My Genealogy Hound

PARKER JENKINS is a native of Hatfield township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born at the old homestead near Colmar, June 15, 1847. He was educated in the public schools, and then devoted his attention to farming as an occupation. He was appointed station agent at Colmar by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, a position which he has filled since 1876. He has served as postmaster at Colmar since 1876, with the exception of four years during President Cleveland’s second term. When the Republican administration of Mr. McKinley was inducted into power, Mr. Jenkins again received the appointment, and he still holds it. He is an earnest and active Republican in politics, and one of the workers in the county for party success. He is a charter member of Lansdale Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and a member of the secret society known as the True Blues.

Mr. Jenkins married, in 1875, Miss Catherine Dungan, daughter of Martin and Caroline Dungan, farmers, of Hatfield township. She died January 16, 1901.

He is descended from members of the Society of Friends. Charles Todd Jenkins (father) was born April 13, 1812, on the tract of land now owned by Heebner’s Agricultural Works at Lansdale, which tract of land at that time formed part of the Jenkins homestead. He was reared in the regulation fashion in those days, working on the farm in summer and autumn, and attending school through the winter when there was no outdoor work to be done. He devoted time to study at home, in which he was assisted by his father, John Jenkins. At the age of eighteen years he commenced teaching school, and taught three winter terms, and afterwards for three full years in succession. In the spring of 1840 he engaged in farming, butchering, and dealing in country produce for the Philadelphia market, which he continued for a period of forty years. In the meantime the North Pennsylvania Railroad was built, and a station located at Colmar. He established there a depot for coal, flour and feed, which he operated for fourteen years, when he retired and engaged in farming, which he followed until he died. His wife was Sarah, daughter of George and Esther Lukens, of Towamencin township. She was the mother of the following children: George L.; Anna, died in childhood; Ella, married Oliver M. Evans, of Lansdale; Comly L.; Parker, subject of this sketch; Naomi; J. P. Hale, a leading lawyer of Norristown, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Valeria, married George Chapin, of Philadelphia. The ancestor of the Jenkins family in this county (Montgomery) and adjoining counties was Jenkin Jenkin, who came from Wales, and settled in the vicinity in which so many of the name still reside. He had a son and grandson, both named John. The last named was the father of Charles Todd Jenkins.

Charles Todd Jenkins and Sarah Lukens were married March 26, 1840. She is also deceased.