Henrietta Augusta Jenkins was born Sep 11, 1838 in Sperryville, Rappahannock County, Virginia, and died Feb 13, 1917 in Leslie Precinct, Wayne County, Nebraska at the age of 78.

She married David Lee Chambers on Dec 7, 1854 in Keokuk County, Iowa. He was born Jan 13, 1831 in Switzerland County, Indiana and died Jan 18, 1902 in Leslie Precinct, Wayne County, Nebraska at the age of 71. He was the son of Minor Chambers and Mariah (Polly) Lee.

Her obituary, which appeared in The Pender (Nebraska) Times on Feb 23, 1917, stated, "Henrietta Jenkins was born in West Virginia September 11, 1839, and spent her early days in that state. In the year 1855 or 1856 she came to Iowa with her parents. She was married to David Chambers that same year, they having met on the way from Virginia to Iowa, both families being on the move. The newly married couple first lived in Illinois, later returned to Iowa, then came to Nebraska some thirty or thirty-one years ago.

"They settled on the old home place now occupied by their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Grubb. Here Mrs. Chambers lived with her husband until January 18, 1902, when he was called home. She continued to live here, except for periodic visits to her other children, until heart disease caused her to pass into the great beyond; Feb 13th, 1917, at the mature age of 77 years, 5 months and 2 days.

"She and her husband were among the first settlers in this part of the country, and her long residence and genuine neighborliness and unselfish kindness won her a host of friends who will miss her for many days to come.

"There were eight daughters and four sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, and all but one, Mrs. Rader, survive the mother. They are Albert of Walthill, Edmond of Pender, Jacob of Wisner, Mrs. Quick of Burke, S.D., Mrs. Tina Killian of Wakefield, Mrs. Thos. Mayberry of Pender, Mrs. Gibson of Springfield, Mo., Mrs. Nora Grubb of Pender, Mrs. Yarrington of LaPort City, Iowa, and Mrs. Wm. Broadstone of Norfolk. She also adopted two of her grandchildren -- one legally adopted and reared one as her own.

"She was the grandmother of 80 grandchildren, and the greatgrandmother of 48 children.

"She was one of a large family of three boys and nine girls, two brothers -- William and Walter Jenkins of Red Oak, Iowa, and Mrs. Funk of Fremont, Mrs. Widener of Oregon, Mrs. Younker of Indianola, Iowa, and Mrs. Sonners of Westboro, Mo.

"Mrs. Chambers was a true pioneer woman. She underwent the usual hardships of pioneer life, raising a large family, giving them every attention, and at all times was a good neighbor, friend and Christian. The many friends in this community regret sincerely her death, and join the Times in offering condolences to the family.

"Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Helms and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Helms of Tekamah, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Broadstone of Norfolk, Mrs. Ruth Lucky of Sioux City, and Lenard Chambers of University Place."

According to the Wayne (Nebraska) Herald, Feb 22, 1917, "Heart failure was the immediate cause of death. She leaves to mourn her death three sons and seven daughters, eighty grandchildren and forty-eight great grandchildren, four sisters and two brothers besides a host of friends. The funeral was conducted at the Pleasant Valley church by Rev. (Frank) William of Wakefield and interment took place in the little cemetery adjoining beside her husband who had gone before."

Her death certificate is registered number 3490 in Nebraska. Alf. Jenkins was listed as her father and Lockheart as the maiden name of her mother. The birthplace of all three was listed as W. Va. The cause of death was old age with pneumonia as contributory. Her date of birth was shown as Sep 11, 1839 rather than the 1838 as indicated in census records.

She wrote her will on Jul 1, 1905: "Know all men by these presents that I Henrietta A. Chambers of Wayne County and State of Nebraska considering the uncertainty of life and wishing to provide for a speedy and proper settlement of my estate after my decease do now make publish and declair this my last Will and Testament.

"First It is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid out of my estate.

"Second I give devise and bequeath to John McCray and William McCray Fifty Dollars each.

"Third I give divise and bequeath to my ten living children and Leonard L. Chambers my adopted son and Ruth Chambers my Grand Daughter all my estate of what ever kind and whereever situated to have and to hold each to share equally after paying my Son in Law William Rader the sum of One Dollar.

"Fourth I nominate my Son Edwin J. Chambers and my daughter Henrietta Yarington as executor & exectrix of this my last will.

"In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of the witnesses named below this 1st day of July A.D. 1905. Henrietta Chambers"

"We whos names are hereto subscribed do hereby certify that we were present on the day and date last above written and saw the above named testator sign the above instrument and she did then and there and to us declair the same to be her last will and testament and we in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other have hereto signed our names as witnesses with our present P.O. address.

William Harrison Wakefield Nebraska Albert Killion Wakefield Nebraska"

She was buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Wayne County, Nebraska located between 849th Road and 850th Road on 585th Avenue, six miles west of Pender on Route 16, and 1 ½ miles north. GPS 42.1411 Latitude, -96.8414 Longitude