Jump to content

William Miller Jenkins: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m changing category to Sapulpa, OK
add to infobox, shortdesc
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American lawyer and politician (1856–1941)}}
{{Infobox US Territorial Governor

{{Infobox officeholder
|name= William Miller Jenkins
|name= William Miller Jenkins
|image= William Miller Jenkins.jpg
|image= William Miller Jenkins.jpg
Line 5: Line 7:
|order= 5th
|order= 5th
|office= Governor of Oklahoma Territory
|office= Governor of Oklahoma Territory
|territory=Oklahoma Territory
|term_start= April 15, 1901
|term_start= April 15, 1901
|term_end= November 30, 1901
|term_end= November 30, 1901
|appointed= [[William McKinley]]
|appointed= [[William McKinley]]
|predecessor= [[Cassius McDonald Barnes]]
|predecessor= [[Cassius McDonald Barnes]]
|successor= [[William C. Grimes]] <br><small>as Acting Territorial Govenror <sup>{{ref|1|1}}</sup></small>
|successor= [[William C. Grimes]] <br><small>as Acting Territorial Governor <sup>{{ref|1|1}}</sup></small>
|birth_date= {{birth date|1856|4|25|mf=y}}
|birth_date= {{birth date|1856|4|25|mf=y}}
|birth_place= [[Alliance, Ohio]]
|birth_place= [[Alliance, Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date= {{death date and age|1941|10|19|1856|4|25|1941|10|19|mf=y}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|1941|10|19|1856|4|25|mf=y}}
|death_place= [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]
|death_place= [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]], U.S.
|resting_place= South Heights Cemetery<br />Sapulpa, Oklahoma, U.S.
|spouse= Delphina White Jenkins
|spouse= {{marriage|Delphina White|1878}}
|profession= [[Lawyer]], [[Politician|Statesman]]
|profession= {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}}
|party= [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
|party= [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|footnotes= {{note|1|1}}[[William C. Grimes]] served as [[Acting Governor]] until President Roosevelt appointed [[Thompson Benton Ferguson]] to the Governorship
|footnotes= {{note|1|1}}[[William C. Grimes]] served as [[Acting Governor]] until President Roosevelt appointed [[Thompson Benton Ferguson]] to the Governorship
}}
}}
'''William Miller Jenkins''' (April 25, 1856 - October 19, 1941) was an American lawyer and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[politician]]. He was appointed by President William McKinley in 1901 as the fifth [[governor of Oklahoma Territory]]. However, he had only served for six months when President Theodore Roosevelt removed him from office, after receiving complaints of political malfeasance. Although Jenkins was exonerated by subsequent investigations, his removal could not be undone, forcing his early retirement.

'''William Miller Jenkins''' (April 25, 1856 - October 19, 1941) was an [[United States|American]] lawyer and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[politician]] who briefly served as the 5th [[Governor of Oklahoma Territory]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
The son of Henry J. and Lydia (Miller) Jenkins, William Miller Jenkins was born at [[Alliance, Ohio|Alliance]], [[Stark County, Ohio|Stark County]], [[Ohio]], on April 25, 1858. He attended public schools and later attending [[Mt. Union College]] at Alliance. Jenkins would teacher school in Stark County from 1876 until 1878. On December 21, 1878, Jenkins married Delphina White of [[Doublin, Indiana]].
The son of Henry J. and Lydia (Miller) Jenkins, William Miller Jenkins was born at [[Alliance, Ohio|Alliance]], [[Stark County, Ohio|Stark County]], [[Ohio]], on April 25, 1858. He attended public schools and then [[Mt. Union College]] at Alliance. He taught school in Stark County from 1876 until 1878. On December 21, 1878, Jenkins married Delphina White of [[Dublin, Indiana]].<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=JE003 Everett, Dianna. "Jenkins, William Miller (1856-1941)." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture''.] Accessed March 4, 2018.</ref>


Jenkins and his wife removed to [[Shelby County, Iowa]], in 1880 where he was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1884 he established his residence at [[Arkansas City, Kansas]], where he operated a private law practice. In 1888, he served as a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]].
Jenkins and his wife removed to [[Shelby County, Iowa]], in 1880, where he was admitted to the bar in 1883.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>{{efn|Editor's note:This information conflicts with another source, which stated that Jenkins moved from Ohio to Shelby County, Louisiana, where he was admitted to the bar in 1893.<ref name="DP-Jenkins">[http://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/ref/collection/okresources/id/2083 "TerrGov-6, 1901--Jenkins. Biography and Photograph of William Miller Jenkins." Digital Prairie. Undated] Accessed March 4, 2018.</ref> The second statement is probably '''incorrect''' because, 1.political subdivisions in Louisiana are always named as parishes, and 2. there is no parish named Shelby.}} In 1884, he relocated to [[Arkansas City, Kansas]], where he opened a private law practice. In 1888, he served as a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]], where he was the first to cast a vote for William McKinley, who was running for the party's presidential nomination.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>


==Governorship==
==Governorship==
When the [[Cherokee Outlet]] was opened to settlement on September 16, 1893, Jenkins made the race and secured a homestead in [[Kay County, Oklahoma|Kay County]] where he would continue to practice law untli he entered government service. When [[President of the United States|President]] [[William McKinley]] appointed [[Cassius McDonald Barnes]] as [[Governor of Oklahoma Territory]], he also appointed Jenkins to serve as the Territory's Secretary. Jenkins assumed that position in June 1897 and would serve for four years until President McKinley elevated him to the governorship. Jenkins took the oath of office on April 15, 1901. During his administration, the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache and the Wichita-Caddo Indian reservations were opened for settlement in August 1901.
When the [[Cherokee Outlet]] was opened to settlement on September 16, 1893, causing a land-rush, Jenkins succeeded in securing a homestead in [[Kay County, Oklahoma|Kay County]], where he practiced law until he entered government service. When [[President of the United States|President]] [[William McKinley]] appointed [[Cassius McDonald Barnes]] as [[Governor of Oklahoma Territory]], he also appointed Jenkins to serve as the Territory's Secretary. Jenkins assumed that position in June 1897, and would serve for four years until President McKinley elevated him as Territorial Governor, effective May 13, 1901.


In August 1901, a lottery was held to open the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache and the Wichita-Caddo Indian reservations for settlement.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/> The governor was accused of collaborating with certain Interior Department officials in naming other officials to government positions in the counties that were formed from the two reservations.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>
⚫
Questions of Governor Jenkins's fidelity arose following the renewal of contracts for the care of the insane in the Territory. Following the assassination of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, those questions developed into an outright opposition. Newly elevated President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] immediately received demands to removed Governor Jenkins from office. Without affording the Governor an opportunity to defend himself, President Roosevelt summarily removed Jenkins from office on November 30, 1901. Territorial Secretary [[William C. Grimes]] became acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed [[Thompson Benton Ferguson]] to the Governorship on December 9, 1901.


⚫
Questions of Governor Jenkins's fidelity arose following the renewal of contracts with the Oklahoma Sanitarium Company for the care of the insane in the Territory. Following the assassination of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, those questions developed into an outright opposition. Newly elevated President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] immediately received demands to remove Governor Jenkins from office. The Interior Department also examined the situation, and although the agency found no irregularities. Without affording the Governor an opportunity to defend himself, President Roosevelt summarily removed Jenkins from office on November 30, 1901. Territorial Secretary [[William C. Grimes]] became acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed [[Thompson Benton Ferguson]] to the Governorship on December 9, 1901.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>
Territorial Governor Ferguson would later report to the [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] Jenkins had "suffered a great injustice."

The Territorial Legislature also investigated the claims against Jenkins in 1903-5 and exonerated him. Territorial Governor Ferguson would later report to the [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] Jenkins had "suffered a great injustice."<ref>{{cite news | publisher = newspapers.com | date = April 17, 1932 | title = 1901-Gov Jenkins, sanitarium company and corruption, How a Territorial Governor Was handed a Raw Deal by Roosevelt | author = The Daily Oklahoman | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39217878/1901-gov-jenkins-sanitarium-company/}}</ref>


==Late life and death==
==Late life and death==
Subsequent to his retirement, Governor Jenkins spent a few years in [[California]] but upon his return to [[Oklahoma]], settled at [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]] and in 1920 was elected [[Court Clerk]] of [[Creek County, Oklahoma]]. He died at Sapulpa on October 19, 1941 and is buried in the South Heights Cemetery near that city.
Jenkins returned to his farm in Kay County, then lived for a few years in [[Guthrie, Oklahoma]]. Subsequent to his retirement, Governor Jenkins spent a few years in [[Utah]].<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>{{efn|The Digital Prairie source reports that Jenkins spent this time in California.<ref name="DP-Jenkins"/>}} Upon returning to Oklahoma, he settled in [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]. In 1920, he was elected [[Court Clerk]] of [[Creek County, Oklahoma]]. He died at Sapulpa on October 19, 1941, and was buried in the South Heights Cemetery there.<ref name="EOHC-Jenkins"/>


==See also==
==See also==
*[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v020/v020p218.html Chronicles of Oklahoma entry]
*[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v020/v020p218.html Chronicles of Oklahoma entry]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/J/JE003.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Jenkins, William]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=JE003] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' - Jenkins, William


{{start box}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box |title=[[Governor of Oklahoma Territory]]| before=[[Cassius McDonald Barnes]]| after=[[William C. Grimes]] <br>Acting Territorial Governor| years=1901&ndash;1901}}
{{succession box |title=[[Governor of Oklahoma Territory]]| before=[[Cassius McDonald Barnes]]| after=[[William C. Grimes]] <br>Acting Territorial Governor| years=1901&ndash;1901}}
{{end box}}
{{s-end}}


{{Governors of Oklahoma}}
{{Governors of Oklahoma}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Jenkins, William Miller
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American lawyer
| DATE OF BIRTH =April 25, 1856
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Alliance, Ohio]]
| DATE OF DEATH =October 19, 1941
| PLACE OF DEATH =[[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, William Miller}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, William Miller}}
[[Category:1856 births]]
[[Category:1856 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Stark County, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Alliance, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Kay County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Governors of Oklahoma Territory]]
[[Category:Governors of Oklahoma Territory]]
[[Category:Oklahoma lawyers]]
[[Category:Oklahoma lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Sapulpa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Iowa Republicans]]
[[Category:Kansas Republicans]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Republicans]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]

Latest revision as of 13:07, 15 August 2023

William Miller Jenkins
5th Governor of Oklahoma Territory
In office
April 15, 1901 – November 30, 1901
Appointed byWilliam McKinley
Preceded byCassius McDonald Barnes
Succeeded byWilliam C. Grimes
as Acting Territorial Governor 1
Personal details
Born(1856-04-25)April 25, 1856
Alliance, Ohio, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 1941(1941-10-19) (aged 85)
Sapulpa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Resting placeSouth Heights Cemetery
Sapulpa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Delphina White
​
(m. 1878)​
Profession
  • Politician
  • lawyer
^1 William C. Grimes served as Acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed Thompson Benton Ferguson to the Governorship

William Miller Jenkins (April 25, 1856 - October 19, 1941) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He was appointed by President William McKinley in 1901 as the fifth governor of Oklahoma Territory. However, he had only served for six months when President Theodore Roosevelt removed him from office, after receiving complaints of political malfeasance. Although Jenkins was exonerated by subsequent investigations, his removal could not be undone, forcing his early retirement.

Early life[edit]

The son of Henry J. and Lydia (Miller) Jenkins, William Miller Jenkins was born at Alliance, Stark County, Ohio, on April 25, 1858. He attended public schools and then Mt. Union College at Alliance. He taught school in Stark County from 1876 until 1878. On December 21, 1878, Jenkins married Delphina White of Dublin, Indiana.[1]

Jenkins and his wife removed to Shelby County, Iowa, in 1880, where he was admitted to the bar in 1883.[1][a] In 1884, he relocated to Arkansas City, Kansas, where he opened a private law practice. In 1888, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, where he was the first to cast a vote for William McKinley, who was running for the party's presidential nomination.[1]

Governorship[edit]

When the Cherokee Outlet was opened to settlement on September 16, 1893, causing a land-rush, Jenkins succeeded in securing a homestead in Kay County, where he practiced law until he entered government service. When President William McKinley appointed Cassius McDonald Barnes as Governor of Oklahoma Territory, he also appointed Jenkins to serve as the Territory's Secretary. Jenkins assumed that position in June 1897, and would serve for four years until President McKinley elevated him as Territorial Governor, effective May 13, 1901.

In August 1901, a lottery was held to open the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache and the Wichita-Caddo Indian reservations for settlement.[1] The governor was accused of collaborating with certain Interior Department officials in naming other officials to government positions in the counties that were formed from the two reservations.[1]

Questions of Governor Jenkins's fidelity arose following the renewal of contracts with the Oklahoma Sanitarium Company for the care of the insane in the Territory. Following the assassination of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, those questions developed into an outright opposition. Newly elevated President Theodore Roosevelt immediately received demands to remove Governor Jenkins from office. The Interior Department also examined the situation, and although the agency found no irregularities. Without affording the Governor an opportunity to defend himself, President Roosevelt summarily removed Jenkins from office on November 30, 1901. Territorial Secretary William C. Grimes became acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed Thompson Benton Ferguson to the Governorship on December 9, 1901.[1]

The Territorial Legislature also investigated the claims against Jenkins in 1903-5 and exonerated him. Territorial Governor Ferguson would later report to the Secretary of the Interior Jenkins had "suffered a great injustice."[3]

Late life and death[edit]

Jenkins returned to his farm in Kay County, then lived for a few years in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Subsequent to his retirement, Governor Jenkins spent a few years in Utah.[1][b] Upon returning to Oklahoma, he settled in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. In 1920, he was elected Court Clerk of Creek County, Oklahoma. He died at Sapulpa on October 19, 1941, and was buried in the South Heights Cemetery there.[1]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Editor's note:This information conflicts with another source, which stated that Jenkins moved from Ohio to Shelby County, Louisiana, where he was admitted to the bar in 1893.[2] The second statement is probably incorrect because, 1.political subdivisions in Louisiana are always named as parishes, and 2. there is no parish named Shelby.
  2. ^ The Digital Prairie source reports that Jenkins spent this time in California.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Everett, Dianna. "Jenkins, William Miller (1856-1941)." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Accessed March 4, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "TerrGov-6, 1901--Jenkins. Biography and Photograph of William Miller Jenkins." Digital Prairie. Undated Accessed March 4, 2018.
  3. ^ The Daily Oklahoman (April 17, 1932). "1901-Gov Jenkins, sanitarium company and corruption, How a Territorial Governor Was handed a Raw Deal by Roosevelt". newspapers.com.

External links[edit]

  • [1] Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Jenkins, William
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Oklahoma Territory
1901–1901 		Succeeded by
William C. Grimes
Acting Territorial Governor
Retrieved from "https://en.chped.com/w/index.php?title=William_Miller_Jenkins&oldid=1170506806"