BIOGRAPHY, Rockbridge County, VA- "J" ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** WILLIAM JENKS-is a native of England, born June 8 1833, a son of Thomas and Rosanna (Priest) Jenks. His father died August 3, 1850, aged fifty-five years, and his mother died in 1872, at the age of about seventy. William Jenks married England, May 19, 1859, Maria, daughter of William and Jane (Jones) Woodbine. She was born in England, April 11, 1829, and their son and only child, Francis William, was born in that country on the 1st of Mat, 1865. Mrs. Jenk's father died in 1853, at the age of fifty-five years, and her mother died in 1860, at the age of sixty-seven. William Jenks came to this country, and to Rockbridge county, in 1870, without capital, but skilled in the trades of stone-mason and gasmaker. He was for thirteen years gasmaker at the Virginia Military Institute. He has been able to accumulate a competence here, owning now several lots and houses, stock in the Virginia Military Institute, and other property. His son is now a student of the Institute. Francis and Ann Jenks, uncle and aunt of William Jenks, came to this country from England thirty-five years ago, and here on the 29th of April, 1884 Mrs. Ann Jenks departed this life, dying in the hope of a blissful immortality. She was aged about seventy-four years. William Jenks' postoffice address is Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** JOHN H. B. JONES-born near Brownsburg, in Rockbridge county, July 19, 1842, at the age of nineteen years entered the service of the Confederate States, a member of Company I, 4th Virginia Infantry, "Stonewall Brigade." He served four years, and took part in thirty-three engagements, the most prominent of which were Manassas, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Slaughter Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Spotsylvania. For two years previous to the war he had been a student at Washington College (the name of which was changed to Washington & Lee University in 1871), and resumed his studies at the close of the terrible conflict, graduating in June, 1867. He is now engaged in farming, teaching and surveying, having received appointment of deputy surveyor in 1880 for four years. He is a son of Henry B. and Sally M. (Withrow) Jones, and he married Mary Norvell Johnson. She was born in Richmond, Virginia, December 23, 1845, a daughter of Thomas Tinsley Johnson and Mary E. (Norvell) Johnson. Her marriage with Mr. Jones was solemnized in Richmond, Virginia, April 2, 1873, and their children were born: Emily Owens, February 9, 1874, died July 30th following; Henry B., February 5, 1876; daughter, twin of Henry B., died in infancy; Mary Norvel, January 20, 1883. John H. B. Jones owns 231 acres of land near Brownsburg, Rockbridge county, which place is his postoffice address; and devotes his farm largely to fruit raising, in which he is very successful. Source: Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond, and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** JORDAN - Colonel John Jordan came from Hanover county soon after his marriage to Lucy Winn in 1802. His home, "Jordan's Point," now known as "Stono," was built in 1818. It is a fine mansion in the colonial style, with handsome grounds. Rockbridge was almost wholly rural when he came to Lexington. Colonel Jordan had much to do with its industrial development. He became interested in iron smelting, flour and grist mills, lumber mills, blacksmith shops, and the weaving of woolen and cotton goods. As a contractor, he built Washington College and Ann Smith Academy, and for near a half century practically all the other large buildings in and around Lexington. He constructed the batteau canal at Balcony Falls, and was the first president of the construction company. He also took part in the building of the James River and Kanawha Canal. Colonel Jordan was also a road builder. In 1826 he built a road across North Mountain from near Collierstown to Longdale. When the county court hesitated, the colonel made this characteristic reply: "Give me the men and I will build the road." The road was constructed. Twelve furnaces were owned and operated by Colonel Jordan and his sons. Four of these were in this county. The others were chiefly in Alleghany and Botetourt. The Victoria furnace was in Louisa, and the Westham was near Richmond. Ironmaking was in fact a family pursuit, the colonel's father having made cannonballs for the American army in the Revolution. Colonel John Jordan was six feet three inches tall, and had dark hair and fine dark eyes. He was not only of commanding appearance, but was kindly, affectionate, honorable, and charitable. Both himself and wife were Baptists, and when the Lexington Baptist church was organized, on-half of its membership came from the Jordan household. Colonel Jordan was a close personal friend to General F. H. Smith. The two men would sit for hours on the veranda at Jordan's Point, talking on affairs relating to the Virginia Military Institute. Mrs. Jordan, a very handsome blonde, was six feet tall. She was a woman of unusual strength of character, very industrious, and personally superintended the affairs of her large household. Spinning, weaving, dyeing, sewing, and the care of laundry, dairy, storeroom, smokehouse, orchard, and garden were but some of the activities of the estate, much of the work being done by slave labor. Colonel and Mrs. Jordan had twelve sons and two daughters, nearly all of whom grew to maturity. Like their parents they were handsome in person, and the sons were generally of superior size and stature. Edwin J., the oldest, lived at White Haven in Alleghany. John W., was the founder of Rockbridge Baths. Samuel F., was particularly interested in the iron business, and it was under the colonel's sons that the industry attained its greatest development. The sons generally migrated from Rockbridge, sooner or later, and very few of the later descendants are now residents here. A number of the present generation are serving in the war now closing. Colonel Jordan was himself a lieutenant in 1812, and twenty silver dollars were used as mounting on his sword. Several of his grandsons were in the war of 1861 and Captain Charles H., son of Samuel F., was severely wounded at Fisher's Hill. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 ************************************************************************************** JUNKIN - George Junkin was born at Carlisle, Penn., October 1, 1790, and was graduated from Jefferson College in 1813. The first Sunday schools and temperance societies in central Pennsylvania were organized by him. He was the founder and the first president of Lafayette College, and for three years was president of Miami University. In 1848 he came to Lexington as president of Washington College, and held this position until April, 1861, when he resigned because of his inflexible opposition to secession. Doctor Junkin returned North, where he died, May 20, 1868. He was a prolific author, especially of religious works. The father's antagonism to secession was not shared by all of the six sons and three daughters. Margaret, the eldest--born 1825, died 1897--married Colonel John T. L. Preston. Mrs. Preston had remarkable literary and scholastic gifts. While yet a child, she thought in verse, and she learned the Hebrew alphabet at the age of three. In her adult life she was one of the best among American writers of sonnets. Several volumes of poems, rather of the Browning type, came from her pen. In 1856 appeared "Silverwood," a novel. To promote Southern literary effort, Mrs. Preston gratuitously edited several papers. Of the other daughters of Doctor Junkin, Elinor was the first wife of Stonewall Jackson and Julia M. Married Prof. J. M. Fishburne, of Washington College. Three sons, George, Ebenezer, and William F., entered the ministry. The last named--born 1831, died 1900--married Anna A., the oldest sister of William A. Anderson. He was for some time pastor of Falling Springs Church. His children are Mary E., (wife of General Edward W. Nichols, of the Virginia Military Institute), Julia T., Anna D., Francis T. > (a lawyer of Chicago). Elinor J., (present wife of Doctor John H. Latane, of Johns Hopkins University), Isabel S., and William D. A., a lawyer of New York City. Source: A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, published in 1920. Transcribed and submitted by: "Marilyn B. Headley" , 1997 **************************************************************************************