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Sarah Jane Jenkins (1850 - 1938)
Birth, Parents & Siblings
Sarah Jane was born on March 31st, 1850, in Illinois (according to her death certificate. Her birth certificate has not yet been discovered.) Her parents were John (Jack) Jenkins born in Tennessee in 1805, and Margaret Sigler born in Tennessee in 1807. Her father was 45 years old and her mother was 43 years old at the time of her birth. She was one of six children, likely the youngest. Her siblings included: Ervin (Erv) 1838 – 1925, “Bud” Willis 1841 – 1934 (married 3 or 4 times), William Riley (Rile), Nancy (migrated to Muskogee, Indian Territory) and Elizabeth (Married a Stone, died in childbirth.) Uncle Bud (Willis) and Riley, fought on opposite sides during the Civil War. Uncle Bud fought for the Union, and Riley for the Confederacy. Riley drowned in the Cumberland or Tennessee River while fleeing the advance of Union troops (Grant’s Army) while it was advancing on them.
Marriage & Children
She married Alexander Barrett Stone (A.B.) on January 22, 1880, in Dixon, Webster Co., Kentucky, when she was 30 years old and he was 23 years old. Because she was five to seven years older than her husband A.B. Stone, she was very sensitive about it. She stated her age to be 26 on her Marriage Record in 1880, when in fact she was 30.
They were married at her older brother, Willis’ home. They had four children, including Louis Alvin (1880-1959), Lonnie Vernon (1882-21 Apr 1948) Willis Evans (1883-1948) and Norma Lee (1884 – 9 June 1976). Note that later in life Willis married Norma’s husband’s (Robert Lee Overby) sister, Mattie Overby.
Adulthood
As her husband transitioned from being a farmer to becoming a preacher, she led the life of a preacher’s wife.
From History of the Union Association of General Baptists, published by the Home Mission Board, Union Association, 1953:
“Sarah J. Stone, wife of Rev. A.B. Stone was born in Webster County, Kentucky, March 31st, 1855, and was married to Rev. A.B. late in 1879 (sic). To this union were born four children, three of whom survive. She was converted at an early age and for forty years lived as a constant helper to her husband enjoying the blessings and enduring the hardships of a minister’s wife. Her husband did farming to augment his low salary which he says never exceeded two hundred and fifty dollars per year. She lived to see all her children converted, married, into homes of their own and members of the church. She passed away in 1940 and rests beside her husband in Oak Grove cemetery, Dixon, Kentucky to await the resurrection”
Apparently, Sarah Jane and A.B. moved frequently, living with family, friends and congregations.
According to Bonnie Maude Overby Dinsmore in her own hand:
“A.B. and Sarah Moves:
- Cutsinger Place – Louis Alvin born here
- John Hearin Place – Norma Lee born here
- Andy Morehead Place
- Move to another Andy Morehouse Place (Granny Jenkins dies here at age 84). Took Granny in a blizzard to see Jane Russell.
- Moved near Rock Style Church
- Jim Bell Place near Cholybeate (Cholebyette?) Springs (had 100 acres here)
- Elender Stone place next
- Tilden – next move
- Atlas Chandler place near Little Zion. Louis joined Army from here
- Dixon – next move, stayed here”
According to Bonnie Maude Overby Dinsmore: In 1867 Sarah Jane Jenkins went to Marshfield (Rollo), Missouri, near the lead mines with her mother, Margaret Sigler and brothers, Uncle Bud (Willis) and Irwin. Margaret & Sarah Jane came back to Webster Co., and Margaret was with Sarah Jane when she died in 1891.
According to Bonnie Maude Overby Dinsmore, Sarah Jane was also sensitive about her dark skin and used to apply lighter powder to her face. When she was living with her daughter Norma Lee Stone (Mama O’by) and would make her appearance only after doing her powdering, Lois Overby Babb, Sarah Jane’s youngest granddaughter used to say, “Fell into the flour barrel again!”
Death
Sarah Jane died on May 1st, 1938, at 6:00 p.m. in Dixon, Webster County, Kentucky at the age of 88. She outlived her husband by 18 years. According to her Death Certificate, the cause of her death was Sugar Diabetes, and a contributory cause was Nephritis. She was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery alongside her husband, in Dixon, Kentucky on May 3rd.
Capturing Memories: An Ancestral Photo Album
Sarah Jane with A.B.
Sarah Jane
Sarah Jane
Sarah Jane Bottom Left