Phillip A. Jenkins and Minnie Sheron Jenkins

Happy Anniversary! Today would have been Phillip Arister Jenkins and Minnie Tree Sheron's 90th wedding anniversary. These are my husband's great-grandparents. In honor of that milestone, I wanted to talk about their family.

Phillip "Arister" Jenkins was born 31 August 1886 in Yadkin County, North Carolina. He was the second child born to Columbus Franklin Jenkins and Sarah Frances Southard. Arister first married Mary A. ("Molly") Nance. According to the 1910 Census, they were married about 1905. Together, Arister and Molly had at least five children. They were:

• Cora N. Jenkins, b. about 1905
• Columbus Paul Jenkins, b. 28 April 1909
• Fred Jenkins, b. about 1912
• Homer Jenkins, b. 22 February 1913
• Leona Jenkins, b. about 1917

Clipping from the 1920 Census

I do not know much about Arister and Molly's relationship. I was shocked when I even found out that Arister was married before he was married to Minnie! Molly Nance died 30 July 1921 at the age of 35. I have not yet found a cause of death for her. Her death (and life) have always been a bit of a mystery to me.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2011.

After Molly's death, Arister married Minnie Tree Sheron, the daughter of Charles Wheeler Sheron and Lucy Jane Smith. They were married 21 February 1925 in Randolph County, North Carolina. Together, they had five children:

• Nellie Jane Jenkins, b. 16 January 1926
• Charles Wray Jenkins, b. 1927
• Phillip Earl Jenkins, b. 7 April 1929
• Joe Frank Jenkins, b. 1 March 1931
• Joyce J. Jenkins, b. about 1933

Clipping from the 1930 Census. Notice Arister's "Age at first marriage" is listed as 38, not 19.

Clipping from the 1940 Census.

I am unsure whether or not Nellie was born premature or was stillborn, but she died the same day she was born. My father-in-law did not even know of his Aunt Nellie's existence until I uncovered it in my research at the local cemetery. I wonder if her siblings even knew about her.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2011.

Arister died at the age of 73 on 8 December 1959 in Franklinville, Randolph County, North Carolina of hemoplegia due to arteriosclerosis. Minnie died about 30 years later on 5 February 1993. Arister, Molly, Minnie, and Nellie are all buried at Grays Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Franklinville, Randolph County, North Carolina.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2011.

Sources:

• 1910 Boonville, Yadkin County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1920 Meadows, Stokes County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1930 Providence, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1940 Providence, Randolph County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Phillip Arister Jenkins (accessed on Ancestry)
• Tombstone, Molly Jenkins (photo taken Christmas 2011)
• Tombstone, Nellie Jane Jenkins (photo taken Christmas 2011)
• Tombstone, Phillip A. and Minnie S. Jenkins (photo taken Christmas 2011)