Connie married Flois Luene CUNNINGHAM on 19 Mar 1947. Flois (daughter of Herman CUNNINGHAM and Annie Lola JENNINGS) was born on 19 Jul 1929 in Tulia, Swisher, Texas, USA; died on 26 Sep 2018 in Texas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married Connie Reed (October 7, 1919-February 11, 1993) on March 19, 1947 and had children:
Connie Luene Reed, December 13, 1947-
Linda Darlene Reed, January 11, 1951-
Carol Kaylene Reed, August 26, 1961-
kelly Dean Reed, September 25, 1964-

Notes:

Herman Cunningham farmed and did some trucking. The family lived in several different communities in and around Swisher County TX. In 1978 they lived in Lockney TX. ["Herman Cunningham," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 235.] Herman and Annie Cunningham's children are Alvin, Udell, Flois, Nelda Gene, Carolyn. The Windmilling book gives their birth places. [Ethel Bell, "Veto Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 377.]
1930 Census, Armstrong County TX, Claude
hh207—H. Cunningham, head, age 35 born TX, rents house for $15 month, age at first marriage: 25, father born GA, mother born TX; occupation: truck hauling; veteran
Annie Cunningham, wife, age 30 born TX; age at first marriage: 20; father born AL, mother born TN
Alvin Cunningham, son, age 8 born TX
Udell Cunningham, son, age 4 born c1926 TX
Floris Cunningham, dau, age 8 mos. born TX
Social Security Death Index Record
Name: Herman Cunningham
SSN: 458-07-6225
Last Residence: 79241 Lockney, Floyd, Texas, United States of America
Born: 16 Mar 1895
Died: Jun 1980
State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (Before 1951

Died:
Age: 85

Herman married Annie Lola JENNINGS on 20 Jun 1920 in Tulia, Swisher, Texas, USA. Annie (daughter of Veto Curry JENNINGS and Mary ASilla STALLINGS) was born on 4 Oct 1899 in Tulia, Swisher, Texas, USA; died on 6 Apr 1982 in Lockney, Floyd, Texas, USA; was buried on 8 Apr 1982 in Lockney, Floyd County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married in the home of Annie's uncle, Richard Joshua "Dosh" Stallings in Tulia, Swisher County, Texas.
After finishing school Annie got her teaching certificate and taught school for a year at the Price School in the Whitfield TX community. Here she met Herman Cunningham who had returned from France after World War I. Annie taught school for another year after they married.["Herman Cunningham," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 235.]
1920 Census, Swisher County TX, Tulia
hh229—Richard D. Stallings, head, age 42 c1875 born TN, parents born TN; owns farm; grain farmer
Lizzie D. Stallings, wife, age 38 born TX, father born KY, mother born MS
Leora Stallings, dau, age 16 born TX; public school student
Mary A. Stallings, dau, age 13 born TX; public school student
Sallie G. Stallings, dau, age 11 born TX; public school student
Laura R. Stallings, dau, age 7 born TX; public school student
Edith F. Stallings, dau, age 1½ born TX
Annie Jennings, niece, age 20 born c1900 TX, father born AL, mother born TN; public school teacher;
single
Inez Jennings, niece, age 16 born TX, father born AL, mother born TN; public school student; single
Social Security Death Index Record
Name: Annie Cunningham
SSN: 449-17-6961
Last Residence: 79241 Lockney, Floyd, Texas, United States of America
Born: 4 Oct 1899
Died: Apr 1982
State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973)

Died:
Age: 82

Notes:

1930 Census, Armstrong County, Texas
Justice Precinct no. 4
Enumeration District 6-5
Sheet Number 7A
Enumeration Date April 21, 1930
Line number 48, Dwelling no. 149, Family no. 157, Cunningham, AB, Head, rented house, male, white, 59 years old, 23 at first marriage, able to read and write, born in Georgia, father born in Georgia, mother born in Georgia, Code State or M.T. 78, Occupation: Farmer, Industry: General, Class of Worker: 0, actually at work: yes, not a veteran, No. of farm schedule: 129
Line number 49, Cunningham, Stella, Wife-H, female, white, 63 years old, 26 at first marriage, able to read and write, born in Tennessee, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Tennessee, Code State or M.T. 81, Occupation: None
Line number 50, Cunningham, Aubrey, son, female, white, 23 years old, single, able to read and write, born in Texas, father born in Georgia, mother born in Tennessee, Code State or M.T. 87, Occupation: Farmer, Industry: General, Class of Worker: M, actually at work: yes, not a veteran

Died:
Age: 91

Amos married Stella Ophelia BOWLING on 30 May 1894 in Allen, Collin, Texas, USA. Stella (daughter of William Jones BOWLING and Mary Elizabeth KENNEDY) was born on 13 Apr 1867 in Tennessee; died on 11 Aug 1938 in Claude, Armstrong, Texas, USA; was buried in Aug 1938 in Claude, Armstrong County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Rosebud, New Mexico
Nov. 11th 1935
Dear Alvin:---
It is with pleasure I answer your most welcome letter. I am glad you are interested in school and hope you enjoy your school days as much as I did mine. Really I think our school days are our happiest days with all their troubles and trials -- yes I had my share of "trouble & trial" in school even tho I never got a whipping.
When I went to school the schools were not "Graded" as they are now. We had classes -- sometimes 2 or 3 of a kind, I mean of the second reader we'll say as some pupils would have McGuffey's Readers while others would have another kind. I used the McGuffey's Readers. The "Old Blue-Backed Spelling Book" (Webster Spelling Book) and Alvin I don't believe I'd be afraid to "spell" with my Grandchildren to-day.
I was eight years old April 13, 1875 and started to school some time that year, at Lewisville, Denton Co., Texas. However my Mother had taught me at home, so I was in the second reader and could spell "way over in the book" and knew how to make the figures and count.
That first school house was up on a "rise" N.W. from town about 1/2 Mi. It was a large "two story" house; the upper room was used by the Mason Lodge the lower for school church and Sunday School.
Sometimes there were 75 or so pupils so had to have two teachers, but both taught in that one big room.
We sat on long benches and a class would go up to the teacher to recite and sit on a long bench, only the spelling classes would stand in a row and "turn down", when one missed a word. The pupil who was head of class to day would "go foot" tomorrow.
The house was heated by a stove and they burned wood. When it was real cold the teacher would let us go sit awhile by the stove to warm our feet. They wouldn't let us draw pictures in time of books.
When I started to school my Grandma gave me a large square framed slate and that's what I wrote on, and "figured" & (played when the teacher wasn't looking.)
In 1879 we moved way out to Wise Co. I was 12 by then, you see so had other books to study such as Geography -- Monteith's Third Part. Rag's Third Part Arithmetic and Grammar -- Smith's, I believe, was the first one I used; then later Reed & Kellogg's. So we had to parse and diagram. Yes that was hard.
That school house was a real country school about 3 or 4 Mi. S.W. of Bridgeport (the old town) Texas, in Pleasant Valley. It was built of logs (I believe) and had long home-made benches. No black-boards, so we used slates.
There was a plank "desk" on each side to write on, the boys used one, the girls used the other. Yes, we had a time to write some, had bought copy books, others used "fools cap" paper and the teacher would set a "copy". It too had a stove and burned wood. The house was in the woods so we had lots of shade to play in.
The boys played on one side of the house, the girls on the other. The boys at both these schools played ball and other similar things. The girls would play games such as base "Learner Lou" etc -- we had nothing to play with but always had fun.
Girls all wore sun bonnets -- never went bare headed but in warm weather would go bare-footed, same as the boys -- oh! the big girls didn't, of course.
Sometimes school would be only for three months, and a five month school was a long time -- I mean in the country. Then sometimes there would be a subscription school in Summer.
Sometimes the teacher would "stay a round" with the people -- not have to pay board.
My first school I had to walk alone and go about three Mi. but at this last one we lived just little over 1/2 Mi. from the school house.
While we lived there tho there were two years I did not go to that school, because the teacher did not keep good order. I went to a lady who taught in her house 2 Mi. away. There we sat by a fireplace and used her chairs. She was such a fine teacher too -- could explain things so we could understand even arithmetic. Also she had some different readers I used but I forget the names. Of course, they were the higher books 5th & 6th.
My letter is getting too long to tell about when I "went off" to school. So will close for this time and if you want the other part I'll write again.
Lovingly your Grandmother,
Stella Cunningham

Died:
Age: 71

Notes:

"Veto Jennings was only six years old in 1875 when his father was killed in a political argument back in Alabama. His mother, Lucinda Fannie Jennings, wanted to be close to her brother in Texas so she brought her sons Veto, Otto, and Worth and came to Fannin County Texas. Little is known about the trip except that it was the summer of 1880. In Fannin County, Veto met and married Mary ASilla Stallings whose family had come from Tennessee to Fannin County. In 1891 Veto brought his wife and little daughter Lennice to Swisher County Texas. They were accompanied by J.T. and Sarah Stallings and family. The trip by covered wagon took eighteen days." [Ethel Bell, "Veto Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 377.]
Veto's grandson states that Veto came to Swisher County from Fannin County in 1889 and homesteaded land seven miles west of Tulia; in 1892 he brought his family to the homestead." "Melvin Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 375.]
"The Veto Jennings family settled on land eight miles west of Tulia in the Lakeview community. Since it was hard times, Veto worked on a ranch as a cowboy for Mr. Word for several years, and at the same time farmed his own land. (Several of their neighbors at this time were the Henry Settles, Fred Scotts, Charley Jordans and George Tomlinsons.) The family lived in a half-dug out until around 1908 when Veto built a two-story house. Several of their children were born in the dug-out. They were living in the dug-out when the prairie fire of 1900 came through destroying everything. A passing cowboy helped the mother [Mary ASilla] carry the children and some belongings to a dirt mound between two earth tanks, then helped here trying to save the dug-out." [Ethel Bell, "Veto Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 377.]
Veto Jennings household in 1900 included his wife and 4 children, his widowed mother, and his brother Otto. According to his biography, they would still be living in the half-dugout, as the two-story frame house was not built until 1908:
1900 Census, Swisher County TX, Precinct 4
#128, #139—Veto Jennings, head, age 30 born Sep 1869 AL, parents born AL, married 11 years
Mary Jennings, wife, age 25 born March 1875 TN, parents born TN, married 11 years
Lenice Jennings, dau, age 9 born Oct 1890 TX, father born AL, mother born TN
Lee O. Jennings, son, age 5 born Feb 1895 TX, father born AL, mother born TN
Frank G. Jennings, son, age 3 born Apr 1897 TX, father born AL, mother born TN
Annie L. Jennings, dau, age 1 born Oct 1899 TX, father born AL, mother born TN
Lucinda F. Jennings, mother, widow, age 56 born Nov 1843 AL, parents born SC, gave birth to 5
children, 3 children living
Otto R. Jennings, brother, single, age 28 born Oct 1871 AL, parents born AL, farm laborer
1904 Judgement Record, Swisher County TX, February Court, #140, Vol. 1, page 24: V.C. Jennings, defendant; C.A. Whitescarver amount of judgement: $20; amount of costs: $2.70; rate of interest: 6%; amount due: $22.70 W.J. Redfearn, J.P. Precinct 1; filed for record: 7 April 1904
"After the death of Mary ASilla in 1910, Veto continued to rear his children the best way he could, sometimes playing a fiddle for some extra money. The children's aunt, Mrs. R.J. (Dosh) Stallings, who lived in Tulia, helped out by making them some clothes. The children attended schools at Lakeview." [Ethel Bell, "Veto Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 377.]
1910 Census, Swisher County TX, Precinct 5--almost unreadable
Veto C. Jennings, head, age 40 born c1870 AL, parents born AL, farmer
Mary A. Jennings, wife,
Lennice V. Jennings, dau,
Lee O. [may be another initial after O.] Jennings, son,
Frank G. Jennings, son,
Annie L. Jennings, dau,
Mary E. Jennings, dau,
Daisie E. Jennings, dau,
Melvin Jennings, in his biography for Windmilling, relates two stories about his grandfather Veto Jennings. "When the family needed meat, Veto and his son Frank would ride on horseback until they would spot a herd of antelope--which was not difficult at all, since there were many herds then, in the early 1900s. The grass then was about 30 inches tall. Veto would take a 44-40 pistol and they would sit down. They would then take a stick, tie a bandana, or some other type of cloth on it, stand it up so it would be higher than the grass, to act as a flag to attract the antelope. Veto would then pull his knees up, brace the big pistol on his knees at arm's length, holding it as securely as possible--and wait. The antelope, being very curious about the flag, would come over for a closer look. Veto would wait until the antelope came within a few feet, then he pulled the trigger." The family lived in a half-dug out until around 1908 when Veto built a two-story house. Several of their children were born in the dug-out. They were living in the dug-out when the prairie fire of 1900 came through destroying everything. A passing cowboy helped the mother [Mary ASilla] carry the children and some belongings to a dirt mound between two earth tanks, then helped here trying to save the dug-out." ["Melvin Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 375.]
The second story by Veto's grandson--Veto's homestead land (seven miles west of Tulia) "joined the 'Running Water Road.' The freight wagons from the railroad at Canyon on their way to the Plainview area, would camp at Veto Jennings' campground where the grass was kept short and there was no danger of starting a prairie fire. The distance from Veto's place was considered a big day's drive by wagon. Here at the freighter campground Veto provided feed and water for the teams that pulled the wagons. He had an interesting way of charging for the feed. He stacked the feed quite a little distance from the campground. In selling the feed, he charged fifty cents for all the feed a man could carry to his team, but, if he got more than he could carry all the way and had to put some of it down and come back for it, it would cost another fifty cents. Pretty soon regular customers learned what they could carry." "Melvin Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 375.]
1910 Census, Swisher County TX, Justice Precinct 4, hh 128:
Veto Jennings, head, age 30 born Sep 1869, married 11 years
Mary A. Jennings, wife, age 25 born March 1875, married 11 years
Lenice Jenning, dau, age 9 born Oct 1890 TX
Lee O. Jenning, son, age 5 born 1895 TX
Frank G. Jenning, son, age 3 born April 1897 TX
Annie L. Jenning, dau, age 1 born Oct 1899 TX
Lucinda F. Jenning, mother, age 56, widow, born Nov 1843 AL
Otto R. Jenning, brother, age 28 born Oct 1871 AL, single
William Kinslow, laborer, age 23 born 1872, single
1910 Deed Record, Swisher County TX, File #474, Book 67, page 583:
V.C. Jennings' wife, Mary Asilla Jennings, died intestate [without leaving a will] on 18 June 1910
children: Lannice [22 years old]; Lee; Frank; Annie; Ethel; Eysel.
None of said children are married. V.C. Jennings was not married prior to deceased wife, nor has he
married since her death.
witness: V.C. Jennings, R.O. Jennings
sworn on 23 Nov 1912
filed on 8 July 1936
recorded on 11 July 1936
1912 Judgement Record, Swisher County TX, January term #355, Vol. 2, page 16:
date of judgement: 22 January 1912
amount of judgement: $161.74
amount of costs: $3.30
rate of interest: 10%
total amount: $165.04
In favor of J.P. Moody, 22 January 1912, J.P. Huckabee, J.P.
executed & recorded in Vol. 53, page 273 of Deed Records on 22 June 1926
1912 Deed Index, Swisher County TX, Book 25, page 270:
grantor: V.C. Jennings
instrument: SWD
property: Pt. section 24, M-6
instrument date: 28 Oct 1912
filing date: 23 Nov 1912
1912 Deed Index, Swisher County TX, Book 29, page 15: grantor: Frank, Annie, Ethel, Eysel, Lannice, Lee Jennings grantee: A.W. Sternenberg Cert Copy Judgement: part section 24, M-6 instrument date: 8 Nov 1912 filing date: 8 Nov 1912
In 1920, Veto, age 50, lived in the household of his brother Otto and his family. [1920 Census, Swisher Co TX, 13B, #0637, Tulia]

Died:
Age: 62

Veto married Mary ASilla STALLINGS on 2 Dec 1888 in Fannin County, Texas. Mary (daughter of John Thomas STALLINGS and Sarah Long THOMAS) was born on 31 Mar 1872 in Bedford, Tennessee, USA; died on 18 Jun 1910 in Swisher, Texas, USA; was buried in 1910 in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tulia, Swisher County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary's second name is spelled variously--Asilla, ASilla, A Silla, but her daughter, Annie Jennings Cunningham, notes that "my mother's name in our old family Bible was spelled with a S instead of a C; it was Mary A. Silla. [letter to Jan Jennings in Tulsa, OK from Mrs. H. (Annie) Cunningham in Lockney TX (c1976)]
The family of John Thomas Stallings (1843- ) and Sarah Thomas Stallings, moved from Bedford County TN after the Civil War to Fannin County TX. The family farmed near Honey Grove for about eight years. Their oldest son, Daniel Orzo, came to Swisher County TX in 1890 with Joe Cantrell, Otto Jennings, and brother-in-law Veto Jennings. "Pleased with this area, Daniel Orzo Stallings filed on land and invited the others to come to this new land of opportunity. By the time the rest of the family arrived by wagon, taking 18 days to make the trip, a severe drougth had struck. Instead of breaking sod, they rented land from Judge Settle. By 1893 good crops put the family on their feet financially. They were among the first to raise Kaffir corn, maize and wheat." [Gladys Stallings Ballenger, "John Stallings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History, 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 547.] Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History, 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 547.]
Ten children were born to Mary A. Silla and Veto, but four died at birth. [Ethel Bell, "Veto Jennings," Windmilling: 101 Years of Swisher County Texas History 1876-1977 (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1978), 377.]
Mary Asila Jennings - 38 years 2 months 18 days, born in Tennessee, died 18 Jun 1910, buried in Tulia. Relatives mentioned are John T. Stallings and Sallie Thomas. Book Number 1, Page Number 15, Certificate Nubmer 141. [Book Number 1, Page Number 18, Certificate Number 179. [Earliest Death Records From Book 1, County Clerk's Office, Swisher County Courthouse, Tulia, TX]

Died:
Age at Death: 38