[Judge Jenkins was from a large Waco family and was the grandfather of Josephine Nash. His children included Josephine Truett, wife of George W. Truett, Annie Sallee, long time Christian missionary to China, Martha Marchman, mother of Josephine Nash. Many of the E. R. Nash family are named for this remarkable group of siblings.]
(article written by Jimmie Doris Pruett dated December 31, 1939)
Judge Warwick H. Jenkins, one of Baylor’s most beloved trustees, was born November 14, 1847 at Washington, in Washington County, Texas. His father, James R. Jenkins, was one of the illustrious founders of the Texas Republic and a charter member and the first regular Baptist Church ever organized in Texas , at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
When Warwick was five, the family moved to Independence in Washington County, where his father died in January, 1857. Judge Jenkins attended the Academy of Baylor until he came to Waco to attend the Waco University, which was then under the presidency of Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, Judge Jenkins’ brother-in-law. This industrious lad attended Waco University until he enlisted in the Confederate Service on June 1, 1863; he was only fifteen years old at that time. He served under Captain John H. Harrison of Waco until the end of the War.
Having been baptized by Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Waco, he became a member of the church on December 8, 1867. At the same time the lovely Miss Jessie Speight was baptized. Three years later on April 27, 1871 they were married.
After the Civil War Warwick H. Jenkins adopted a systematic course of study in his home, including all phases of academic courses, as well as the study of law. On April 1, 1868 when he was only twenty years old, he rode horseback from his home in Waco to Gatesville to take his bar examination before a Committee of Lawyers appointed by Judge A.J. Evans of the 17th Judicial Court, and on the following day was issued a license to practice law. Upon his return to Waco he began to practice law, which profession he followed for sixty years until he voluntarily retired on August 1, 1928.
In 1888 he was elected County Judge of McLennan county, which position he held for four consecutive terms from 1888 to 1896, when he voluntarily retired. He was the only man that has ever been elected County Judge for more than two consecutive terms.
His most conspicuous service was given to Baylor University on whose board he served for more than fifty years; more than thirty years of that time he was secretary, a post he retained until his death on January 20, 1933, at the age of 85 years. The minutes were most excellently kept by Judge Jenkins, who did not miss a single session of the Board during these nine years as secretary, and his characteristic signature is affixed to the minutes of every meeting held.
It is said that Judge Jenkins carried his credentials written in his face and in his manner; he was a prophet of God in heart and his years of application had impressed it upon his features. Even one who had never seen him before would immediately recognize him as a prophet of the living God.
He loved Baylor University as a mother loved her child, and he never thought of anything connected with Baylor in a selfish way.
–transcribed by Louise Mosley Smith
E R Nash Sr. and Family 