Biographical Sketch of Edwin Jennings, Johnson County, Missouri, Columbus Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Edwin Jennings, a prosperous and prominent farmer and stockman of Columbus township, is a native of Virginia. He is a member of one of the best and most respected pioneer families that ever came to Miss- ouri. Mr. Jennings was born July 19, 1866 near Hampshire, Virginia, a son of Reverend James H. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Jennings. Reverend Jennings, a well known minister of the Presbyterian church, came to Missouri in 1868 and for many years was engaged in ministerial work in Lafayette county. January 4, 1849, James H. Jennings and Elizabeth Robinson, daughter of James Robinson, were married. The father of Elizabeth (Robinson) Jennings died February 9, 1859, at the age of seventy-one years. Her mother, Mary Robinson, preceded her husband in death twenty years, her death occurring January 13, 1839. To James H. and Elizabeth Jennings were born thirteen children, all of whom were reared to maturity and, with the exception of James R., who died un- married, each reared a family: Mrs. Bettie Ann Siler, born November 26, 1849; James R., born September 7, 1851, and died March 30, 1912; Mrs. Mary J. Secrest, born April 5, 1853, and died January 23, 1882; Thomas, born January 18, 1855; Mrs. Martha Smith, born November 2, 1856, and died December 31, 1879; Sophrona, born January 24, 1859, now of Higgin- sville, Missouri; William H., born February 24, 1861, now of Mayview, Missouri; Ella, born February 28, 1863, and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Emma, born September 23, 1864, and is now deceased; Edwin B., the subject of this review; Sallie, now in Kansas, born April 27, 1869; Laura, born January 25, 1871, now of Odessa, Missouri; and Minnie, born December 30, 1872, now residing in Mayview, Missouri. Reverend Jennings died October 6, 1885, at the age of seventy-two years, seven months, and six days. September 14, 1905, Mrs. Jennings joined her husband in death. She was seventy-five years and twenty-nine days of age at the time of her death. Edwin Jennings was educated in the schools of Lafayette county, Missouri. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age and then he traded for a farm, which he owned in addition to his share in the home place until 1901, when he sold his land interests in Lafayette county and moved to Johnson county purchasing the Gillespie place, better known as the Payne farm upon which Payne school house is located. When Mr. Jennings bought the land an old log cabin was standing on it, a relic of pioneer days. Since he acquired the ownership of the farm, Mr. Jennings has added practically all the improvements. He has a well, thirty feet in depth, which has never failed to supply both the residence and stock with an abundance of good water. A barn, 50 x 54 feet, was built in 1912 for stock, grain, and hay. The Jennings home was also built in 1912 a house of seven rooms, modern throughout and supplied with all the conveniences of the most up to date city residence. An acetylene plant has been installed for lighting purposes. The farm comprises one hundred sixty- nine acres of land located on the Odessa-Columbus road and it is an ideal stock farm. Mr. Jennings is devoting much time to raising cattle hogs, and sheep and he has been very successful with his stock. February 13, 1889, Edwin Jennings and Hattie Hedden, daughter of William and Nancy (Gordon) Hedden, of Madison county, Illinois, were united in marriage. Mrs. Jennings was born in Madison county. Both her parents are now deceased. To Edwin and Hattie Jennings have been born six children: Mrs. Leah Campbell, now at home with her parents; Mrs. Jessie Ramsey, Lafayette county, Missouri; Mrs. Alma Kohler, Deweese, Nebraska; Edwin, Jr., Ralph and Forgood, all at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings are excellent, public spirited citizens, one of the substantial families of Columbus township. During their residence in this county, which has covered but the brief span of sixteen years, they have made scores of friends and established a reputation which their children may well take pride in maintaining, a name their sons may strive to be worthy to bear. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell ====================================================================