Southern Plant Lists - Southern Garden History Society

John C. Jenkins
1836-1837
Mississippi
"The Herbarium of Louisiana and Mississippi of John C.
Jenkins, A.D. 1836-37"
Natchez, Mississippi
A LIST OF THE SPECIMENS IN THE 1836-7 HERBARIUM OF DR. JOHN CARMICHAEL JENKINS –
THE NOTED SOUTHERN POMOLOGIST OF ELGIN PLANTATION - NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI
John Carmichael Jenkins was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1809. He was the son of a
Congressman and a wealthy iron master. He received his elementary education in local schools and when completed,
enrolled in Dickinson College at Carlisle, Penn. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1828. By this time,
he had developed an interest in medicine and spent the next two years in the private school of Dr. George B. Wood
of Philadelphia, one of the most outstanding men in the medical field of that day.
In 1830, John enrolled in the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied three
years and graduated in 1833. In commenting on his credentials, the Natchez newspaper said that Dr. Jenkins, who
had recently arrived, had graduated with distinction and that his faculty advisors predicted for him a successful and
honorable career in medicine. His uncle, Dr. John Flavel Carmichael, desired to help his young nephew and
requested that he come to Wilkinson county, Mississippi and help him with his medical practice, which was
flourishing on the frontier. The young man was quite willing to leave the family home in Pennsylvania to do so.
Along with his medical practice, he also had a great interest in the fields of ornithology and botany. He
made several noteworthy contributions to the museums back East in these fields.
When his uncle died in 1837, he suddenly became heir to, and responsible for, two very large plantations in
Wilkinson County that were heavily encumbered in debt as a result of the panic of 1837. Dr. Jenkins set about
whole-heartedly managing these two plantations. This new endeavor was to channel his energies into more practical
and productive ventures. As an indication of his industry, in six years he paid off the debt of $130,000 and the
plantations were debt-free.
In the process, he became a expert in fruit culture for the South and originated many new varieties of fruit
trees adapted for the climate of the South.
Moving in the circles he did in Natchez, he made the acquaintance of the Dunbar family of Forest
Plantation, outside Natchez, in Adams county. He became especially interested in Miss Annis Field Dunbar, the
eldest daughter of Dr. William Dunbar. Their friendship led to marriage in 1839. For nearly a year, the newlyweds
lived at Cold Springs, the Carmichael home in Wilkinson county. In 1840, while paying off the debt on the two
plantations, he purchased and moved to Elgin Plantation in Adams county, just outside Natchez. That house is still
there and in an excellent state of preservation.
The herbarium we have was begun in 1836 . . . at least that is what is written on the front of volume and
was completed while Jenkins lived at Elgin.
It was while he was at Elgin that he became a leading figure in Southern fruit growing and was widely
known for his scientific approach to agriculture. Elgin functioned as a large experiment station for his fruit culture
research, while his two other plantations grew traditional crops.
Of the 310 specimens in the herbarium, 183 are identified. This list was compiled and submitted by George R.
Stritikus.
182