Andrew Jenkins

Other Events:

• Interesting: Dare Devil
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-73937
• Residence: 1848, Saint Germans, , Norfolk, England
• Immigration: 1852, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1857, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Acrobat
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Photographer
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region: Bef 2012, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

ANDREW JENKINS 1844-1924

Married: Agnes Arthur. Known as "The Canadian Blondin", in reference to the famous French daredevil who crossed the gorge at Niagara Falls in 1859, Andrew Jenkins was born in Gloucestershire, England on May 3, 1844. He emigrated from England in 1850 and arrived in the area when his father, Benjamin Jenkins, obtained the contract to build the Great Western Railway line from Harriston to Galt. The family made its home in Branchton while work on the railway was in progress. In 1859, when Andrew Jenkins was fifteen years old, his father took him to Niagara Falls to watch the French daredevil Jean Francois Gravelet, better known as the Great Blondin, cross the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. Andrew Jenkins was so impressed by the feat that he strung a rope between two trees in his backyard and began practising tightrope walking, hoping someday to emulate his new hero. Ten years later Professor Jenkins, as he was called during his performances, crossed the Niagara gorge on a bicycle that he had designed. His Niagara crossing was reportedly witnessed by 50,000 spectators and provided instant fame. He was in demand and gave performances in Canada and the United States for the next fourteen years, developing a number of innovations along he way. In one of his stunts he would take a stove to the centre of the rope and make pancakes which he would then throw to people in canoes far below. Other stunts included sitting on a chair while on the rope and reclining on the rope. Upon his retirement from tightrope walking, Mr. Jenkins opened photography studios in Galt and Dunnville. He was partially blinded when a bottle of ammonia exploded while he was working in Dunnville. Mr. Jenkins died in Branchton on July 24, 1924 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery.

Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

Andrew — Agnes Arthur. Agnes (daughter of Hugh Arthur and Janet Dickie) was born 11 Sep 1847, Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 9 Mar 1923, Branchton, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-137383 
• Occupation: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-137383
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

Notes:

DEATH OF BEN JENKINS

CORONER'S JURY FIND THAT THE CONDUCTOR'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL FUNERAL AT GALT.

Galt, April 23. - Dr. Radford this morning resumed the enquiry into the death of the late Benjamin Jenkins. Crown Attorney Bowlby was hand to represent the Crown. Mr. C. R. Hanning, of Preston, appeared for the Railway Co.

Miss Mellwraith, of Berlin, took stenographic notes of the evidence.

The following witnesses were examined: P. J. Clemens, J. Stevens, Melvin Schweitzer, O. Homuth, R. Claridge, Chief Loy, Dr. Hawk, Dr. Buchanan.

The evidence of eyewitnesses of the occurrence was to the effect that the conductor alighted from the front end of the car, instead of the rear, and that he was crushed between the carbarn door and the moving car as it passed into its quarters for the night. He held his fare-box in his hand, and the impact was such as to leave traces on the woodwork, The medical evidence, outcome of the postmortem, described the nature of the injuries sustained, and ended with the opinion that death resulted from shock superinduced thereby.


In reviewing the case the Coroner pointed out that, according to the Testimony of Supt. Clemens, all employes of the road have instructions not to get off cars while in motion. The conductor was shown to have been on the front end of the car, instead of the rear, which was his proper place. He would have been safe if he had stayed on the car. There wasn't sufficient room to allow of his alighting as the car entered the barn. But that wasn't necessary, for no one was supposed alight from the car at this place.

After deliberating filteen minutes the jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by accident.

A Large Funeral.

The funeral of the late Benjamin Jenkins, who died on Friday afternoon at Galt Hospital from injuries received at Preston car barns last
Priday, was held this afternoon at two o'clock from the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. J. W. Steele, East Main street, Galt, to Mount
View cemetery. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Galt, as the deerased, having been with the G. P. & H. since its inception thirteen years ago, was well known to the travelling public. Every one found Benny as he was familiarly called, to be of the most obliging and kindly disposition, and his genial nature, made him hundreds of friends.

Deceased was the son of Andrew. Jenkins, the celebrated rope walker, and it was his son Ben that was wheeled by him in a wheelbarrow, over Niágara Falls.

The Chronicle Telegraph 26 Apr 1906, p. 10

Benjamin — Margaret Elizabeth Steele. Margaret (daughter of John William Steele and Elsie Maria "Maria" Reaman) was born 4 Apr 1870, Sheffield, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario; died 12 Feb 1952; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-208611
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Howard married Mabel Ella Lavelle Culham 14 Jul 1926, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mabel was born 30 Mar 1905, Sheffield, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario; died 2 Dec 1992, Orillia, Orillia Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario; was buried 5 Dec 1992, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Audrey — William McHoul. [Group Sheet]

Eileen — John Hall. [Group Sheet]