ELZA W. JENNINGS, who is among the successful and enterprising business factors of Curry township, Sullivan county, and besides other business interests, is engaged in the hardware and implement trade, is a native of this township, born January 15, 1868, a son of Abel J. and Fannie M. (Willsey) Jennings, the former born March 28, 1812, in Massachusetts, at some point within Hamden county, and died January 10, 1877, in Sullivan county, Indiana. The latter was born October 19, 1824, in Albany county, New York, and died June 28, 1890, in Curry township, Sullivan county, Indiana. Abel was the son of Aceph and Mary (Abby) Jennings, the former born in Massachusetts and the latter in Scotland. Aceph was born in 1782, and died in 1844. He was a gunsmith, and worked eight years in the Springfield Armory Works, but abandoned his trade there upon his marriage and went to farming, which occupation he continued to follow the remainder of his life. Abel, at the age of twenty years, started as a sailor on Lake Erie, and within fourteen months was made second mate, soon afterward first mate and then captain of the boat. This position he filled for five years and up to the date of his marriage. He purchased a farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he farmed two years, and in 1842 went to Missouri, in which new state he purchased a farm. In 1844 he removed to Marion county, Indiana. Upon a trip back to Ohio he was taken ill upon reaching Marion county, and there remained until 1867, when he went to Curry township, this county, about three miles west of Farmersburg, where the subject of this narrative was born. He owned a hundred-acre farm, upon which he resided until his death.
The father was twice married, first to a Miss Benjamin, by whom seven children were born, but only two lived to reach mature years. For his second wife he married Fannie M. Willsey, by whom were born sixteen children, as follows: Emaline, born in 1841, died young; Marshall, born March 22, 1843, resides at Farmersburg; Harriet, born in September, 1844, resides in Weldon, Illinois; Julia, deceased; Mary J., resides in Oklahoma; Millie, also living in Oklahoma; Lydia, deceased; Sylvester, residing in Curry township, this county; Oswell, deceased; Emory and Emma (twins), both living in Curry township; Rufus, living in Kingfisher county, Oklahoma; Mattie, living in Vigo county, Indiana; Katie, living in Curry township; Walker, living in Curry township, and Elza W., of this notice.
Mr. Jennings remained at home with his parents until their death, and on November 18, 1890, soon after their death, he married Mary A. Harris, born March 2, 1870, in Shelby county, Illinois, a daughter of John Harris. Mr. Jennings began operating a saw mill and thresher at the age of seventeen years, continuing until 1902. In 1899, however, he purchased a one-fourth interest in Jennings Brothers and Lloyd's hardware store, and in 1902 bought a two-thirds interest in Jennings & Taylor's hardware and implement house. Since then he has paid special attention to this business. The firm with which he is associated owns some real estate in town.
Politically Mr. Jennings is a Democrat. He was elected president of the Farmersburg Town Board in 1906, his term expiring in 1910. He is president of the Merchants' Association, president of the Torry Electric Light plant and is a stockholder and director of the Citizens State Bank. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 494, A. F. & A. M., at Farmersburg.