Version 6.01

02 January 2023

David March © 2014

JAMES JACOB and JESSIE JENKINS

James Jacob Jenkins was born on 5 April 1881 in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario to Joseph Metcalfe Jenkins (1844-1914) and Catherine Cranston (1847-1928). James had five siblings, John E (1870-1948), Margaret Christina (1872-1879), Bertha (1875-1947), Hannah Metcalfe (Annie) (b 1877) and Mabel Helen Jenkins (b 1882). James grew up in Sarnia and first found employment there as a tinsmith.

James came west to Saskatoon in 1915 and worked as a sheriff’s officer. He lived in Saskatchewan Crescent, Drinkle No 3 Block 115 27th St W and 724 Temperance Ave. James married Jessie in about 1916. Jessie was born in about 1889 in Ontario. The 1916 census record indicates that her father was born in Canada and her mother in England. We have been unable to trace Jessie’s parents or siblings.

James and Jessie moved to California, USA in 1918 arriving on 11 November. In 1920, they were living at 680 14th St, Oakland, Alameda, California and James was running his own real estate business.

At sometime between 1920 and 1930, James and Jessie divorced. James remained in the US and became a naturalized citizen. In 1930 he was living with his sister Mabel at 13174 Mendota St, Detroit, Michigan. James was a driver for a cartage company. In 1940, James was rooming at 7512 Burlingame St, Detroit; his occupation was locomotive driver but he had been unemployed for 55 weeks and had no income. He was described as a widower. In 1942 when he was drafted for WWII he was living at 4888 South Martindale St, Detroit and was self-employed.

James died on 10 February 1970 in Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Florida.

Since James was described as divorced in 1930 and widowed by 1940, we assume Jessie died during this period, but we have been unable to confirm her death.

A tree on Ancestry has been created for this family under the title 3rd Ave Jenkins Tree.

James J Jenkins signature
from 1947 travel record