Rudolph D. Jennings, M. D. Biography 


	This biography appears on pages 1584-1585 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	An engraving and the signature of R. D. Jennings faces page 1584.


	RUDOLPH D. JENNINGS, M. D., of Hot Springs, has not only achieved 
worthy prestige in the line of his profession, but for many years has 
been prominent in the business circles of his adopted state, being one 
of the founders and chief promotors of the thriving city in which he now 
resides. Dr. Jennings was born November 21, 1853, in Fremont, Ohio, and 
grew to young manhood and received his literary education in Mt. Vernon, 
Iowa, to which place his parents removed when he was a mere youth. His 
father being a physician, he early took up the study of medicine and 
continued to prosecute the same in Mt. Vernon until 1872, when he came 
to Bismarck, Dakota territory. 

	Shortly after locating at Bismarck, Dr. Jennings entered the 
employ of the Puget Sound Land Company, and later was appointed deputy 
collector of internal revenue, in which capacity he served for a number 
of years, the meanwhile becoming identified with various enterprises for 
the development of Dakota and the opening of its resources. After 
remaining at Bismarck until 1876 he went to the Black Hills, locating 
first at Crook City, subsequently removing to Deadwood, with the growth 
and development of which he soon became actively interested. While a 
resident of Crook City he served as deputy collector of internal revenue 
for the Black Hills country, and to him also belongs the unique honor of 
being the first judge before whom a murder case was tried in the city, 
having been chosen to the position by practically the unanimous voice of 
the citizens of the place. In addition to his duties as collector, he 
also dealt quite e:<tensively in real estate and as opportunities 
afforded continued the study of medicine with the object in view of 
ultimately making the profession his life work. 

	Dr. Jennings remained at Deadwood until the year 1881, when he 
came to the present site of Hot Springs for the purpose of looking over 
the country, having heard many favorable reports of the locality and of 
the advantages it possessed for becoming, under judicious management, 
the center of a thriving populace. Realizing these advantages he at once 
purchased a squatter right from a "squaw man" and took up a homestead 
where the city of Hot Springs was afterwards located, taking possession 
of the same in the summer of 1882. The same year he was instrumental in 
organizing the Dakota Hot Springs Company, with the object in view of 
developing this highly favored section and attracting attention to the | 
springs, which already had become widely known for the purity and 
wonderful curative properties, of their waters. Later Fred T. Evans, E. 
G. Dudley, L. R. Graves and Dr. Stewart, all of Deadwood, took stock in 
the company and under their joint management the town of Hot Springs was 
in due time laid out and a number of substantial buildings erected, 
among them being the Evans Hotel and Bath House, the Mankate House, the 
Big Plunge, besides several business blocks, and not a few private 
residences. The city thus founded soon met the high expectations of the 
proprietors, for it was not long until a thrifty class of people was 
attracted to the place and within a comparatively brief period Hot 
Springs not only became a favorite watering place and pleasure resort, 
but the center of population and the chief trading point for a large 
area of territory. 

	Dr. Jennings was untiring in his efforts to promote the varied 
interests of the town, took an active part in pushing its different 
enterprises to successful completion and to him more perhaps than to any 
one individual is due the credit of inducing the Burlington and Elkhorn 
railroad companies to extend their respective lines to the city. He was 
an influential factor in the Hot Springs Company as long as it existed, 
served for several years as its secretary, also as a director, and when 
it had accomplished its purposes, assisted to wind up its affairs to the 
satisfaction of all concerned. 

	Actuated by a laudable desire to finish his medical education and 
engage in the practice of medicine, Dr. Jennings, in 1885, entered a 
medical college at Chicago, and after his graduation, two years later, 
opened an office in Hot Springs, where in due time he built up a large 
and lucrative professional business. He was medical director of the Hot 
Springs Company for a period of ten years and his private practice 
during that time and since assumed large proportions and won for him 
much more than local reputation as an able physician and skillful 
surgeon. 

	Believing in taking advantage of every opportunity to add to his 
professional knowledge and efficiency, the Doctor, in 1890, went to 
London, England, where he took special courses under some of the most 
distinguished medical men of the age, thus by careful study and thorough 
research fitting himself for the most exacting duties of his chosen 
calling. 

	Dr. Jennings has not only been highly successful in his 
profession, but in business matters his advancement has also been rapid, 
being at this time one of the largest real-estate holders in Hot Springs 
besides owning other valuable property in the city and elsewhere, all of 
which came to him through legitimate means and superior business 
management. He is a public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in the 
development of this thriving city, with the founding and growth of which 
he has had so much to do, and his influence and material support are 
also given to all progressive measures for the social, educational and 
moral advancement of the community. He served five years as a member of 
the state board of health, during three of which he was its- chairman 
and his labors in that capacity were productive of great and lasting 
results to every part of the commonwealth. In politics the Doctor is a 
Republican, but he has always declined public position, the claims of 
his profession and his large business interests having more attraction 
for him than the honors or emoluments of office. 

	Dr. Jennings is a thirty-second-degree Scottish-rite Mason, also 
a member of the Mystic Shrine, and is prominent in all branches of the 
ancient and honorable fraternity to which he belongs. He is also 
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Master Workmen of 
America Ancient Order of United Workmen and Improved Order of Red Men, 
in all of which he has not only been an active and influential worker, 
but an honored official,, whose untiring efforts have made the 
organization realize the objects for which intended.