Charles H. Jennings

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Charles H. Jennings

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

One cannot study far into the history of Morris county without meeting the names of JENNINGS, which has been identified with the agricultural interests of this section of the State of New Jersey. A representative of it for many years, and one who is regarded with the highest esteem by his fellow citizens, is Charles H. JENNINGS, of Jefferson township.

James JENNINGS, his grandfather, was one of the early settlers of Milton, Morris county, going there with his brother, Brownley JENNINGS. They purchased properties adjoining each other and both had large families. Mr. JENNINGS married a Miss DAVENPORT, and had children: Cornelius, married Charlotta WEAVER, and died near Elmira, New York; George, married John WEAVER; Kate, married Henry WEAVER; Mahlon, of further mention; several others died at Milton.

Mahlon, son of James JENNINGS, was born on the farm on which his father had settled at Milton, and died at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a farmer and blacksmith. He owned two farms and his wife owned one, at Milton. He married Mary Ann, daughter of John C. and Julia (JAYNE) DAVENPORT; and niece to the celebrated Dr. JAYNE, of Philadelphia. Children of John C. and Julia (JAYNE) DAVENPORT: Mary Ann, mentioned above; Lavinia, married Thomas K. NORMAN. Mrs. JENNINGS died about 1890, at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. JENNINGS have had children: Lavinia, died unmarried, at Milton; John, resides on the JENNINGS homestead, married Laura CRYSTAL, of Dover, New Jersey; Madison, died at the age of three years; Charles H., the subject of this sketch; Harriet Lucy, married Lewis B. THOMPSON, of Paterson, New Jersey; Emma, married Barnet GUNDERMAN, and lives in Sparta, New Jersey; Catherine Amelia, married George SCARCH, and lives in Sparta.

Charles H. JENNINGS was born on the farm on which he is residing at the present time, March 16, 1846, and has lived on this all his life, with the exception of six months spent in Idaho Territory. Mr. JENNINGS received a substantial education in the public schools, and has followed farming all his life. He is a Republican in his political opinions, and was a member of the county committee for a period of eight years. He also served three years as a member of the school board. He was appointed postmaster under the administration of President GRANT, and was re-appointed by President GARFIELD. The beautiful and commodious house in which he is living was erected by him in 1888; he also owns a farm of forty-five acres and several pieces of woodland property.

Mr. JENNINGS married, January 12, 1876, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Theodore and Eliza (ESTILE) MAINES, who have had three other children. Mr. MAINES was born near Lafayette, Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1822, and died in June, 1894. He was a farmer and after his marriage removed to near Milton, Sussex county. His wife was born near Petersburg, Morris county, in 1837, and died in 1912, a daughter of Lewis and Catherine (STRAIT) ESTILE, of Milton. Children of Mr. and Mrs. JENNINGS: 1. Edgar B., bon May 16, 1877, was educated in Milton, and is now manager of the Wallace Store in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; he married, in February, 1902, Lillie, a daughter of Merritt STRATOR, of Newton, and has had children: Charles, Edgar, and Frederick, living, and Claudia and Charles, deceased. 2. Mamie Ursula, born March 16, 1880, died June 15, 1903; she married in December, 1901, Harry W. FREDERICK, of Oak Ridge, station agent on the Susquehanna railroad. 3. Bertha Elizabeth, born December 20, 1884; was graduated from the Trenton State Normal School, and has been teaching since 1904 at Long Branch, New Jersey, and taught for a period of five years prior to entering the normal school.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)