Smith Jenks

The subject of my historical sketch today is that of Uncle Smith Jenks and his family, descendants. He was the oldest son of Laban and Prudence White Jenks and was born at Adams, Mass. February 25, 1795 and died at North Plains, Ionia County, Michigan, June 25, 1879 in his 85th year.

At Bloomfield, Michigan, on November 26, 1837, he was married to Miss Abigail Harrington who was born April 10, 1815 and died May 15, 1905.

They were the parents of six children, three boys, John, Horace, and Henry, and three girls, Laura, Mary, and Polly Louisa. Of these three are sleeping their last sleep. John who went to the War of 1860 and like many of his brave comrades, never returned. Henry who died in 1900, left two sons, Albert and Earl Jenks of Fenwick, Michigan. And Polly Louisa, born April 13, 1845, who died September 24, 1896. In 1861, she became the wife of Israel Burtram and their family consisted of five children, three boys and two girls. The oldest of her sons, William Henry Burtram was born October 19, 1863 and his wife was a Miss Bertha Moore. Emma, born July 15, 1869, is the wife of Harry D. Charles. Frank A. was born August 4, 1873. Jay I , September 7, 1877, and Merlie, wife of Barret Sessions, was born June 15, 1886.

To Polly Louisa’s son, Frank A Burtram, who runs a meat market in Muir, Michigan, I am indebted for all my information regarding his family. He was but six years of age when his grandfather, Smith Jenks, died and his recollections of him are very indistinct. Mr. Burtram wrote me it would be impossible for him to attend this reunion, though he would like very much to come. But, hoped to meet us all sometime. And that we would have a grand time. Also, to give his love to all the friends and tell them, if any of them come to Muir to be sure to come and see him.

Of those living of Uncle Smith Jenks’ children, the oldest is Mr. Horace Jenks, now 76, of Westville, Michigan. His wife Melissa Woodard -Jenks was born October 20, 1843 and died December 16, 1909. They had three children, two girls, Mrs. Grace Jenks Houghton, born October 12, 1862 who died 1906, and Miss Lillie Jenks Herrington, born August 22, 1866, wife of Fred Herrington, and one son Ralph Jenks, born June 21, 1874. They had also, nine grandchildren - S. H. Houghton, Blanch Houghton Jackson, Grace Houghton Holand, Leonard and Bessie Houghton; Horace, Milton, and Eunice Herrington, and Mrs. Bernice Herrington Connell, wife of Golda Connell of Greenville, Michigan.

The son of Uncle Smith’s, Cousin Horace, intended to be with us today, but the homecoming of his son whom he had not seen for eleven years kept him at home. He writes it had been sixty years since he had seen any of his cousins, but hoped all would enjoy themselves and that he would be glad to hear from Oliver and Esther.

The next of this, the first generation of cousins, is Miss Laura Jenks Rose, of Belding, Michigan, now 75 years of age. She has six children, the oldest Mrs. Diana Cartridge was 59 last June. A pair of twins, Mrs. Orilla Hicks and Mrs. Marella Bush will be 58 in September. A son, William Rose was 55 last January; Miss Dora Buckley, now 42, and Mrs. Mary Hill, 37. She has 17 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. ( Her daughter ........

[ed note: The rest of the original document from Eva Seymour Jenks is missing for the Biography of Smith Jenks. After an complete search of the original handwritten documents, the final pages have not been found.]