Jennings Family

The population of Henry County was increased in 1851 when Milton Jennings moved his family from Seneca County to 160 acres in Section 20 of Damascus Township. He was followed, at about the same time, by his brother Justin and later by three sisters.

Milton and his wife, Mary Jane Davidson, brought two children who had been born in Seneca County -Allen Austin and Matilda. Matilda was only six weeks old. Justin Jennings and his wife, Catherine Powell, settled in Section 9 of Damascus Township.

In October of 1854, Mary Ann, sister of Milton Jennings, was married to Ebenezer Wolfe in Seneca County. They came to Henry County and Township.

In December of 1854, Martha Jane was married to John Wesley Myers. They came to Damascus Township and settled in Section 17. Mary Ann and Martha Jane were twins.

Sarah Ellen, another sister was married in Seneca County in October, 1857, to Shepard Cowdrey Harmon. When they came to Henry County, they settled in Section 13 of Harrison Township. A brother, Jackson, came and lived near Wauseon.

These brothers and sisters were the children of Jacob Smith Jennings and his wife Osee Blackford. According to some old records, they came from New Jersey to Warren County, then the family moved to Seneca County where the above six children and 4 others were born - thirteen children in all.

These couples all raised large families and many of their descendants still live in the community. The farm of John Wesley Myers is still owned by a great-granddaughter, Wealthie Shepard and part of the Milton Jennings farm is owned by grandchildren Cloyce Jennings and Helen Wires.

A great-grandson of Milton Jennings, Hal Bruce Jennings, Jr., is the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army residing in Washington, D.C.

Milton Jennings gave land near Olive Branch Cemetery on which the first United Brethren Church in the community was built - The Olive Branch Church. This was a frame building. Later a brick church was built north of the old one at the intersection of Road P and Road 5A. In 1928 or 1929 the membership of this church was transferred to the United Brethren Church in McClure. The building was later torn down and the land returned to the farm. The old frame building was purchased by Austin Jennings and moved to his farm where it has been remodeled into a barn owned by Ralph Jennings.

Milton Jennings, the pioneer, raised 8 children to adulthood: Allen Austin who married Rachel Blair; Anna Matilda who married Herbert Shank; George Benton whose wife was Jane Wilcox; Mary Etta whose husband was Jasper Mason; Martha Jane whose husband was Ottomer Warner; Flora Edith whose husband was Dudley Shepard; Charles B. whose wife was Anna Snyder; and Edward Lincoln whose wife was Myrta Gidley.

Submitted by Ralph Jennings