The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-05-31
MRS. WILLIAM SHERMAN JENNINGS
The Accomplishments and crsees OF
FIoriss's "First Lady" Described.


women. Young, handsome, talented
and gracious, Mrs. William Sherman
Jennings has won the admiration and
esteem of the people of the LAND of
Flowers" quite as much by reason of
her own charming personality and
unusual accomplishments as on the
fact that she is the devoted wife and
trusted councillor of the remarkably
able young man who is governor of
the state.
Mrs. Jennings is a native of New
jersey, having been born in that state
less than thirty years ago; but in her
infancy her family moved to Florida
and made their home at Crystal River.
Her father is the Hon. Austin 5. Mann,
who has since settled in this state,
made a record as a powerful force
in shaping the politics and guiding
the affairs Of his adopted state. Miss
May Mann-the present Mrs. Jennings
grew into beautiful girlhOod under
the sunny skies, and amid the tropi-
cal groves of the favored peninsular Of
Florida, and at the age of eleven she
entered St. Joseph. academy in his
toric old Saint Augustine. Here she
established new record for thorough
scholarship and unusual talent, win
ming during her course five gold med.
ais for proficiency in her studies,
larger number than has ever been won
by any other student of the institu.
ton. In June 1889, at the age of
seventeen, Miss Mann graduated from
st. Joseph's and was on this occasion
selected as class valedictorian, in which
capacity she acquitted herself with
greatest credit
Equally fond of the generous nature
which surrounded her in her lovely
south Florida home, of all that was
beautiful and elevating in art and
music and literature, and acquiring
from her gifted and confiding father
keen interest in the trend of impor-
tant public affairs, Miss Man was
from girlhOod early equipped for the
brilliant social career which is offered
to the wife of an ambitious, able and
influential public man. Two years
after leaving the st. Augustine semi
nary Miss Mann was married in Talla-
hassee to Judge William Sherman
Jennings, of BrOOksville, Fla, who
had been county judge of fernando
county aud who was then regarded as
the ablest young lawyer in his Sec
ton. This marriage has proved in
every respect most happy one. and
Governor Jennings owes much of his
subsequent success at the bar and in
field of politics to the keen intelligence
and winning tact of his charming
wife.
The home of Mr.. and Mrs. Jennings
since their marriage has been in the
delightful little city of BroOksville.
Their residence, with spacious grounds,
town, and Mrs. Jennings, as well as
her husband, takes great pride in
kicking her home 10 the most excel.
ent and inviting condition. She is
pre-eminently domestic in her tastes
and carefully suprriutenOs in person
every detail of home management.
a remarkably bright little son, Sher-
man Bryan jennings. now seven
years old, is monarch of the Jen-
nenings household. This manly little
fellow is general favorite with all
the friends of his popular parents.
While letting nothing interfere with
her devotion and constant attention
to her family and her home, Mrs.
Jennings takes very keen and in
telligent interest in political affairs
The advancement of her husband
along the several honorable lines
which his ambition takes is very near
and dear to her heart. Her modest
and unaSSuming manner estOps her
from claiming any credit tor the tell
ing assistance which she has rendered
the governor in the attainment of his
aspirations, but it is certain that he
owes much To her excellent judgment
and untiring efforts in his behalf
Mrs. Jennings has attended three of
the last four qu4dreunisl democratic
state conventions which nominated
the governors of Floriia, and of course
she was present in jacksonville last
June when this supreme honor was
conferred upon her distinguished hus
band. During thu campaign which
followed Mrs Jennings imposed upon
herself much IF the hardest and most
fstiguing, yet quite the most important
work of the struggle, aud the mastery
manner in which she handled the
mass of correspondence and the routine