Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/424

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JEFFREY.
JENKINS.
419

The child was placed in the care of her maternal aunt, who adopted her and Rave her her name. Rosa Vertner passed her childhood in Burlington, Miss., with her adopted parents. In 1838 her parents removed to Kentucky and settled in Lexington, that they might superintend her education. She received a thorough education in a seminary in that town, and became a polished scholar and an intelligent student of history and literature. In 1845 she became the wife of Claude M. Johnson, a wealthy citizen of Lexington. Mrs. Johnson at once became a leader in society, not only in Lexington, but in Washington and other cities. In 1861 Mr. Johnson died. Mrs. Johnson removed to Rochester, N. Y., where she remained during the Civil War. In 1863 she became the wife of Alexander Jeffrey. While living in Rochester, she published ler first book, a novel, "Woodbum," which was sent out from New York in 1864. She was the first southern woman whose literary work attracted attention throughout the United States. At the age of fifteen she wrote her well-known "Legend of the Opal." In 1857 she published a volume of verse, "Poems by Rosa," and at once she became known as an author of merit. Her volume of poems, "Daisy Dare and Baby Power," was published in Philadelphia, in 1871. Her third volume of poetry, "The Crimson Hand, and Other Poems," was published in 1881. Her novel, "Marsh," was brought out in 1884. Among her literary productions are several dramas of a high order of merit.


FRANCES C. JENKINS. JENKINS, Mrs. Frances C., evangelist and temperance worker, born in Newcastle, Ind., 13th April, 1826. Her maiden name was Wiles. Her father was of Welsh descent, her mother came from a refined English family. Both parents were educators, and her home was always a school. Books and study were ever her delight. She was married young, and consequently did not possess a finished education, but her study did not cease when she was married. The bent of her mind was towards medicine and theology. So well informed did she become in medicine and nursing that for twenty-five years she took almost entire charge of the health of her family of nine children. For several years after her marriage she devoted herself exclusively to home-making and her family, but she was finally led to broaden her circle of usefulness. She took up church work in her own church, the Friends, or Quakers. She became so efficient in church work of various kinds and so devoted a Bible student that the Society recognized her ability and at twenty-six years of age recorded her a minister of the gospel. The Friends Society was at that time the only orthodox one to recognize women as ministers. Her public work became a prominent feature of her life, yet she never lost sight of, or interest in, her home. She was especially successful as an evangelist and temperance worker. She was among the first crusaders against the liquor traffic. As a result of her work many saloons were closed in the town where she lived, and many surrounding towns received a like benefit. The proprietors of numerous saloons gave up saloon-keeping and engaged permanently in honorable business for bread winning. For several years she was one of the vice-presidents of the Illinois Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She went to England early in January, 1888, where she remained fifteen months, engaged in evangelical and temperance work. She was very successful. She is engaged most of the time in work along that line. Her home is now in Kansas City, Mo.


THERESE A. JENKINS. JENKINS, Mrs. Therese A., woman suffragist, born in Fayette, Lafayette county, Wis., in 1853. She is a daughter of the late Peter Parkinson, one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, who fought in the Black Hawk War and won military honors. Miss Parkinson became the wife of James F. Jenkins, a wealthy merchant of Cheyenne, Wy., in