Benjamin Fitzgerald Jennings and Marion V. Sawyer

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Husband Benjamin Fitzgerald Jennings ¹

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           Born: 9 Sep 1838 - Allegheny City, Allegheny Co, PA 1
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         Father: John Fleninken Jennings (1807-1888) 2 3
         Mother: Elizabeth B. Fitzgerald (      -1883) 1 4

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       Marriage: 31 Oct 1865 5

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Wife Marion V. Sawyer ⁵

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           Born: 
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         Father: John M. Sawyer (      -      ) 5
         Mother: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Benjamin Fitzgerald Jennings

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He was educated in the local public schools and at the University of Western Pennsylvania. In 1856, two years after entering the University, he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the then extensive steel manufacturing concern of Singer, Hartman & Co., of which his father was a partner. This position, which had been made vacant suddenly by the illness of the gentleman who had held it, was only to be filled temporarily, and when young Mr. Jennings assumed its duties, he did so with the intention of returning to college to graduate. Nevertheless, he became absorbed in the work and continued in it until the summer of 1862. From the beginning of the Civil War he had found it extremely difficult to repress his patriotic instincts, but as a great deal depended upon him in a business way, he continued at his desk, attending to duties which with each succeeding year became more and more responsible. The stirring events of 1862, and the urgent need of increasing the number of troops in the field, at length decided him to lose no time in entering the army, and in August of that year he gave up business to engage in the work of recruiting. His patriotic and well directed efforts resulted in the enlistment of B Company, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three years. Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the company formed from these recruits, he took the field with it, and in November following was promoted to be its First Lieutenant. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and with it he saw service in both Maryland and Virginia, and took part in the second battle of Bull Run, and the subsequent battles of the Army of the Potomac to Chancellorsville. In 1863 he had won the captaincy of his company, but owing to failing health was compelled to resign his commission and return home. In 1864 he engaged in the manufacture of machinery at Allegheny, under the firm name of Jennings & Co., and for four years was thus employed with gratifying success. In 1868 poor health obliged him to give up business, but in 1872 he became concerned in the manufacture of steel, as a partner in the firm of Reiter, Sutton & Co., which two years afterwards took the style of Smith, Sutton & Co. Mr. Jennings continued a member of this firm until 1885, when both he and Mr. Sutton sold their interests to the Messrs. Smith. In the following year he organized the manufactur-ing concern of Jennings, Beale & Co., Limited, and was elected its Chairman. This corporation had its plant at Leechburgh, and was one of the principal manufacturing firms in that part of Pennsylvania. Mr. Jennings' extended personal experience in the manufacture of steel enabled him to develop a very high standard in his manufactured products, which consist chiefly in steel plates and sheet steel. He was a Republican in politics, has never identified himself actively in political affairs. He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, of which his mother was a devoted member for fifty years.

1 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 141.

2 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 273.

3 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 139.

4 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 275.

5 —, Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. I (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889), Pg 142.