of Marion County, Illinois · documented from the public record
The family in the record
Israel Jennings 1774 – 1872
Israel Jennings⚭ Mary Waters, second wife (name not given; died April 3
childrenIsrael Jennings, Jr. · George Jennings · Charles Waters Jennings · William W. Jennings · Elizabeth Jennings · America Jennings · Mary Jennings · Ann Jennings
Their story
What the record says
[Merged from two sketch windows.] First known ancestor of the Jennings family.
Supposed native of Maryland, born about 1774.
As a youth went to Mason County, Kentucky, settling at Maysville, where he married Mary Waters about 1799-1800.
Moved to Illinois about 1818, locating six miles southeast of Centralia.
His 1819 government-land entry was the second such purchase in what is now Marion County.
Prominent early settler and one of the largest land owners of the county.
Leading farmer and stock raiser.
Methodist and Democrat.
Elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1827 (Vandalia era), a contemporary of Peter Cartwright.
Postmaster at Walnut Hill from 1834.
Owned the only male slave held in the county.
Operated a store trading goods for produce hauled to St. Louis.
First wife Mary Waters died October 30, 1845.
Married again (second wife died April 3, 1885).
Died April 20, 1872, buried in a metallic coffin he had kept for ten years.
Grandfather of subject Z. C. Jennings.
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