Thomas Jefferson Jennings (1843-1922) Diary (KC285)

T.J. "Tommy" Jennings was born the 8th of 13 childern to William and Ruth Bolt Jennings in Carroll County, Virginia, on February 17, 1843.  The Jennings were a farming family, but T.J. received some early, formal education.  At age 18, he enlisted in the 45th Virginia Regiment and participated in many Civil War battles.  He served as a prisoner of war in Camp Chase, Ohio, for 10 months.

Jennings married Sarah Banks on November 1, 1866, with whom he had eight sons and three daughters.  The Jennings were farmers in Virginia, first in Hillsville, then in Rockbridge County.  In March 1901, Jennings bought a farm near Greenwood in Cass County, Missouri, and lived there until his death.  He was a lifelong member of the Baptist church and died February 9, 1922.

The diary is a typed transcript.  It begins with general autobiographical background, and then becomes more detailed with brief monthly and daily entries.  Most of the entries are concerned with farm operations, including information about crops, livestock, going to market, weather, hunting, etc.  He also describes other aspects of his life such as attending church, traveling, and family news.  Jennings occasionally comments on larger events, however, such as presidential elections, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, World War I, and a courtroom massacre in Virginia.  The last entry in the diary is January 13, 1922.  1843-1922.

1 volume, photocopied

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