Honorable J. L. Jennings

Among the men who have contributed to the dignity and maintained the best traditions of the Hemphill county bench, none have been held in higher esteem or has enjoyed greater general popularity than the Hon. J. L. Jennings, judge of the county court. He entered upon the duties of the judicial office in 1908, and his record since that time has been one which has thoroughly justified the confidence placed in him by his fellow-citizens and marks him as a faithful, impartial and conscientious public official. Judge Jennings was born in Hill county, Texas, March 5, 1875, and is a son of G. W. and Ella (Yarboro) Jennings' natives of Tennessee. His father came to the Lone Star State during the early 'seventies, and located in Hill county, where he took up carpentering and eventually contracting, and he still makes his home in that locality, having reached the age of sixty-six years. He served his apprenticeship to his trade in his native State, and there, at the outbreak of the war between the States, enlisted in the Confederate army, serving as a private in the commands of Generals Hood and Thomas, and; participating in numerous hard-fought engagements, including that at Nashville. He was a gallant soldier and always to be found in the thickest of the battle, but came through the war unscathed. He was married in Texas to Miss Ella Yarboro, and she also survives, being sixty years of age. To them there were born six children, the first two twins, of whom J. L. was one.

J. L. Jennings first attended the public schools of Hill county, Texas, following which he became a student at Central College, Walnut Springs. During this time he was forced to work during vacations and whenever he could spare the time from attendance at school in order to earn the means wherewith to continue his studies. His education was completed at Buffalo Gap, under the tutorship of Prof. John Collier, and he was graduated there in 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Literature. Instead of pursuing his law studies, Mr. Jennings turned his attention to commercial lines, establishing himself in a drug business in Shackelford county and there continuing until 1902. In that year he transferred his business to Canadian, and here succeeded in building up an excellent trade, but in January, 1910, disposed of his interests in order to give his undivided attention to the duties of his official position. He has become the candidate of the democratic party for the office of county judge in 1908, and in 1910 was re-elected, as he was again in 1912. His service on the bench has been characterized by the same qualities which have always commended him to the people—fearlessness in the doing of that which he has deemed right, great industry, and ability of the highest rank. His work has been such as to win him the friendship of the bar throughout the county. In his fraternal connections, Judge Jennings is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through all the chairs, and the Masonic order, where he is past master of the Blue Lodge and a charter member of the Royal Arch Chapter. With his family he is connected with the Presbyterian church.

On October 29, 1900, Judge Jennings was married in Shackelford county, Texas, to Miss Seleta Johnson, daughter of George W. and Anna. (Russel) Johnson, wellknown pioneers of Texas, who are still living at Snyder, Scurry county. Mrs. Johnson is a relative of the famous scout, Russel, who was captured and held prisoner by the Apache Indians for many years. Judge and Mrs. Jennings have one son: George, born in August, 1901, in Shackelford county, and now attending Canadian high school.-- A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3,  Francis White Johnson, 1914