Mrs. John D. "Julia" (St. Vrain) Jennings died 1864

ST VRAIN, JENNINGS, SMYTH

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/27/2016 at 18:20:20

Dubuque Democratic Herald – Mar. 2, 1864
DIED
In this city on the 1st inst., at half past two o’clock p.m., Julia, wife of Hon. John D. Jennings, aged 38 years. This sad event has brought deep grief to many fond hearts and shrouded the entire community in grief. Mrs. Jennings was the daughter of Felix D. St. Vrain, who at an early day was agent for the Sac and Fox at Rock Island, and was killed in the Black Hawk War near Buffalo Grove, Ill. When quite young she was adopted into the family of Gen. Jones of this city and was married in August, 1851. She was a women of fine accomplishments and many and rare virtues, a cherished member of the society, and affectionate wife, an attentive and devoted mother, and exemplary, earnest Christian. On Saturday morning last she was seemingly out of danger, and Mr. Jennings who had been at home attending upon her illness, under pressure of public duty and solicitous lest the want of his vote in the Senate should imperil our railroad interests, returned to Des Moines. She was suddenly taken with a relapse and, notwithstanding that every means of medical skill and attentive friends could suggest ever used for her recovery, she gradually kept sinking and, having received at the hands of Bishop Smyth the sacraments of the Catholic Church and rejoicing in the sublimity of the Christian faith, passed gently away into the realization of the Christian’s hope. A family of six children, one an infant but a few days old, is left to share the loneliness and sorrow of the husband, whose heart is now crushed and stricken, and whose home is so suddenly made desolate. A dispatch is borne to Mr. Jennings the sad intelligence of his great bereavement, and he is expected this evening or tomorrow morning. A sorrowing community tender to him and his family their heartfelt sympathies.