This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Jennings, Nelson, Tennis, Cummings, Wilson, Birkby Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1488.1 Message Board Post: THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD. February 5, 1920. "Mrs. Mary Jennings".--Mrs. Mary Jennings, one of Fremont county's oldest residents, passed to her eternal reward last Friday at 3:30 a.m., after an illness of short duration. Though "Grandma Jennnings" as she was affectionately known, had reached the ripe age of 86 years, her faculties of mind were unimpaired, her natural forces was not abated, and she had a remarkable grasp of human affairs up to the time she was stricken. Mary Jane Nelson was born at Jacksonville, Ohio, September 25, 1833. Later she moved with her grandparents by whom she was reared to Kentucky, coming to Iowa in 1854. She was first married in 1856 to Dr. Tennis of Bethany, Misouri. To this union were born two children, James and Frank, both deceased. The marriage of Mrs. Tennis to Levi Jennings of Hamburg, took place on January 29, 1871. This union was blessed with four children, namely, Mrs. Sena Birkby of Sidney; Mrs. Anna Cummings of Shenandoah; Mrs. Minnie Wilson of Sidney; and one son who died in infancy. The husband and father passed to the great beyond August 13, 1-8-7-9. Mrs. Jennings is survived by three children and five great grandchildren. In 1883 our departed sister made confession of her faith in Christ and relations with Christ and his kingdom were established that were permanent and abiding. For 36 years she was a member of the Baptist church, first uniting with the Mt. Olive church, south of Hamburg and later transferring her membership to the church at Sidney. In later years she was incapacitated for service in the church, but she maintained an interest in its affairs. She was a kind and devoted mother, an obliging neighbor and a consecrated follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, ever exemplifying the shining traits of a life that was spent in the association and fellowship of her Master. "Grandma Jennings" is not gone. She has only crossed the great divide to greet those who have gone before and to await the coming of those on this side. The funeral services were held from the Baptist church Saturday at 1:30 p.m., being in charge of Rev. E.V. Goad, pastor of the deceased. The discourse was based upon Rev. 7:13 - 14. "Who are these?***These are they which have come out of great tribulations, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." A chorus consisting of Mrs. J. J. VanEaton, Mrs. Ezra Ballinger, Mrs. M. M. Thornton and Mrs. Trump, sang appropriate selections for the occasion. Internment took place in the Knox cemetery. ROSE: I don't think there is a single newspaper published in Fremont county during any year of the 1870's that has survived. I cant' remember of ever seeing one if the such exists!--W.F.