Biographical sketch from An Official History of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Ohio, William Hartwell Parham and Jeremiah Arthur Brown, 1906.
DAVID JENKINS was born in Lynchburg, Old Virginia, during the year 1811. He came to Columbus, Ohio, in 1837 having reached his twenty-sixth year. His father, William Jenkins, with rare good knowledge, saw in his boy David the buds of promise and profiting, thereby engaged for him a private tutor. After David had been advanced to a degree that satisfied his father, his knowledge was utilized in the instruction of his younger brothers and sisters. At this time, being a painter, he followed his trade and by thrift and industry became the owner of considerable real estate and accumulated a good sum of money. In 1844 he established “The Palladium of Liberty,” a weekly newspaper devoted to the advancement of his race and the abolition of slavery. As one of the pioneers of and active co-workers in the underground railroad thus bringing him into the acquaintance of many of the noted abolitionists, not only of Ohio but of the nation as well. He believed that in constant agitation against slavery, its ultimate overthrow would be accomplished, and he never failed to improve an opportunity to put his thoughts before the people. In these efforts he was ably assisted by Anthony Barrett, William McAfee, L. D. Taylor, A. M. Taylor, John Booker, and later by M. M. Clark, Charles H. and John M. Langston, all dear to memory.
He was certainly an apostle of Liberty, and being one of the colored leaders of Ohio, he was the most unselfish and courageous. It is related of him that he always carried a supply of handbills with blank spaces which could readily be filled to suit any place where he might happen to be and thus advertise his meetings to denounce slavery. In all cases involving the freedom of fugitive slaves, David Jenkins was always on hand and he bore his own expenses without seeking contributions from any source. His constant attendance upon the sessions of the General Assembly of Ohio gained for him the sobriquet of “The member at large.” Associated with him constantly were such men as John I. Gaines, Peter H. Clark and J. Henry Perkins, well known men of Cincinnati, O.
In 1873 he left Columbus, Ohio, and settled in Canton, Miss., where he entered the occupation of a school teacher, buying property and improving it according to his Northern ideas. In 1875 he was elected a member of the Mississippi Legislature, serving his full term and making a very useful member.
MASONIC HISTORY.
In 1852 David Jenkins, Charles H. Langston, Hanson Johnson and others went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they were initiated, passed and raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. On January 16, 1852, St. Marks Lodge No. 7 was established and Charles H. Langston became its first Worshipful Master, from 1852 to 1855, Hanson Johnson, its second Worshipful Master, from 1855 to 1858, and David Jenkins, its third Worshipful Master, from 1858 to 1860.
In 1858 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, in 1861 and 1862, Senior Grand Warden, and in 1870 Deputy Grand Master, being the seventeenth in succession.
He was a charter member of Johnson Chapter No. 3, R. A. M. of Columbus, O., and of Taylor Commandery No. 6 K. T. stationed in the same city.
On September 5, 1877, after an illness of five days, he became an immortal.