History of Punxsutawney, (Jefferson County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of George Augustus Jenks

George Augustus Jenks, representative, was born at Punxsutawney, Pa., March 26, 1836; son of John W. and Mary D. (Barclay) Jenks. While working as a clerk, carpenter and joiner, and school teacher, he prepared for college, and was graduated from Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, in 1858. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1859, and practised at Brookville. He was Democratic representative from the 25th Pennsylvania district in the 44th congress, 1875-77. He was elected by the house of representatives as one of the managers of the Belknap impeachment; was appointed by the Democratic caucus with David D. Field and J. Randolph Tucker to represent the Democracy before the electoral commission; was nominated for the supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1880; was U.S. assistant secretary of the interior, 1885-86; solicitor-general of the United States, 1886-89; Democratic nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, 1898, and nominee of the Democratic members of the Pennsylvania legislature for U.S. senator in 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor