| 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]
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1869 - 1934 (64 years)
[2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]