Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Jenning, Frederick O. 1879 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 8:10 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Page 490 - 491
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     FREDERICK O. JENNING.  For over a half century in Portland the name 
Jenning has stood for good furniture and today the firm of Henry Jenning & 
Sons is the acknowledged leader in its line in the Columbia River valley. The 
business was established in 1877 by Henry Jenning, Sr., and Fred Jenning, 
under the firm name of Jenning Brothers, and was first located on First 
street, between Columbia and Jefferson streets. Later it was located 
successively at First and Salmon streets, at First and Washington streets, at 
the corner of Front and Morrison streets, at First and Yamhill streets, at 
Second and Morrison streets, and in 1914 came to its present building at Fifth 
and Washington streets. Here the business occupies eight floors and a 
mezzanine floor and a basement, one hundred by one hundred feet in size, 
including ninety thousand square feet of floor space, and in this building is 
carried the largest retail stock of furniture in Portland, including a full 
line of every grade. It is widely known as "The Home of Good Furniture," a 
reputation which it has ably sustained through all the years of its history. 
The present officers of the company are Frederick O. Jenning, president; 
Charles Jenning, vice president; and Henry Jenning, Jr., secretary and 
treasurer. The firm employs sixty-five people and the service rendered by the 
employees is characterized by uniform courtesy, promptness and efficiency.

     Frederick O. Jenning was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1879, and is a son 
of Henry, Sr., and Barbara (Opal) Jenning. The father was born and reared in 
Canda, where he learned the trade of a cabinetmaker, and in 1875 he became a 
resident of Portland. Two years later he engaged in the retail furniture 
business, for which he was well qualified, for he knew the business in its 
every stage from the forest to the finished product. He remained at the head 
of the business until his death, in 1913. He was survived a number of years by 
his widow, who passed away in 1923. Frederick 0. Jenning completed the course 
of the public schools in Portland, after which he attended a business college, 
and when sixteen years of age entered his father's furniture establishment. At 
that time his father acquired the sole ownership of the business, buying his 
brother's interest, and took his son Frederick in as a partner. When twenty-
four years old, his father gave him a severe test by going away on a nine-
months' trip in order to find out how well the son could handle the business. 
At about that time the other sons also became identified with the business and 
during their father's absence the boys made a splendid showing, carrying the 
business on in a very satisfactory manner.

     In 1902 Mr. Jenning was united in marriage to Miss Bernice Farmer, of 
Portland, and to them have been born three children. Ralph, who is now twenty-
five years of age, attended Reed College, and now has charge of the stove and 
house furnishing department of his father's business; Barbara is a student in 
St. Helen's Academy, and Richard is in the Hill Military School. In his 
political affiliation Mr. Jenning has always been a republican. He is a member 
of Mt. Tabor Lodge, No. 42, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 18, R. A. 
M.; Oregon Commandery, No. 1, K. T., of which he was eminent commander in 
1919; Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. 
He also belongs to the Multnomah Athletic Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He 
is a member of the Shrine Patrol and has taken a very active interest in the 
work of the various Masonic bodies. He is a man of sound business judgment and 
his record has earned for him the genuine respect of all who have had dealings 
with him, while, socially, he has a host of loyal friends.

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