lawyer, judge, b. Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He attended private schools, read law in New York City, and was admitted to the New York bar in 1855. In 1857 he moved to Wisconsin, settling in Milwaukee where he engaged in private law practice until 1888. A Democrat, he was city attorney for Milwaukee (1863-1867), U.S. district judge for the eastern district of Wisconsin (1888-1893), U.S. circuit judge for the 7th circuit (1893-1905), and presiding judge of the U.S. circuit court of appeals, 7th circuit (1901-1905). In Dec., 1893, Jenkins issued an injunction prohibiting employees of the Northern Pacific R.R. Co. (then under management of receivers appointed by the court) from striking against a proposed reduction in their wages. The injunction was sustained by the court of appeals, and the dissatisfied labor leaders took steps to have Judge Jenkins impeached. The proceedings were unsuccessful, however, and Jenkins continued on the bench. From 1908 to 1915 he was dean of the College of Law at Marquette Univ., and after 1915 lived in retirement in Milwaukee until his death. Natl. Cyclopaedia Amer. Biog., 19 (1926); E. B. Usher, Wis. (8 vols., Chicago, 1914); Memorial of J. G. Jenkins [Milwaukee, 1922]; Milwaukee Journal, Aug. 6, 1921; J. G. Jenkins Papers.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]