The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-28
President First National Bank of
Gastonia.

Wilson. A. A. Mclean and j. Lee
Robinson This is directorate embracing
five OF the wnest, safest and honestest
men in CASTOR county, men who have
borne a conspicuous part in the phe-
ncmenal growth Of Gastonia. This bank
has a capital of $4,000 with surplus
and undivided profit account of $l5,-
64167. During its existence it has paio
dividends aggregating fifty thousand dol
lars. It's report dated June 9Th, 1908
shows total deposits of S179, 9S0.65. In
every respect it is a statement gratifying
alike TO the management and the busl-
ness world with which it is so intimately
connected. 1t has a nice home costing
$15, 900. The bank Is conducted upon
sound business principles. III does not
seek to make any big show or 10 blow It's
horn. 1t speaks through its successful
and honorable record of thirteen years
a record OF which its organizers and
managers have every reason to be proud
Mr.. Jenkins is one of the leading mem
bcrs of the North Carolina Bankers As
ISOLATION and at its session held in
Wrightsyille, June 2Srd-25th. inclusive, Mr..
Jenkins read paper on Exchange and
valuable papers of the session.
Born Dec. 3, 1864 upon farm in Gaeton
county, North Carolina, a few miles dis.
tant from the present site OF Gastona,
young Jenkins was given the best educa
tional and general training the institution
oil his native State could provide. In 1873.
the family removed to Charlotte, and II
was in this place that the boy received
much, of the tuition that prepared HIM
for the advanced studies he afterwards
pursued During the school year 1876 Z
he was a student in the Carolina Military
Institute in Charlotte.
In 1877 the family left Charlotte, and
settled in Gastonia. which IN that yea
became Incorporated as town; the
young mans studies were continued IL
| institutions near his new home, and
within a couple of years he was prepared
for entrance to Wake Forest College.
After completing his general studies
! Mr.. Jenkins accepted a position as assist
ant postmaster at Charlotte; in this of
/ flee he remained from 1883 to 1885. he
then taught school for about a year; in
! 1886 his father died and left very sub
stantial subsistence to his son; during
the year in which the settlement of the
estate was pending the young man op
Grated as buyer in the cotton market
In 1887 he began his career as a banker
! in Gastonia, where he entered into q
partnership. which was known as Craig
& jenkins; three years later this firm wa;
succeeded by the First National Bank Of
Gastonia in which Mr.. jenkins wai
elected to the cashiership In 1894 he re
moved to Wilmington, and there assisted
to form the National Bank OF Whining
ton; in this institution he was chosen tc
/ fill the cashiers office, but after serving
in that capacity for a few months he re-
signed the place in order to return .
Gastonia and again enter the First Ma
| tional Bank as its president. His election
occurred on January LIST, 1895, and since
that time he has remained at the heac
OF the institution. (The banks capital il
| $50 10000; its surplus and undivided pro
fits are about S10000.00. and its deposits
average over 500, 600; and about one-thIr6
of the sum is held for other banking
houses.) Like many of the business meI
OF the locality Mr. Jenkins has invested
| largely in the cotton manufacturing In.
dustry: he is president OF the Modena Cot
ton Mills in Gastonia, and is extensively
interested as stakeholder in a number o.
other similar establishments there anc
elsewhere throughout the South.
Mr. Jenkins has always been an arden
Republican: he is chairman OF the Re
publican Executive Committee of Castor
county, and a member of the District Con.
gressonal Committee; he is one of the
recognized leaders OF the party in the
section In 1892 he was elected delegate
| from the Eighth District of North Caro-
| lima to the National Republican Conven
ton in Minneapolis; he there met Presi
dent McKinley-who at the time wa
chairman of the convention-and prophe
sled to him directly that he would be the
nominee of the party for the Presidency
in 1896 the fufilment of this forecast
clearly entitled Mr.. Jenkins to consldera
tion as one of the original Mckinley men
4 Under President Harrison Mr. Jenkins wa'
made postmaster of Gastonia, and he oc
| cupied the office from 1889 to 1898; Presi
dent Mckinley re-appointed him in 1898
! but he found his business interests so alb
sorbing that he afterwards resigned.