Item Detail
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Jenkins, Ann Davis
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1823-1905
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MSS 8
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Biography
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Ann Davis Jenkins was born February 8, 1823 at Crossen, Glamorganshire, South Wales, England. She married Evan Jenkins in 1843, and they were later converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On March 2, 1850, the family left England and traveled by sea for two months before reaching New Orleans on May 2, 1850. From there, they sailed up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Winter Quarters. They were advised to stay in Iowa until they had enough to travel, and while there, they had two pairs of twins. The first was a boy and girl born in May 1851, and the second were two girls, born in 1858. The family sold their land and left for Utah with the Homer Duncan Company in 1861. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 28, 1881 and from there, settled in North Cottonwood, which was later renamed Farmington. Ann died June 8, 1905.
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This is a combined history of Ann Davis Jenkins and her husband, Evan Jenkins. It is a three-page typescript biography from the Margaret Steed Hess collection, written by Margaret Steed Hess, Ann and Evan's granddaughter. Margaret briefly describes the couple's journey across the sea and their life before making the trek west. They experienced much sickness throughout this time, both while journeying across the ocean as well as after settling in Iowa. After the family had enough money to go west, however, Ann apparently had been so influenced by her neighbors that she refused to sign the papers to sell the land so that they could go west. After she saw her neighbor's husband leave her for Utah because of this same situation, however, Ann finally gave in, and the family set off with two wagons, two yokes of oxen, eight cows, and a few horses. They traveled all day and rested at night, forming a circle with their wagons. They had various experiences with Indians, but nothing extremely dangerous. After arriving in Utah, their son John joined the militia. Ann is described as having been a 'faithful wife and loving mother, and a good accommodating neighbor.'