Biography - Carey Jennings
CAREY W. JENNINGS is quite a prominent farmer in Shoal Creek Township, Bond County. He was born in Johnson County, Ind., January 24, 1835, a son of Benoni and Rachael L. (McKinney) Jennings. The elder Mr. Jennings was of English and Welsh ancestry, but was born in Brown County, Ohio, in the year 1800. His wife was a native of the same locality, and of Irish ancestry. Soon after marriage they moved to Indiana, and in 1841 came to Coles County, Ill., and in 1844 to Bond County, locating near Greenville, which place continued to be their home for five years.
The Jennings family, at the expiration of the time above named, moved to a place three miles north of Old Ripley. There both parents died in 1854, having fallen victims to the cholera. August 12, 1861, our subject entered the army, joining Company D, of the Third Illinois Cavalry, and was made a Corporal. He served throughout a three months' campaign in Missouri, and was in the fight at Sugar Creek and at Pea Ridge. Later, his company was appointed as escort to Gen. Steele. Much of the time during Mr. Jenning's war experience he was sick, and was finally discharged at Springfield, Ill., September 5, 1864, after a service of three years and twenty-three days. He now draws a pension of $16 per month.
The business to which the original of this sketch has given his undivided attention, with the exception of the time spent in the army, is that of a farmer. From 1871 to 1874 he was in Morgan County, Mo., but came to Sorento in 1883, and here he has lived ever since. August 9, 1856, a momentous event was celebrated in our subject's career, that of his marriage, at which time he took upon himself the vow to protect and cherish as his wedded wife Mary E. Willey. Her father, Wilson W. Willey, was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Mexican War. The years that have passed since their union have been blessed by the advent of seven children, five of whom are now living. They are William G., who resides in Sorento; Amanda F., the wife of Thomas P. Moss, also of Sorento; E. W., who is at present in Texas; George E., also in Sorento; and Nettie Belle, who is still in school. The Republican party receives the favors which Mr. Jennings has to bestow in a political way, while in a social way he is a strong Grand Army man.
Extracted 20 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, page 288.
