Jennings, David Alfred and Hattie

JENNINGS, SIPHERD

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/30/2019 at 19:21:36

The David Alfred and Hattie Jennings Family
"Reflections of Grand River, Iowa 1881-1981"
Page 238, Clarke Pub. Co. Osceola IA. 1981.

Hattie Jane Sipherd Jennings, eldest daughter of Henry and Mary Woods Sipherd was born in Knox Co., Ill., on Dec. 26, 1867, and came to Decatur County, Iowa, with her parents in 1871. They came by train to Keokuk, Ia. and by wagon to Decatur County. Her father bought 160 acres of government land at $1.25 an acre, about one mile west of the present site of Grand River, Iowa. It was here that she grew up with four brothers and two sisters. She attended the Grand River Public School, finished the eighth grade. There was no high school at that time. There were no fences at that time and in order to keep the stock near home, someone had to ride herd. Since she was the oldest, this job fell to Hattie. She had a small Indian pony that she rode with the skill of a cowboy. As her brothers grew older, they took over; and Hattie became mother's helper. There was always plenty of work to do and babies to care for. On wash day and any other day there happened to be a lot of work to do, Hattie stayed home from school to help.

There was a Presbyterian Church in town which she attended and sang in the choir. Al Jennings also sang in the choir - naturally similar interests brought them together and they were married May 29, 1888.

Al Jennings, as he was called, clerked in one of the first general stores in the town of Grand River, which was moved from Westerville when the C.B. & Q. Railroad came through.

In 1896, they moved to a farm in Ringgold Co. Al was very civic minded. He was responsible for the rural route being established in this neighborhood and also worked hard to get the Bell Telephone through. He organized a Sunday school and church that were held in the district school house and was often instrumental in having a minister preach once a month if weather and roads permitted. He was a devoted member of the Masonic Lodge and rode on horseback five miles to attend the meetings in town. He also organized the neighborhood to drag the roads all the way into town, especially the road that the mail carriers drove over. When he retired and moved into town in 1926, he immediately began to be interested in the church and school activities and became quite interested in high school basketball. He liked to play "Pitch", and he and some neighbors often got together. Also he and Hattie belonged to a Domino Club which had regular meetings.

He would be so proud of the Dial [telephone] System.

by Alvina J. Clayton

NOTE: Al died in 1945. Hattie died in 1958. They were interred at the Grand River Cemetery, Grand River, Iowa.