The family removed to St. Johnsbury in 1860 and at the age of fourteen Edson engaged with J. H. PADDOCK to learn the machinist's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then entered Luke BUZZELL's machine shop as a journeyman, but was made foreman within a year, at the age of eighteen, and filled that position until 1872, when he entered the employ of the Fairbanks company as a machinist. He was foreman of the machine shop several years and later was department foreman of the beam room, blacksmith shop, and casting room nearly five years, and in 1895 was made assistant superintendent of the works. In this very exacting position he has the oversight and is responsible to the business manager for the work of more than a thousand workmen. Mr. JENKINS has shown a peculiar fitness for this most responsible position, possessing good judgment, fairness, and integrity and a complete and thorough knowledge of machinery as applied to the varied requirements of the scale and valve works. He is highly esteemed by the employees as well as by the management. 

E. R. JENKINS married in 1870 Helen M. GASKILL of St. Johnsbury, who died in 1879, leaving one son, John JENKINS, an employee in the Fairbanks works; His second wife was Nellie NASMITH. His third wife was her sister, Dora NASMITH, who died in 1899, and his present wife is Elizabeth MCNEY of Inverness, Province of Quebec. Mr. JENKINS has a beautiful home on Pleasant street. 
 

Source:  Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company, 1904, page 81-82.

Prepared by Tom Dunn March 2005