Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
ROBERT JENKINS. Not many Canadians are found within the borders of Greene county, which is a fact to be deplored, for we who are conversant with these sterling people know that no better citizens are to be found than they, and that community is indeed fortunate who can boast of a colony of them, for they are, without exception, thrifty, persevering, painstaking, and, as a rule, law abiding and honorable in all walks of life. One such is Robert Jenkins, a successful farmer of Jackson township.
Mr. Jenkins was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, January 6, 1849. He is a son of William and Sarah (Gordon) Jenkins. The father was born in Paisley, Scotland, and was reared in that country and received a good education. When a young man he learned the iron molder's trade, which he followed during his active life. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife was also a native of Scotland, where she was reared, and there they were married and from that country emigrated to Canada about a year before the birth of our subject, and the family moved to Michigan in 1850, and there the death of the father occurred in 1854. The mother, who was a native of the city of Glasgow, died in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1858, to which place she returned after the death of her husband. To these parents four children were born, namely: Robert, of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Gray, James and William. The last named is deceased.
Robert Jenkins was reared in Canada and Michigan until he was fourteen years old, at which age he joined the United States army, in the fall of 1863, and fought with the Federals in our great Civil war, under Captain Steele, of the Eighth Michigan Cavalry. He remained in the army until the close of the war, seeing considerable hard service. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea through Georgia, took part in the battles of Knoxville, Tennessee, and others, and was honorably discharged at Raleigh, North Carolina. After the close of the war he went to St. Louis, and later to Kansas, where he learned the bricklayer's trade. From there he went to Texas, thence to Mississippi, then returned to Missouri and located in Greene county in 1872, where he has since resided, owning a good farm in Jackson township.
Mr. Jenkins has been twice married, first, to Mary Blankenship, by whom three children were born, namely: Inez, Mrs. Mazie Baxter, and the youngest died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away while living in Springfield. Mr. Jenkins then married, on February 27, 1890, Mrs. Ida M. (Underwood) Shinn, widow of Grovener A. Shinn. She was born in Milton, Illinois, April 2, 1856. She is a daughter of F. J. and Daphna J. H. (Bridgeman) Underwood. Mrs. Jenkins was reared in Illinois and received a good education. She came to Missouri in 1871 and was married in 1873 to Mr. Shinn, by which union three children were born, namely: John, Grovner Leslie and Mrs. Nellie U. Gross. Mrs. Jenkins last marriage has been without issue.
Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Episcopal church.
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