"The period in which we are now living is often called the electric age, and well it may be, in view of the importance electricity is now playing in civilization, and the man who becomes skilled in the use of this inscrutable something, which has never yet been satisfactorily defined, is sure of remunerative employment.
One of the skilled electricians of Ionia county is Frank L. Jenkins, city electrician and superintendent of the electric light plant of Portland, Michigan. He was born on September 29, 1880, in Westphalia township, Clinton county, this state, and he is a son of W. S. and Fannie (Young) Jenkins. The father was born in Portland township, Ionia county, and was a son of Sylvester Jenkins, who came to this locality in pioneer days and here he was married and established his home, taking up land from the government, which he developed into a good farm and on which he continued to reside until late in life, but spent his last few years in the village of Portland, however, retaining his farm. He became a well-known and influential citizen here. W. S. Jenkins grew up on the home farm and was educated in the district schools and those of Portland, and when he married he purchased a farm in Danby township, where he lived until his father's death, then sold out and purchased the homestead of the other heirs, and lived there until 1900, in which year he moved to Portland and with his two sons entered the machine shop and repairing business, which he has since continued, a few years ago adding a garage to his plant. The partnership with the sons still exists, Frank L. being a member of the firm since November, 1907. He is the eldest of the children, the other two being Sylvester, who has charge of the garage, married Florence Gardner; and Grace, who is the wife of Richard Bates, cashier of the Maynard Allen Bank of Portland.
Frank L. Jenkins received his education in the public and high schools of Portland. He then entered the machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, he and his father buying the shop later and conducted it until 1907, when Frank L. took the position of superintendent of the electric light plant of the town of Portland, which position he still holds, and has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner. On June 9, 1905, he married Nellie Smith, a daughter of Ralph and Ellen Smith. She was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, and when about ten years of age came to Portland with her sister, Nettie, and her grandparents and received her education in the public schools of Portland.
Politically, Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge No. 39, Royal Arch Masons, at Portland; also belongs to Rogers Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He also belongs to the Jovian Order, embracing prominent electrical men over the entire country.
In June, 1896, Portland installed its own municipal lighting plant, of which H. A. Sprague took charge and continued its management for eight years, then V. L. Derby succeeded him, remaining in charge four years, after which Mr. Jenkins took the position of manager,which he has retained to the present time. In 1896 the city also put in a dam in the Grand river, which was rebuilt in 1913 by a reinforced concrete dam. During Mr. Jenkins's administration as manager of the light plant, the plant has become free from indebtedness and today Portland is one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state.
Source: History of Ionia County, Michigan: her people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens, and genealogical records of many of the old families By Elam E. Branch;
Published by B.F. Bowen & Co., 1916.
One of the skilled electricians of Ionia county is Frank L. Jenkins, city electrician and superintendent of the electric light plant of Portland, Michigan. He was born on September 29, 1880, in Westphalia township, Clinton county, this state, and he is a son of W. S. and Fannie (Young) Jenkins. The father was born in Portland township, Ionia county, and was a son of Sylvester Jenkins, who came to this locality in pioneer days and here he was married and established his home, taking up land from the government, which he developed into a good farm and on which he continued to reside until late in life, but spent his last few years in the village of Portland, however, retaining his farm. He became a well-known and influential citizen here. W. S. Jenkins grew up on the home farm and was educated in the district schools and those of Portland, and when he married he purchased a farm in Danby township, where he lived until his father's death, then sold out and purchased the homestead of the other heirs, and lived there until 1900, in which year he moved to Portland and with his two sons entered the machine shop and repairing business, which he has since continued, a few years ago adding a garage to his plant. The partnership with the sons still exists, Frank L. being a member of the firm since November, 1907. He is the eldest of the children, the other two being Sylvester, who has charge of the garage, married Florence Gardner; and Grace, who is the wife of Richard Bates, cashier of the Maynard Allen Bank of Portland.
Frank L. Jenkins received his education in the public and high schools of Portland. He then entered the machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, he and his father buying the shop later and conducted it until 1907, when Frank L. took the position of superintendent of the electric light plant of the town of Portland, which position he still holds, and has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner. On June 9, 1905, he married Nellie Smith, a daughter of Ralph and Ellen Smith. She was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, and when about ten years of age came to Portland with her sister, Nettie, and her grandparents and received her education in the public schools of Portland.
Politically, Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge No. 39, Royal Arch Masons, at Portland; also belongs to Rogers Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He also belongs to the Jovian Order, embracing prominent electrical men over the entire country.
In June, 1896, Portland installed its own municipal lighting plant, of which H. A. Sprague took charge and continued its management for eight years, then V. L. Derby succeeded him, remaining in charge four years, after which Mr. Jenkins took the position of manager,which he has retained to the present time. In 1896 the city also put in a dam in the Grand river, which was rebuilt in 1913 by a reinforced concrete dam. During Mr. Jenkins's administration as manager of the light plant, the plant has become free from indebtedness and today Portland is one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state.
Source: History of Ionia County, Michigan: her people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens, and genealogical records of many of the old families By Elam E. Branch;
Published by B.F. Bowen & Co., 1916.
"The period in which we are now living is often called the electric age, and well it may be, in view of the importance electricity is now playing in civilization, and the man who becomes skilled in the use of this inscrutable something, which has never yet been satisfactorily defined, is sure of remunerative employment.
One of the skilled electricians of Ionia county is Frank L. Jenkins, city electrician and superintendent of the electric light plant of Portland, Michigan. He was born on September 29, 1880, in Westphalia township, Clinton county, this state, and he is a son of W. S. and Fannie (Young) Jenkins. The father was born in Portland township, Ionia county, and was a son of Sylvester Jenkins, who came to this locality in pioneer days and here he was married and established his home, taking up land from the government, which he developed into a good farm and on which he continued to reside until late in life, but spent his last few years in the village of Portland, however, retaining his farm. He became a well-known and influential citizen here. W. S. Jenkins grew up on the home farm and was educated in the district schools and those of Portland, and when he married he purchased a farm in Danby township, where he lived until his father's death, then sold out and purchased the homestead of the other heirs, and lived there until 1900, in which year he moved to Portland and with his two sons entered the machine shop and repairing business, which he has since continued, a few years ago adding a garage to his plant. The partnership with the sons still exists, Frank L. being a member of the firm since November, 1907. He is the eldest of the children, the other two being Sylvester, who has charge of the garage, married Florence Gardner; and Grace, who is the wife of Richard Bates, cashier of the Maynard Allen Bank of Portland.
Frank L. Jenkins received his education in the public and high schools of Portland. He then entered the machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, he and his father buying the shop later and conducted it until 1907, when Frank L. took the position of superintendent of the electric light plant of the town of Portland, which position he still holds, and has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner. On June 9, 1905, he married Nellie Smith, a daughter of Ralph and Ellen Smith. She was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, and when about ten years of age came to Portland with her sister, Nettie, and her grandparents and received her education in the public schools of Portland.
Politically, Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge No. 39, Royal Arch Masons, at Portland; also belongs to Rogers Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He also belongs to the Jovian Order, embracing prominent electrical men over the entire country.
In June, 1896, Portland installed its own municipal lighting plant, of which H. A. Sprague took charge and continued its management for eight years, then V. L. Derby succeeded him, remaining in charge four years, after which Mr. Jenkins took the position of manager,which he has retained to the present time. In 1896 the city also put in a dam in the Grand river, which was rebuilt in 1913 by a reinforced concrete dam. During Mr. Jenkins's administration as manager of the light plant, the plant has become free from indebtedness and today Portland is one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state.
Source: History of Ionia County, Michigan: her people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens, and genealogical records of many of the old families By Elam E. Branch;
Published by B.F. Bowen & Co., 1916.
One of the skilled electricians of Ionia county is Frank L. Jenkins, city electrician and superintendent of the electric light plant of Portland, Michigan. He was born on September 29, 1880, in Westphalia township, Clinton county, this state, and he is a son of W. S. and Fannie (Young) Jenkins. The father was born in Portland township, Ionia county, and was a son of Sylvester Jenkins, who came to this locality in pioneer days and here he was married and established his home, taking up land from the government, which he developed into a good farm and on which he continued to reside until late in life, but spent his last few years in the village of Portland, however, retaining his farm. He became a well-known and influential citizen here. W. S. Jenkins grew up on the home farm and was educated in the district schools and those of Portland, and when he married he purchased a farm in Danby township, where he lived until his father's death, then sold out and purchased the homestead of the other heirs, and lived there until 1900, in which year he moved to Portland and with his two sons entered the machine shop and repairing business, which he has since continued, a few years ago adding a garage to his plant. The partnership with the sons still exists, Frank L. being a member of the firm since November, 1907. He is the eldest of the children, the other two being Sylvester, who has charge of the garage, married Florence Gardner; and Grace, who is the wife of Richard Bates, cashier of the Maynard Allen Bank of Portland.
Frank L. Jenkins received his education in the public and high schools of Portland. He then entered the machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, he and his father buying the shop later and conducted it until 1907, when Frank L. took the position of superintendent of the electric light plant of the town of Portland, which position he still holds, and has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner. On June 9, 1905, he married Nellie Smith, a daughter of Ralph and Ellen Smith. She was born in Otisco township, Ionia county, and when about ten years of age came to Portland with her sister, Nettie, and her grandparents and received her education in the public schools of Portland.
Politically, Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge No. 39, Royal Arch Masons, at Portland; also belongs to Rogers Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He also belongs to the Jovian Order, embracing prominent electrical men over the entire country.
In June, 1896, Portland installed its own municipal lighting plant, of which H. A. Sprague took charge and continued its management for eight years, then V. L. Derby succeeded him, remaining in charge four years, after which Mr. Jenkins took the position of manager,which he has retained to the present time. In 1896 the city also put in a dam in the Grand river, which was rebuilt in 1913 by a reinforced concrete dam. During Mr. Jenkins's administration as manager of the light plant, the plant has become free from indebtedness and today Portland is one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state.
Source: History of Ionia County, Michigan: her people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens, and genealogical records of many of the old families By Elam E. Branch;
Published by B.F. Bowen & Co., 1916.
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