The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-13
CAME WITH HER HUSBAND iN
THE TERRITORIAL DAYS.
For a Number of Years Couple Con-
Quoted a Stopping Place at
Wilton, Then Seat Of Govern
ment for Waseea County; Trials
and TribuIations in Kansas; Re-
turned to Minnesota.

!
/ By the death of Mrs. Mary Jen-
kins at Amboy on Monday another
old settler has passed away. Mrs.
jenkins died at the home of her
youngest daughter, Mrs. Charles
Killmer. She was a pioneer of the
territorial days.
Miss Mary Taner was born April
T. 1926, near Newport. Herkimer
county, New York. She was married
to the late David Jenkins December
~, 1874 They conducted a dairy
farm two years, and hearing the
glowing reports of Minnesota and
its healthy climate and fertile soil
they at once came to this then ter
ritory.
Settled in Minnesota in 1854.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jenkins took up
claim on the LIE Sueur river in 1854
where afterward stood the flourish
ing town of Wilton and was once
the seat of government for Waseca
county. They erected a large, COM
modious claim shanty out of logs
and this building soon became the
travellers inn by necessity. 1t was
the only stopping place between
Mankato and Owatonna and many OF
the old settlers in this vicinity will
remember the cheerful and warm
fires that were to be found in this
; and fro.
All Ministers Warmly Greeted.
Ministers of all denominations al
ways found a warm and hearty well
come at this humble home. Mr..
and Mrs. Jenkins resided in Wilton
for ten years, weathering the hard
times of 1858 and 1859, which left
nearly all the old settlers stranded
on the rocks of adversely. The
much-loved couple moved to James
vile where they purchased small
farm from the Indians. They lived
upon this farm for twelve years
Then they sold out and moved to
Norton county, Kansas, where they
] lived three years, enduring many
Y hardships. Returning to Minnesota
t they made their home at Smiths
2 Mill and vicinity for some years and
where Mr.. jenkins died in 1891.
t Mother Of Eleven Children.
J. In recent years Mrs. Jenkins has
t made her home with the children,
j the larger part of the time with
t Mrs. Charles Killmer of Amboy,
), where she received the kindcst
e care. Mrs. Jenkins was the mother,
s of eleven children, Mrs Horace Cum.
o minis, Eagle Lake; Alice, who died
in childhood in New York state;
y Mrs. Preston, Dyard, Wash; Isaac
II Jenkins, GAINESVILLE; Nettie and
II George, who were carried away by
S typhoid fever in 1865; Albert, who
l. was accidentally shot by his OWL
e Grant, Forester, Mimi; and Mrs
Killmer of Amboy. Another son
g David met an untimely death three
= years ago while experimenting the
building Of dam on the Spokane
It river. This occurred while the young
3 man was in boat with an assist
If ant. A large bucket of stone wa:
is swung from the main land out Ovel
their heads. The derrick gave away
1T falling on the boat and sending Il
IN and the men to the bottom Of the
C river. Several days elapsed before
Is the bodies were recovered.
|y Lived Christian life.
~ Mrs. Jenkins lived beautiful
Christian life. She reflected the love
mercy and patience of her Savior
and few days ago she informed
=, those about her that she was no
afraid to die, but longed to go wher
!. she would meet her loved ones VIII
- had gone before. She rested peace
- fully i'm the full assurance and faitl
that she would soon meet those love-
ones with outstretched arms. Sh
" longed for the time when she wOul'
- meet the King in His glory, AM
once more she would greet he
friends of yore. She longed TO CT
80 ter the pearly gates and walk TIL
', golden avenues of the New Jerusa
lem.
- Her remains were laid beside thOs
iof ba. G,,c1 no, nd