Ruth, Annie and William Jenkins, Will County

The first letter (1877) concerning the Jenkins family names only Ruth, who was seven years old and living with the Rev. O. C. Dickinson. No other children were mentioned, and when Dickinson wrote again in 1878 Ruth was the only child mentioned. The Dickinson's were thrilled with Ruth and praised her as having an "excellent moral sense."

In 1882 Mr. Dickinson wrote that "We would like very much to hear from her brother and sister: have been sorry we did not take all three of the children." Their wish was apparently fulfilled, because in 1888 Rev. Dickinson wrote his final letter to the Asylum, reporting on all three of the Jenkins children, who were all of age at that time. Ruth was still living with the Dickinsons but her sister Annie was living in Elwood with another family and was still attending school. Willie had been living with the Dickinsons for over two years and had attended school half the time. He was 21 years old and anxious to "take a course" in the State Normal School. At that time there were several "Normal" schools, which meant teaching colleges and William Jenkins appeared to prefer the one in Normal.

Ruth was married to Charles Richard Betts December 28, 1898 in Will County. Ruth remarried at some point to a man named "Morse." She had at least two children: Richard and Ruth Marie with one of these husbands. Richard was born in Illinois, but Ruth Marie was born in Colorado. In 1915 Ruth Morse was living in Manhattan, Kansas with her two children Richard and Marie Morse. In 1920 Ruth was living in Topeka, Kansas with her two children and the children were listed as having the last name Betts, but Ruth still was using "Morse." Charles Richard Betts was living in the house and noted as Ruth's "father." This could be an enumerator's error and Ruth's first husband was living with her and her children. Ruth's 18 year old son was attending college in Topeka. No further trace of Ruth, her children or her husband could be found, aside from Ruth's grave.

Mrs. Dickinson died in April 1902 and Mr. Dickinson died in May 1917. Two headstones are recorded in Findagrave. One was a tall marble monument, but a flat granite marker was added and included "Lizzy Ruth Jenkins Betts Morse -- Adopted Daughter" and gives a death date of March 17, 1937. No obituaries were found for the Dickinsons or Ruth.

There are many mysteries about the lives of the Jenkins children. No record of Ruth's brother and sister can be found except the letter Mr. Dickinson wrote in 1888. Ruth's record is incomplete, but in 1937 when she died someone knew her history and cared enough to place a marker and return her to Wilton Center, where she had been the beloved daughter of Orville and Susan Dickinson.