"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 484. Grant County. DAVID W. JENKINS "Render honor to whom honor is due" is one of the old and tried sayings and following this we are constrained to give to the distinguished and estimable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph prominent representation in this work that endeavors to give proper biographical mention to the leading citizens of Grant county. A pioneer in may senses of the word, and descended from the strong blood that subdued and held, in spite of the world, Scotia's hills, he has demonstrated in a life full of bright achievement and stirring adventure on the frontier of the foremost nation of the globe that he is possessed of the same stanch qualities and commendable characteristics that made his ancestors famous. Born in Scotland, on August 22, 1811, he enjoys the distinction of being the oldest man in the county of Grant, and perhaps in eastern Oregon. When he had attained his majority his adventurous spirit led him from the fold of his native land to the rising and progressive republic on the west of the Atlantic. Landing in New York, he at once engaged in the Brooklyn navy yards, and until 1844 did continuous and faithful service there. Then he went to Galveston, Texas, and entered the navy yards there for two years, then on to Mexico in the same occupation. At this latter place he suffered the misfortune of being nearly killed by the Mexicans and he repaired to the Golden Gate in 1848, where he built a vessel and also erected the first buildings in that place, which has become the metropolis of the Pacific coast, his wages for this work being eleven dollars per day. In the fall of 1848 he went to Stockton, and mined for five months, then returned to San Francisco. In partnership with three others, he bought a vessel to go whaling, but was diverted from that purpose by a reported new diggings, whither they went, they being on what had been named Trinity river; coming up the coast from here, they entered a place named Trinidad, but were attacked by the Indians and driven out. Later in San Francisco they met a captain that wished to find a little bay for starting a town, and they piloted him thither and established a town called Eureka, which is Humboldt today. Later Mr. Jenkins went to the head of the bay and established a town which was named Arcadia. Turning from this occupation he went to packing to the mines, and in 1863 came to what is now Grant county. Here he prospected this and adjacent territory, having traversed all the surrounding country long before there was any Baker City. In 1864 he pre-empted and homesteaded two hundred and forty acres where he now lives, seven and one-half miles west from John Day, and these holdings have increased to one-quarter of section 23 and one-half of section 35. His attention is devoted to raising stock and tilling the soil, and he has been attended by prosperity in his efforts. He is highly respected by all in the community and wherever he is known, and his industry and thrift have wrought out for him a fine legacy to leave to his family when it comes his time to depart from the scenes of earth. At the age of ninety he is hale and hearty and full of life and vigor and writes and handles the affairs of life as steadily as many men in the prime of life. During boyhood days Mr. Jenkins was denied the advantages of education to any extended degree and it was by continuous effort of reading and personal research that he was enabled to store his mind with practical information. The marriage of Mr. Jenkins and Miss Anna Riley was consummated in 1861, and to them have been born three children: Alice, wife of Alex McKenna, of Canyon City; two infants that died before they received a name. It is with great pleasure that we are enabled to say that of all the old pioneers, who are a highly esteemed and respected class of citizens, there is none among them that stands higher in the minds of their fellows than Mr. Jenkins, and in point of age he is the senior of them all, which together with his other qualifications of merit, justly entitles him to the place of leadership. Mr. Jenkins affiliates with the I.O.O.F., Hobah Lodge, No. 22, of Canyon City. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.