Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 23, 1995 Page: 3 of 30
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THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1995 - PAGE 3A J
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Trinity Valley Trivia
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By DON HENDRIX
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All the kinfolks wanted a part of Jennings' Estate
In the early summer of 1890 a
Polk County cattleman named
George W. Jennings was murdered
by a nephew and his remains were
buried by A.B. Garner, but as far as
I can find, there’s no tombstone to
declare where he was buried, or to
tell us how old he was. I guess his
relatives didn’t want to shell put the
money, or didn’t have it, to erect a
stone, but they certainly weren’t
shy about divying up his estate.
Jennings didn’t have any family
in Polk County, but he had lots of
kin back cast, mostly in Virginia.
When they found out he had died,
they came crawling out of the
woodwork looking for a share of
the wealth. I don’t know how weal-
thy lie was, but in the fall of 1890 it
took C.G. Sprott nearly three weeks
to gather and brand the cattle in the
estate. In fact, working his cattle
provided jobs for several people.
But the debts that Jennings left
owing far outstripped the money he
had coming to him.
Finding Jennings’ heirs was dif-
ficult. It wasn’t until 1894 that the
administrator of the estate was able
to get a hold on wljcre his family
was and make attempts to contact
them. But once the family heard
about Jennings’ death, the letters
started to pour in.
"Dear Sir," began Hiram C. Jen-
nings of All wood, Va. in 1896,
writing to Polk County clerk A.B.
Green, "I have bin told that there is
som money in your hands for H.P.
Jennings heirs out of uncle George
VV. Jennings estate. I saw the letter
you wrote my sister R.A. Hartlcss.
You stated you had paid out some
for three, only they was nine living
Going behind bars for good1
Citizens to be locked up
LIVINGSTON - Some of
Livingston’s most notorious resi-
dents will be locked up for "good"
on Friday, April 28, between 10
a.m. and 4 p.m. to raise funds for
the Muscular Dystrophy Associa-
tion.
The Livingston Lock-Up will be
located at VF Factory Outlet in
Livingston.
The public is invited to visit the
prisoners and contribute toward
their release. According to Judge
Earnest Mean, a descendant of
Judge Roy Bean, the ‘Meanest
Judge East of the Pecos,’ "I want to
pul these residents of Livingston .
behind bars for ‘good’!"
To dale, "jailbirds" include:
Jamie Harrison, Bca Ellis, Gary
Stephens, Marie Miller, Bill Jones,
John Slocoinb, Tony Jcrnigan,
Shirley Murphy, Gary Dunnar,
Charlotte Turner, Rich Rcdmcr,
Debbie Clark, Ernest Reuter, Gary
Walker, Kcllon Ogldtrcc, Mrs.
Finch, Joe ftarringlpn, Diane
Stephens, Monique Harrison,
Ronnie Lopcr, Betsy Ferguson,
Jack Abdallah, Sara Davis and Don
Simpson.
Other "inmates" include: Dave
Hancock, Cathy Patranclla, Roy
Burch, Barbara Russell, Jerry
Nance, Scott Simpson, Linda
Hensley, Wayne Baker, Don
Bread and water, as well as a lew
extras, will be provided for the
prisoners.
Funds raised through the
Livingston Lock-Up will help im-
prove the quality of.life for more
than 250 children and adults in the
East Texas area who arc served by
the Muscular Dystrophy Associa-
tion. These services include month-
ly clinic visits, support groups,
therapy, genetic counseling and
youth summer camp for children
ages 6-21.
All of these services arc
provided at no direct cost to the
patients or their families.
children ol us but one is dead now
and leaves two little children. Then
I think my inothcrjg in title to a
share. Too now I want you to write
to me at oneed. It there is any thing
for us I will see all the children &
get them orders & let it be sent to
them. Robert L. Jennings sent six-
teen dollars to my oldest brother &
said that it was to be equally
decided a mongsl us all. You will
please let me hear from you at
once. Yours respectful
Hiram C. Jennings"
A lot of letters went back and
forth as they tried to determine who
exactly had rights to a share of the
estate. Some relatives were alarmed
that they might be left out. Mrs.
Hartlcss warned Green, "You will
please not pay out no more money
until you hear from me again." And
they grew impatient as years,
passed. Samuel T. Jennings wrote,
"We think six years long enough to
wait and we shall have it settled."
It wasn’t until 1898, almost nine
years alter Jennings died, dial all
die relatives were sorted out and
the legal heirs identified. The coun-
ty clerk then sent each heir the for-
tune he or she had been dreaming ;t
of lor so long; S8.88. _
To put that amount in pcrspcc- >
live for the year 1898, it meant that H
two of the heirs could have pooled •,
their inheritances and sent off to
Moiiigomery-Wards for a cook
stove the economy model.
Vote For
J
Henry Ager
L.I.S.I). School Board
May 6, 1995
Pd Pol. Ad. By Henry O Ager. III. Treasurer, P O. Box 95. Livingston. Texas 77351
Vv
SALE
1
SALE
SALE
Monday Only • 9am - 5pm
I*
DESIGN GALLERY
507 N. Washington • Downtown Livingston
409-327-9150
"No Credit Needed"
Rent To Own
Crmtro^iLDoug Han^' IT HbJ Sh*mtitrsity Baker'- C>lvner_
D ETDB DanDDDDDDBDDDDB DB!
ONALASKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.
22ND ANNUAL g
BAR-B-QUE ANB AUCTION I
SATURDAY - APRIL 29,1995
TO BE HELD AT THE NEW FIRE STATION 00 ,
INTERSECTION OF HWY. 190 & OLD GROVETON RD. ; jfr “
11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM #
D MERCHANDISE AUCTION AT 1:00 PM
AUCTIONEER - DICK HUBERT - ITEMS DONATED BY AREA MERCHANTS
° BAR-B-QUE BEEF, LINKS & CHICKEN
BARBECUE (PLATES SERVED WITH BEANS, COLESLAW & ALL THE TRIMMINGS) BA(,BECUE
AVAILABLE STARTING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26TH
_BAR-B-QUE BY THE POUND OR SANDWICHES
We at the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department wish to thank all of you that have participated over the years in'
our Annual Fund Raiser and we know you will be back. But, on.the other hand, we want to extend a special invitationQ:
to the people that have never participated to come listen to good country music, eat delicious homemade
cakes and pies, have a big time at our auction, and eat the Best Bar-B-Que In The World!!!
Thank you,
Bobby Smith, Chief O.V.F.D.
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 23, 1995, newspaper, April 23, 1995; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790565/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.