Francis Johnston Jenners (also known as "Frank") was born 6 September 1849 in Hyde Park, New York. He was the youngest child of William Morduit Jenners and his wife, Magdalena Johnston. His parents were residents of Lafayette, Indiana at the time, but his mother had been born in Hyde Park, so I suspect she was visiting family at the time of his birth.
Frank is found with his parents on the 1850 and 1860 censuses for Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana.
In August 1863 when Frank was about 13, his father, William M. Jenners, died. Frank's cousin, Abiel Jenners Bradfield, was named as his guardian. In a probate filing by Bradfield, it was estimated that Frank's share of his father's estate was more than $9,500. The estate's other heirs were Frank's mother and his sister, Anna.
The 1870 census shows Frank, age 20, living with his widowed mother and his sister, age 27, in Lafayette. No occupation is listed for him.
By 5 July 1871, Frank had reached legal age, and he asked the court to discharge Abiel J. Bradfield from his guardianship duties. A transcription of the document follows:
"I Frank J. Jenners, ward of Abiel J. Bradfield, hereby that being now of full age, myself & my said guardian have had together a full settlement and accounting and he has paid to me the balance found due to me in full (except taxes ^up to this date^ on 20 acres of land taken in settlement) and I request that he be discharged from said guardianship and from all further or future liability on the a/c of the same.
July 5th 1871. Frank J. Jenners [signed]"
By 1873, Frank was listed in Lafayette city directories as a salesman living at 128 N. 6th St., Lafayette, with his mother and sister, Anna. One directory says Frank was a salesman for Campbell, Cason & Co. Another 1873 directory says Frank was a traveling salesman for Perrin Brothers.
In March 1884, Francis Jenners attested in court that the signature on Sarah Y. Jenners' (his cousin) will was indeed Sarah's. His affidavit states that Sarah died in Daphne, Baldwin Co., Alabama while on an extended visit there and Francis gives her death date as Jan. 1884 (no day). The document was as follows:
"State of Indiana
Tippecanoe County ss
On this 8th day of March 1884 in open court, in the Tippecanoe Circuit court, in the State of Indiana, personally came Francis J. Jenners a witness who being now duly sworn in open Court to testify the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth relating to and concerning the execution of the last will and testament of Sarah Y. Jenners deceased late of said county, testifies as follows, that the said Sarah Y. Jenners died at or near the city of Daphne, in Baldwin County in the State of Alabama while on a visit and temporary residence at that place on or about the [left blank] day of January 1884, that he is acquainted with the signature of said Sarah Y. Jenners and knows the signature to the will which is attached hereto to be her genuine signature, and that she died leaving property in said county. he [sic] also states that the subscribing witnesses to said signature are without the State of Indiana and further affident [?] saith not.
Francis J. Jenners [signed]
Subscribed and sworn to in open court this 8th day of March 1884.
[on back of page]
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in LaFayette Ind on this 8th day March, AD 1884
WC Mitchell, Clerk [signed]
DE. Studebaker Dep [signed]
[page 2]
THE STATE OF INDIANA,
Tippecanoe County, SS.
I, ["James T. Chute" crossed out; written in:] Wm. C. Mitchell Clerk of the Tippecanoe Circuit Court of Indiana, do hereby certify that the annexed and foregoing last will and testament of Sarah Y. Jenners late of Tippecanoe County, deceased, has been duly admitted to probate; that its execution was this day fully proven in open court by the testimony of Francis J. Jenners ___________________________________________________________
["the subscribing witnesses_____ hereto" crossed out] whose proofs together with said last will and testament, have been duly recorded on page _______________ of Will Record No. 4 now on file in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed
the seal of said Court, at office in LaFayette, on
this ["10" crossed out] 8th day of March
A.D. 1884
Wm D Mitchell [signed] Clerk.
W.W. Drumings, Dept"
According to the 1891 Lafayette city directory, Frank was still living with his mother and still working as a traveling salesman. He was 42 years old.
On 31 January 1892, Frank's mother, Magdalena Jenners died. While Mrs. Jenners had been ill, she had been nursed by Florence Blair Cochrane.
Florence was born in Toronto, Canada, on 2 September 1868. Her parents were Samuel H. Cochrane and his wife, Emily Ann Stone. I have not yet determined how, when, or why Florence came to Lafayette, Indiana.
On 9 August, Florence and Frank were married in London, England. The year of their marriage may be 1896, but the article below sounds like it was 1893. The following newspaper article has no identifying date or place, but is apparently a Lafayette newspaper:
"Jenners-Cochrane. On August 9, in London, England, were married Frank J. Jenners, of this city, and Miss Florence Cochrane, of Toronto, Canada. This announcement will cause considerable surprise to Mr. J's friends here, although shortly before his departure for Europe, THE SUNDAY TIMES intimated that Cupid had about subdued this popular, but staid old bachelor. Miss Cochrane has spent some time in Lafayette, having been at the bedside of Mr. Jenners' mother during her last sickness. Those who then met her became her friends, for she is a young lady of admirable characteristics. Of Frank J. Jenners, THE SUNDAY TIMES can say nothing in praise, without repeating of oft told truths. He has many friends, because he deserves them. Mr. and Mrs. Jenners, with Miss Anna M. Jenners, are now continuing their tour abroad, which they inaugurated last June. Upon their return to Lafayette, Mr. and Mrs. Jenners will reside at No. 128 north Sixth street."
On the 1900 census, Frank and Florence are living in Lafayette, Indiana. They told the census taker they had been married 4 years, which makes their marriage 1896.
On 24 March 1903, twin daughters were born to the couple in Lafayette. The girls were named Dorothy and Emily.
The family was still living in Lafayette at the time of the 1910 census. Frank was working as a traveling salesman for the meat packing industry.
Sometime between the 1910 and 1920 censuses, the family moved to South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan. They are found there boarding with a Lena Schofield on the 1920 census. Frank was 70; Florence was 52; and the twin daughters were 16.
On 21 August 1923, daughter Emily married Wendell Edward Dickerson in South Haven, Michigan.
On 11 September 1924, daughter Dorothy married William L. Newbury in South Haven, Michigan.
Frank and Florence are found on the 1930 census in South Haven, Michigan.
On 24 September 1930, Florence Jenners died in South Haven, Michigan of "malignant endocarditis." She was 62 years old. Florence was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, South Haven.
Francis J. Jenners died in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 29 May 1932. He was 82 years old. His occupation was listed as retired hardware salesman. Cause of death was carcinoma of the larynx and senility. He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery next to Florence.
Daughter Dorothy had two children and died in 1988. Daughter Emily had two children and died in 1994.
I have not found any photos of Frank or Florence.
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