Decatur Co. TN
From Lillye Younger, The History of Decatur County Past and Present (Southhaven, MS: Carter Printing Company, 1978).
Special thanks to Constance Collett for permission to make these web pages.In Memory of Lillye Washburn Younger 1912-1998.
Thanks to www.tnyesterday.com for contributing this transcription.
The first Jennings came to Decatur County in the early 1800's when it was still a portion of Perry County.
The name itself is a derivation from the Christian Biblical name John. The Jennings of Decatur County are descendants of Doctor Jennings, youngest son of Robert "Robin" Jennings of Prince Edward County, Virginia. "Doctor" was his first name rather than a professional name. This line of Jennings traces back through the early settlement of the colony of Virginia. where they immigrated from England.
Doctor Jennings came to Maury County, Tennessee and then on to West Tennessee and settled near what is now known as Jeanette. He had three sons; Wylie, who moved to Texas, Schayler, who went to Utah and Hiram who remained in Decatur County.
Hiram Jennings was married to Eliza Arnold and they had ten children. They were James W. Jennings who married Reena (Sis) Barnett and the second time to Harriet Dodd, Mary H. Jennings, who married Samuel Madison Houston, John Henry Jennings (Federal Army) married Martha Elvira Thomas, Doctor S. Jennings, who died at the age of twelve, Martha A. Jennings who married Harvey M. Jordan, Ezra A. Jennings, died at the age of eighteen, Phebe E. Jennings, married John Howell, Rhoda C. Jennings, married David Burkett, Schuyler Jennings, died at the age of two, William Perry Jennings who married Beckey Quinn. Note: Given names in the Jennings family are the same, in many instances in each generation.
John Henry Jennings and Martha Elvira Jennings had nine children as follows: Susan Ida Jennings, married John Bruce and they had six children. Mary Elbert Jennings married Milford Rains the first time and John T. Smith the second time. Eliza Carolyn Jennings married John Franklin Houston, Joseph Hiram Jennings married Allie Clyde Tate and his second marriage was to Stella Rains. They had four children, Ally Jennings whose mother was Allie Clyde Tate and Ruth, Jay and Edward Jennings, whose mother was Stella Rains. Ruth maried Hobart Townsend Sr. Edward married Barbara Peck of Boston, Mass. and Jay is unmaried.
Samuel Lycurgus Jennings married Netta Catherine Winston and they were the parents of three children, Ralph Ray, Martha Catherine and Doctor Thomas Jennings.
Claudie Elvira Jennings died at the age of six. John Ernest Jennings married Catherine Babely. They had no children. Jesse M. Jennings died at the age of twelve.
Several of the descendants of Hiram and Eliza Jennings are still in Decatur County and married to members of other well known families. Still others have gone to farm places in this great land of ours.
Through the years they have contributed to the development of our county. There have been farmers, county officials, educators, bankers, merchants and businessmen. Many of the later generation have sought and attained higher education. Three of the descendants are Doctors from Decatur County and hold Ph.D. degrees.
Compiled by Doctor Thomas Jennings
