Dr. Ira Jenks Biography, Oceana County, Michigan

Transcribed from the 1890 Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of Today


Copyright © 2004 by Jan Cortez.  This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. 


 <cristian@netonecom.net>

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Dr. Ira Jenks was born Sept. 4, 1808, in the township of Homer, Cortland Co., N.Y.  
When he was nine years of age his parents removed to the township of Scipio, Cayuga 
Co., remaining there one year, then removing to the township of Sheldon, Genesee Co. 
 From thence, after another year, removing to Middlebury, now Wyoming Co., remaining 
there till the subject of this sketch was 24 years of age.  At the age of 21 Ira took 
upon himself the entire responsibility of his father's family, consisting of three, 
besides his sister and her two children.  At 20 he learned the shoemaker's trade.  In 
the Patriot war in '38 he was in active service in the artillery as a fifer.  At the 
age of 36 he received an injury in one hand and wrist that partially crippled him for 
life.  At this time he began the study of medicine.  At the age of 37 he was amarried 
to Miss Direna L. Davis, with whom he became acquainted while doctoring her mother, 40 
miles from home.  In 1846 they removed to the township of Portland, Ionia Co., Mich.  
Their experience there was a severe one as he was sick a whole year with ague and 
acute bronchitis, and his wife with malarial fever over four months.  This experience 
of sickness and want while at Portland was the most severe and trying of any in their 
lives.

In 1848 he removed to Roxland, Eaton County.  At about this time he obtained a warrant 
for 160 acres of land for his services in the Patriot war.

In 1850 he removed to Greenville, Montcalm Co., remaining three years.  From thence to 
North Oakfield, Kent County, in 1853, and from thence in May 1866, he began his work 
as a "pathfinder" in the Oceana Co. wilds.  He soon located his lands in Hart township 
on what is known as Prospect Hill, his nearest neighbor then being A.C. Randall, at 
Shelby Corners.  The interesting vicissitudes concerning his experience in this county 
as a pioneer would fill a volume, and are better known to many of the citizens of this 
county than can be chronicled in the short space allotted in this volume.  Physically 
Dr. Jenks was a "man of iron".  Since the age of 21 he has been an active member of 
the Baptist Church, having been a deacon over 40 years.

The Dr. was in every sense of the word a self-made man.  He was a conversationalist of 
great ability, instructive and entertaining.  For the last few years his eyesight has 
been gradually failing till he is now nearly blind.  At the age of 81 he is in full 
possession of all of his faculties of his mind, and he says he can walk a mile as 
quick as he ever could.  Having been intimately acquainted with Elder Darling about 30 
years, he has arranged with him to preach his funeral sermon, choosing for his text, 
Job 14:14: "If a man die shall he live again?  All the days of my appointed time will 
I wait till my change come."  He has his tombstone placed and hope awaits the day of 
his coming rest from earth's tempestous labor, care and sorrow.