Nathaniel M.Jenks was born on October 14th, 1818 in Burke, Vermont, and he died in 1891. He studied in the Lyndon Academy in Vermont and continued his medical education at the Vermont Medical College in Woodstock. Nathaniel Jenks is an important pioneer in the Barnston Corner community. As well as offering his services as a doctor to the inhabitants, he was also a farmer, a mayor, the founder of the academy and the Baptist church. He was also part of the development of the streets.
In 1846, he settled down in Barnston Corner where he opened his doctor's office. He was 28 at that time. The next year, Jenks married Lucy Thornton. They had four children together and Madam Jenks died after giving birth to their daughter Minnie, in 1861. Doctor Jenks got involved in causes he cared about. That is why he didn't hesitate to travel through the territory under harsh conditions to go treat his patients.
Convinced that it was necessary to offer the best possible education to the kids, he got involved with pastor Green in building the first Academy in Barnston county. Aware of the importance to be able to get around through the county, he intensified his efforts to have the Valley road built, the present route 141.
His daughter, Minnie, married Claude Baldwin. His grandsons had a commemorative monument built in his honour in Barnston Corner: "Erected in honour of Nathaniel Jenks, a medical doctor, to whom Valley Road owes its existence..."
Source: Société d'histoire de Coaticook/The pioneer trail