My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE SAMUEL H. JENKINS, one of the leading and influential citizens of Ballard County, was born March 28, 1821, in Henry County, Ky. He is the youngest of eight children, and is the only one living born to Samuel and Ann W. (Owens) Jenkins, who were born in Fairfax County, Va., of Welsh descent The father died when our subject was but six years old, the mother when he was sixteen. Samuel H, Jenkins was reared on a farm, but received a fair English education; he attended St. Mary’s College, Marion County, Ky., and at the age of nineteen commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one years, by Judges Prior and Marshall, of Louisville. In 1842 he located at Blandville, Ky., where he engaged in practice; in the same year he was elected county attorney for four years; in 1852 he was elected county judge for one term—the first judge under the new constitution. In 1859 he was elected State senator from the First District, and was in the senate during the contest for secession, to which he was opposed. In 1875 he was again elected, but refused a third election. In 1880 he was elected county judge, was reelected in 1882, and holds the position with honor and credit. Our subject is the possessor of several good farms, aggregating about 200 acres. In 1880 he located in Wickliffe, where he now resides and has made his accumulations by his own industry and energy since he came to Ballard County. He was married February 26, 1846, to Ann L. Moore, of Ballard County, Ky.; she was born in Christian County, Ky., and is a daughter of John A. and Amelia W. (Elliott) Moore, of Irish and English descent, respectively. He has no children. He and wife are members of the Christian and Baptist Churches, respectively. Judge Jenkins cast his presidential vote for James K. Polk, and has voted with the Democrats ever since.