Kings County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



 
THOMAS JENKINSON
 
a rancher east of Armona, and a pioneer farmer of the Mussel Slough district, 
was born in New York State, April 20, 1835. His father, William Jenkinson, a 
native of Ireland, emigrated to the United States at an early day.  In the 
infancy of Thomas his parents moved to Canada, and subsequently to Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, where they both died about the year 1845.  Our subject then lived with 
his brothers and sisters, he being the youngest of six children, until 1852, 
when he crossed the plains for California, via Fort Laramie, Fort Hall, the 
Snake river and the Columbus river to Portland.  There they stopped on Rogue 
river, and passed the winter in mining.  The snow being deep and supplies giving 
out they were obliged to live for six weeks on deer meat, without a particle of 
salt or seasoning.  In the spring of 1853 they went to Humboldt bay and engaged 
in lumbering, cutting logs and hauling to the saw-mills.  In 1855 our subject 
left his oxen, valued at $400 per yoke, with a partner and went to the mines.  
During his absence his partner sold the oxen and �skipped� without reporting to 
Mr. Jenkinson.  The latter continued mining in Placer County until 1856, and 
then engaged in wheat farming, which he continued until 1868, when he came to 
Hill�s Ferry, Merced County, and farmed two seasons.  He again pushed South and 
landed in Tulare County, on the banks of the historic Mussel Slough, August 18, 
1870, settling upon 160 acres of government land.  The slough was dry, the 
plains an arid waste, covered with wild horses and cattle, and their only canopy 
from the sun�s rays was the spreading branches of a massive oak.  Here they 
rested for two months, and during the time Mr. Jenkinson cut and hauled hay from 
Tule lake to feed their jaded horses.  He then hauled lumber from the mountain 
saw-mill, seventy-five miles distant, and built his house, 12 x 12 feet, yet 
they were glad enough for even this protection form the wild cattle of the 
plains.
            In the spring of 1871 Mr. Jenkinson went to Tule lake, and upon its 
moist border put in a summer crop.  At that time groceries were all hauled from 
Stockton, a distance of 160 miles, to Kingston, the nearest trading post.  In 
the spring of 1873 our subject was one of five men to organize and commence 
digging the People�s Ditch, the number being increased as later settlers came 
in.  While Mr. Jenkinson worked on the ditch his wife supported the family by 
raising turkeys, having at one time 2,300, which she carefully herded as one 
would herd sheep.  One season she netted $1,500 from her turkeys, besides 
guarding the crops from the wild animals.  After securing water Mr. Jenkinson 
began farming more extensively, also sowed alfalfa and started the stock 
business in a small way.  He was among the earliest in planting fruit 
experimentally, to which he has since added to the amount of twenty-six acres, 
and will soon plant a large part of his ranch of 100 acres.  
            He was married in Placer County, in October, 1862, to Miss Abby A. 
Jewett, a native of Massachusetts.  They have three children:  Henry R., Thomas 
A. and Lucy M., all living at home.  Mr. Jenkinson is a member of Hanford Lodge, 
A.O.U.W., and a stanch supporter of the Farmers� Alliance.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 771-772
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler