Background
Jenkins was born on June 7, 1812, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Wheeler) Jenkins.
Jenkins was born on June 7, 1812, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Wheeler) Jenkins.
Jenkins was educated in the city public schools and then became a coppersmith's apprentice.
After completing his full term and working for several years for different masters, Jenkins organized in 1837 his own coppersmith's business in Boston under the firm name of Rice, Jenkins & Company. For the succeeding seventeen years he carried on this business acquiring a large control in 1853 and changing the firm name to Jenkins & Company. The following year, however, he disposed of his interest in this company and established himself in Boston as a silversmith and clock-maker and carried on the business successfully for ten years. In the meantime, around 1860, he undertook some experimental work in an attempt to find a suitable packing material which would withstand the destructive effect of hot water and steam in faucets and valves. After a very complete and thorough search extending over four years he eliminated all materials except rubber compounds, and in 1864 he gave up silversmithing and opened a place of business at 52 Sudbury Street, Boston, to engage in the invention and production of water faucets fitted with renewable packings of rubber. For two years he labored diligently and was then rewarded on May 8, 1866, with a United States patent, No. 54, 554, for a rubber compound packing which would stand hot water and steam as well. At about the same time he invented a steam valve and as this seemed to possess greater possibilities, Jenkins concentrated his efforts on the production of this device and the packing compound for steam and hot-water joints. He also continued with his inventive work and obtained several additional patents for improvements on these products in 1866 and 1867. Finally on October 6, 1868, he was granted patent No. 82, 844 for the type of steam globe valve now known throughout the world as the Jenkins valve. As Jenkins designed it, an Indiarubber compounded packing was employed for sealing the joint of the valve. The valve parts were arranged in such a way that should the packing weaken or be destroyed, the metallic portions of the joint would come into contact and effect a tight union. Jenkins took his son Charles into partnership with him in 1868. Four years later he died, on May 20, 1872, and immediately thereafter, to continue the business, his two sons Charles and Alfred B. Jenkins formed a partnership under the firm name of Jenkins Brothers. About forty years later the business of Jenkins Brothers was incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey, Alfred B. Jenkins serving as president until his death.
Jenkins married Mary W. Tucker of Roxbury, Massachussets, on October 4, 1835, and at the time of his death was survived by three sons and a daughter.