Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE
COLEY JENKINS
At the
time Mr. Jenkins landed in San Francisco, December 17, 1853, he found a
cosmopolitan frontier town, whose appearance gave little indication of the
prosperity and magnitude of the present metropolis. Nor, to the casual
observer, were prospects more favorable on a more extended investigation of the
inland portion of the state. Yet there were pioneers in those days whose broad
faith in the future and keen discernment enabled them to predict a marvelous
prosperity for this portion of the west, and among these pioneers Mr. Jenkins
was one whose faith in the ultimate greatness of the state never deserted him.
He was of eastern birth and descent, born in Madison county,
N. Y., October 24, 1822, and is the only survivor in a family of four sons and
two daughters, of whom he was next to the oldest.
The father of George C. Jenkins was Robert
R. Jenkins, whose birth occurred at Dover, Dutchess county, N. Y., May 22, 1799, and who in boyhood served an
apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and builder. Seeking a favorable
location, in 1840 he took his family to Jacksonville, Ill., and there he
followed his trade until his death, which occurred in October of 1869. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Laura Coley, was born in Deruyter,
Madison county, N. Y., November 20 1807, and died in
Jacksonville, Ill., June 19, 1862. Their son, George C. Jenkins, received such
advantages as the common schools of his boyhood afforded, and at seventeen
years of age was apprenticed to the tinner’s trade in
Madison, N. Y. During 1844 he joined his parents in Illinois and about the same
time secured employment at his trade in Springfield, where he became acquainted
with Abraham Lincoln, then a young and unknown lawyer. Not finding any
profitable work in Springfield, in 1845 he went to Jacksonville, where he
remained with his parents and worked at his trade. After his marriage in 1846
he settled in Lacon, Marshall county, Ill., where he
became interested in the lumber business and also operated a sawmill, but later
resumed work at his trade for five years in connection with a stove and
hardware store.
On account of Mrs. Jenkins’ people removing
to California Mr. Jenkins resolved to seek a home in the far west. With this
object in view, in 1853 he went to New York City and took passage on a ship
bound for the Isthmus of
Panama. After crossing the isthmus he boarded a vessel that had
San Francisco for its destination. On arriving there he proceeded to Santa
Clara county and took up a tract of raw land
twenty-five miles below San Francisco, where he planted a crop of potatoes. The
venture proved a total loss. Abandoning that place he came to Santa Clara and
thence went to Santa Cruz, where he became interested in a dairy business. At
first he found the industry profitable, but the dry season inflicted a heavy
financial loss upon him. In 1864 he visited his old home in Illinois, returning
the same year. On the steamer he met a man who wished to invest in California
property. After explaining the size of his ranch and the nature of the soil,
the stranger was led to purchase the property, and Mr. Jenkins thereupon
settled in Santa Clara. During his experiences as a pioneer he had more than
one narrow escape, but perhaps the most serious of these adventures was with a
runaway horse. He was driving with his wife in a buggy when the horse became
frightened and could not be controlled. Mrs. Jenkins was thrown from the buggy
and Mr. Jenkins was injured so seriously that he was unconscious for thirty-six
hours and has been crippled ever since.
To fill a vacancy in the office of justice
of the peace Mr. Jenkins was appointed to that position June 10, 1875, and
served with fidelity and impartiality. For some years he was interested in the
real-estate and insurance business, but during the fall of 1891 ill health
induced him to close out his business interest. Since then he has lived retired
in his home at No. 816 Monroe street, Santa Clara. He was married in
Jacksonville, Ill., January 15, 1846, to Emmarilla T.
Chandler, who was born in Ohio, reared in Illinois, became a pioneer of
California, and shares with him the esteem of associates and acquaintances.
While he has never been a partisan, he is nevertheless a firm believer in
Republican principles and always supports them with his ballot. Fraternally he
is connected with True Fellowship Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F., at San Clara.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 288-289. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.