The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Jenkins, John Greeley
Jenkins, John Greeley, M.P., ex-Minister of Public Works, South Australia, is the son of Evan Jenkins and Mary his wife, both natives of Wales, and was born at Clifford, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., on Sept. 8th, 1851. In 1878 he emigrated to Australia, arriving in Adelaide in April of that year. Having held various municipal offices at Unley, S.A., Mr. Jenkins was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the Sturt district in 1887, and was re-elected in 1890. In March 1891, on the death of Mr. Bews, Mr. Jenkins accepted the portfolio of Minister of Education in the Playford Government, exchanging it in Jan. 1892 for that of Public Works, a position he held till June 1892, when he resigned with his colleagues after their defeat on Mr. Holder's want of confidence motion. Mr. Jenkins, who is a Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in that colony, was married at Adelaide on Jan. 5th, 1883, to Miss Jeannie Mary Charlton.