Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/540

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VIRGLNIA BIOGRAPHY

John Benson Jenkins. In 1885 Mr. Jen- kins, thru newly admitted to the Virginia bar. opened offices in the city of Norfolk and there for twenty-nine years engaged in general law practice alone. In 1914 the old sign that had never borne any name but his (.wn came down and was replaced by a new one. Jenkins iS: Jenkins, his partner being his son, also John lienson Jenkins.

Southampton, a county of Southeastern Virginia, was the Jenkins family seat for many years, Wiley Winborne Jenkins, grandfather of John Benson Jenkins, being a wealthy plantation and slave owner of that county.

Charles E. Jenkins, the only son of Wiley Winborne Jenkins who married, was born in Xorfolk county. \'irginia. and died in np3. after an active life as a merchant in- terrupted only by service in the Confederate army, from 1861 to 1865. He was educated in ])ublic schools, and began business life as a merchant, continuing until April, 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, entering the signal corps. He was in active military service until a few months prior to the surrender at Appomattox, wdien he was caj)tured by a detachment of Sheridan's cavalry and confined a prisoner of war at Point Lookout until July, 1865. After his release and recovery from the efifects of his confinement, he located in Xorfolk and was there engaged as a merchant until retire- ment a few years prior to his death in 1903. He was a member of the Baptist church, a Whig, later a Democrat in politics, and fra- ternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Jenkins married, in December. 1858, Kli/.a. daughter of John and Dorothy (l'"i>ster) r.enson. of Portsmouth. \"irginia. Children: John I'.enson. of whom further; .\nnie W'.. married William B. Tarrant, and has children; Annie. Mary L., William B. (2).

John r.enson Jenkins, only son of Charles K. and l'"li/.a ( i'.enson) Jenkins, was born in September. iHz,. He attended public school and prepared for college in the private school taught by William .\. C.ault. lie then entered Richmond College, later matricu- lating at the University of \'irginia. whence he was graduated with the degree of Master <if Arts. Deciding upcMi the i)rofession of law he began study in the law school of the l'ni\ersity of X'irginia, but before complet-

ing the course he was called home by the illness of his father. This necessitated his assuming direction of the latter's business and prevented his obtaining his degree from the university. He did not relinquish his ambition- to become a lawyer, however, but by private reading continued his legal stud- ies. In 1885. after examination, he was ad- mitted to the bar and at once began practice in Norfolk. He conducted general law prac- tice in all state and Federal courts of the district for twenty-nine years, winning hon- orable standing at the Norfolk-Portsmouth bar and securing a large practice. In 1914 his son, John Benson (2) Jenkins, was ad- mitted a partner, and as Jenkins & Jenkins, father and son are now practicing. Mr. Jenkins is learned in the law and to his learning adds the experience and skill gained from his more than a quarter of a century of controversial battle with the strong men of the Norfolk-Portsmouth bar. In these legal battles he has won his fair proportion of victories but whether the verdict of judge or jury was yea or nay he clung to the strictest ethics of his profes- sion, and never sought advantage through unworthy methods. He is a member of the American Bar, the Virginia Bar and the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar associations, and nowhere is he held in higher esteem than among his brethren of the profession. He is a member of Owen Lodge. Free and Ac- cepted Masons, the Borough Club and the Baptist church, affiliating with the Demo- cratic party in state and national politics.

Mr. Jenkins married, in 1888, Eunice B., daughter of Coleman and Eunice (Shep- herd) Wortham. of King and Queen county, Virginia. Children; i. Coleman W^ortham, born in 1889; graduate of Virginia Military Institute, class of 1909; assistant professor at alma mater and lieutenant in the United States army. 2. John Benson (2), born in 1891 ; a graduate of law school, University of Virginia. LL. B. ; now associated in law practice with his father as junior of the law firm of Jenkins & Jenkins. 3. Charles E., born in 1893: now a student at the Univer- sity of Virginia.

Sydney John Baker, M. D. Of English birth, i)arentage and ancestry. Dr. Baker has been a resident of Virginia since 1887, and of Richmond since 1903. He is the son of Thomas M. K. Baker, of Torquay, Devon-