The Jennings Families of Portage County, Ohio

DAVID JENNINGS (deceased) was born January 1, 1771, in Bradford, Mass. He married Miss Hannah Wellman, who was born in Lyndeboro,Hillsboro, Co., N. H., September 13, 1769, and they came to this county in 1802, purchasing in October, of Benjamin Tappan, 115 acres of wild land. This part of the country was then entirely in the wilderness. They had to go to Georgetown, Penn., to market, paying $7 to bring home a barrel of flour that cost $3. Their children were Solomon, who died in Franklin Township, this county.

April 6, 1840, aged forty-three; David, Jr., who died in Ravenna Township, this county, January 25, 1862, aged sixty-three; Daniel W., who died in Shalersville, September 17, 1874, aged seventy-four, (the day of his death was just seventy two years from the time he reached this county); Mrs. Hannah H. Cutler, died June 10, 1835, aged thirty-one; Squire L., now living in Ravenna; and Lewis E. Mrs. Jennings died April 3, 1840, aged seventy. Mr. Jennings died January 10, 1856, aged eighty-five. He was an honest, upright man, respected by all who knew him. Daniel W. Jerinings held many public positions, including that of Sheriff of Portage County, Superintendent of County Infirmary and Justice of the Peace. Henry C (son of Solomon Jennings), a Lieutenant in the Forty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served as Sheriff of the county two terms, during which he executed the murderer Jack Cooper.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVID JENNINGS (deceased) was born September 18, 1798, in Hartford, Me., and came to this county in 1802 with his parents. He married, November 13, 1825, Miss Hannah Rawson, born in Warwick, Franklin Co., Mass., December 16, 1808, and came to Ravenna Township, this county, in 1815, with her parents, Elliott and Sarah (Williams) Rawson. Mr. Rawson purchased a tract of 400 acres of land, adjoining the western corporation line of Ravenna. He died in 1825, leaving six children: Mrs. Elizabeth Price(now deceased), Mrs. Hannah Jennings, Ebenezer (deceased), Mrs. Sarah Clark, Mrs. Czarina Harper, and Elliott (latter deceased). After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jennings settled on their property in Ravenna Township, three miles north of Ravenna. Here Mr. Jennings died, January 25, 1862. He was a man of upright integrity, and exerted a good influence in the community. He was a life-long and consistent Democrat. He took an active part in the public affairs in the township; held the office of Township Trustee and other township offices. Mrs. Jennings still resides with one of her two sons, on the family homestead.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SQUIRE L. JENNINGS, retired, Ravenna, was born December 28, 1807, in Ravenna Township, this county, being the second oldest white boy born in the township now living. On October 22, 1833, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Sapp, born in Maryland in 1810, daughter of Jacob Sapp, of Rootstown Township, this county. To this union were born Sylvester F. and Mrs. Anginette Bosworth (latter deceased). They lived on a farm in Franklin Township until 1845, when they sold out and have resided in Ravenna since. From that time Mr. Jennings has followed the trade of carpenter and joiner. He has been very active in public affairs, and has held the positions of Deputy Sheriff, Constable and Trustee at different times.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEWIS E. JENNINGS, farmer, P. O. Ravenna, was born July 14, 1811, on the farm which he now occupies. He shared the usual lot of pioneer boys and attended school in the old log-schoolhouse of the home district. He was married, January 22, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Knowlton, born in New Sharon, Kennebec Co., Maine, January 14, 1813, and came to Ravenna, this county, in 1832. To this union have been born twelve children, seven now living: Mrs. Hanna H. Wain, in Cleveland, Ohio; Elizabeth Amelia; George W. and Mrs. Martha W. Gledhill (twins, and being born February 22, they were named for Gen. Washington and his wife respectively); Helen M.; Ai-mint L. and Albert B. The five deceased died in early life. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have resided on the homestead farm. Here they own a comfortable home of 189 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Jennings has held the office of Trustee, and has been School Director thirty years. In politics he is a Democrat.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PHINEAS U. JENNINGS (deceased) was born May 4, 1796, in Craftsbury, Vt., son of Benjamin and Serena (Bigelow) Jennings, former born August 29, 1752, died April 14, 1836; latter born March 16, 1765, died April 16, 1835. They were married November 13, 1786, and were the parents of eight children: Betsey, born October 16, 1787; Anna, born January 8, 1791; Lucretia, born October 13, 1793; Phineas U., born May 4, 1796; Talmon, born July 4, 1798; Lucy M., born December 21, 1801; Elial, born July 15, 1804; Benjamin, born May 1, 1807. Our subject, when eight years old, was bound out to Daniel Freeman, a farmer and hotel-keeper, and with him remained until he reached his majority. He then started on life's career with one suit of clothes. "When with Freeman he cut a cord of wood, hauled it seven miles, and with the means obtained by the sale of the wood he purchased a "Scholar's Arithmetic," dated 1814, which is well preserved by his daughter, Mrs. Alvord. In 1821 he came to Ohio, driving a team for Benjamin Dow, whose wife was a sister to Judge Foster. The journey was made with a sled, and while crossing a lake the ice broke, and Mr. Jennings' cabinet got wet and with it his family Bible, the only gift of his father, which is also held in good preservation by his daughter, Mrs. Alvord. It was published in 1789. His first purchase of land was in 1821 in Mantua Township, this county, the tract being sixty-four acres of wild forest, and clearing it, he made it his home for life, adding thereto, from time to time, until he became the possessor of 300 acres besides considerable other property, all acquired, not by fortunate speculation, but by honest and patient industry. With a limited education he was a close observer, and with a strong and vigorous intellect he rapidly formed an accurate judgment of men and things, and in active life was one of the substantial and reliable citizens of the township. Being stricken with blindness in his old age, he bore the affliction with cheerfulness, patiently awaiting for his eyes to be opened in the "home over there," where his aged companion had preceded him about two years. He was certain of good treatment by his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Alvord, and hence those them to care for him to the close of his life, which ended June 26, 1882. June 16, 1822, he was married to Cleona Wilmot, born April 23, 1806, in Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn., and in 1814 she came to Ohio with her widowed mother, sister and brother, Ella Wilmot. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were born Serena, July 12, 1823; Cordelia, born May 28, 1828, died March 9, 1832; Eoena C, born September 5, 1830; Cordelia E., born July 25, 1832, died December 7, 1835. Mrs. Jennings died March 26, 1880. They united with the Disciples Church in 1838, and died in full faith. Their property was divided equally between their two daughters. Through a kindly regard for the memory of the deceased and a desire to perpetuate his name, Mr. and Mrs. Alvord have contributed to this work a portrait of Phineas U. Jennings. Elsewhere in this volume will be found a brief biography of Mr. Alvord, who has always been closely identified with Portage County.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.