John Sanford was a man of his time, a resilient man, survived Civil War wounds and deprivation, as well as the early loss of his parents, three of his wives, and three children in desperate economic times in the south.
John was born in Haywood County, Tennessee near Brownsville in 1838. Before he was two years old, the family moved to Hardin County where his father had received a Tennessee Land Grant. When John was 13 years old, his mother died. With six children to be reared, his father married a young widow, Mary Ann Roberts Russell. John's siblings, Mary Emeline was married and had begun her own family, Alexander returned to North Carolina taking Richard with him, and William Neel moved into Mississippi. John's young sister, Sarah, is believed to have died before 1860. When James Wilson died in 1858, John was 20, and found himself the mainstay of the farm, living there with only his step-mother and half-sister, Virginia.
When the War Between the States broke out, John enlisted in Company B of the 4th Tennessee Infantry. He was later promoted to second lieutenant and company commander. John sustained a head wound at the Battle of Atlanta July 20th, 1864. Two days later he lost two fingers from gunfire at the Battle of Decatur. (see photo) After three and a half years of battle, John returned to Hardin County.
While he'd been away Ann Elizabeth 'Anneliza' Smithwick had grown from a child to a young woman on a neighboring farm. Their marriage was quickly greeted by sons James and Andrew in 1868 and 1870. It appeared that John was on his way to having his own family, especially when their daughter, Alma, was born in 1873. Sadly, shortly thereafter, Anneliza died. With three toddlers at home, he needed help at once. In 1874, he married another neighbor, Mahala Garrett. They added two more children to the family, Daisy May in 1875, and Charles Morse, in 1877. Tragedy struck when son Andrew died, followed by Mahala's death.
John was now 40. Once more he was starting over. This time he turned to Mahala's younger sister, Martha Alice Garrett. They married in 1879. After the loss of their first child at birth, Alice gave birth to Henry, Tom, and Willie, in 1881, 1883, and 1886. Alice was now the mother to her three children, two of her sisters', and two of Eliza's.
John's wartime injuries and the scurvy that began during the war brought on severe health problems. When John became unable to farm, he served as constable in Pickwick. By 1891, John was not able to do any manual labor. Only James, Alma, and Daisy were left to tend to John's fields. His other four sons were still very young boys. The South remained gripped in poverty following the war, and money was scarce. John applied for a pension for indigent veterans. The pension was denied. The review board in Nashville determined that, with $1000 in land and assets, John was not indigent.
In 1894, the family suffered yet another death when young Willie passed away. By 1901, all of John's children, with the exception of Henry, had all left home or married. With his scurvy worsening, John relied on crutches to move around. It became vital for John to appeal his pension rejection. A letter from a doctor attesting to his and Alice's deteriorating health accompanied the appeal. Other letters from Army officers and local businessmen supported his war record, good moral character, and inability to work. As his assets dwindled, his pension was eventually approved in 1909. Approval came forty-five years after his service and five years before his death.
Perhaps he was not able to support his wife with the small pension. Maybe John and Alice simply separated due to marital difficulties. She moved to Gibson County, to live with their son, Thomas Sanford. John lived with another couple in Hardin County. Alice did visit him in Hardin County before his death but returned to Gibson County.
John's demanding life finally came to an end in Hardin County, Tennessee in 1914. He was buried in Roberts Cemetery in Counce next to his sister, Mary Emeline Sawyers and near his son Willie Jenkins. For nearly ninety years his grave went unmarked, indicated only by a small concrete post bare of even his name or birth and death dates. In the spring of 2000, however, a Civil War Confederate Veteran's grave marker was applied for and erected by two of his great-grandchildren to honor the man, his military service, and to record Lt. John Sanford Jenkins' time and place on earth for generations to come.
John Sanford Jenkins was born over 170 years ago, when many of life's events went unrecorded. It was not until the very end of the following century, that his complex family was first researched and recorded. The memories of his only living (now deceased) grand-daughter to have known him then, Martha Helen Williams, were invaluable in guiding the research. Using the new technology of the internet to accumulate and exchange information, two of his great-grandchildren, Dennis Maldonado and Doris Dellinger of Oklahoma were able to sort out, piece together, and record the basic facts of his life, his wives, children, and his ancestors, for his descendants to appreciate and remember forever.
Forever Remembered.
(Biography by my grandfather, Dennis Maldonado. I've added the following paragraph)
Around 1999 my grandfather compiled a book about the Jenkins family which was dedicated to his grandfather, Thomas Sanford Jenkins. In this book he wrote a biography for JSJ, similar to the one above. However, a few of Mrs. Martha Helen Williams' recollections were included in this biography.
"Martha Williams, presently the only grandchild to have known him, remembers him as a tall blond, with eyes of such deep navy they almost looked brown. They were known as the 'Jenkins eyes.' He was thin, hampered by the lack of adequate food during the war, but he had an engaging smile. Despite the strains of everyday life, John apparently was blessed with a sense of humor and gently teased grandchildren who inquired about his missing fingers. 'I was in the woods and the squirrels nibbled them off,' he would say, dark blue eyes twinkling."
John was born in Haywood County, Tennessee near Brownsville in 1838. Before he was two years old, the family moved to Hardin County where his father had received a Tennessee Land Grant. When John was 13 years old, his mother died. With six children to be reared, his father married a young widow, Mary Ann Roberts Russell. John's siblings, Mary Emeline was married and had begun her own family, Alexander returned to North Carolina taking Richard with him, and William Neel moved into Mississippi. John's young sister, Sarah, is believed to have died before 1860. When James Wilson died in 1858, John was 20, and found himself the mainstay of the farm, living there with only his step-mother and half-sister, Virginia.
When the War Between the States broke out, John enlisted in Company B of the 4th Tennessee Infantry. He was later promoted to second lieutenant and company commander. John sustained a head wound at the Battle of Atlanta July 20th, 1864. Two days later he lost two fingers from gunfire at the Battle of Decatur. (see photo) After three and a half years of battle, John returned to Hardin County.
While he'd been away Ann Elizabeth 'Anneliza' Smithwick had grown from a child to a young woman on a neighboring farm. Their marriage was quickly greeted by sons James and Andrew in 1868 and 1870. It appeared that John was on his way to having his own family, especially when their daughter, Alma, was born in 1873. Sadly, shortly thereafter, Anneliza died. With three toddlers at home, he needed help at once. In 1874, he married another neighbor, Mahala Garrett. They added two more children to the family, Daisy May in 1875, and Charles Morse, in 1877. Tragedy struck when son Andrew died, followed by Mahala's death.
John was now 40. Once more he was starting over. This time he turned to Mahala's younger sister, Martha Alice Garrett. They married in 1879. After the loss of their first child at birth, Alice gave birth to Henry, Tom, and Willie, in 1881, 1883, and 1886. Alice was now the mother to her three children, two of her sisters', and two of Eliza's.
John's wartime injuries and the scurvy that began during the war brought on severe health problems. When John became unable to farm, he served as constable in Pickwick. By 1891, John was not able to do any manual labor. Only James, Alma, and Daisy were left to tend to John's fields. His other four sons were still very young boys. The South remained gripped in poverty following the war, and money was scarce. John applied for a pension for indigent veterans. The pension was denied. The review board in Nashville determined that, with $1000 in land and assets, John was not indigent.
In 1894, the family suffered yet another death when young Willie passed away. By 1901, all of John's children, with the exception of Henry, had all left home or married. With his scurvy worsening, John relied on crutches to move around. It became vital for John to appeal his pension rejection. A letter from a doctor attesting to his and Alice's deteriorating health accompanied the appeal. Other letters from Army officers and local businessmen supported his war record, good moral character, and inability to work. As his assets dwindled, his pension was eventually approved in 1909. Approval came forty-five years after his service and five years before his death.
Perhaps he was not able to support his wife with the small pension. Maybe John and Alice simply separated due to marital difficulties. She moved to Gibson County, to live with their son, Thomas Sanford. John lived with another couple in Hardin County. Alice did visit him in Hardin County before his death but returned to Gibson County.
John's demanding life finally came to an end in Hardin County, Tennessee in 1914. He was buried in Roberts Cemetery in Counce next to his sister, Mary Emeline Sawyers and near his son Willie Jenkins. For nearly ninety years his grave went unmarked, indicated only by a small concrete post bare of even his name or birth and death dates. In the spring of 2000, however, a Civil War Confederate Veteran's grave marker was applied for and erected by two of his great-grandchildren to honor the man, his military service, and to record Lt. John Sanford Jenkins' time and place on earth for generations to come.
John Sanford Jenkins was born over 170 years ago, when many of life's events went unrecorded. It was not until the very end of the following century, that his complex family was first researched and recorded. The memories of his only living (now deceased) grand-daughter to have known him then, Martha Helen Williams, were invaluable in guiding the research. Using the new technology of the internet to accumulate and exchange information, two of his great-grandchildren, Dennis Maldonado and Doris Dellinger of Oklahoma were able to sort out, piece together, and record the basic facts of his life, his wives, children, and his ancestors, for his descendants to appreciate and remember forever.
Forever Remembered.
(Biography by my grandfather, Dennis Maldonado. I've added the following paragraph)
Around 1999 my grandfather compiled a book about the Jenkins family which was dedicated to his grandfather, Thomas Sanford Jenkins. In this book he wrote a biography for JSJ, similar to the one above. However, a few of Mrs. Martha Helen Williams' recollections were included in this biography.
"Martha Williams, presently the only grandchild to have known him, remembers him as a tall blond, with eyes of such deep navy they almost looked brown. They were known as the 'Jenkins eyes.' He was thin, hampered by the lack of adequate food during the war, but he had an engaging smile. Despite the strains of everyday life, John apparently was blessed with a sense of humor and gently teased grandchildren who inquired about his missing fingers. 'I was in the woods and the squirrels nibbled them off,' he would say, dark blue eyes twinkling."
John Sanford was a man of his time, a resilient man, survived Civil War wounds and deprivation, as well as the early loss of his parents, three of his wives, and three children in desperate economic times in the south.
John was born in Haywood County, Tennessee near Brownsville in 1838. Before he was two years old, the family moved to Hardin County where his father had received a Tennessee Land Grant. When John was 13 years old, his mother died. With six children to be reared, his father married a young widow, Mary Ann Roberts Russell. John's siblings, Mary Emeline was married and had begun her own family, Alexander returned to North Carolina taking Richard with him, and William Neel moved into Mississippi. John's young sister, Sarah, is believed to have died before 1860. When James Wilson died in 1858, John was 20, and found himself the mainstay of the farm, living there with only his step-mother and half-sister, Virginia.
When the War Between the States broke out, John enlisted in Company B of the 4th Tennessee Infantry. He was later promoted to second lieutenant and company commander. John sustained a head wound at the Battle of Atlanta July 20th, 1864. Two days later he lost two fingers from gunfire at the Battle of Decatur. (see photo) After three and a half years of battle, John returned to Hardin County.
While he'd been away Ann Elizabeth 'Anneliza' Smithwick had grown from a child to a young woman on a neighboring farm. Their marriage was quickly greeted by sons James and Andrew in 1868 and 1870. It appeared that John was on his way to having his own family, especially when their daughter, Alma, was born in 1873. Sadly, shortly thereafter, Anneliza died. With three toddlers at home, he needed help at once. In 1874, he married another neighbor, Mahala Garrett. They added two more children to the family, Daisy May in 1875, and Charles Morse, in 1877. Tragedy struck when son Andrew died, followed by Mahala's death.
John was now 40. Once more he was starting over. This time he turned to Mahala's younger sister, Martha Alice Garrett. They married in 1879. After the loss of their first child at birth, Alice gave birth to Henry, Tom, and Willie, in 1881, 1883, and 1886. Alice was now the mother to her three children, two of her sisters', and two of Eliza's.
John's wartime injuries and the scurvy that began during the war brought on severe health problems. When John became unable to farm, he served as constable in Pickwick. By 1891, John was not able to do any manual labor. Only James, Alma, and Daisy were left to tend to John's fields. His other four sons were still very young boys. The South remained gripped in poverty following the war, and money was scarce. John applied for a pension for indigent veterans. The pension was denied. The review board in Nashville determined that, with $1000 in land and assets, John was not indigent.
In 1894, the family suffered yet another death when young Willie passed away. By 1901, all of John's children, with the exception of Henry, had all left home or married. With his scurvy worsening, John relied on crutches to move around. It became vital for John to appeal his pension rejection. A letter from a doctor attesting to his and Alice's deteriorating health accompanied the appeal. Other letters from Army officers and local businessmen supported his war record, good moral character, and inability to work. As his assets dwindled, his pension was eventually approved in 1909. Approval came forty-five years after his service and five years before his death.
Perhaps he was not able to support his wife with the small pension. Maybe John and Alice simply separated due to marital difficulties. She moved to Gibson County, to live with their son, Thomas Sanford. John lived with another couple in Hardin County. Alice did visit him in Hardin County before his death but returned to Gibson County.
John's demanding life finally came to an end in Hardin County, Tennessee in 1914. He was buried in Roberts Cemetery in Counce next to his sister, Mary Emeline Sawyers and near his son Willie Jenkins. For nearly ninety years his grave went unmarked, indicated only by a small concrete post bare of even his name or birth and death dates. In the spring of 2000, however, a Civil War Confederate Veteran's grave marker was applied for and erected by two of his great-grandchildren to honor the man, his military service, and to record Lt. John Sanford Jenkins' time and place on earth for generations to come.
John Sanford Jenkins was born over 170 years ago, when many of life's events went unrecorded. It was not until the very end of the following century, that his complex family was first researched and recorded. The memories of his only living (now deceased) grand-daughter to have known him then, Martha Helen Williams, were invaluable in guiding the research. Using the new technology of the internet to accumulate and exchange information, two of his great-grandchildren, Dennis Maldonado and Doris Dellinger of Oklahoma were able to sort out, piece together, and record the basic facts of his life, his wives, children, and his ancestors, for his descendants to appreciate and remember forever.
Forever Remembered.
(Biography by my grandfather, Dennis Maldonado. I've added the following paragraph)
Around 1999 my grandfather compiled a book about the Jenkins family which was dedicated to his grandfather, Thomas Sanford Jenkins. In this book he wrote a biography for JSJ, similar to the one above. However, a few of Mrs. Martha Helen Williams' recollections were included in this biography.
"Martha Williams, presently the only grandchild to have known him, remembers him as a tall blond, with eyes of such deep navy they almost looked brown. They were known as the 'Jenkins eyes.' He was thin, hampered by the lack of adequate food during the war, but he had an engaging smile. Despite the strains of everyday life, John apparently was blessed with a sense of humor and gently teased grandchildren who inquired about his missing fingers. 'I was in the woods and the squirrels nibbled them off,' he would say, dark blue eyes twinkling."
John was born in Haywood County, Tennessee near Brownsville in 1838. Before he was two years old, the family moved to Hardin County where his father had received a Tennessee Land Grant. When John was 13 years old, his mother died. With six children to be reared, his father married a young widow, Mary Ann Roberts Russell. John's siblings, Mary Emeline was married and had begun her own family, Alexander returned to North Carolina taking Richard with him, and William Neel moved into Mississippi. John's young sister, Sarah, is believed to have died before 1860. When James Wilson died in 1858, John was 20, and found himself the mainstay of the farm, living there with only his step-mother and half-sister, Virginia.
When the War Between the States broke out, John enlisted in Company B of the 4th Tennessee Infantry. He was later promoted to second lieutenant and company commander. John sustained a head wound at the Battle of Atlanta July 20th, 1864. Two days later he lost two fingers from gunfire at the Battle of Decatur. (see photo) After three and a half years of battle, John returned to Hardin County.
While he'd been away Ann Elizabeth 'Anneliza' Smithwick had grown from a child to a young woman on a neighboring farm. Their marriage was quickly greeted by sons James and Andrew in 1868 and 1870. It appeared that John was on his way to having his own family, especially when their daughter, Alma, was born in 1873. Sadly, shortly thereafter, Anneliza died. With three toddlers at home, he needed help at once. In 1874, he married another neighbor, Mahala Garrett. They added two more children to the family, Daisy May in 1875, and Charles Morse, in 1877. Tragedy struck when son Andrew died, followed by Mahala's death.
John was now 40. Once more he was starting over. This time he turned to Mahala's younger sister, Martha Alice Garrett. They married in 1879. After the loss of their first child at birth, Alice gave birth to Henry, Tom, and Willie, in 1881, 1883, and 1886. Alice was now the mother to her three children, two of her sisters', and two of Eliza's.
John's wartime injuries and the scurvy that began during the war brought on severe health problems. When John became unable to farm, he served as constable in Pickwick. By 1891, John was not able to do any manual labor. Only James, Alma, and Daisy were left to tend to John's fields. His other four sons were still very young boys. The South remained gripped in poverty following the war, and money was scarce. John applied for a pension for indigent veterans. The pension was denied. The review board in Nashville determined that, with $1000 in land and assets, John was not indigent.
In 1894, the family suffered yet another death when young Willie passed away. By 1901, all of John's children, with the exception of Henry, had all left home or married. With his scurvy worsening, John relied on crutches to move around. It became vital for John to appeal his pension rejection. A letter from a doctor attesting to his and Alice's deteriorating health accompanied the appeal. Other letters from Army officers and local businessmen supported his war record, good moral character, and inability to work. As his assets dwindled, his pension was eventually approved in 1909. Approval came forty-five years after his service and five years before his death.
Perhaps he was not able to support his wife with the small pension. Maybe John and Alice simply separated due to marital difficulties. She moved to Gibson County, to live with their son, Thomas Sanford. John lived with another couple in Hardin County. Alice did visit him in Hardin County before his death but returned to Gibson County.
John's demanding life finally came to an end in Hardin County, Tennessee in 1914. He was buried in Roberts Cemetery in Counce next to his sister, Mary Emeline Sawyers and near his son Willie Jenkins. For nearly ninety years his grave went unmarked, indicated only by a small concrete post bare of even his name or birth and death dates. In the spring of 2000, however, a Civil War Confederate Veteran's grave marker was applied for and erected by two of his great-grandchildren to honor the man, his military service, and to record Lt. John Sanford Jenkins' time and place on earth for generations to come.
John Sanford Jenkins was born over 170 years ago, when many of life's events went unrecorded. It was not until the very end of the following century, that his complex family was first researched and recorded. The memories of his only living (now deceased) grand-daughter to have known him then, Martha Helen Williams, were invaluable in guiding the research. Using the new technology of the internet to accumulate and exchange information, two of his great-grandchildren, Dennis Maldonado and Doris Dellinger of Oklahoma were able to sort out, piece together, and record the basic facts of his life, his wives, children, and his ancestors, for his descendants to appreciate and remember forever.
Forever Remembered.
(Biography by my grandfather, Dennis Maldonado. I've added the following paragraph)
Around 1999 my grandfather compiled a book about the Jenkins family which was dedicated to his grandfather, Thomas Sanford Jenkins. In this book he wrote a biography for JSJ, similar to the one above. However, a few of Mrs. Martha Helen Williams' recollections were included in this biography.
"Martha Williams, presently the only grandchild to have known him, remembers him as a tall blond, with eyes of such deep navy they almost looked brown. They were known as the 'Jenkins eyes.' He was thin, hampered by the lack of adequate food during the war, but he had an engaging smile. Despite the strains of everyday life, John apparently was blessed with a sense of humor and gently teased grandchildren who inquired about his missing fingers. 'I was in the woods and the squirrels nibbled them off,' he would say, dark blue eyes twinkling."
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