Life has been a little crazy!

I haven't forgotten about you! I know it's been a little over a month since I last posted, but I started a new job the week after my last post, so things have been a little hectic. I will return soon though with more family stories and research. (In fact, I've found a couple of yearbooks on Ancestry that pertain to Randolph County and my husband's family.)

In the meantime, I will leave you with this photo of my father-in-law which I found in one of the aforementioned yearbooks.

James Larry Jenkins, 1964

Sources:

• 1965 Gray's Chapel High School Yearbook (accessed on Ancestry)

Nellie Jane Jenkins

I had my State DAR Fall Forum this weekend, so I again didn't get a chance to prepare a post this weekend. I will instead leave you with the death certificate for my father-in-law's aunt, Nellie Jane Jenkins. He never knew of her until I found her tombstone in the local cemetery. I found her death certificate a few months later.

Death Certificate for the stillborn "infant of Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Jenkins"

I will also attach her tombstone, which is the only record that shows her name.

Copyright Brittany Jenkins, 2011

Sources:

• Death Certificate, Infant of Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Jenkins (accessed on Ancestry)
• Tombstone, Nellie Jane Jenkins

Martin and Ruth B. Southard

Martin Southard was born about 1838 in Surry County, North Carolina. His parentage was originally thought to be Job and Morning Snow Southard, but their son Martin doesn't seem to be the right age as my husband's Martin. Because of this, I think Martin's father was John Southard (mother's name is currently unknown).

The first time I find Martin Southard enumerated by name in the census records is 1850.

Clipping from 1850 census

Here, you can see 12-year-old Martin, living with John, whom I assume to be his father, and Martin and Elizabeth, whom I assume to be John's parents.

Then, living just one page over, there is Martin's future wife, Ruth Ball.

Clipping from 1850 Census

Ruth and Martin got married on 22 February 1852 in Surry County, North Carolina.

Clipping from Marriage Record

By 1860, the family moved to Dobson in Surry County.

Based on the 1860 census and a couple of death certificates I have found, Ruth and Martin had (at least) the following children:

• W. W. Southard (born c. 1853)
• H. W. Southard (born c. 1855)
• Wiley Southard (born c. 1857)
• Melindia Southard (born c. 1858)
• Sarah Frances Southard (born November 1860)

I struggle to find them in the 1870 census, but I am still investigating this family. With the question of Martin's parentage looming, I have a feeling this family will be a strong focus of mine all weekend. If I happen to find any more information on this family today, I will edit the post and add it in. Otherwise, I will save any new findings for another post.

Sources:

• 1850 Hotel, Surry County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• 1860 Dobson, Surry County, North Carolina U.S. Federal Census (accessed on Ancestry)
• Death Certificate, Sarah Southern Jenkins (accessed on FamilySearch)
• Death Certificate, Wiley Southard (accessed on FamilySearch)
• North Carolina Marriage Records (accessed on Ancestry)

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)