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RICHARD JENNINGS, the present burgess of Queenstown, is one of those who have been closely identified with the
oil production of Pennsylvania for the last two decades. He is a son of Edward and Jenifer (Gundry) Jennings, and
was born in Cornwall, England, December 23, 1819. One hundred and twenty years before the Christian era a wheel
driven by a jet of steam, revolved in Egypt's mighty capital and more than nineteen succeeding centuries were numbered
in the flight of time before this whirling toy upon the banks of the dark Nile developed into the mighty steam
engine of modern civilization, under the hands of Boulton and Watt. Both desired to have their first low pressure
engine built; they naturally sought for one of the best mechanics of the age, and employed John Jennings, the paternal
grandfather of Richard Jennings. John Jennings was born in Sussex county, England. He was a member of the Church
of England, and married Mary Newlan. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters. The sons were: John,
Edward and Thomas. Their second son, Capt. Edward Jennings (father of Richard Jennings), was born in Cornwall,
England, in 1774, and was killed in April, 1820, by the breaking of a rope in a mine of which he was superintendent
at the time. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1801 married Jenifer Gundry, a daughter
of Henry and Mary Gundry. To Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were born nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom
three are still living. Henry Gundry (maternal grand father) was born in Cornwall, England, about 1740, and died
in 1819. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and married Mary Ivy, by whom he had eight children,
two sons and six daughters.
Richard Jennings was reared in Cornwall and attended the excellent private schools of that place. He commenced
life for himself as a miner and rose successively from position to position in the mines until he became general
mine superintendent. In 1841 he located at Brady's Bend, where he remained until 1868, when he came to Queenstown.
For the last twenty years he has been one of the prominent oil producers of Pennsylvania.
In November, 1849, be married Annie Evans, who died in Angust, 1850, and in April, 1851, he married for his second
wife, Catherine Evans, who was born at Merthyr Tydvill, Wales, May 19, 1831. To this second union were born eleven
children: E. H., born August 10, 1852, and now an oil producer in Allegheny county; Annie, born January 23, 1854,
and wife of N. F. Sloan, of Pittsburgh; Mary C., born April 9, 1857, and married Charles Griffith, of Johnstown,
Pa,; John E., born December 29, 1859, and died April 15, 1860; Richard M., born September 10, 1861, and now an
oil producer of Bradford, Pa.; John G., born July 28, 1864, and now an oil producer at Butler; Jenifer G., born
September 21, 1868; Sarah E., born October 8, 1870; Laura J., born April 11, 1873, and Evan D., who was born August
8, 1877.
Richard Jennings is a member of Kittanning Lodge, No. 244, F. and A. M., and a member and vestryman of the Protestant
Episcopal church. He is a democrat in politics and was elected burgess of Queenstown in 1880. Mr. Jennings is well
informed on the leading industries of the day and his life has been one of activity and success in the business
world.
From:
Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia
of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania
Samuel T. Wiley, Historian & Editor
John M. Greshan & Co.
Philadelphia, 1891
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