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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 



				ERASTUS S. AND AILES (DEAN) JENKS.

	Erastus S. Jenks was born in Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Mass., July 6, 1814, where the 
Jenks family were numerous and influential people.  At an early day they came from Rhode Island, 
and trace their origin to England.
	Erastus S. Jenks was raised on the farm which his grandfather, Jesse Jenks, cleared up.  
When twenty-one years of age he left the old farm to seek a home for himself.  For a few years he
worked as a farm-hand.  Feb. 22, 1838, he was married to Ailes Dean, daughter of David Dean, of 
Adams, Mass.  They were one of the oldest and most respected families in that part of the 
country.  For a few years after Mr. Jenks was married he worked land on shares until the spring 
of 1844.  When several families were starting for the then remote frontier of Michigan, Mr. 
Jenks, thinking the chances for getting a farm of his own were better in a new country, joined 
the expedition.  The journey was slow and tiresome, especially for Mrs. Jenks, with her three 
small children, the youngest only six weeks old.  From Detroit they came by ox-team, and took a 
longer time than would be required now to cross the continent.  During this long journey the 
expense account kept running, and when the young pioneer counted his money on arriving in Otisco, 
he found the amount ten dollars short of paying for the sixty acres of government land he had 
selected.  A neighbor lent him the amount which enabled him to pay for the sixty acres where he 
now lives.  With neither team nor cow, the outlook wore a grave aspect.  For the necessaries of 
life he went out to work, and at intervals of spare time worked on his land.  the following 
summer a small, low shanty was built, a small clearing made, and so on, year by year, the 
improvements were made, other lands added, until he now has one hundred and sixty acres.  The 
small clearing has expanded to broad and fertile fields.  The cabin did good service for a few 
years, when a more comfortable house was built, and this has been succeeded by a substantial 
modern house, with such surroundings as indicates the thrifty farmer.
	Mrs. Jenks died February, 1873, in her fifty-fifth year, leaving a family of nine 
children,--six sons and three daughters,--all now living:  Dallas E., born Aug. 6, 1839; Albert, 
Dec. 22, 1840; Hiram, March 19, 1844; Cornelia, May 27, 1846; Mary Ann, Jan. 19, 1848; Perry E., 
Nov. 19, 1852; Jettory, Jan. 5, 1854; Ambrose, Oct. 4, 1855; Elmer E., Nov. 3, 1862.
	Mr. Jenks and his wife were members of the Christian Church at the East, and took an 
active part in the organization of the church of Belding, contributing liberally to the erection 
and support of that church.  He is now and has been for some years deacon and trustee of the 
church, also trustee of the State board of conference.
	After a long and industrious life this worthy pioneer finds himself in the enjoyment of 
good health and an abundance of this world's goods, surrounded by a large and loving family, who 
have not disregarded a father's example of temperance and high morals.  Three of the sons were 
in the army during the war of the Rebellion.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Pages 290-291.  Otisco.