J. W. Jennings, a well known contractor and builder of Augusta, is a Butler county pioneer, and has spent forty-five years of his life in this section of Kansas. Mr. Jennings was born in Adams county, Ohio, February 10, 1853, and is a son of W. E., and Sarah J. (Collings) Jennings, both natives of Ohio. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living: E. W., Augusta, Kans.; G. O., Golden, Colo.; Mrs. D. U. Rowland, Augusta, Kans.; and J. W., the subject of this sketch. The Jennings family came to Kansas in 1871 and located in Clifford township.

J. W. attended the public schools in Ohio, and after coming to Kansas, attended school in a log school house in Clifford township, and he and his father built the first school house in that district, known as the Wilcox school house. He remained at home until 1878, when he went to Peabody and worked at the carpenter trade, and afterward returned to Butler county and followed farming in connection with his trade. In 1885, he built the Central Hotel and the Potwin Hall at Potwin, Kans., and later conducted that hotel for two years. He then returned to Peabody, working at his trade, until 1889 when he returned to the old homestead in Clifford township. In 1891 he went to Oklahoma where he followed farming until 1904, when he came to Augusta and since that time has devoted himself exclusively to contracting and building. During these years he has erected a great many business buildings and residences in Augusta. He built the Leonard block, the Warren Brown residence, the Peckham building, the McCool building, the Bausinger & Fuller building, and did the finishing work on the George W. Brown State Bank. He has built altogether over fifty residences in Augusta, and at this writing, has seven in the course of construction.

Mr. Jennings was united in marriage, April 22, 1880, to Miss Anna L. Deweese of Marion county, Kansas, and they have one child, Mrs. Alice Rosecrans, who resides at Augusta. She has one child, Audene.

Mr. Jennings is a member of the Masonic lodge and is a Royal Arch Mason. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an expert mechanic and has worked at the carpenter trade most of the time for over fifty years, and he says that he can do as much work as any man on the job today, but that he won't.

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