The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-11-06
An Interesting Article

there appeared an article written
by Dana r. McGlothlin which
will be of much interest to many
of our readers. 1t concerns the
Jennings family who at enc time
lived on the West Fork short
distance above Arno'dsburg.
probably on what is now known
as the Offutt farm. The matter
is brought to mind by series of
stories running in the Saturday
Evening Post in which AL Jen-
nings describes his life as high
wayman no less notorious than
Jesse James.
Many of the older people of this
community remember Doctor
Jennings, and John and Frank
were the instructors Of the first
brass band organized at this
place. Forney Jennings is also
well remembered by local people.
An article or rather a series
of articles which have been ap-
pearingIin one of the popular per-
iodicals has created a vast amount
of interest in certain sections Of
the Ohio valley. Having refer
ence to the Beating Back" sto-
ries by Will Irwin and AL Jen-
nings in the Saturday Evening
Post. The same being a history
Of the Jennings boys, who attain
ed nation wide reputation as
desperadoes in the middle west
during the latter part Of the 80's.
Before starting on their wild
career the Jennings family re-
sided at Ripley, in the adjoining
county of Jackson. Many of the
older citizens of Jackson county
and others now residing in Par
kersburg, easily recall to mem
DRY the boys and their father,
who with an only daughter were
members of the Jennings cornet
band, all being musicians they
comprised the musical organiza-
ton which was in great demand
at political, social and other gath
erings at that time. The boys
were dashing, good looking young
fellows and were crest favorites
among the young ladies of Rip
ley and kavenswood, especially
true was this of ''AP' CT For
ney" the nicknames being deriv-
ed from the surname Alfonso.
According to those who were ac-
quainted with the young man he
was the heart smasher Of the
family, and when he left Ravens
wood with the old Miles-0rton
circus as a musician there were
tears shed by more than one of
Jackson county's young ladies be-
cause of his going.
The elder Jennings was a fine
aristocratic looking old gentlems n
was the proprietor of a drug store
aud practiced medicine in the
town Of Ripley. The drug store
proved to be the undoing Of the
Jennings boys. While engaged
in the store as clerks they sold
unlawful of course, to the jack
son countians, spirituous liquors
and were indicted before the
Jackson county grand jury for so
doing. This is perhaps the first
time that AL Jennings or his broth
ers ever came in contact with the
law, and their criminal careers
perhaps date from this violation,
although AL Jennings makes no
mention of this in his Beating
Back" stories. An old issue Of
the "Ravenswood New" dated
March 9, 1882. contains the fol-
lowing, under the caption, Jack
son County Circuit Court"
Stall VS.. Forney Jennings In
dictment for unlawfully retailing
spirituous liquors, No. /.
Same VS.. +. E. Jennings In
di,tment for unlawful reta ling
spirituous liquors /. 2 and 3.
Same vs.. Jno. D. Jennings
Indictment for unlawfully retail.
ing spirituous liquors.
Shortly after the indictments
we're found AL and his brothers
left RavensWoOd with the Miles.