William O. Jenkins was an American businessman who made great wealth in Mexico. He was born May 18, 1878 in Shelbyville, Tennessee

Shelbyville, Tennessee

Shelbyville is a city in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. It had a local population of 16,105 residents at the 2000 census. Shelbyville, the county seat of Bedford County, was laid out in 1810 and incorporated in 1819...

. He was originally a mechanic who moved to Mexico. He served during the Mexican Revolution

Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...

 as a minor consular official at Puebla, Mexico

Puebla, Mexico

Puebla, Mexico, may refer to:*Puebla, one of the 32 component federal entities of the United Mexican States*Puebla, Puebla, capital city of that state...

. While serving as consul he was kidnapped by revolutionary forces and held for ransom. Once released he was arrested for allegedly arranging the kidnapping, but he was never convicted of such actions. He was active by turns in hosiery

Hosiery

Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...

, sugar

Sugar

Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...

, theaters and banking.

Sources

• Time Magazine: Meet Mr. Jenkins
• Account of siege of Puebla by William O. Jenkins
• The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Edited by Gilbert M. Joseph and Timothy J. Henderson