Morris Charles Jenkins, chief of police of the city of Topeka, began his career in Kansas in 1870, when he came directly from Wales and secured employment on a farm belonging to John Griffith, sixteen miles north of Topeka. Mr. Jenkins is a native of South Wales, where he was born, Jan. 28, 1852, his parents being Charles and Anna (Morris) Jenkins, both of whom were natives of Wales, who spent their entire lives in their native land and died there. Mr. Jenkins, who was reared a farmer boy, and educated in Wales, was the only member of his family to come to the United States, which he did when eighteen years of age, or in 1870, arriving in North Topeka May 17 of that year. His first employment was with Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, with whom he remained four years, and who were as parents to him. In 1874 he went to Jefferson county, Kansas, where he was married, and farmed independently several years, or until 1882, when he came to Topeka. There he first engaged in teaming for several years, but in February, 1893, he became a patrolman on the police force and served as such about six years. He was then promoted to be sergeant of police, which position he held four years, and in April, 1910, he was promoted to the office of chief of police. His service with the police force was not continuous, however, for several of the intervening years since 1893 were spent in other pursuits. It was while he was off the force that he helped to build the North Topeka dyke, as a member of an engineering corps, and upon its completion served one year as superintendent of the dyke.

Mr. Jenkins has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in Jefferson county, Kansas, April 16, 1874, when he wedded Mary Alice Morgan, who died Dec. 7, 1888, leaving five children: James Thomas, William Morris, Mary Alice, the wife of Louis Smith; Phoebe Emma, the wife of Philip Wilson; and Edith, the wife of Leonard Slater. On July 10, 1903, Mr. Jenkins married Mrs. Dora Fretz, who died July 16, 1906. No children were born to this second marriage. Mr. Jenkins is associated fraternally as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Topeka Commercial Club and of the City Club of North Topeka.