Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 514
HENRY JENNINGS

Henry JENNINGS, the son of Levi and Emily JENNINGS, was born in La Salle County, Ill., July 22, 1835, and was the first white child born in Brookfield, La Salle County. He was educated in the public schools, which were of the most primitive order at that time. He was brought up to farm life, and when the War of the Rebellion broke out, his spirit of patriotism was such that he forsook his home and enlisted October 12, 1862, in Company A, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, with which company he was for thirteen months. He was discharged at Keokuk, Iowa, and re-enlisted January 5, 1864, in Company I, of the same regiment, and was discharged August 2, 1865, at Chicago. When he first went into the service he was Eighth Corporal, and when he re-enlisted he entered the Company as First Duty Sergeant. July of the same year he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant and had command of a company until he was commissioned January 2, 1855, as Second Lieutenant. He served as a valiant soldier, and at the march into Savannah, Ga., was wounded by the explosion of a shell, which killed six men and wounded eleven. His wound was but slight, but the effect of the explosion caused him to be unconscious for over an hour. He participated in the following battles, which are well known on the pages of war history: Pittsburg Landing, Rome (Georgia), and at the fortifications of Altoona Pass, Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Ga., where they fought for eleven days continuously, without sleep or rest, also followed HOOD on his retreat from Atlanta, and went with SHERMAN on his famous march to the sea. Aside from a vast amount of skirmishes and minor engagements, he traversed the great scope of country, endured much hardship, but stood all faithfully, deeming the protection of his country, but the duty of a true American citizen.

It is such veterans as our subject, who love to gather at soldiers' reunions, and sing "Marching through Georgia," and Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," which songs will echo and re-echo in the ears of every old soldier, until their last earthly march is ended. After that emblem of peace, the flag of truce, made its appearance, and the rebel forces had surrendered, our subject returned to La Salle County, Ill., and there remained until 1881, when he came to Harrison County and purchased one hundred and one hundred and twenty-acre tract of land on section 34, Harrison Township, where he at once converted the wild prairie land into what has come to be a well tilled farm. He erected a good residence, provided good barns for stock, set out a grove and an orchard of two acres, and made many other necessary improvements. His farmhouse stands upon a high elevation affording a natural building site, as it overlooks the famous Boyer Valley from Logan to Dunlap. The Picayune Valley skirts his farm on the east.

His household is presided over by his sister, Miss Lucy A. JENNINGS. He is a stanch Republican, "voting as he shot," and has represented his township in various official capacities, and is its present Treasurer. He is member of SHIELD'S Post G.A.R., and also belongs to the Odd Fellows fraternity.

Miss JENNINGS is a member of the Farmers' Wives Society, and has presided over her brother's home ever since they came to the county, and is a partner of her brother in his business affairs. She belongs to the Congregational Church.

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