Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Jennings, Roscoe Green ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 19, 2009, 11:39 am Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) ROSCOE GREEN JENNINGS, M. D. It is in the pioneer history of a community, where unusual demands are made and where opportunities and advantages are few, that the real nature of the individual stands most strongly forth. Meeting every exigency and every requirement with the strength that comes from steadfast purpose and high ideals, Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings, pioneer physician of Little Rock, made for himself a prominent place in the affections of the people and in the regard of all who knew him. He was born at Leeds, Kennebec county, now Androscoggin. Maine, June 11, 1833, and was the fourth son and fifth child in the family of Perez Smith and Johanna (Lane) Jennings. The father, a man of considerable local prominence, devoted his attention to farming and served for some time as justice of the peace, rendering decisions that were strictly fair and impartial. He was a son of Samuel Jennings, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, who figured prominently in that historic old town. The great-grandfather had settled in Salem at an early period. He, too, was Samuel Jennings and was one of three brothers who came to America in 1703, emigrating from England to the new world. He held an important office under King George III while this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. He suffered confiscation of his estate by reason of his loyalty to the crown and was forced to flee into the wilderness of the "eastern territory" which afterward became the state of Maine. The mother of Dr. Jennings was a daughter of James Lane, a lumberman of Fayette, Maine, who married a member of the well known Ledbetter family, whose representatives were particularly prominent because of their physical stature. General Ledbetter of Confederate fame belongs to one branch of this family. The boyhood days of Dr. Jennings were spent on the banks of the Androscoggin river, working on his father's farm in the summer seasons and devoting the winter months to the acquirement of a public school education. He early learned the value of earnest toil and discharged his duties promptly and faithfully in every relation. When but seventeen years of age he had become so proficient in his studies that he was chosen to teach the school in which he had previously been a student, his salary being but fourteen dollars per month without board. His earnings as a teacher enabled him later to attend school in Wayne village, where he came under the instruction of Oliver O. Howard, subsequently a major general in the army. Dr. Jennings afterward attended the academy at Monmouth and also the Kent Hill Seminary at Readfield, Maine, and his work as a teacher in the summer seasons enabled him to meet the expenses of his advanced education. As he pursued his studies it was always with the hope of entering Boudoin College, but his plans in this direction were frustrated by his father's death in 1851. Up to that time he had never been more than twenty miles from home, but he determined to see something of the world, and borrowing one hundred dollars, he made his way to New York city, afterward to Pennsylvania and eventually to Port Golden, New Jersey, where he took charge of a boys' school noted for the rough treatment accorded former teachers. He met the situation with determination, proved himself the conqueror of the unruly pupils and continued to teach there for four months, after which he entered upon preparation for the medical profession under Dr. William Cole. Soon afterward, however, he returned to Maine, where he further studied under the preceptorship of Dr. Alonza Garcelon, who was later governor of that state. He next attended a course of lectures in the Dartmouth Medical College and continued his studies in the Medical School of Maine at Brunswick, from which he was graduated with honors in 1856. Dr. Jennings at once made his way westward and after living at several places for a short time, took up his abode in Lapeer, Michigan, where he successfully practiced until December, 1857, when he became a resident of New Orleans. He afterward made his way to Washington, Arkansas, where his eldest brother, Hon. Orville Jennings, had previously established his home. Dr. Jennings formed a partnership with Dr. Jett, one of the pioneer physicians, and entered upon regular practice, while later he also became interested in the ownership and conduct of a drug store. He became attached to the institutions and ideals of the south and in 1861 was appointed a surgeon of the Twelfth Arkansas Infantry in the Confederate army. In August of that year the regiment was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, and afterward to Columbus, Kentucky, subsequent to which time they participated in the battle of Belmont. In December the regiment was ordered to New Madrid, Missouri, where it remained during that winter and until March, 1862, when the place was captured by General Pope. His regiment, already greatly reduced by disease, escaped to the Tennessee side of the Mississippi and Dr. Jennings was ordered with the transport of one hundred and fifty sick and wounded past the Federal batteries at Point Pleasant, at night, to Memphis, which he reached safely. As the hospitals at this place were full, he was then ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi, with an additional transport and one hundred and fifty men sick and wounded, where he placed one hundred and fifty in the city and the same number in the Marine Hospital, and then he rejoined the army in time to take part in the evacuation of Island Xo. 10 and witness the capture of most of his regiment. On April 7, 1862, near Tiptonville, Tennessee, he was captured with others of his regiment but escaped and for two weeks wandered in the bogs and swamps of that region, finally making his way to Memphis and then to Corinth, and reported to the surgeon general of Beauregard's army. He was assigned to duty as surgeon of Jackson's brigade, Withers' Division of Trapiers' Corps. After the battle of Farmington, in May, he was attacked by camp fever and was unfit for duty many weeks. In August he returned to Washington, Arkansas, and remained until the following spring, when he was able to rejoin his command at Jackson, Mississippi, but here was stricken with typhoid pernicious rheumatic fever and forced to resign his commission. He returned to his home and in March, 1864, was given permission to pass the lines to Little Rock, then in possession of the Federal forces, for treatment. Great sickness prevailed in the camps there and after a partial recovery he was offered the position of contract surgeon in the United States army. He accepted and served with satisfaction till the end of the war, later continuing duty in the Freedmen's Hospital. In the meantime Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings had established a large private practice and had rendered valuable aid to the families of absent Confederate soldiers. He figured prominently in connection with the public life of the community and in 1874, during the Brooks-Baxter difficulties. Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings gave his support to the latter and was commissioned surgeon general of the Arkansas troops. During the period of early development in Little Rock there was built on the block bounded by Broadway, Arch, Sixth and Seventh streets a beautiful southern home containing many spacious rooms and surrounded by attractive shrubbery. It soon became the property of Orville Jennings, the circuit attorney of the state and a brother of Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings. The former was a warm friend of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, who was at one time his law partner and for whom he stumped the state of Illinois during one of the colonel's political campaigns. Subsequent to the demise of Orville Jennings, which occurred in his handsome home in Little Rock, the property came into the possession of Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings, who leased it for several years as the Arkansas governor's mansion and as such it is still known to the older residents of the city. During the time of the Civil war it was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. The property is still in possession of the Jennings family, being now owned by Mrs. James Arthur Bowman, the only daughter of Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings. On the 10th of April, 1869, only a few years after his return from the army, Dr. Roscoe Green Jennings was married to Miss Gertrude Elizabeth Elliott, a native of Camden, Arkansas, and a representative of a pioneer family of that locality. Her father, William A. Elliott, belonged to a prominent Georgia family, while her mother was a lineal descendant of Daniel Boone, the famous hunter and pioneer who carried civilization into the wilds of Kentucky when it was known as "the dark and bloody ground." Dr. and Mrs. Jennings had three children: Octavia, the wife of James Arthur Bowman; Orville; and Elliott Crews. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when in 1899 Dr. Jennings departed this life. A review of his life shows that he was the possessor of many splendid qualities and that he was a substantial contributing factor to the upbuilding and progress of the state. He held to the highest standards in his profession and was a prominent member of the City, County and State Medical Societies, all of which honored him with the presidency. He became one of the founders of the medical department of the State University and served as secretary and executive officer thereof for thirteen years and was long one of the lecturers of the department. In 1869 he became a member of the American Medical Association and retained his connection therewith to the time of his death. For thirteen years he served as examining surgeon for the United States pension bureau and he was also a member of the state hoard of health, acting during a part of the time as its secretary. He ever stood for progress and improvement in all that had to do with the welfare and upbuilding of city and state. He was active in connection with bridge building and pile driving for fifty miles along the Texas Pacific Railroad from Dallas to Wills' Point, Texas, in 1870-71, being one of the contractors in connection with this important project. Nor did Dr. Jennings neglect the higher and holier duties of life. He was a consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal church and belonged to the Royal Arcanum. In politics he voted with the democratic party but was never an aggressive partisan. He continued in the practice of his profession at Little Rock for many years and as time passed he gave more and more of his attention to charity work in connection with professional duties. No one sought his aid in vain, his broad humanitarianism prompting him to put forth a helping hand wherever he believed he could he of real assistance to a fellow traveler on life's journey. Thus it was that he became closely endeared to the community and few men have passed on so deeply and widely regretted as Dr. Jennings, whose memory is enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him, while the story of his good deeds is cherished by all who came within the intimate circle of his friendship. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/photos/bios/jennings125bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/bios/jennings125bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 11.9 Kb