Oren Jenks
Uncle Oren [Orren / Orin] Jenks, the subject of this sketch was the third child and second son of Laban and Prudence White Jenks. He was born in Adams, Mass, June 4, 1796. He was married twice. The first time in February, 1815 to Hannah Wolfen and to them were born six children: Cornelius, William, Nathan, Alvin, Stillman, and Mary.
With his wife, then consisting of his wife and three children, he came to Bloomfield, Michigan, in 1821 and settled on N.W. quarter section 34.
I believe in those times the only houses in this part of the country was built of logs, and his father, Laban Jenks, built the first house west of the river Rouge, but in later years Oren built a large brick house two miles west of Birmingham on what is know as the West Maple Road, and just south of where Uncle Leman Case lived. That house has changed owners many times, but he sold it to a Mr. Snow and built the first brick house east of the Railroad Depot in Birmingham.
His second wife was Elizabeth Abbey and they had one son, Oren, Jr. They afterward moved to North Plains, Ionia County, where he died January 27, 1863. She died in 1848. Of his family in Oakland County history says that "After the Merril Foundry was destroyed by fire in 1854, a new foundry was built and put in blast by the Jenks brothers, Cornelius, William, and Nathan. And it was kept in operation for two or three years and then the business was removed to Port Huron.
In the year 1851, Cornelius Jenks helped build the Morris Jenks home in Southfield and while there he made a coffin of Black Walnut for Mr. Harmon, the next neighbor and father of our old and esteemed friend, Libbie Harmon - Wallace.
When the village of Birmingham was incorporated in 1864, at the first election of officers, Cornelius Jenks was elected as on of the trustees. A Birmingham paper of 1878 says "C. W. Jenks, carpenter, and joiner shop burned to the ground. Water was carried by men and boys from the well in J. O. Beatties livery barn, F. Blakeslee was the only representative of the Babcock Brigade. Sam McCartney was among the first to mount the roof, his feet made a sudden departure and he made excellent time to terra firma. Vol Nixon - ditto."
And a paper of 1879 said "Cornelius Jenks advertised coffins, caskets and all goods generally sold by undertakers. He is also agent for sweepstakes, threshing machines, and that C. W. Jenks was the only recognized authority in the matter of coffins and caskets - mind you - and to him was entrusted the width, length, and style of architecture. And Cornele (as he was familiarly called) immediately got busy and in two days he could get out the best coffin any one could desire. And the occupants never kicked or said a word.
Cousin Cornelius Jenks was married to Miss Mary Kitelinger in 1847 and she died at their home in Birmingham January 4, 1883. They were the parents of 6 children, Alice and Viola who died in infancy, Elverton Fortescu who with his wife, Ida Valentine Jenks, their children and grandchildren of Detroit have met with us at our reunions several times. And we hope to see them many more times. Frances Eugene, the second son, was a copper refiner by trade and was employed by the Lake Superior Smelting Co. at the smelts in Riply, but on a fishing trip to Isle Royal, he fell into the Portage Lake canal from the tug Valeria and was drowned. His body was found after six hours dragging. The smelting works closed down in order that the employees could attend the funeral and the Ingot, Riply and Houghton tents attended in a body - as he was a member of the KOTM in which he carried a $2000 insurance for the benefit of his wife, Lena Marvin - Fraiser - Jenks and an adopted daughter. His younger days were spent in Birmingham where his father, Cornelius Jenks was a well known resident for many years. Clarence Ross, the next younger son was a painter by trade and he died in the Union Painters Home at Colorado Springs in 1905. He had never married.
James Herbert, the youngest son, married Miss Sarah Arnold. They resided many years in South Bend, Indiana, but now are residents of Detroit and with his wife and brothers family attended our 1921 reunion at Pontiac.
Gloria, the only daughter, was well known as a teacher in the Birmingham High School and married September 12, 1885, Frank Howard Goodman. Their family consisted of two girls and one son. Florence Marie, the oldest daughter, died in 1905 at the age of 16 years. Grace Estelle was married in 1918 to Mr. Herbert William Bartting and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. They have a little daughter. Barbara Ann Bartting. Morris Howard Goodman, the only son, was born in 1900, so now is a young man of 22 and as far as I know resides with his mother in South Bend, Indiana. In 1919, when he was 19, he graduated from South Bend High School.. He also won a Northern Indiana Oratorical League gold metal in a contest participated in by 10 high schools for class leadership.
The first few years of Flora’s married life was spent in Cadillac, Michigan, and her father, Cornelius Jenks, died there at her home. But his funeral was held in Birmingham and he was buried by his wife in Gilbert Lake Cemetery -- all have since been removed to Greenwood Cemetery, at Birmingham, Michigan. Mr. Goodman died May 30, 1921.
Of William S. Jenks, the second son of Uncle Oren Jenks, I have very little knowledge. His wife was Miss Chloe King, I think of Pontiac, and they had two children, Oren and Tryphenia. Also, grandchildren, one by the name of Sidney Jenks (whom I tried my best to locate, but failed). Cousin William died in 1902 at the advanced age of 84 year. He was senior member of the Jenks Shipbuilding Co of Port Huron, and was seated in a chair in the office when he was taken with a dizzy spell. Before the seriousness of his condition was realized, he had passed away. I never met him except at the funeral of his brothers Alvin and Cornelius.
Of cousin Stillman Jenks my knowledge is still more limited. His wife was Miss Eliza Butler and I think they lived in or near Grand Rapids. Do not know whether they are yet living, located a Stillman Jenks some time ago, but he was not of this branch of Jenks.
Cousin Nathan Jenks, third son of Oren and Hannah Wolfen Jenks, was born in 1821. In November 1849 he was united in marriage to Miss Sophronia Cooper - sister of James Cooper, his sister Mary’s husband. I believe they lived a couple of years in Port Huron. The rest of their lives was spent in Detroit in or near Birmingham. Their only child Will C. Jenks, was married to miss Minnie Van Norman, January 1, 1880. A reception was held at their home that evening with about 50 guests present. Some of the relatives present who got their names in the Birmingham paper were: Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Jenks, Mr. & Mrs. William Jenks, Mrs. Delos Jenks of Pontiac, James R. Cooper, James B. Cooper and Miss Grace Cooper of Houghton, Michigan, Hiram Rikerd of Lansing, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Herrick and Mr. & Mrs. Frank W. Jenks. I know there were other relatives present whose names I failed to get.
The Birmingham Eccentric Club of which Will was a member, presented them with a silver butter dish engraved "To Will and Minnie with the complements of the Eccentrics" And the following lyric was printed below the account of the wedding:
There was an Eccentric named Jenks
He’s settled for life now me thinks
Lo, a wife he has taken.
The club he’s forsaken
Here health and long life to Will Jenks.
Although, at that time, I had no idea of ever being in the Jenks family, as a friend, I received a generous supply of wedding cake.
There were born to Will C and Minnie Van Norman - Jenks, four children: Winifred Frona, Earle Renwick, Jessie Eliza, and Donald Marsh Jenks. Earle married Miss Grace McBride who died in 1912. In 1915, he married Miss Julia Adlrick of Rochester, Minn. They have one son, Frederick Perry, born 1916. Donald married Miss Rosetta Rogers and they have two children, Van Norman, born in 1913, and Margaret Dorothea in 1916.
After 43 years of wedded life, cousin Nathan Jenks died March 1, 1892, aged 70 years. After a little over one year, in October, 1893, his wife Sophronia Cooper-Jenks followed him to the land of eternal rest and they sleep side by side in beautiful Greenwood Cemetery at Birmingham, Michigan.
Cousin Alvin F. Jenks was born June 26, 1826, was married in 1848 to Miss Sarah Ann Culver of Farmington, Michigan. To them were born two children, Nettie - wife of Marvin Siple - and Edgar whose wife was Miss Hattie Varnham of Springwells (a sister of Lizzie, first wife of Arley Jenks). I have heard Esther Jenks Lee say that Alvin’s folks lived in what we called the Eliza Harmon house (now the property of Rob Churches) and that Edgar was born there. He (Alvin) was a charter member of Southfield Lodge No 59, I. O. of O. F. instituted April 30, 1852. The lodge was reorganized on July 12th, 1865. His wife died November 2, 1878, and he made his home either with his son or his daughter, and was quite a frequent visitor among his Southfield cousins. He dropped dead at his home at Lake Linden, Michigan, December 10th, 1890. His funeral was held at the M.E. Church at Birmingham and he was laid to rest by his wife at Gilbert Lake Cemetery, removed later to Greenwood Cemetery, Birmingham. His son and daughter are still living at Hubbell, Michigan. Also his grandchildren (Edgar’s children) namely Alvin, May, Nettie, Ethel, Edward, Frank, and Willie Jenks. Alvin married Marjorie McPherson, May - Robert McClemants, Ethel - Samuel Jenkin, and in 1917, there were 12 great grandchildren, Willie Jenks, youngest son of Edgar and Hattie Varnham - Jenks, was with us at our 6th reunion held at Rob and Myra Churches in Southfield, Michigan, August 12, 1916.
Mary Jenks, only daughter of Uncle Oren and Hannah Wolfen - Jenks, was married to Mr. James R. Cooper in 1855 and became the mother of 3 children. Francis B, the oldest who died at the age of six months; James B and Grace Mary Cooper. Her life with them was short as she died in 1873 leaving them but 14 and three years of age.
Mr. Cooper was connected with the Detroit Plant of the Smelting Co. for years. And, when that corporation established a plant in the Copper County, he was placed in charge and continued in that position for 30 years. He was again married and had another son, Claude, and daughter, Virginia. His death occurred February 12, 1906.
Mary Jenks - Cooper was a lovely woman, not really in looks, but in character and sweet disposition. I speak from personal acquaintance with her in the days long since goodbye. She was then suffering from that dread disease, consumption, and her death occurred when her little daughter, Grace, was but three years old. Grace Mary Cooper died in Harper Hospital, Detroit, December 1919, aged 49.
The only son of Mary Jenks - Cooper, James B. was married in1892 to Miss Antoinette Senter of Hancock, Michigan. They were the parents of 8 children: James B, Jr., Margaret S., John S. (who was an expert gunner in the late World War. He crossed the Ocean several times on submarine chaser. He was honorably discharged), Philip M (also a soldier across the Seas - Safe home), Stuart W, Kathleen S, Gage R, and Virginia S. Cooper. James B., Sr., or Jimmie Cooper as he was called, died at Hancock, Michigan in 1914 and his children and their children are Mary Jenks - Cooper’s only descendants.
I feel that - and I guess the descendants of Uncle Oren Jenks think this a poor apology for his family history, but I have had no volunteer help, and what information I have, has been gathered with difficulty. He died before I knew any of the Jenks. And I am now older than he was when he died. Some of his children I never saw. Those I did know died before these histories were thought of. So, perhaps, I am excusable.
Eva Seymour Jenks, Historian