Park B. Jenkins, M. D.


	This biography appears on pages 1143-1144 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				PARK B. JENKINS, M. D. 

	Dr. Park B. Jenkins, of Waubay, who is serving as superintendent 
of the South Dakota State Board of Health, has proved very efficient in 
that capacity and has done much to promote public hygiene. He was born 
in Newport, Vermont, November 14, 1873, a son of S. W. and Francelia 
(Sias) Jenkins. The paternal grandfather, William Jenkins, was born in 
Vermont, as was the maternal grandfather, Ezra Sias, who resided in the 
Green Mountain state throughout his entire life. Both the parents of 
our subject were born in that state, the father in 1840 and the mother 
in 1850. They grew to mature years there and were there married. In 
1882 they removed from Vermont to Waubay, South Dakota, and the father 
homesteaded land on which the family resided for about five years. A 
removal was then made to the town of Waubay, where he ran a railroad 
eating house for a number of years. He is a well informed man, although 
he had but limited educational opportunities in his youth, for he has 
always been a student of men and events. His political belief is that 
of the socialist party. For three years he served in the Civil war, 
proving a loyal and efficient soldier, and he held the rank of 
sergeant. To him and his wife have been born two children: Park B.; and 
Clinton a., also of Waubay, who is connected with the state game 
department. 

	Dr. Park B. Jenkins was graduated from the high school of 
Webster, South Dakota, in 1893 and subsequently entered the University 
of Illinois, from which he was graduated in medicine in 1896. For one 
year he was connected with the health department of the city of Chicago 
and for a like Period of time he was in a hospital at Marquette, 
Michigan, thus further preparing for his life work. In 1898 he began 
the private practice of his profession at Waubay, where he has since 
remained. In 1909 he was appointed a member of the state board of 
health and in 1912 was appointed superintendent of that body, in which 
position his work proved so satisfactory that on the 1st of July, 1915, 
he was reappointed to that office by Governor Byrne. He gives the 
greater part of his time to his official duties and is continually 
seeking new ways in which the board may further safeguard the public 
health. He is a member of the State Medical Society, the American 
Medical Association, the International Congress of Hygiene and 
Demography, and of the Association of State and Provincial Boards of 
Health. 

	Dr. Jenkins gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party, believing that its policies are based upon sound principles of 
government. Fraternally he is connected with the knights of Pythias and 
the Woodmen and is popular in those organizations. In capably 
discharging the important duties that devolve upon him as 
superintendent of the state board of health he has gained a statewide 
reputation for ability and integrity and has the confidence of both the 
general public and the medical profession