Genealogy is fun

REV JOHN W. JENKINS, JOHN “SHACK”Page News & Courier, Friday 29 Jan 1937More About John “Shack”A short time ago we published an article concerning Rev. John William Jenkins or “Shack”, a noted colored preacher of this county. His son, Rev. I.I. Jenkins, of Blainesville, this county, who is not only a preacher but operates a job printing shop at his home, has prepared an interesting booklet entitled “Faithful Service Annual” in which he gives futher information in regard to his father:-Rev. limousine bus . John William Jenkins (“Shack”)Rev. chevrolet . John W. Jenkins was born in Madison County, Virginia, February 12, 1850 and was brought by his mother Sallie Jenkins to Page County, Virginia, when but six weeks of age where the greater part of his life was spent.In early manhood he was married to Miss Charlotte Frances Bright and to this union was born fifteen children- nine boys and six girls, three boys dying in infancy. Since he was reared on the farm, it was natural for him to be a farmer. In later years, with the assistance of his boys, he worked on a saw mill.During his early life there were no public schools for colored youth. By hard study after his days labot by the light of a pine torch, under the tutelage of his wife and white friends, he obtained a practical education.At the beginning of his religious career, he became affiliated with the Methodist Church, but his belief in immersion was so strong that he requested to be baptized in that way. He remained with this church by a short while, then for some time standing alone until Northern Missionaries brought the faith of his choice, Freewill Baptist…. At that time there was no regular house of worship in his community, so meetings were carried on in the open, with no roof save the blue canopy of heaven. Later by means of the saw mill and the cooperation of a few friends he was able to purchase a lot on which a church was built and known as Old St. Anna. This church was free to all denominations.In August 1879, he was ordained to the ministry by a council of ministers set apart by Nothern Missionaries and served his church in the capacity of janitor, financier and preacher. Under his guidance the church grew and did much in Christianizing the community in which he lived. His activities as a minister extended over a period of thirty-five years. During these years he served as pastor of the following churches Blainesville, Salen, Hagerstown, Berryville and Swickley. He also did missionary work in the following counties of Virginia: Bedford, Franklin and Halifax for ten or twelve years. As a result of the work a Quarterly Meeting of seven or eight churches was firmly established. His pastoral career was brought to a close by failing health and he retired to his old home where he lingered for more than a year his spirit taking its flight January 17, 1916 at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 5 days- Queenie Taylor and Virgie A. Lee.John Shack (Rev. John Jenkins)Page News & Courier, Friday 21 Jan 1916John Shack, a Free Will Baptist preacher, living near Cavetown, aged about 70 years, died Monday and was buried at 2 p.m., on Wednesday.