William Thomas SCRUGGS Sallie SCRUGGS William Mathew SCRUGGS Martha Jane SCRUGGS Martin BENSON Edward BENSON Mary BENSON Josie BENSON Charles Dempsey JENKINS Charles Arthur JENKINS Oregon JENKINS Lester L JENKINS James Walter JENKINS William JENKINS John JENKINS Lillie Belle JENKINS Martha Jane BROWN Mini tree diagram
Belle Rosella SCRUGGS

Belle Rosella SCRUGGS1,2,3,4,5,6,2,7,3,9,8

12th Aug 18781,2,3,4,5,6,2,7,3,8 - 10th Feb 19593,3,8

Life History

12th Aug 1878

Born in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,2,3,4,5,6,2,7,3,8

about 1894

Birth of son Edward BENSON in Arkansas County, Arkansas.6,7

15th Aug 1897

Married Martin BENSON in Arkansas County, Arkansas.2,5,2

May 1898

Birth of daughter Mary BENSON in Arkansas County, Arkansas.6,7

before 1900

Death of Martin BENSON in Arkansas County, Arkansas.2,7

Feb 1900

Birth of daughter Josie BENSON in Arkansas.24,2,15,7,2,25

30th Dec 1905

Married Charles Dempsey JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.2

22nd Nov 1906

Birth of son Charles Arthur JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.4,6,1,10,5,8

about Jul 1909

Birth of son Oregon JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,5,2,6,12,11

24th Sep 1911

Birth of son Lester L JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.13,2,5,14

26th Mar 1914

Birth of son James Walter JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.10,5,15,16,1

6th Mar 1916

Birth of son William JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.17,18,5,1,19,10,15,2

29th Jul 1917

Birth of son John JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.2,15,4,1,5,10

13th Apr 1921

Birth of daughter Lillie Belle JENKINS in St Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas.20,21,5,22,23,13

20th Nov 1928

Death of Charles Dempsey JENKINS in Arkansas County, Arkansas.3,11

14th Sep 1947

Death of son Oregon JENKINS in Pulaski County, Arkansas.11

10th Feb 1959

Died in Van Buren County, Arkansas.3,3,8

after 10th Feb 1959

Buried in Forks LaGrue Cemetery, LaGrue, Arkansas County, Arkansas.8

Notes

  • Martha Jane Brown
    Birth Jan 1837 in  Tennessee
    Death aft 1900
    William Thomas Scruggs
    Birth abt 1828 in Virginia
    Death bef 1900 in Arkansas
    Children:
    William M Bud Scruggs 1872 - 1948
    M.J. Scruggs b 1876
    ** Belle Rosella Scruggs 1878 - 1959 **
    5 more unnamed children
    --  Patterson, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/53570774/person/13537083878

    1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 June, Prairie Township, District 2, page 10, Hse #90, Fam #93
    Scruggs, W J  W F 52 Head Farming VA VA VA [b abt 1828]
    Scruggs, M J  W F 40 Wife Keeping House AL AL AL [b abt 1840]
    Scruggs, Rosa  W F 2 Dau AR VA AL [b abt 1878]

    Ella is known better as Belle.  In the 1920 census her name is Ella, but in 1900, 1910 and 1930 she is listed as Belle.  Genealogies generally have Belle.  Her family name is given as Scruggs in the genealogies that have her maiden name.  A record of her marriage to Charles (C D) Jenkins in 1905 has her last name as Benson.  This correlates with the 1930 census report that she was first married at age 14.

    Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
    Belle Benson
    Gender Female
    Age 27, Birth Year abt 1878
    Residence Saint Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Spouse's Name C D Jenkins
    Spouse's Gender Male
    Spouse's Age 46 [b abt 1884]
    Spouse's Residence St Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Marriage 30 Dec 1905 Arkansas County
    Marriage License Date 29 Dec 1905

    With the first married name I was able to find her first marriage record.

    Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
    Belle Scruggs
    Age 19, Birth Year abt 1878
    Residence Saint Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Spouse's Name Martin Benson
    Spouse's Age 25
    Spouse's Residence St Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Marriage 15 Aug 1897 Arkansas County
    Marriage License Date 11 Aug 1897

    Martin Benson died before 1900, when Belle was reproted as a widow with three chidlren.  She wa living in the household of her widowed mother, Martha AScruggs.

    1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 19 June, Prairie Township, Hse #228, Fam #233
    Scrruggs, Martha Head W F Jan 1837  63 Widow 12 children/5 living TN TN TN No Occup Owns
    Benson, Belle R Dau W F Aug 1875  21 Widow 4 children/3 living AR TN TN
    Benson, Edward Granddauon W M Mar 1894  6 Single AR AR AR
    Benson, Mary Granddau W F May 1898  2 Single AR AR AR
    Benson, Josie Granddau W F Feb 1900 3mos Single AR AR AR

    In December 1905, Belle married Charley Jenkins.  The Pattrerson genealogy reports Charley and Belle's full names.  Charley's birth place is reported here as Tennessee, while every other record we have says Mississippi, consistent with the family census records in Attala County, Mississippi.

    Charles Dempsey Jenkins
    Birth abt 1867 in Tennessee [all records say Mississippi]
    Death 20 Nov 1928 in Arkansas, Arkansas
    Marriage 30 Dec 1905 Arkansas, Arkansas to Belle Rosella Scruggs
    Birth 12 Aug 1878 in Arkansas
    Death 10 Feb 1959 in Van Buren County, Arkansas
    --  Patterson, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/53570774/person/13710194258?ssrc=&ml_rpos=8&ftm=1

    The 1910 census reports that this is the second marriage for both Charley and Belle.  The enumerator gives the name Jenkins (Jinkins) to the Benson children as well.  Son Arthur here is the first child of Belle with Charley Jenkins.  Goldine is Charley's daughter with his first wife, who may have died in childbirth with Goldine.  I have seen no record of any other child from Charley's first marriage.

    1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 22 April, St Charles, District 12, page 3A, Hse/Fam #41
    Jinkins, Charly Head M W 48 Marriage 2 Married 4 yrs MS SC MS Farmer [b abt 1862]
    Jinkins, Belle Wife F W 31 Marriage 2 Married 4 yrs 7 children/6 living AR Unk Unk [b abt 1879]
    Jinkins [Benson], Edd Son M W 16 Single AR AR AR
    Jinkins [Benson], Mary Dau F W 12 Single AR AR AR
    Jinkins [Benson], Jossie [sic] Dau F W 10 Single AR AR AR
    Jinkins, Goldine Dau F W 7 Single AR AR AR
    Jinkins, Arthur Son W M 3 Single AR AR AR
    Jinkins, [No Name] Son W M 8mos Single AR AR AR [b abt July 1909]

    The last child had the name Miller in the line, then but that was crossed out, and no other name put in.  The next family in the list is named Miller, so it appears that initially no name was entered for the last child.  Then the enumerator likely wrote the next family name in the next blank line, but then marked it out when he realized it was the wrong line. The last child in 1910 matches the child in the 1920 census named Oregon, age 10 in 1920.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 January, Prairie Township, District 15, page 2A, Shoot Rd (Chute Rd), Hse/Fam #21
    Jenkins, Charley Head Owns M W  53 TN TN TN Farmer
    Jenkins, Ella Wife F W  40 AR AR AR [b abt 1880]
    Jenkins, Author (Arthur) Son M W  12 Single AR TN AR
    Jenkins, Oregon Son M W  10 Single AR TN AR
    Jenkins, Lester Son M W  8 Single AR TN AR
    Jenkins, James Son M W  6 Single AR TN AR
    Jenkins, Bud Son M W  4 Single AR TN AR
    Jenkins, John Son M W  2 Single AR TN AR

    Belle's 1930 census reports that she was first married at age 14, which would make it in about 1893, according to her age of 51 reported in that census.  That is consistent with other age reports which place her birth year at 1879-1880.  However, the actual marriage record says she actually got married in 1897.  With that firm date on record, and her consistently reported birth about 1879, she would have been 16 or 17.  On the actual marriage record itself, however, her age is reported as 19, which would mean birth in 1878, consistent with the other reports.  So it makes one wonder why Belle later remembered her marriage age as 14.

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 April, Prairie Township, District 24, page 2A, Public Rd, Hse #29, Fam #30
    Jenkins, Belle Head Owns F W 51 Widow Married at age 14 [abt 1893] Unknown Tenn Tenn Farmer [b abt 1879]
    Jenkins, Arthur Son M W 22 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Jenkins, Oregon Son M W 20 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Jenkins, Lester Son M W 18 Single AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Jenkins, James Son M W 17 Single AR AR AR
    Jenkins, William Son M W 14 Single AR AR AR
    Jenkins, John Son M W 12 Single AR AR AR
    Jenkins, Lillie Dau F W 8 Single AR AR AR

    In 1940, Belle is living in the home of her son Arthur.

    1940 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 8 April, Prairie Township, District 1-24, page 4A, Hwy 17, Hse #42, Owns $200
    Jenkins, Arthur Head M W 32 Grade 9 b Ark same place in 1935 Farmer
    Jenkins, Sadie Wife F W 23 Grade 8 b Ark same place in 1935
    Jenkins, John Brother M W 21 Single Grade 4 b Ark same place in 1935 Farm Laborer
    Jenkins, Belle Mother F W 61 Grade 4 b Ark same place in 1935

    Belole is buried next to her son Charley Arthur Jenkins and his wife.

    Mother Belle Jenkins (Belle Rosella Scruggs Jenkins)
    1878  1959
    Forks LaGrue Cemetery, LaGrue, on Hwy 1 northeast of DeWitt, Arkansas County, Arkansas;
    Photo by Orville Boyd Jenkins 12 May 2017

Sources

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