Jenkins JenkinsBy the time of the 1850 U.S. Census, Sophia was a widow and the oldest Jenkins' children were leaving home. Their oldest daughter, Margaret Ann, married Luke N. Teachman in late 1841 or early 1842. Their second oldest son, William, left home at an early age, moving to Steuben Co., IN in 1846. Sophia and her children were probably struggling to get by. The two oldest boys at home were working as laborers.
| Family Number | Name | Age | Place of birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 658 | Sophia Jenkins | 37 | New York |
| Jas. Jenkins | 17 | New York | |
| Saml. Jenkins | 16 | New York | |
| Elizabeth Jenkins | 14 | New York | |
| Robert Jenkins | 12 | New York | |
| Martha Jenkins | 10 | New York | |
| Henry Jenkins | 8 | New York | |
| Anos (Enos) Jenkins | 7 | New York | |
| Alice Jenkins | 4 | New York | |
| Jno. Jenkins | 3 | New York |
Late in 1854, Sophia Jenkins followed her daughter, Margaret to Delaware Co., NY. In the 1855 New York State Census, the two families were living one house apart in Hancock Town. Sophia was Dwelling 3, Family 3. Luke and Margaret were Dwelling 5, Family 5. The census was taken on 7 June and Sophia is listed as living there seven months. Luke and Margaret had lived there three years.
| Line | Name | Age | Relationship | County Born |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Sophia Jenkins | 42 | Orange | |
| 11 | James | 22 | Son | Orange |
| 12 | Samuel | 20 | Son | Orange |
| 13 | Robert | 15 | Son | Orange |
| 14 | Martha | 14 | Daughter | Orange |
| 15 | Henry H. | 12 | Son | Orange |
| 16 | Enos | 10 | Son | Orange |
| 17 | Alice | 8 | Daughter | Orange |
| 18 | John | 6 | Son | Orange |
| 26 | Luke N. Teachman | 39 | Orange | |
| 27 | Margaret A. | 29 | Wife | Orange |
| 28 | Leander | 11 | Son | Orange |
| 29 | Joseph K. | 9 | Son | Orange |
| 30 | Mary Adelia | 8 | Daughter | |
| 31 | Hannah | 5 | Daughter | Broom |
| 32 | Jane | 3 | Daughter | Orange |
Sophia has not been found in the 1860 Census. Of the children, Margaret used her brother William as a reference when she applied for her Civil War widow's pension. At the time of William's death, he had two surviving siblings, Enos Jenkins of Patterson (sic), New Jersey and Alice Jenkins Hart of Maybrook, New York. A Civil War veteran, William served as a member of Co. A, 29th Ind. Vols. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh in April 1862 and subsequently discharged. He reinlisted in March 1864 and served six months in the 156th Ind., with Co. A.
As a very young man, Enos went to work for area farmers in Orange Co., New York. At the age of 15, he attended Long Pond school for a time. In 1861, he enlisted in the 124th New York Volunteers - the Orange Blossoms - to serve in the Civil War. He participated in battles at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, the Battle of the Wilderness and Petersburg. He was wounded and a prisoner of war for a time at Pemperton Prison. At the close of the war, he returned to the regiment at Appomattox Court House in time to witness the surrender of Gen. Lee. After the war he married Lydia H. Tice and settled in Passaic County, New Jersey. First he worked as a butcher and then he purchased a charcoal business. When he died in 1941, he was the last survivor of the Civil War living in Paterson.
After marrying Henry Hart in about 1860, Alice Jenkins settled into the life of a farmwife in Delaware Co., NY. For many years she was a resident of the town of Tompkins. Her funeral was from the Cannonsville M.E. Church. She and her husband were first interred in the Cannonsville area. When a dam was to be built, however, they were removed to the Walton Town and Village Cemetery.
Was born in Elizabethport, New Jersey, June 10, 1831, the son of James and Sophia Jenkins, and died at his home in Angola, Ind., June 12, 1916, aged 85 years and 2 days. He was of a family of fourteen children, of whom but two survive, Enos Jenkins, of Patterson, New Jersey, and Alice Jenkins Hart, of Maybrook, New York. The deceased moved to Steuben county in 1846, and lived the remainder of his life a citizen of this county. He was married in 1853, at Scott Center, to Sarah Dwelley, and there was born to them nine children, six girls and three boys, of whom are living three daughters and two sons, Mrs. Henry Crooks, of Angola; Mrs. Emma Walder, of Lake county, Mich., Mrs. Della Johnson, of Angola, and Archie Jenkins and Obe Jenkins, of Angola. The mother of these children died August 16, 1886, aged 53 years. He was again married, Dec. 14, 1886, to Florence Alsina Parker, whose maiden name was Goodwin, of Scott township, who was a faithful wife and companion for nearly thirty years, and still survives.
Mr. Jenkins enlisted in the war for the preservation of the union in 1861 as a member of Co. A, 29th Ind. Vols. He was wounded in the right shoulder at the battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, and was discharged because of this in August, 1862. He again enlisted in March, 1864, and served six months in the 156th Ind., with Co. A. The wound received at Shiloh remained an open and severe sore until his death, and he suffered untold agony from it all through these years. He was a member of B.J. Crosswait Post, G.A.R., for thirty-three years, and was prompt and faithful in his duties.
The deceased was grandfather of 36 grandchildren, of whom thirty survive, and great-grandfather of 28 children, of whom 23 survive. Another great-grandson was born one day to the hour after his death.
The funeral service was held on Wednesday afternoon, June 14, at the U.B. church, Rev. Snyder, pastor, officiating, and the G.A.R. and W.R.C. attended the body. Burial at Jones chapel.
Alice Jenkins Hart
From the Delaware Express, 23 Sept. 1927, p. 2, col. 4:
Mrs. Alice Jenkins Hart, aged 82, for many years a resident of the town of Tompkins, living on Dry Brook beyond Kelsey, was found dead at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Clifford Briggs, on Beebe Hill, near Cannonsville by members of the family who, going to call her in the morning, found she had quietyly passed away. She had been as well as usual the previous day. The funeral was largely attended from the Cannonsville M.E. Church. She left one daughter, Mrs. J.E. Peaslee of Cannonsville, three sons, 27 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Enos Jenkins
From the Paterson Morning Call, 24 March 1941, p. 1, col. 4:
Enos Jenkins, last bonafide Paterson resident, who served in the Civil War, died early yesterday morning in his home, 268 Jefferson street. He had been in bed for the past eight weeks under the care of Mrs. E. Cochrane, his nurse. He was 97 years of age and before his death had prepared to celebrate his next birthday this coming Sept. 11.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Robert C. Moore and Sons Home for Funerals, 384 Totowa avenue. The Rev. Benjamin Stinson, will officiate. Interment will be made in Laurel Grove Cemetery. The Sons of Veterans are expected to conduct the military rites. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be after 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Surviving are two sons, Lorenzo and Elias of this city; two daughters, Mrs. Laura Van Lenten and Mrs. Nettie Haucke, 13 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. His wife Lydia H. Tice Jenkins, predeceased him some years ago.
Enos Jenkins was born in the village of Sugar Loaf, Orange County, New York State, Sept. 11, 1847, the son of James Jenkins and Savira Cargain. He was one of 14 children, eight boys and six girls, all of whom have passed away.
The elder Jenkins plied his trade as a tailor for many years in the village of Oxford, Orange County, New York. Enos Jenkins was employed on the Edward King farm near Bulls Mills, N.Y. His part of the farm work was the milking of 15 cows morning and evening, there being 50 cows in the herd. At the age of 15 he longed for sufficient education to be able to care for himself intelligently, hence a change from one farm to another nearer the little Long Pond school house, even this necessitating a three mile walk every morning and evening. Sometime later he moved to another farm near Highland Mills, N.Y., owned by Nathaniel Earls where he remained until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. From Goshen, N.Y., he enlisted in the 124th New York Volunteers (Orange Blossoms) and embarked for New York city.
On a transport from that point they finally reached Washington, D.C. Their stay in the national capital was of short duration, for the regiment was hurriedly rushed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where they were a part of that engagement, and then across the Potomac River into Chancerllorsville where they were a part of that losing fight. The Federal troops were driven back from Chancellorsville, recrossing the Potomac River into Beverly Ford only to recross the river again where a skirmish was had with Lee's army.
After this short engagement the Jersey boys crossed the river again and engaged in the three days battle of Gettysburg. The Orange Blossoms with the rest of the regiment marched ten miles crossing the Potomac again and were in the thick of the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. Then over into Virginia where the battle of the Wilderness was fought, at the closing of which they entered the Petersburg campaign.
At Petersburg winter quarters were established and before they were settled, orders came to make a raid on the Weiden railroad. Before finishing this piece of destruction they had torn up 30 miles of track, twisted the red hot rails around trees and burned the houses as they proceeded. On their return they were horrified to find 25 of their men lying along the road dead, stripped of their clothing. They discovered that Mosby's Guerillas had passed through that section and committed the crime. A little further on they halted at Naterway River for the supply train to come up, for the rations had all run out. While waiting Enos Jenkins started out to purchase molasses for the soldiers had a little meal and with a short ration of molasses they could eat it. He met Zephaniah Allen who accompanied him. Both were alert watching for Mosby's men who were in the vicinity dressed in Union clothing. After finding the molasses they ran into a nest of the enemy who were very courteous and detained them in conversation. Finally one of the men made himself known, and in a pitched skirmish Jenkins was wounded, being pierced behind the ear with a sword. Both men were captured and led into the woods nearby and stripped. They were held six days and then taken to Lee's division and marched to Petersburg. From that point they went to Lee's headquarters where they were registered and imprisoned in an old tobacco factory and given one piece of bran bread to suffice them for three days after which they were hustled aboard a cattle train and taken to Richmond, Va.
There they were marched through the city in an endeavor to stimulate trade among the merchants who were on the verge of collapse with stores closed. From that point they were taken to Libby Prison where they remained one week, and then removed across the street to what was known as Pemperton Prison where they were kept two months. Finally they were parolled and returned to camp in Maryland, remaining there for two months after which they were given a furlough and returned to Paterson.
At the close of the month they returned to the regiment at Appomattox Court House in time to witness the surrender of Lee.
Mustered out of the service in Newburg, N.Y., Comrade Jenkins found employment with farmers after again entering civilian life, changing his vocation to that of a butcher, and in later years he purchased a charcoal business, running wagons from Wynockie to Newark with his product. He conducted this business for 24 years, after which he sold his farm at Haskell, and made his residence at 65 North Fifth street, where he again conducted a wood and charcoal business for another 28 years, finally disposing of his business and building himself a home at 268 Jefferson street where he has since resided.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins were blessed with 14 children, seven boys and seven girls. Two boys and two girls now survive.
For over 30 years and until it was disbanded, Comrade Jenkins was a member of Henry W. Slocum Post, No. 55, Grand Army of the Republic, and was one of several hndred men who were members of the three posts, Admiral Farragut No. 28, Chaplain Butler No. 35, and General Henry W. Clocum Post, No. 55 G.A.R.
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