Iowa County WI Archives History - Books .....The Thomas Jenkins Family Of Dodgeville, WI 1849 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com January 1, 2007, 4:08 am Book Title: The Buckeye Rovers In The Gold Rush, An Edition Of Two Diaries From: The Buckeye Rovers in the Gold Rush, an Edition of Two Diaries, Edited by H. Lee Scamehorn Edwin P. Banks and Jamie Lytle-Webb, Revised and Enlarged Edition, 1965, 1989 This book continues to be sold [as of 2005] at the Museum in Auburn, CA. The diarists are John Banks and J. Elza Armstrong. Banks began his daily record in Lexington, Missouri. Armstrong began his account two and a half weeks later on leaving St. Joseph for California. Page 6: May 16, 1849 [Armstrong] "Jenkins came up with us. We crossed the Nemaha Creek. The distance twenty." [Banks] "General Jenkins of Wisconsin and family joined us, four men, one woman and four children.[footnote 5: The composition of the Ohio train is uncertain at this point, but it was typically mixed. In addition to thirteen men from Athens and ten from Meigs Counties, there were Caleb Ferris of Michigan and W. H. Smith of Wisconsin, both of whom joined the train in St. Joseph. The Jenkins family included Thomas, his wife, and four children-two girls and two boys. The other three men in the Jenkins party may have been Henry B. Lancaster, his son Henry, and John Chase. Jenkins (1801-1866) was a native of Dodgeville, Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. The title “General” appears to have been honorary since he served as a private in the Indian War; he was addressed as “Major” by residents of Dodgeville. Athens Messenger and Herald, March 17, 1898; Read and Gaines, eds. Gold Rush, I, 257; Milo M. Quaife, ed., The Convention of 1846 (Madison, 1919), 780.] Our number of wgons now eight. The report today is the Pawnees are coming down on us. Sickness is very prevalent. I am led to the opinion that intemperance is the main cause of our health. Mine good. Distance twenty." Page 8: May 21-[Banks] "This morning rumor says twenty-two men killed, sixteen wagons burned by Indians a few miles ahead. General Jenkins saw where Indians encamped last night. Each man is preparing himself for action. Passed two trains. Encamped where we had to carry wood and water one mile from the Little Platte. Distance twenty." Page 10-11: May 26-[Banks] "Left camp at half past six a. m. Morning very cold. Heard that the pilot of the U. S. Infantry was shot by Indians; not dead. Also, the Indians drove in two hunters of a Virginia train. One of Mr. Jenkins’ wagons broke an axle about nine o’clock; we waited six hours, then went on…Mr. Jenkins came up at nine p. m. The weather quite moderate. All well. Some dissatisfaction at being delayed. Distance 12 miles." Chapter 2, page 13-14: May 30 [Armstrong] "Raining, raining very hard. Jenkins left us today. Distance 12 miles." May 31: [Banks] "Cold and wet. Left usual time, traveled until nine. Left camp at one p. m., went on through rain. Last evening General Banks left us because we traveled faster than he wished. They were a hindrance to us. The roads bad this day principally owing to late rains. Lips very sore, caused by cold heavy winds. Distance 10 miles." Page 38: July 9: [Banks] "Out with cattle last night in Mr. Barnes place (he is sick.) S. Townsend and I slept two miles from camp without arms. The Indian traders have all the property left by emigrants at their own disposal. They tell the Indians to beware of cholera and smallpox. The country appears sterile, yet there is very good grass growing in tufts. A heap of tenacious sand near us we call the hay Stack, which it resembles. Paine’s folks a day ahead. Jenkins’ nearly a week behind. By some falling back and others going rapidly onward, we often hear news. Nothing definite as regards Everette. Some say he is taken to Fort Hall to receive trial. Our cattle are improving. A hard night near both for them and us." Page 45-46: July 20 [Banks] …"’Truth is stranger than fiction.’ Mrs. Jenkins and Mr. Lancaster, being desirous to rid themselves of Mr. Jenkins, induced Henry B. Lancaster and John Chase to shoot him; the former to be rewarded by the hand of Alice Jenkins, the latter to have a daughter of Lancaster’s. Lancaster, a preacher, a son of a mason, and a lawyer, failed in his nefarious plans. Young Lancaster and Chase inveigled Jenkins from the road pretending they had seen gold. They fired, he staggered and fell, as they thought, never to rise. They ran at the top of their speed yelling, ‘Indians, Indians.’ As soon as the old man saw they were gone he went to a Kentucky camp, soothed his wounds, and told his sad tale. Lancaster missed, but Chase, who had Jenkins’ own shotgun loaded with buckshot, lodged the load in poor Jenkins’ neck. He is recovering and on his way to California. Judas’ counterpart is with him; for his family’s sake he lets her remain with them until he arrives in California. [Footnote 8:The Jenkins family reached California in 1849, traveling the treacherous Lassen’s Cutoff from the Humboldt to the northern mining region. J. Goldsborough Bruff encountered the family at his camp in the Sierra Nevadas on November 4, and related the tale of Jenkins’ misfortune, as told by other emigrants. After leaving Bruff’s camp with an ox and cart provided by people there, Jenkins received a mule and provisions from Major D. Rucker, in charge of relief for gold-seekers caught on the trail by early winter storms. Read and Gaines, eds., Gold Rush, I, 257-259, 619; D. H. Rucker, Report Sen. Exec. Docs., 31 Cong., 1 Sess. No. 52, 149.] Chase was not caught; old and young Lancaster were tried and sentenced to return to the States, and if caught on the road or in California they will be shot. The Oregon troops would take them to Oregon if witnesses accompany them. This being refused, so the villains are at large. Strange to say, Alice was inconsolable for the loss of her lover. O, Shame, where is thy blush? The old watery-eyed scoundrel left a wife and family in Illinois. Weather fine. Distance 15 miles." Page 52: July 28 [Banks] "Last night went two miles up the mountains in search of water. Some of our men found a small spring of good water though we are told the point near which it was, it was difficult to find. We were very much exhausted. We came down one mountain yesterday which capped all others; steep, rough, and dust almost insupportable for a distance of two miles. This stretch is 25 miles. Encamped on a small stream in full view of the thirsty mortals rushing down to water. Just heard Jenkins had died of his wounds. Awful! Distance 12 miles." Page 105: December 16-[Banks] …"Lancaster, the would-be murderer, is in Sacramento. Jenkins and family are at Salt Lake. [Footnote 16: See Banks’s entry for July 20, 1849 and footnote.] Lancaster is practicing law; in him Justice has a worthy advocate truly." Page 140: October 7, 1850 [Banks] …"The weather is very dry. Eleven of us that started from Ohio together met here this week. Steadman has been messing with us. H. Dixon has made nothing. Alice Jenkins has poisoned herself so H. Dixon says." File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/iowa/history/1849/buckeyer/thomasje33gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb