http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3770934562&ssPageName=ADME:B:WN:US:1 states this info...sources not cited and info not verified... IF anyone does by chance know the source of info herein, i would appreciate a citation... i believe, it is from a published book of 1876, unnamed... but, if anyone on list is related to this family, i would like to speak about any children that may have existed... "Mr. John D. Jennings. Mr. Jennings was born April 10, 1816, in the town of Benson, Rutland county, Vermont. His father, Samuel Jennings, was born in 1791, in the town of Bethlehem, New York. Samuel moved to Lockport, New York, in 1820, and built the first frame house in that place, which was known as the Lockport hotel, and which he kept until 1832. In 1834, at the age of eighteen years, Mr. J.D. Jennings engaged in the real estate business in the city of Buffalo, New York. In 1836 he moved to the city of New York, and continued in the same business until January, 1837, when, owing to the financial crisis of the previous year, and the consequent depreciation of real estate, his occupation was gone. He then engaged in the mercantile business, purchasing a stock of goods, which he brought to Chicago, July 1, 1837. But finding the Chicago of that day - then but recently incorporated - so different from his expectation, he shipped his goods to Cass county , Michigan, and continued in business there until 1842, although he spent a good portion of this time in Chicago. In the spring of 1843, Mr. Jennings moved his family to Chicago, and again commenced dealing in real estate. During the summer of 1843 he built the first block store erected on Lake street, east of State street. He also continued in the mercantile business until 1850, when he gave that up, and gave his whole attention to the real estate business, in which he was very successful. ! He always had the reputation of being a very prompt, energetic and shrewd business man; farseeing in real estate transactions, and yet very lenient toward those doing business with him; a man of quiet, unassuming manner, steady habits, and very reliable. Mr. Jennings seemed to have inherited some of his taste for real estate from his grandfather, Samuel Jennings, who was a large land holder in his native State. In 1838, Mr. Jennings married Hanna W. Brizse, at Lockport, New York. "