The Story Behind The Sketch

Why would a humble hotel-keeper have his portrait drawn? Why does William's signature appear on the artist's sketch, as opposed to the artist's signature? Because, as I recently discovered thanks to a very-very distant cousin's tip, the pencil drawing was just a sketch for something much cooler!

To diverge a bit: some of the earliest information I read about William was a sheet xeroxed from a book that I've come to discover was the "History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers", published in 1880. But, there was something that escaped the attention of whoever did the copying. Check out page 322, (here) and you'll a familiar face. Or, thumb through the embedded reader below:

In case this link is funky, here's the punchline: The engraver for this book based his work on the original pencil portrait of William, which is the only tangible link to "Our Beloved Head" currently known to exist. And THAT'S the reason for the pencil sketch!

One last thing: William must have been a pretty special guy to be included as one of the county's "prominent men and pioneers", especially since the book was published eight years after his death! What's also interesting is that his portrait is on the same page as an engraving of the house of Joseph T. Jennings, who -- I believe -- was one of Paul B's sons. Perhaps this positions both William and Paul B. as the heads of the two sides of the Jennings families in the county.

The Genealogy God Smiles on Me Again!

Arriving at my house today via UPS was my eBay grab: literally hundreds of newspaper clippings and documents, mostly pertaining to other families from Mehoopany -- not my family. Clipping after clipping contained names that are familiar to me from my research. Every once in a while, a JENNINGS popped out, most from the "other" Jennings family (in other words, not William's descendants).

I was about halfway through the newspaper clippings, when I unfolded a clipping that was about two inches wide and about a foot long. The headline at the top caught my eye:

FIRE AT MEHOOPANY

Could it be? I unfolded it and, once again, couldn't believe my luck:

Hotel, Store and Several

Dwellings Went Up in Smoke

Yes, you guessed it! My own, actual newspaper account of the fire that destroyed Grandpa Will's hotel! What's more, this account differs from the first, giving just a few more details about the fire than I had already known. More details to follow!

One (of Three) That Got Away

Over the past couple days, I've successfully lost an auction featuring a couple photos of old Mehoopany. I know there's someone who is trying to organize a site featuring the history of Mehoopany, and I'm thinking that's who I lost to. Anyhow, I managed to get a couple screenshots of the cards that got away. This one features a little glimpse of the hotel: if you follow the bridge across the creek, then follow the road up the hill and hang a right, the large building facing the road (with the star over it) is the hotel...probably, at this time, the Gaylord Hotel (as opposed to the Jennings House). This would also date the photo as pre-1910.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Well, at least I know it was a cold night -- the night the Gaylord Hotel, formerly The Jennings House -- burnt to the ground. More precisely, it was February 8, 1910. I have a reprint of the newspaer account from the era, but here's a brief account taken from the same article, I presume, from "Wyoming County, 1842-1992", compiled by the Wyoming County Sesquicentenial Committee, copyright 1992:

"The third tavern was part of the Jennings House (Hotel) which was located in the Mehoopany end of town across the big Mehoopany Creek. A part of the front of this building was put up by Daniel Hicks in 1838 and in 1850 John Maynard built the addition.This was known as the Jennings House or Gaylord House. In 1910 on a bitter night, there was a disaterous fire which burned the hotel, the John Gaylord residence, Charles Jennings' store over which the Odd Fellows Hall was located, two dwelling houses owned by Frank Jennings and occupied by Frank Hobbs and Henry June, a house owned by F. C. Dennison estate and occupied by Grant Krewson who was a liveryman, a two-story wash shed, the hotel barn and a barn beloging to Frank Jennings in which a horse perished."

If You Ever Wamted to Visit the (Old) Family...

Here's all I know about the single largest collection of dead Jennings from my line. It's Vaughn Cemetery in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania.

I have two early memories of Vaughn Cemetery. Actually, the first memory is a family legend: that I played dice I brought along with me to Grandma Emma's funeral. I think I was seven years old, so that should excuse that behavior. I believe my father may have officiated. Emma was his mother, and she was the only grandparent I knew. She also lived with my family for a short time. As far as I can figure it, she was the last of the Jennings line to be buried there.

The second early memory is visiting Vaughn's with my parents and Aunt Emma Anderson when I was a little older. She lived in Trucksville, PA at the time, which is about an hour's ride away. We made a day of it, picking up some KFC along the way, or maybe the way back. There's more to that story...ask me about it sometime; it's pretty neat.

Fast forward to the most recent past, when my Cousin Sandy hooked me on this family history thing (thank you, Sandy). She had described the cemetery to me, yet I -- at that time -- had only vague impressions of it, which I shared above. Then, Tom Currier, another cousin (from the Grist line) was kind enough to go there and take pictures, even before we had ever met!

Since then, I have been there twice, in the Summers of '08 and '09. I can't name a more peaceful place on earth. There are people who claim there are nothing but Jennings there, but just a visit there will quickly dispel that belief. However, for those who are familiar with family history, the names read as a "who's who" of the world my ancestors knew. Furthermore, I could safely say that most of my Jennings-side family from my Grandfather Corey's generation and earlier are there. In any case, all my grandparents on my father's side are there.

On the morose side, it's probably not realistic that I should end up there as well, but -- if I had my choice -- I can't think of any place better.

Thank You, Agnes!

With the help of a mom of a friend (who happens to be a very fine genealogist) I might have some interestly leads in finding out who William's pre-America family was. Acting on a lead that our old, elusive friend Jabez could be William's brother, she offers this interesting tidbit:

In the Mehoopany census of 1850, Jabez was living in Mehoopany at the time. "Age 30, farmer; Susan, age 26 and Samuel age 4".

Some time before that, records show Jabez Wallace Jennings was born in 1819 and his chritening was in 1820 in Wesleyan, Bath, Somerset, England. Parents are listed as Samuel Jennings and Martha. The custom then was to name your first-born after your paternal father.

So, if this all pans out, once we get to look at who Samuel's other children were, if there is a William among them, we may have an idea who William's family in England was. That is, if Jabez was his brother.

Included in this post is an image from the Bath Post Office Directory of 1852. It lists Samuel Jennings as a "boot and shoe maker".

Also, if the Samuel was

I Spoke With Mr. B.

Earlier this week, I spoke with a Mr. B., a man who is very familiar with the Mehoopany photographs (these photos include views of the Jennings/Gaylord Hotel, as well as the aftermath of the 1910 fire).

He said that while some of the photos can be attributed to his father, others were taken by a "deaf-mute itinerant photographer"!

When I visited Mehoopany last month I saw the same images in a collection of a Mr. W., who lives in a house that was built on the site of the hotel. I took some photos of these photos; still, I'm hoping to obtain much better copies from Mr. B. The picture of the hotel in a previous blog post is from that colection.

(The names in the story are edited in order to preserve privacy.)

The Jennings & Kintner Enterprise, Mehoopany

Recently, the cousins and I had a hot email debate was about a photograph that was recently posted on the website of the Wyoming Valley Historical Society. The undated photograph showed a two-story structure that sported a sign that read, "JENNINGS & KINTNER".

Through the efforts of some Ohio-area period clothes experts, a consensus was reached as to an approximate date, which is in the span immediately following the Civil War, specifically 1865-1870.

After my whirlwind Tunkhannock-Mehoopany tour last Wednesday, July 1, I feel I'm a lot closer to knowing what the photo is all about; so much closer, in fact, that I feel I can put this mystery to bed for a while. In other words, it's no longer quite the mystery.

While I was at the historical society, I was able to obtain a nice print of the photograph, although they could not provide the source of the photo, nor could they tell me anything about the building. But their map, which I'll tell you about later, helped a great deal to pinpoint the building's location.

My next stop that day was the Mehoopany Library, where I met with Ina Hunter, the librarian. In fact, when I walked through the door she said, "Are you here to do some family research?" She must have seen my licence plate! When I told her I was looking for information about the JENNINGS & KINTNER, she immediately showed me the book that would explain it all. In fact, she allowed me to check out a duplicate copy of the book! Talk about trust!

The book is "Wyoming County, 1842-1992, Compiled by the Sesquicentennial Committee and the Wyoming County Historical Society of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 1992". This book has an extensive history of Mehoopany Township, as well as surrounding towns. On page 65, you can find the JENNINGS & KINTNER photo with the following caption, possibly written by Dorothy Cavalier, the author of the Mehoopany Township chapter:

"Jennings and Kintner Store just south of the Little Arch Bridge Corner of Main Street and Bridge in North Mehoopany. Upstairs was a tailoring shop -- also a photography studio at one time. The canal boats came into the Little Mehoopany Creek and unloaded their wares at the store. The building was renovated and used as a garage and finally torn down."

So, where exactly was this? This takes us back to Tunkhannock. According to the historical society map of the county, the area around Jenningsville, Laceyville and Mehoopany were peppered with enterprises that were founded, owned, or operated by the Jennings families -- I say "families", because one must remember that there were many people named Jennings in the vicinity before William came to America.

So, look at the intersection of Main, Depot and Race Street in the map in this post. There you will find a building and the following description: "Store & P.O., Jennings & Kintner". That's it.

Of the identities of the people in the picture, not much can be proven. I have some thoughts, but I'll reserve them for another post.

I read the news today, oh boy!

From the Wyoming Democrat, 21 February, 1872. Thanks to the Wyoming County Historical Society...

You Have a Room in the Jennings Hotel

This is it, cousins. Wasn't she a beauty?

I'm visiting friends who live about an hour from Mehoopany. Yesterday, I spent the better part of the day at Tunkhannock and Mehoopany!

I have many more awesome discoveries, but I don't want to be rude to my guests -- I've already spent a lot of time at a computer and not being sociable.

When I get back home you'll get the full story!

Other Jennings English Immigrants Found

Last night, I was looking over some Xeroxes of notes taken of the Vaughn Cemetery. I found at least two, maybe three instances where it was noted that they, like our William, were born in England. They were of William's generation and older.

From what I can gather, there were two specific areas where the English Jennings were from. One, of course, was Bath, and the other was Holt, which is further north. For example, Paul Bishop Jennings was from Holt.

(By the way, did you know poor Paul Bishop had three children die quite young before he and his wife finally had a child who survived to adulthood?)

I have yet to link any of these other contemporary Jennings immigrants to William, but if I can I think it would be a huge help, especially to get closer to the reason why William came to America.

Jennings & Kintner Building

Here is a link to this week's star attraction: the mysterious Jennings & Kintner Building. Over the next few days I'll sort out the correspondence between cousins Sandy, Paula and myself, and post a transcript of our views.

As it stands now, a panel of volunteer theatrical costume experts has weighed in on the date of the photo. They feel that the period that fits the clothing styles is the post-Civil War era, but not too long after it. Look for the link at the bottom of the blogs main page.

In my humble opinion the photo is not of the hotel William owned and operated, but is of a side-business he either set up or was a partner in. The "JENNINGS" in the sign may not necessarily represent him, but possibly one of his sons (my money is on Frank). AND...here's the kicker...the two woman standing by the chair to his right are his wife Harriet and his daughter Lizzie. Ameila, his other daughter, would only have been 12 years old when I suspect this photo would have been taken. That leads me to a ballpark date of...drumroll...1870.

From the pages of, "A Directory For the Borough and City of Bath and It's Environs, 1852"

Here's a cool look into the Jennings Family that William left behind. On page 126 are listed eleven Jennings, including two with the first name of William. Obviously, since our William left the country 18 years earlier, these ain't him.

However, what are the chances that one of them is William's dad? Also, take note of the "Samuel", because this is a lead I have for ID'ing Jabez Jennings, but that's another story.

This entire directory is a single PDF file, found at : http://www.bathbmd.org.uk/pod.html, along with links for three other Bath directories for the years 1872, 1895 and 1912. Happy hunting!

Here I Go!

After a rather frantic week of emailing between the members of the cousins, I thought it would be best to build a single depository for all things William Jennings.

What this means is that any discoveries and discussions explicitly about William's branch of the family goes here!

Feel free to post your news and views. Slowly but surely we will put this story together!