Dr. Park B. Jenkins, of Waubay, who is serving as superintendent of the South Dakota State Board of Health, has proved very efficient in that capacity and has done much to promote public hygiene.  He was born in Newport, Vermont, November 14, 1873, a son of S.W. and Francelia (Sias) Jenkins.  The paternal grandfather, William Jenkins, was born in Vermont, as was the maternal grandfather, Ezra Sias, who resided in the Green Mountain state throughout his entire life.  Both the parents of our subject were born in that state, the father in 1840 and the mother in 1850.  They grew to mature years there and were there married.  In 1882 they removed from Vermont to Waubay, South Dakota, and the father homesteaded land on which the family resided for about five years.  A removal was then made to the town of Waubay, where he ran a railroad eating house for a number of years.  He is a well informed man, although he had but limited educational opportunities in his youth, for he has always been a student of men and events.  His political belief is that of the socialist party.  For three years he served in the Civil war, proving a loyal and efficient soldier, and he held the rank of sergeant.  To him and his wife have been born two children: Park B. and Clinton A., also of Waubay, who is connected with the state game department. 

Dr. Park B. Jenkins was graduated from the high school of Webster, South Dakota, in 1893 and subsequently entered the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in medicine in 1896.  For one year he was connected with the health department of the city of Chicago and for a like Period of time he was in a hospital at Marquette, Michigan, thus further preparing for his life work.  In 1898 he began the private practice of his profession at Waubay, where he has since remained.  In 1909 he was appointed a member of the state board of health and in 1912 was appointed superintendent of that body, in which position his work proved so satisfactory that on the 1st of July, 1915, he was reappointed to that office by Governor Byrne.  He gives the greater part of his time to his official duties and is continually seeking new ways in which the board may further safeguard the public health.  He is a member of the State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, and of the Association of State and Provincial Boards of Health.

Dr. Jenkins gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its policies are based upon sound principles of government.  Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen and is popular in those organizations.  In capably discharging the important duties that devolve upon him as superintendent of the state board of health he has gained a statewide reputation for ability and integrity and has the confidence of both the general public and the medical profession.