Colonel Jenks, Albert

Colonel Albert Jenks Soundex Code J520

Colonel Albert Jenks (1830-1901) Portrait Painter

A portrait painter, he was born in Jordan, New York on Wednesday, May 26, 1830, the son of Levi Jenks, a native of North Adams, Massachusetts, who had moved to the Connecticut Western Reserve with his parents early in the '20s. Later the family went to Illinois and in 1846 located near Joliet, Illinois when there were only three houses in that city.

In 1866, Levi Jenks moved to California and there spent the rest of his days. He died in Alameda, California on Tuesday, January 18, 1887. His widow, Nancy E. Jenks is yet living in her home in Alameda County, California and enjoys good heath, notwithstanding her ninety years. Her maiden name was Nancy E. Edmunds.

From his boyhood, Colonel Albert Jenks had cherished one great hope--that some day he might be permitted to devote himself to art, so it was no surprise to many of his friends that he was urged to undertake the painting of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Having a desire to visit San Francisco, Colonel Jenks came to the Pacific Coast in 1875 and for ten years made his home at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. In 1886, he came to Los Angeles and opened a studio in the old Baker block, where, within 18 months, he painted 210 portraits at an average of $150.

He married Frances H. Jenks, nee: Frances H. Wetmore, in Aurora, Illinois in 1854. She was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in 1836. She died on Sunday, September 5, 1874. Of their two children, Kittie Jenks died in 1897. The other daughter was Kate Jenks, now Mrs. Charles Sontag of San Francisco. (must be Kate, see 1880 census below.)

Colonel Albert Jenks married a second time in October of 1875. His wife, Cornelia A. Jenks, nee: Mrs.Cornelia A. Trowbridge, nee: Lyon of Detroit.

This needs verification Albert Jenks of the 36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment married the daughter of George S. Bangs who was a Lieutenant Colonel in that infantry regiment.

from 1880 census

Bernard W. McAuney Self M M W 40 Canada

Occupation: Chief Engineer Of Steam Ship Father: Canada Mother: Canada

Anna McAuney Wife F M W 38 NY

Occupation: Keeps House Father: NY Mother: NY

Mary Hughes Other F S W 35 Ireland

Occupation: Servant Father: Ireland Mother: Ireland

B.F. HOWARD Other F D W 27 Mchigan

Occupation: At Home Father: Vermont Mother: Vermont

Albert Jenks Other M M W 45 Conneticut

Occupation: Portrait Painter Father: Connecticut Mother: Connecticut

Cornelia Jenks Other F M W 48 Vermont

Occupation: At Home Father: Vermont Mother: Vermont

Nellie Throwbridge Other F S W 16 Mchigan Occupation: At Home Father: Vermont Mother: Vermont

It appears Mrs. Throwbridge had a daughter, Nellie, who was from her first husband.

from 1880 census

Census Place: Alameda, Alameda, California

Source: FHL Film 1254062 National Archives Film T9-0062 Page 617B

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace

Charles SONNTAG Self M M W 32 MA

Occ: Commission Merch Fa: GER Mo: GER

Kate SONNTAG Wife F M W 21 ILLINOIS

Fa: NY Mo: NY

Col JENKS died Sunday, July 21, 1901, in Los Angeles

Headline in Call reads

FALLS DEAD BEFORE HE FINISHES THE JOKE

He leaves two daughters, one the wife of Walter S. Newhall and another who lives at Riverside.

Walter S. Newhall died in San Francisco, age 46 on Tuesday, December 25 1906. His obituary mentions he married Mrs. Nellie Ainsworth of Los Angeles six years prior to his death (so about 1900). From the 1880 census above, it appears Nellie was the daughter of Cornelia, prior to her marriage to Col. JENKS.