William Miller Jenkins
Encyclopedia
William Miller Jenkins was an American
lawyer and Republican
politician
who briefly served as the 5th Governor of Oklahoma Territory.
, Stark County
, Ohio
, on April 25, 1858. He attended public schools and later attending Mt. Union College at Alliance. Jenkins would teacher school in Stark County from 1876 until 1878. On December 21, 1878, Jenkins married Delphina White of Doublin, Indiana.
Jenkins and his wife removed to Shelby County, Iowa
, in 1880 where he was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1884 he established his residence at Arkansas City, Kansas
, where he operated a private law practice. In 1888, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
.
was opened to settlement on September 16, 1893, Jenkins made the race and secured a homestead in Kay County
where he would continue to practice law untli he entered government service. When President
William McKinley
appointed Cassius McDonald Barnes
as Governor of Oklahoma Territory, he also appointed Jenkins to serve as the Territory's Secretary. Jenkins assumed that position in June 1897 and would serve for four years until President McKinley elevated him to the governorship. Jenkins took the oath of office on April 15, 1901. During his administration, the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache and the Wichita-Caddo Indian reservations were opened for settlement in August 1901.
Questions of Governor Jenkins's fidelity arose following the renewal of contracts for the care of the insane in the Territory. Following the assassination of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, those questions developed into an outright opposition. Newly elevated President Theodore Roosevelt
immediately received demands to removed Governor Jenkins from office. Without affording the Governor an opportunity to defend himself, President Roosevelt summarily removed Jenkins from office on November 30, 1901. Territorial Secretary William C. Grimes
became acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed Thompson Benton Ferguson
to the Governorship on December 9, 1901.
Territorial Governor Ferguson would later report to the Secretary of the Interior
Jenkins had "suffered a great injustice."
but upon his return to Oklahoma
, settled at Sapulpa, Oklahoma
and in 1920 was elected Court Clerk
of Creek County, Oklahoma
. He died at Sapulpa on October 19, 1941 and is buried in the South Heights Cemetery near that city.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who briefly served as the 5th Governor of Oklahoma Territory.
Early life
The son of Henry J. and Lydia (Miller) Jenkins, William Miller Jenkins was born at AllianceAlliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
, Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, on April 25, 1858. He attended public schools and later attending Mt. Union College at Alliance. Jenkins would teacher school in Stark County from 1876 until 1878. On December 21, 1878, Jenkins married Delphina White of Doublin, Indiana.
Jenkins and his wife removed to Shelby County, Iowa
Shelby County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, in 1880 where he was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1884 he established his residence at Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415....
, where he operated a private law practice. In 1888, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
Governorship
When the Cherokee OutletCherokee Outlet
The Cherokee Outlet, often mistakenly referred to as the Cherokee Strip, was located in what is now the state of Oklahoma, in the United States. It was a sixty-mile wide strip of land south of the Oklahoma-Kansas border between the 96th and 100th meridians. It was about 225 miles long and in 1891...
was opened to settlement on September 16, 1893, Jenkins made the race and secured a homestead in Kay County
Kay County, Oklahoma
Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 48,080. Its county seat is Newkirk. The largest city in Kay County is Ponca City.-19th century:...
where he would continue to practice law untli he entered government service. When President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
appointed Cassius McDonald Barnes
Cassius McDonald Barnes
Cassius McDonald Barnes was an American Civil War soldier, lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 4th Governor of Oklahoma Territory.-Early Life and the American Civil War:...
as Governor of Oklahoma Territory, he also appointed Jenkins to serve as the Territory's Secretary. Jenkins assumed that position in June 1897 and would serve for four years until President McKinley elevated him to the governorship. Jenkins took the oath of office on April 15, 1901. During his administration, the Comanche-Kiowa-Apache and the Wichita-Caddo Indian reservations were opened for settlement in August 1901.
Questions of Governor Jenkins's fidelity arose following the renewal of contracts for the care of the insane in the Territory. Following the assassination of President McKinley on September 14, 1901, those questions developed into an outright opposition. Newly elevated President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
immediately received demands to removed Governor Jenkins from office. Without affording the Governor an opportunity to defend himself, President Roosevelt summarily removed Jenkins from office on November 30, 1901. Territorial Secretary William C. Grimes
William C. Grimes
William C. Grimes was an American politician and businessman who had a major influence on Oklahoma politics. He most notably served as Acting Governor of Oklahoma Territory from November 30, 1901, to December 9, 1901. For many years, he served as chair of the Territorial Republican Committee...
became acting Governor until President Roosevelt appointed Thompson Benton Ferguson
Thompson Benton Ferguson
Thompson Benton Ferguson was the sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory.-Biography:Ferguson was born on March 17, 1857, near Des Moines, Iowa...
to the Governorship on December 9, 1901.
Territorial Governor Ferguson would later report to the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
Jenkins had "suffered a great injustice."
Late life and death
Subsequent to his retirement, Governor Jenkins spent a few years in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
but upon his return to Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, settled at Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census...
and in 1920 was elected Court Clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...
of Creek County, Oklahoma
Creek County, Oklahoma
Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 69,967. Its county seat is Sapulpa.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
. He died at Sapulpa on October 19, 1941 and is buried in the South Heights Cemetery near that city.