b1916 ->Oscar George Robertson 1918-1997 ->Myle Robertson b1920
Celia Robertson 1889-1941 & Cornelius Hector
Caroline Jenkins
Caroline was born about 1851, the 5th child, to Bridget and Robert. Caroline Jenkins, husband George Epps, 1-month-old daughter Mary Epps were listed on the 1880 Iberia Parish census. Also in Caroline’s household was 5-year-old daughter Lina Robertson and 3-year-old Mandy Sutton.
Caroline was next listed on the 1900 Iberia Parish census with husband Louis Wingfield and 2 nephews Man Robertson 13 and Sidney Young 15. 2 households away was Bridget Jenkins 70 and Caroline’s daughters: Mary Epps 19 and Martha Epps 15. Caroline’s brother Louis Jenkins lived in the household following Bridget’s. Bridget was recorded as a seventy-year-old widow who had given birth twelve children of which 6 were still living.
The 1910 census recorded a forty-six-year-old widowed Caroline living on Rose Town Road. Her daughter Lena was living next door with her husband John Charles and their children: Willy, Theodore, Phillip, John, Caroline and Richard. On the same page was Caroline’s daughter Amanda, 31; husband Jonas Murray and son Allen Murray, 12.
Caroline and daughter Lena Sutton Charles and family were still living next door to one another for the 1920 through the 1940 census. Caroline was now recorded as Carolina Hopes as she was the widow of Riley Hopes. Her daughter Amanda Murray, son-in-law Jonas and granddaughter Gracie were enumerated on the same page.
I last found Caroline’s daughter Mary Epps listed on the 1910 Iberia Parish census with her husband Joseph Brown and son Oliver. I could not find Mary after the 1910 census, but I did find Joe Brown and family on the 1920 census. Most likely Mary had died. In the household with Caroline Hopes is a young boy named Oliver Hines or Hinds. He is recorded as an orphan, but not as Caroline’s grandson. I was not able to find Martha Epps after the 1910 census, but I did find a 1951 death record for her that listed her last name as Smith.
Caroline died April 21, 1949 and was buried in Jerusalem Cemetery.
Louis Jenkins and Mary Toliver
Louis Jenkins was 6th child born to Bridget Guy and Robert Jenkins. He and Mary Toliver had the following children: Robert, Northern, Prophet, Roselia, Campbell, Clinton, Aurelia, Horace and Ezekil. Louis Jenkins and great nephew Abraham Guy were trustees of First Jerusalem Baptist Church in 1902.
Louis was last found on the 1930 Harris County census living at 2411 McKinney Street in Houston with his son Robert and Robert’s wife Sophie. Also recorded in the household was Louis’ son Horace Jenkins who was listed as a single man who worked as a cook at a country club. Robert Jenkins‘ occupation was proprietor of a barber shop.
Louis Jenkins died Aug. 5, 1931 in Houston at the age of seventy-nine. His death certificate recorded his parents as Robert Jenkins and Bridget. Louis was buried in Jeanerette, Louisiana.
Robert Jenkins was last recorded on the 1940 census. He owned a barber shop at 2411 McKinney. His wife Sophia’s occupation was recorded as caterer. Robert died at the age of 65 in 1943 and was buried back in his hometown of Jeanerette, Louisiana. Sophia survived Robert and died in 1958 in Houston. Robert’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Geneva, died of cholera while a student at Wiley College.
Horace Jenkins, wife Leola and niece Ernestine all worked at his cafe. Horace lived at 2407 McKinney. He died April 24, 1957 and was buried in Paradise Cemetery. His death certificate details that he lived at 1117 Sampson Street and was proprietor of a rooming house.
Ezekil Lawrence Jenkins lived in Chicago with wife Aurelia Alexander. He worked as a cab driver and lived at 526 Browning Ave. in 1930. He registered for the WWII draft at the age of 47 and was described as 5′ 9″ with gray hair. Per the draft registration form, he worked for Lakeview Dairy. Ezekil and Aurelia were still living in Chicago in 1950. Ezekil died 1960 in Lafayette, Louisiana. I don’t know that Ezekil had any children.
Northern and Prophet Jenkins were both counted on the 1910 Omaha, Nebraska census. Prophet’s occupation was listed as barber. I found Chicago Defender newspaper articles that highlighted Prophet’s rise in the Omaha police ranks from patrolman to become the first Black detective in Nebraska.
Prophet registered for the WWII draft. He was described as 5′ 11′ with gray hair. He and Amanda had 2 daughters; Leola and Verdia. He and wife Amanda (nee Johnson) were last recorded on the 1950 census when he was described as a sixty-six-year-old retired policeman. Prophet died May, 1956 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Northern Jenkins registered for the WWI draft in Omaha. Mrs. Ella Jenkins was listed as his nearest relative and his employer was Porter Bros. I found an obituary in the Chicago Defender for Northern. Northern died Oct. 23, 1935 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Clinton Jenkins seemed to have always been on the move. I found a marriage record for 1907 between Clinton Jenkins and Pearl McDay in Iberia Parish but was unable to find the 2 on any census record. I did find a man named Clint Jenkins living in Dallas, TX at the time of the 1920 census. He was employed as a yardman by Leslie Waggoner and lived at Putnam Ave. Clinton married Susie Quick in 1923 in Vancouver, Washington. Per the 1930 census, Clinton and Susie were living in San Diego, CA. He died Nov. 10, 1939 and was buried in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery. He served in the US Navy Reserve and received an honorable discharge in 1921.
Louis’s daughter Aurelia Jenkins married Louis Conway. Aurelia, Louis and 2 daughters: Mary and Maud were counted on the 1910 Iberia Parish census in her father’s home. I believe that Aurelia and daughters may have died of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic. I did not find a death record for her, but I found her husband Louis Conway and daughters Scelestine and Thelma on the 1920 Dallas, Texas census. Aurelia’s son Joseph Eugene Conway was recorded in the household of his grandfather Louis Jenkins for the 1920.
Aurelia’s children Scelestine, Thelma and Joseph were listed on the 1930 US census with their father in Amarillo, Texas. By 1940, Scelestine was married and living in Amarillo with her husband and children. Scelestine and family later moved to San Francisco. I found several inspirational articles written about Scelestine and family regarding their commitment to community and civic organizations. I even found a photo of Scelestine manning a phone bank during the campaign of presidential candidate Barak Obama as well as a news article in celebration of her 100th birthday!!
Louis’s son Campbell Jenkins and Cecilia Johnson had sons; Louis, Albert and Joseph and 3 daughters; Ernestine, Mary and Aurelia. Campbell died Sept. 23, 1950 in Jeanerette, LA.
Campbell’s son Louis Jenkins served in the military during WWII–he enlisted on May 11, 1942 and was discharged June 25, 1945. Louis owned a home on Akers Street. He died August 1975 in Jeanerette, LA.
Campbell’s daughter Ernestine was recorded on the 1940 Houston, Harris County, TX census in the home of her uncle Horace Jenkins with his wife Leola. Horace’s occupation was cafe owner/waiter. Ernestine died 1986 in Houston.
Campbell’s son Albert Jenkins registered for the WWII draft while in Orange, Texas. He is described as 6′ tall, with high cheekbones and slightly bald. I’ve seen many military registrations and have never seen another that mentioned anything like high cheek bones! Albert’s nearest relative was wife, Charlotte. He worked at the Texas Creosoting Company. Albert was counted on the 1950 US census living in Orange, Texas were he was employed as a railroad section hand. Albert died 1952 in Tyler, Texas of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Stephen Jenkins & Mary Jane Logan
Stephen Jenkins purchased 27 1/2 arpents of land designated as Isle Piquant from Mary McGuire in 1878. His land was bounded by that of Appoline Patout, Lassoline Bonin, Mrs. Derneville Minguez and Joseph Gary.
Stephen Jenkins and Mary Jane Logan had the following children: Mary Jane, Lizzie, Reverta, Stephen Jr, Prince, Miles, Dora and Laura.
Stephen died June 1924 at the age of 61 from acute dysentary. He was buried in Patoutville.
Stephen’s children were:
Mary Jane Jenkins & Stewart Wagner
Reverta Jenkins & Phillip Wagner
Lizzie Jenkins born 1881
Stephen Jenkins Jr. & Carrie Sophus
Prince Jenkins, lived in South Dakota in 1905 and registered for WWI in Minnesota
In researching my Smith branches of the Smith-Jenkins family tree, I was confused and unable to determine who were Amelia Smith’s parents. Amelia was born about 1883 and her death certificate listed her father as Young Smith and her mother as ‘S’. Right away I was able to find on the 1880, 1900 and 1910 census a man named Young Smith who was the right age to be her father. His wife’s name was Hester or Esther. This all seemed to fit Amelia’s death certificate. The names fit, but I could never find Amelia in Young’s and Hester’s household or living anywhere near them. Young lived in Glencoe, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and not Patoutville, Iberia Parish where I was told that Amelia lived.
Amelia’s husband was named Oliver Jenkins. So, I searched for him on the census pages in St. Mary/Iberia Parish beginning with 1900. I couldn’t find him anywhere. Amelia and Oliver’s children were born and grew up in the Patoutville area, so I knew they had to be somewhere on the 1900 Iberia Parish census page. I used Ancestry.com, Familysearch.org and Heritagequest.com, with no luck. I gave up trying to use electronically indexed web sites and went to a local genealogy center and pulled out the microfilm. I painstakingly scrolled page after page and almost gave up until something caught my eye. What I found was a Joseph Smith, his wife Charlotte, two daughters Amelia and Cora and a son named Alava. I turned the reel a half turn or so and then scrolled back. I’d found them!!
Oliver was Alava! But, he wasn’t Amelia’s brother, he was her husband. And, her father’s name was supposed to be ‘Young’ and her mother’s name was supposed to start with an ‘S’. Charlotte could be spelled with an ‘S’–Sharlotte. So, I threw out Young and Hester in Glencoe as Amelia’s parents and instead placed Joseph, aka ‘Young’ and Charlotte, aka ‘S’.
I’ve been searching for information about my ancestors Oliver and Amelia Smith Jenkins for quite some time. The search has been complicated by misspelled names on the US. census pages, families totally missing from census records for decades and from the absence of marriage and death records.
I’ve searched Father Hebert’s books for clues that may be among the births, baptism and death records. But, the only detail that I had been able to find is a marriage record for Oliver and Amelia. That is until the other day. I once again entered the name Oliver Jenkins in a search bar. And, to my surprise, among the search results was a book. The book title was “The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane – The Smith-Jenkins’ Farm”. Needless to say, I could scarcely contain myself. When I clicked the link to the bookseller, there was a brief synopsis of the book and it mentioned Oliver Jenkins, his wife Amelia Smith, and Patoutville, Louisiana.
The book was written by Leanna Williams, granddaughter of Oliver Jenkins. She didn’t know about either Oliver or Amelia as they both died before she was born. But, she described with much detail what life was like for sharecroppers, farm workers and those living near the large sugar cane plantation. The story she tells was a wonderful find for me. She provided insight into how my family lived and a new lead for research. And as always, I found a hidden treasure and research challenge in her story. She mentioned Amelia’s father a number of times as ‘Mr Smith’ and and uncle named David. Who these men were, was a mystery to me. And so, I started by quest to find out how they fit on my Smith-Jenkins tree and how they came to live in “The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane…”.
I love searching the Chicago Defender Newspaper online. Just when I think I’ve discovered all the articles printed about my long-lost family members or Texas families that I am researching, I find a gold mine of additional treasure.
So, I verified that Henry and Louis Jenkins were brothers. Now I needed to find where their children all disappeared after 1910.
Henry’s children were: Oliver, Victoria, Louisa, Henry Jr., Matthew, Lloyd Joseph, Profit, Clarence, Agnes, Maviola. Several of Henry’s sons moved to Texas, but most remained in Louisiana.
Louis’ children were: Robert, Prophet, Northern, Roselia, Campbell, Clinton, Aurelia, Horace and Ezekiel.
I’d found 2 of Louis’ sons on the 1910 census in Omaha, Nebraska .
Now comes the other really cool part!!
I was searching the Chicago Defender Newspaper via the Houston Public Library online resource. I typed in Jenkins and Omaha. And among the search results was a obit for N. Jenkins who was born in Iberia Parish Louisiana and died in Omaha, November 1935. N’s (Northern) children: Helen Jenkins Lambert and Guy Taylor are mentioned. Also mentioned were Northern’s surviving siblings: Robert and Horace of Houston, Ezekiel of Chicago, Clinton of San Diego, Orelia Johnson of Cleveland and P.H. (Prophet) Jenkins of Omaha. Northern’s funeral was officiated by Rev. J. S. Williams at Hill Side Presbyterian Church and he was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He worked at the University Club.
Prophet H Jenkins
P.H. Jenkins was identified as a detective with the Omaha Police Department. Also, in the search results were stories about arrests that P.H. made, of his commendations and about his promotion to police detective. Included were the names of his wife Amanda and his daughters: Verdia Forman and Neola Combs. Even his church is mentioned–Zion Baptist .
And joy of joys, there was even a photo of P.H.! Another bonus in the search results was information about P.H. and/or wife Amanda visiting their married daughter Verdia Forman who lived in Chicago.
After I found out where the other Jenkins siblings moved to from Iberia Parish, I was able to read more about them in the Chicago Defender, through Ancestry.com., Familysearch.org and through old city directories.
I discovered that Ezekiel lived in Chicago and drove a cab and that Robert Jenkins had moved to Houston by 1915 and lived in 3rd Ward Houston with his wife Sophia and daughter Geneva. He operated a barber shop at 2411 McKinney Street. Robert died in 1943 and was buried in Jeanerette, LA.
I found information that P.H. died in 1956. His daughter Verdia married Sidney Forman of Marshall, Texas. They had a daughter who the named Neola. Sidney worked as a cooper (barrel maker) for a packing house.
So, I will continue to mine the Chicago Defender newspaper to see what additional nuggets of information are there to be uncovered.
I am looking for anyone who has Robert Jenkins and/or Bridget Guy Jenkins in their family tree. I am a twig that sprang from the Jenkins Tree. My ancestor is Oliver Jenkins, son of Henry Jenkins of St. Mary and/or Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Henry’s parents are listed as Robert and Bridget. The problem is that I can find Bridget on federal census pages 1880 – 1910 in Patoutville and Jeanerette, but I can only find Oliver from 1900 onward and can only find Henry beginning in 1900 after he married his second or third wife Mary Mathieu. I have never found Robert on any census listing, Louisiana or Texas. And, Bridget is not listed until 1880.
I think Henry had several siblings: Caroline Jenkins Epps Withers Hope, Dora Jenkins Robertson, Louis Jenkins, Stephen Jenkins and Armistead Jenkins. I’ve been trying to piece together who were Henry’s children. This I believe is complicated because I believe his first two wives may have died young and Henry and children may have been living in separate households. I believe his children with his first wife were: Victoria, Oliver, Simon Felix, Louisa and Henry. Henry had a number of childen with Mary Mathieu (Matthews).
The Jenkins family lived in St. Mary Parish and/or Jeanerette, Iberia Parish, Louisiana. If any of the above names fit on your family tree, then we are kin!
I’ve searched Father Hebert’s books for clues that may be among the births, baptism and death records. But, the only detail that I had been able to find is a marriage record for Oliver and Amelia. That is until the other day. I once again entered the name Oliver Jenkins in a search bar. And, to my surprise, among the search results was a book. The book title was “The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane – The Smith-Jenkins’ Farm”. Needless to say, I could scarcely contain myself. When I clicked the link to the bookseller, there was a brief synopsis of the book and it mentioned Oliver Jenkins, his wife Amelia Smith, and Patoutville, Louisiana.
I am looking for anyone who has Robert Jenkins and/or Bridget Guy Jenkins in their family tree. I am a twig that sprang from the Jenkins Tree. My ancestor is Oliver Jenkins, son of Henry Jenkins of St. Mary and/or Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Henry’s parents are listed as Robert and Bridget. The problem is that I can find Bridget on federal census pages 1880 – 1910 in Patoutville and Jeanerette, but I can only find Oliver from 1900 onward and can only find Henry beginning in 1900 after he married his second or third wife Mary Mathieu. I have never found Robert on any census listing, Louisiana or Texas. And, Bridget is not listed until 1880.
My Maryland-Louisiana Roots 