NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Robert F. JENKINS is one of the hustling business men of Dover, where he conducts an up-to-date blacksmith and general repair shop. He has served the town of Dover as alderman and is now, 1913, one of the freeholders of Morris county. He is the owner of considerable valuable property in this section of the county and is here recognized as a citizen of sterling worth and integrity. He is a native of England, where his birth occurred March 10, 1870. His parents, Robert and Elizabeth (COX) JENKINS, were born, reared and married in Great Britain, whence they immigrated to America in 1871. They located first on Long Island and later came to Dover. For many years the father followed the occupation of farming but prior to his demise he was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. From youth up he was very zealous in the cause of religion and preached off and on from the time he was twenty-one years of age. He died in 1900, at the age of seventy-one years, and his remains are interred in the Mill Brook cemetery. His cherished and devoted wife survives him and is still a resident of Dover, where she is deeply beloved by those who know her intimately. Mr. and Mrs. JENKINS were the parents of the following children: Mary; Anna, wife of Monroe SMITH, who is deceased; Emma, widow of Frank R. COOPER; Mr. SMITH and Mr. COOPER both died on the same day; Louise, wife of Manning C. CASTERLINE; Jane, wife of George SMITH; Joseph; Edward; Robert F.

As an infant of one year Robert F. JENKINS was brought to America from England by his parents. After completing the prescribed course in the common schools of Dover, he pursued a commercial course in the Dover Business College. At the age of seventeen years he began to learn the trade of blacksmith and with that line of enterprise he has since been identified. He served a four years’ apprenticeship under a blacksmith at Mount Freedom and then went to Morristown, where he worked as a blacksmith for one year, at the expiration of which he went to Succasunna, there working for another year. In 1888 he accepted a position as a clerk in a grocery store at Mount Freedom coming thence to Dover in 1890. For six months after his arrival in this city he was in the employ of a Mr. KING and then he opened up a shop of his own on Clinton street, conducting the same in that locality for eight years, at the end of which time he removed his establishment to No. 68 Blackwell street. For the ensuing seven years he rented the latter place and in 1907 he purchased the same. In addition to black-smithing he contracts for work as a wagon maker, painter and automobile repairer. He controls a large patronage and his business is constantly increasing.

In politics Mr. JENKINS is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party. For five years he was a member of the city council of Dover, and he is now serving his first term as one of the freeholders of Morris county. In addition to his beautiful home and his place of business he is the owner of a great deal of finely improved real estate in this city. In the York Rite branch of the time-honored Masonic order he is affiliated with Acacia Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M.; Royal Arch Masons; Ode de St. Amand Commandery, No. 12, K. T.; and Salaam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise connected with the Royal Arcanum, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For the past sixteen years Mr. JENKINS has been one of the fire wardens of Dover, and he and his family are zealous members of the Presbyterian church.

In September, 1898, Mr. JENKINS was united in marriage to Agnes DANIEL, a native of Morris county, daughter of Edward DANIEL. Mr. and Mrs. JENKINS have three children, namely: Robert F. Jr., Edward, Curtis W., all of whom are at the parental home.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

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