Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/277

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. J. G. Jenkins, M.P., Chief Secretary THE cjipacity of Americans to "go aliead " is proverbial and commendable, and numbers ol representatives of that nation have, by the qualities of jiush and perseverance, established their right to superior recognition in Australia. In this colony are men, breathing the spirit of liberty emanating from the memorable Declaration of Independence, whose u.sefulness and high-grade service reflect credit on the land of their birth and on lh(ir individual attainments. Among them is the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, the shrewd and humorous Chief Secretary in the Holder Ministry. Born at Susquehanna, Pennsyl- vania, on September 8, 185 1, John Greeley Jenkins was early animated with the enterprise characteristic of natives of that historical State. When he left school he became associated with the office of a large juiblishing house, a branch of trade at that time showing considerable activity in ingenious innovations. He was soon commisioned to travel for that firm in various parts of the States and Canada. Mr. Jenkins, like most of his countrymen, was endowed with an aptitude for acquiring information and of storing it up to good purpose. Eventually he was engaged to travel in Aus- tralia, and he arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, in April, 1878. A short sojourn in the Province sufficed to induce him to sever his connection with his firm and to establish a business on his own account in Adelaide. He imported, on a large scale, English and American publications, and found an agreeable market to encourage him. An offer from the Picturesque Atlas Company to manage its publication in South Australia caused him to relinquish his private business, and he was associated with this position for some time. In 1886 he started auctioneering, and became senior partner in the firm of Jenkins & Gurr. This firm enjoyed for some time a substantial business. Mr. Jenkins retired from it to devote himself more closely to public work. R2 Hammet cr' Co., Photo