THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND EXTREMELY INCOMPLETE
WORTH REMEMBERING
the remarkable man known as "cap"
CAPT. RICHARD P. JENNINGS
our beloved confederate
Here is the only known photograph of a remarkable man who was well-loved by the community of Table Rock, Nebraska. It was taken on the occasion of his 50th wedding anniversary to his wife Kate. Captain Jennings was a man of courage and enthusiasm. He was a patriot. He was a man of words, a man with a sense of humor, a man with a whole town of friends. His obituary rightfully said, "He lived a vigorous life." Writing a tribute to him is the most daunting of tasks. This small efforts strikes out into a territory that sadly, today, will remain known only by newspaper stories and the legacy preserved by a few friends in his native county in deep Virginia.
jennings before the CIVIL war
Captain Richard Polk Jennings was born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1844. He was raised at Elm Hill Plantation, a 242 acre estate. By modern standards it would be a small farm, but in those days it was a bit more grand.
Richard's father, Dr. Robert Garland Jennings, died when young Richard was only 10. His father was then 42. His mother was left a widow of 33 with at least three children: Robert (1841-1906), Richard (1844-1923), and Thomas (1850-1935). There may also have been a Henry, who eventually was Captain Henry Jennings of the 3rd Virginia Artillery and a surgeon at a Richmond hospital.
After Dr. Jennings' death, Betsy married another physician, Dr. Samuel Peter Hales. Dr. Hales bought the farm and the family continued to live at Elm Hill. Dr. Hales and Betsy had at least two children together, Susan (?-1942) and Peter (1860-1948).
Richard's father, Dr. Robert Garland Jennings, died when young Richard was only 10. His father was then 42. His mother was left a widow of 33 with at least three children: Robert (1841-1906), Richard (1844-1923), and Thomas (1850-1935). There may also have been a Henry, who eventually was Captain Henry Jennings of the 3rd Virginia Artillery and a surgeon at a Richmond hospital.
After Dr. Jennings' death, Betsy married another physician, Dr. Samuel Peter Hales. Dr. Hales bought the farm and the family continued to live at Elm Hill. Dr. Hales and Betsy had at least two children together, Susan (?-1942) and Peter (1860-1948).
Photo shared by Ginger & Mack Gentry of Halifax County, Virginia
1861
jennings in the civil war
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When he was 16, the "War of Northern Aggression" having commenced, young Jennings enlisted in the 23rd Virginia Infantry, along with his step father. Jennings was a private. At war's end, he was a captain. In between were battles like Second Manassas, Chancelorsville...and Gettysburg, where the unit lost 7% of its men in one battle alone. Jennings served during the duration of the war and records six times list him as wounded in action.
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The picture above was shared by Ginger Gentry, a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy who lives next to this building, the Brooklyn Store, which Ginger and her husband Mack have restored. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. On November 12, 2015, Ginger sent this picture of the building on Veterans Day along with these comments:
Sharla, we put this Battle Flag up yesterday honoring our Veterans, especially our |
stonewall jackson
CHANCELLORSVILLE
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 1863
MAY 3, 1863 - THE SECOND BLOODIEST DAY OF THE WAR (THE BLOODIEST WAS A DAY AT ANTIETAM)
gettysburg
antietam
a prisoner of war as his unit surrenders at appomattox courthouse
after the war
jennings gets married, lives in virginia a while,
then heads for nebraska
Jennings returned to Halifax County and on November 7, 1865 married a local girl, Susan Catherine Ballou, who went by Kate. They were both 21 years old, but with a war behind them, their life experiences can only be imagined. (Richard & Kate were separated by her death in 1922, after 57 years of marriage.)
Their daughter Minnie was born in 1868.
In 1869, Richard & Susan moved to Rulo, Nebraska.
Their daughter Minnie was born in 1868.
In 1869, Richard & Susan moved to Rulo, Nebraska.
1873
the jennings arrive in table rock
In 1873, Richard & Kate arrived in Table Rock. There they welcomed two other children, daughters Alberta and Fannie, in 1873 and 1874. There, too, they found welcome by friends, who increased in number as the town grew rapidly for the next few decades.
Note: 1887 account by Frank Taylor, "fall in," decoration days, 4th of july, spanish-american war, politics, businesses including restaurant, H. Chambers' account, obituary
1913
JENNINGS ATTENDS THE GRAND 50TH REUNION OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
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Notes: 1913 gettysburg reunion, excel spreadsheet of 23rd at http://23rdva.netfirms.com/hist23.htm 4th of july celebrations
At Gettysburg, the 23rd Virginia was part of Steuart's Brigade. The Brigade's monument and recap: http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/confederate-headquarters/steuarts-brigade/ |
SOURCES
his obituary
A letter to the Captain's grandson -
The captain "just barely got stahted!"
In December 2015, I was looking for something else and ran across a 1948 story about Gregg McBride speaking at a sports banquet in Table Rock. I recognized the name McBride as the married name of one of the Captain's daughters. Setting the Argus aside, I learned that Gregg had been a well known sportswriter for the Omaha World Herald for many many years. I then followed bread crumbs in the Argus about the banquet that led to a wonderful added dimension to the story of the Captain, a score of year after his death.
The December 16, 1948 edition of the Table Rock Argus contained a letter written by Harmon Chambers. Chambers, who graduated in 1905, wrote about the Captain Jennings of his childhood. His hilarious story about diving for clams in the Nemaha adds another layer to the story
The December 16, 1948 edition of the Table Rock Argus contained a letter written by Harmon Chambers. Chambers, who graduated in 1905, wrote about the Captain Jennings of his childhood. His hilarious story about diving for clams in the Nemaha adds another layer to the story
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captain jennings in business
1900 - "family" groceries at Jennings' Market.
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1916
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1920
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captain jennings in the news
1893:
june 16, 1898 - the captain 's "military company" will engage in a "great sham battle"!
june 20, 1898 -- from the nebraska state journal
at the table rock cemetery
the captain's family
His mother's grave, in Halifax County, Virginia.
Susan Hales Derrick, the Captain's half sister.
information from halifax county, virginia
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In the search for information about Richard P. Jennings, I tried to discover the basis for his local title as "Captain." I looked in Union records and Confederate.
I finally narrowed the likely unit down as the Confederate 23rd Virginia. Then discovered a tombstone in Virginia for Jennings of the 23rd Virginia. I was dismayed. If not Jennings of the 23rd, who could our Jennings have been with? I sent a message to the person who had created the FindaGrave Memorial in Virginia, Ginger Gentry, and discovered that our Captain Jennings were one and the same. The Virginia stone was a memorial, obtained because Ginger and the Daughters of the Confederacy had no idea where "their" Jennings had ended up. They secured a stone and placed it next to the grave of Captain Jennings' mother. We thereafter shared information about "our" Captain Jennings. Ginger updated the memorial there and we have stayed linked ever since. |
His memorial tombstone in the Edmunds Family Cemetery, a small but well-maintained place with only about a dozen burials, but they include both Captain Jennings' mother and father. (His father's grave is unmarked.)
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Excerpt of a November 12, 2015 email from Ginger Gentry in response to the first message from the Table Rock Historical Society reaching out to her:
Sharla, it is odd that you sent me this message. I am in the process of trying to find out about
Richard's family. I know who is Parents are. His Father died when he was young and his Mother married
again. Her 2nd husband Cpt Hales was in the same Co as Richard in the Civil War.
I guess you read my bio and see I work a lot with Civil War Veterans.
We own the Brooklyn Store & Post Office where the Brooklyn Grays joined the Confederate Army.
My husband Mack and I restored it and it is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National
Register of Historical Places,
I have found the grave sites of a lot of the 23rd. We put the memorial stone up for Richard beside his mother.
Do you have a photo of Richard?
information about captain jennings gathered by ginger gentry
This is collected on the FindaGrave memorial created by Ginger. The link is above.
Mother:Mildred Elizabeth Edmunds
Father:Dr.Robert Garland Jennings
Richard joined the Confederate Army at Brooklyn, Halifax
County Virginia, under Captain William Haymes,Company E
The Brooklyn Grays, 23rd. Virginia Infantry,May 7th.1861
Made Captain April 26,1862
May 8th.1862 he received wound to his arm
April 13,1863, in hospital in Danville,VA. leg wound
March 25,1865,wound to left side.Was in Stuart Hospital
at Richmond,Va-then transferred to Danville,Virginia,
March 28th.1865
Married: Susan Catherine Ballou
November 7th 1865.in Halifax Co. Virginia,
and they moved to Rulo, Nebraska.In 1873 they moved
to Table Rock, Nebraska
The 1870 U.S Federal Census list Richard and Kate
living in Richardson County, Nebraka. Richard is a farmer.
Richard and Kate are age 25.
There daughter Mary(Minnie B.)is age 1
1880 census Richard & Kate living in Table Rock, Pawnee
County,Nebraska
Richard & Kate are age 35
Minnie B.age 12
Mary A age 7
Fanny M. age 5
1900 census living in Table Rock, Nebraska
Richard and Kate are age 55
Fannie age 25 (born December 1874)
1920 census living in Table Rock,Nebraska
Richard and Kate are age 75
Kate dies in 1922 Richard dies in 1923
Richard died at the M.E Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
**At the time of his death his 3 children
were listed in his obituary:
Minnie Jennings married Will McClure
Mary Alberta Jennings married J.G McBride
Fannie Jennings Married J.f Broyles
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Mother:Mildred Elizabeth Edmunds
Father:Dr.Robert Garland Jennings
Richard joined the Confederate Army at Brooklyn, Halifax
County Virginia, under Captain William Haymes,Company E
The Brooklyn Grays, 23rd. Virginia Infantry,May 7th.1861
Made Captain April 26,1862
May 8th.1862 he received wound to his arm
April 13,1863, in hospital in Danville,VA. leg wound
March 25,1865,wound to left side.Was in Stuart Hospital
at Richmond,Va-then transferred to Danville,Virginia,
March 28th.1865
Married: Susan Catherine Ballou
November 7th 1865.in Halifax Co. Virginia,
and they moved to Rulo, Nebraska.In 1873 they moved
to Table Rock, Nebraska
The 1870 U.S Federal Census list Richard and Kate
living in Richardson County, Nebraka. Richard is a farmer.
Richard and Kate are age 25.
There daughter Mary(Minnie B.)is age 1
1880 census Richard & Kate living in Table Rock, Pawnee
County,Nebraska
Richard & Kate are age 35
Minnie B.age 12
Mary A age 7
Fanny M. age 5
1900 census living in Table Rock, Nebraska
Richard and Kate are age 55
Fannie age 25 (born December 1874)
1920 census living in Table Rock,Nebraska
Richard and Kate are age 75
Kate dies in 1922 Richard dies in 1923
Richard died at the M.E Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
**At the time of his death his 3 children
were listed in his obituary:
Minnie Jennings married Will McClure
Mary Alberta Jennings married J.G McBride
Fannie Jennings Married J.f Broyles
Family Members
Parents
- Robert Garland Jennings1812–1854
Elizabeth(Betsy) Mildred EdmundsHales1821–1887
Siblings
- Henry Edmunds Jennings*
Robert Frank Jennings*1841–1906- Thomas White Jennings*1850–1935
Susan Hales Derrick*unknown–1942
Peter Garland Hales*1860–194
elm hill -- where captain jennings grew up
Elm Hill may look like a nice home by modern standards, but in 1844 when Richard P. Jennings was born, it would have been high living indeed.
Captain Jennings' mother was born Elizabeth (Betsy) Edmunds. She was the daughter of Captain Henry Edmunds and Martha Stuart Morton. Betsy married Dr. Robert Garland Jennings and to that marriage was born Captain Richard Jennings, eventually to be of the village of Table Rock, Nebraska. They lived at Dr. Jennings home, which was the Elm Hill Plantation, a 242 acre estate. After Dr. Jennings died, Dr. Samuel Peter Hales purchased it and he and Betsy continued to live there. Ginger says that the farm was later known as the Hales-Derrick place. The building was torn down in the 21st Century.
the countryside where captain jennings grew up
Ginger Gentry suggested a look at the area by perusing the River Road Driving Tour:
Another view of life in Halifax County is this information about Woodlawn Plantation. It was not in Brooklyn, but it must have dominated the way of life there in many ways.
Here are some of the historic places which Captain Jennings may have seen as a boy:
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