James Thomas STINSON Joseph Benjamin JENKINS Brian Jay JENKINS Wilmer Kent JENKINS Edgar Donald JENKINS Robert Winston JENKINS Betty Lou JENKINS Ralph David JENKINS Joanne JENKINS Harry Lee JENKINS Marian L JENKINS Living JENKINS Virginia Tenney GAYNOR Mini tree diagram
Lena Fairy STINSON

Lena Fairy STINSON7,8,15,16,10,11,2,17,18,19,20,12,21,20,22,23,24,25,26,13

also known as Lena Fairy JENKINS5,13,14

also known as Lena T STINSON4

also known as Lena JENKINS9

26th Mar 19017,4,8,9,10,11,2,12 - 16th Jul 19879

Life History

26th Mar 1901

Born in Oklahoma.7,4,8,9,10,11,2,12

between 1910 and 1920

Resident in Oakdale, Washita, Oklahoma.4,5

20th Feb 1917

Married Joseph Benjamin JENKINS in Hobart, Kiowa, Oklahoma.1,11,11

29th Oct 1918

Birth of son Brian Jay JENKINS in Healdton, Carter, Oklahoma.7,28,7,8,29,2,3

14th Jul 1921

Birth of son Wilmer Kent JENKINS in Mountain View, Kiowa, Oklahoma.8,30,28,14,31,32,33,30,34,35

7th Feb 1923

Birth of son Edgar Donald JENKINS in Healdton, Carter, Oklahoma.36,28,14,8,37

24th Feb 1924

Birth of son Robert Winston JENKINS in Healdton, Carter, Oklahoma.28,14,38,8,33

13th Feb 1926

Birth of daughter Betty Lou JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.6,39,40,13

21st Jul 1928

Birth of son Ralph David JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.2,11,13

8th Nov 1929

Birth of daughter Joanne JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.13,6,8,42,43,39

7th Nov 1929

Death of son Ralph David JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.2,41

1930

Residence2 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.6

6th Dec 1930

Birth of son Harry Lee JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.39,40,13

6th Sep 1932

Birth of daughter Marian L JENKINS in Los Angeles County, California.37,13,37,8,44

1st Apr 1940

Resident in Downey, Los Angeles, California, United States

about 1948

Divorced from Joseph Benjamin JENKINS in Orange County, California.1,27

10th Mar 1978

Death of Joseph Benjamin JENKINS in Anaheim, Orange, California.31,12,45,11,2

16th Jul 1987

Died in Anaheim, Orange, California.11,10,2,3,12

(most likely)

Jul 1987

Died in Murrieta, Riverside, California.9

(less likely)

16th Jul 1987

Buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California.1,2,3

Other facts

 

Birth of daughter Living JENKINS

Notes

  • In the 1910 census, Lena is in the household of her stepfather Thomas B Everett.  She is listed as Lena T Stinson.  Since Lena's middle initial here is T, perhaps the enumerator understood Virginia's middle name Tenney to be her first married name and Lena's middle name.

    Other sources give Lena's name as Lena Fairy.  Her children and other Jenkins family sources consistently know her proper given name as Lena Fairy Stinson.

    1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 18 April 1910, Oakdale, District 263, Page 2A, Hse/Fam #22
    Everett, Thomas B  Head M W 56 1st Marriage Married 6 years MO AR KY
    Everett, Virginia T Wife F W 44 2nd Marriage Married 6 years 7 children/6 living KY TN KY
    Stinson, Lena T Stepdaughter  F W  9 (b abt 1901) OK MO KY

    On this census, the enumerator seems to have put the birthplace of Lena's Stepfather, instead of her actual father. It is possible that James Stinson was born in Missouri, but I have not found his birth information yet.

    Lena married Joseph Benjamin Jenkins.  No marriage record has been found, but their first child was born in October 1918, so we can estimate they were married in 1917.

    1920 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 23 January, Oakdale, Enumeration District 192, page 8A, Hse #128, Fam #127
    Jenkins, Benjamin J  Head  Rents M W 30  TX TX TX Farmer
    Jenkins, Lena F        Wife   F W  18  OK MO KY
    Jenkins, Benjamin J  Son    M W   1 yr 2 mos OK TX OK

    Oakdale was an early name for Mountain View.  That portion of Washita County later became Kiowa County.  Children were born in Healdton before and after the 1920 census.  It appears that Ben and Lena lived on the oilfield assignments, but maintained a permanent residence address in Oakdale/Mt View, where they were registered in the census, rather than Healdton, where they lived in somewhat deprived conditions.

    As work diminished during the recessions and economic and agricultural conditions worsened, they joined the stream of Oklahomans migrating to California in 1924 or 1925.  Their last child born in Oklahoma was Robert.  They settled in Los Angeles County.

    In 1928 they were reported in the Santa Monica, California, City Directory.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Santa Monica, California, City Directory, 1928, p 284
    Jenkins Joseph B (Lena F) chauf h 1411 25th Santa Monica

    In the 1930 census in Los Angeles County.

    1930 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California, 9 April, Artesia, District 19-1191, page 7B-8A, 3260 Bell Drive, Hse #180, Family #168
    Jenkins, Joseph B  Head Rents 39  First married at age 27 TX TX TX  Rotary Helper, Oil Well Drilling
    - page 8A -
    Jenkins, Lena F 29  First married at age 17  OK MO KY No Occupation
    Jenkins, Benjamin J 11 OK TX OK No Occupation
    Jenkins, Billy 9 OK TX OK No Occupation
    Jenkins, Edgar 7 OK TX OK No Occupation
    Jenkins, Robert 6 OK TX OK No Occupation
    Jenkins, Betty Lou 4 Calif TX OK No Occupation
    Jenkins, Joan 5mos Calif TX OK  No Occupation

    Ben and Lena were in Whittier, Los Angeles County, in 1934 and 1936, where they were reported in that city's city directory.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Whittier, California, City Directory, 1934, p 94
    Jenkins Jos B (Lena F) h 438 S Comstock av

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Whittier, California, City Directory, 1936, p 90
    Jenkins Jos B (Lena F) h 24 N Whittier av

    In 1940, the family was living in Bellflower, still in Los Angeles County,  In 1935 they were living in Whittier.  The entry for Kathlyn would indicate that the family still lived in Whitter, in the same county, when she was born in July 1935.  So they moved from Whittier to Bellflower some time after 1935.

    1940 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California, 3 April, Bellflower, District 117, page 2A-2B, 947 E Center St, Hse #31 Owned, Value $6500
    Jenkins, Benjamin J Head M W 50  Grade 6 b Texas lived in Whittier CA in 1835 Cattle buyer
    Jenkins, Lena Wife F W 39  Grade 9 b OK lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Ben Jr Son M W 21 Single HS-2 b OK lived in Whittier CA in 1835 Sewing mach repairman, own business
    Jenkins, Wilmar Son M W 18 Single HS-4 b OK lived in Whittier CA in 1835 Pin setter, bowling alley
    Jenkins, Edgar Son M W 17 Single Grade 8 b OK lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Robert Son M W 31 Single Grade 1 b OK lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    - page 2B -
    Jenkins, Betty Lou Dau F W 14 Single Grade 7 b CA lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Joe Ann Dau F W 10 Single Grade 4 b CA lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Harry Son M W 9 Single Grade 2 b CA lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Marion Dau F W 7 Single Grade 1 b CA lived in Whittier CA in 1835
    Jenkins, Kathlyn Dau F W 5 Single b CA lived in Whittier CA in 1835

    Kathlyn Jenkins Lanford reports that her parents divorced after 30 years.

    "After thirty years and nine surviving children later, my parents divorced. My mother, who desperately tried to keep the family intact, ended the marriage emotionally scarred but not defeated."
    --  Kathlyn Jenkins Lanford, Jenkins Life, http://jenkinslife.com/stories/jlife-stories1.htm (no longer online)

    Kathy's report matches the records we have found.  No divorce record has been found, but they divorced about 1947.  The directory of 1946 is the last directory reporting Ben.  From there on Lena is listed alone.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Bellflower, California, City Directory, 1946, p 157
    Jenkins Edgar D r 947 Center
    Jenkins Jos B (Lena F) mach h 947 Center

    Ben's drinking, perhaps prompted by the pain in his head from a metal plate placed there after a head injury when he was in the armed forces (see notes for Joseph Benjamin Jenkins), was a big component in the family difficulties and final breakup.

    "She divorced Uncle Ben before I was born because of his drinking and she remained bitter about him until her death (about 1987 Anaheim, CA) The funny thing is, I’m told, he was never better toward her and always kept a warm place for her in his heart. Over the past several years, I have spent many hours with my relatives at her gravesite in Rose Hills (Whittier, CA) discussing our family history. The animosity towards Uncle Ben has been replaced with warm and fond memories."
    --  Bruce Jenkins, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 9 March 2007

    In 1948, Edgar and his sister Joanne are listed separately but at the same address as their Lena.  Wilmer is listed at a different residence address.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Bellflower, California, City Directory, 1948, p 184
    Jenkins Edgar D clo clnr r 9849 E Center
    Jenkins Joanne slswn h 9845 E Center
    Jenkins Lena Mrs h 9845 E Center
    Jenkins Robt W clo clnrs 9849 E Center 4 Norwalk
    Jenkins Wilmer K (Betty L) fctywkr r 6008 N Bellflr

    In 1950, Edgar, as well as his brothers Harry and Robert are also listed in their own households.  Joanne was married so not listed under the Jenkins name or households.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Bellflower, California, City Directory, 1948, p 184
    Jenkins Edgar D clo clnr r 9849 E Center Norwalk
    Jenkins Joanne slswn h 9845 E Center
    Jenkins Lena Mrs h 9845 E Center
    Jenkins Wilmer K (Betty L) fctywkr r 6008 N Bellflr

    Some of the Jenkins entries in Bellflower censuses appear to be for other families.  They are not identifiable with known members of our Jenkins family.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Bellflower, California, City Directory, 1950, p 151
    Jenkins Edgar D h 5964 N Premiere
    Jenkins Harry L (Patricia) aerowkr h 9935 Park
    Jenkins Lena F Mrs slswn h 9845 Center
    Jenkins Robt W (Floy S) (Holiday Cleaners) h 6113 N Lakwd
    Jenkins Wilmer K (Betty C) drvr h 6008 N Bellflr

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Lakewood, California, City Directory, 1952, p 177
    Jenkins Harry L (Patricia J) die fnshr h 6144 Conant (Lkwd)
    Jenkins Lena F Mrs tailor Holiday Clnrs h 6042 Coldbrook av (Belf)
    Jenkins Robt W (Floy S) pres Holiday Cleaners h 9313 N Compton blvd (Belf)

    In 1955, The Lakewood listings were included in the Longbeach Directory.  At that time, Lena was working in a cleaners, but not as a tailor, but as a "counter girl."

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Longbeach, California, City Directory, 1955, p 361
    Jenkins Lena F Mrs counter girl Belmont Cleaners & Dyers r Lakewood

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Lakewood, Los Altos and East Long Beach, City Directory, 1957, p 155
    Jenkins Lena F Mrs emp Menser Rl Est (Bellf) h 6042 Coldbrook Av
    Jenkins Robert W (Floy F) pres pres Dutch Drive In Clnrs Inc r 7702 Trask Av Wstmnstr Lakewood

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Bellflower, California, City Directory, 1961, p 46
    Jenkins Lena F Mrs Realtor h 16817 Grand Av
    Jenkins Lena F Realtor (Lena F Jenkins) 9721 E Flower

    Two records of Lena at later residences are found in the collection US Public Records.  Dates of residence are not attached to these records.  Notice that these two records show the same street address and zip code, but a different city name.

    U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2
    Lena F Jenkins
    Birth 26 Mar 1901
    25682 Calle Jardin, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-4615
    25682 Calle Jardin, Mission Viejo, CA 92675-4615

    Social Security Death Index, Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 6
    Jenkins, Lena
    Birth date 03/26/1901
    Death date July 1987
    Last Residence Murrieta, California 92362
    Social Security #570-20-6575 Issued in California
    As of April 1997, this ZIP Code was not in use by the U.S. Postal Service.

    California, Death Index, 1940-1997
    Lena Fairy Jenkins [Lena Fairy Stinson]
    Birth 26 Mar 1901 Oklahoma
    Death 16 Jul 1987 Orange County
    Mother's Maiden Name Gaynor
    Father's Surname Stinson
    Social Security #570206575

    Lena Fairy Stinson Jenkins
    Birth 26 Mar 1901 Oklahoma
    Death 16 Jul 1987 Anaheim, Orange County, California
    Spouse Joseph Benjamin Jenkins (1889 - 1978) (m. 1917)
    Burial Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California
    Created by Stuart Strout Woodside S Feb 20, 2013
    Find A Grave Memorial #105551294, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105551294

Sources

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