William Staple Jennings

b. 13 November 1847, d. 9 April 1937
  • William Staple Jennings was born on 13 November 1847 in Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas.
  • Lester S. Jennings and Hannah Elizabeth Staples appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Fort Bend County, Texas, enumerated next to the household of William Staples (age 66), born in England, likely Hannah's family. Other members of the household included William Staple Jennings. Also in the household was son James B. M. (age 1).
  • Lester S. Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Dripping Spring PO, Hays County, Connecticut. Other members of the household included William Staple Jennings. Also in the household were sons James (age 10) and Alexander (7), and [likely mother-in-law] E. Massy (59).
  • He married Elizabeth Matilda Massey on 23 December 1869 in Hays County, Texas.
  • Lester S. Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Johnson's Institute PO, Hays County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Staple Jennings, Elizabeth Matilda Massey. Also in the household were sons James (age 21), Alexander (18) and Thomas (15).
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
  • William Staple Jennings became a widower at the between 1870 and 1880 death of his wife Elizabeth Matilda Massey.
  • Lester S. Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Erath County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Staple Jennings, Martha Elizabeth Jennings. Also in the household and identified as Lester's children were H. C. (age 24), who likely was William's second wife, L. (7), Rose (3) and Nelly (1), and son L. L. (5), who likely were William's children. Note that William's daughter Mattie (9) also is identified among them as a daughter of Lester.
  • He was a farmer, married, according to the 1880 census.
  • Francis Marion Turner and Martha Elizabeth Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Kerr County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Staple Jennings, Xie Elizabeth Turner. Also in the household were children Henry M. (age 6), and Thomas A. (1), and Mattie's sister and brother Alice D. (20) and William H. (10) Jennings, as well as stock herders Edward C. Born and Carlos Santos.
  • He was a widowed stock herder, according to the 1900 census.
  • William Staple Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas, at Washington Street. Also in the household was William's widowed daughter Lily Rains (age 35) and her children Bessie (16) and Willie(10), and his unmarried daughter Daisy Jennings (27).
  • He was a driver of a livery team, according to the 1910 census.
  • William Staple Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas. Other members of the household included Martha Elizabeth Jennings, Emmet Harvey Nichols, Xie Elizabeth Turner and Ruth Elizabeth Nichols. Also in the household was unmarried daughter Daisy Jennings (age 38).
  • William Staple Jennings appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas, at 1201 Park Street. Other members of the household included Martha Elizabeth Jennings. Also in the household was unmarried daughter Alice D. Jennings (age 49).
  • The following appeared on 22 November 1934 in the Kerrville Mountain Sun: W. S. Jennings celebrated his 87th birthday Tuesday at his home, 1201 Park Street, when members of the family were present.
         Mr. Jennings, a native Texas, is one of the few surviving soldiers who fought for the lost cause of the Confederacy. As a young man, he lived in Erath County and moved to Kerr County about 35 years ago.
         The birthday dinner table was decorated with chrysanthemums and was laden with delicious foods. Seated with Mr. Jennings were his three daughters, Miss Daisy Jennings, Mrs. Otto Kittle and Mrs. F. M. Turner. Other guests were grandchildren, Mrs. Emmett Nichols, Frank McClain, and Otto Kittel, Jr; great grandchildren Elizabeth and alice Nell Nichols and Joan Miller, Otto Kittel and Emmett Nichols.
         During the day numerous messages from friends and relatives were received.
  • The following appeared on 12 November 1936 in the Kerrville Mountain Sun: W. S. Jennings celebrated his 89th birthday anniversary Sunday in his home on Park Street, Friday, November 20, is the date of Mr. Jennings' birth, but the celebration was held early as someof the relatives could not be present later. [:CR;]      The venerable man had for his guests for this occasion his three daughters, Miss Daisy Jennings, Mrs. F. M. Turner, both of this city, and Mrs. Otto Kittel of Houston. Two granddaughters, Mrs. E. H. Nichols and Mrs. J. P. Lacey of San Antonio and four great grandchildren were present. A son, W. J. Jennings, of Louisiana, was unable to be present.
  • William Staple Jennings died on 9 April 1937 at age 89 in Kerville, Kerr County, Texas, at 1201 Park at his residence . Informant was his daughter Daisy Jennings.
  • He was interred at Glen Rest Cemetery, Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 15 April 1937 in the Kerrville Mountain Sun: The graying ranks of the Confederate Veterans were again thinned last Friday when William Staple Jennings, 88, was mustered out to answer the roll call in the Great Beyond. Death overtook the beloved father and grandfather in his home on Park Street after an illness of more than two years. Death was attributed to his extreme age.
         Funeral services were held Saturday in the Smith Funeral Home with Rev. C. M. Saplding, pastor of the First Baptist Church, in charge. He was assisted by Rev. A. T. Nixon of Medina and Rev. H. M. Smith of San Antonio, intimate friends of the Jennings family. Pallbearers were John Leavell, Frank Fisher, W. B. Childs, R. V. Nichols, A. B. Burton and J. R. Nichols. Burial was held in Glenn Rest Cemetery.
         Mr. Jennings was born in Richmond, November 13, 1847, and when a small child he moved with his parents to Hays County. Early in the year of 1864 he answered the call for volunteers for the Confederacy, and with his father enlisted in Hays County to serve for the Lost Cause. After the end of the war he returned to Hays County where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Massey. He moved with his bride to Erath County, near Stephenville, where he farmed for several years. After the death of his wife he moved to Kerr County and lived on the Vining Ranch for a few years, later moving to Kerrville where he has resided for about 45 years.
         He was a farmer and ranchman during the early part of his life, but in his declining years he has made his home with his daughters, Mrs. f. M. Turner and Miss Daisy Jennings. His yard and garden were his pride and joy and many a friend and neighbor has been remembered with the choicest products of his garden. His kind and lovable disposition has endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, having been a member for nearly 75 years.
          The survivors are four children, Mrs. Turner and Miss Daisy Jennings of this city; Mrs. Otto Kittel of Houston, and W. H. Jennings of Vicksburg, La., all of whom were present for the funeral. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
         Other out-of-town friends and relatives who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Jack Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. John Lacey and children, John, Jr., and Dora; Mrs. Ella Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. Atlee Turner and daughter, Muriel, all of San Antonio.
  • The following appeared on 25 July 1946 in the Kerrville Mountain Sun: Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in the Smith Chapel for Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Turner, 75, who died Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. P. Lacey in Peterson Heights. Rev. Vernon Shaw, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. A. J. Carson, a Baptist minister, officiated and interment was in Nichols Cemetery. [:CR;]      Mrs. Turner was a native of Erath County, and had made her home in Kerr County for almost 50 years. After the death of her husband, F. M. Turner, which occurred about 35 years ago, she made her home with her father, the late W. S. Jennings, and her sister, Miss Daisy Jennings. [:CR;]      After her health had begun to fail she resided with her daughters, Mrs. E. H. Nichols, and Mrs. Lacey, who cared for her during her illness. [:CR;]      The survivors are four children, Mrs. Nichols, and Mrs Lac[e]y of Kerrville; H. M. Turner, Houston; and T. A. Turner, San Antonio; two sisters, Miss Jennings and Mrs. Otto Kittel, Kerrville, and one brother, W. H. Jennings of Pascagoula, Miss. There are seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. [:CR;]      The pallbearers were A. B. Burton, Roland V. Nichols, Carl A. Morriss, E. B. Henry, J. A. Meredith and Frank Fisher.
  • Last Edited: 15 Mar 2017

Family: Elizabeth Matilda Massey b. circa 1854, d. between 1870 and 1880