F.W. Jennings was a member of a prominent Missouri family of eight children. He attended a small private school taught by the renowned author, Harold Bell Wright. After graduating from Park College at Parksville, Mo., he answered Horace Greeley's call "Go West Young Man,". Fred's interest was the lumber business and the new frontier that beckoned him was West Texas.He was a passenger on the very first train that brought settlers to Spur. Fred discovered to his dismay that he was the only man on the train with a derby hat and umbrella so he promptly hid them.
After being in Spur for some few years, he became manager of Brazelton Lumber Co., a position he held until his retirement.
The progress of Spur is practically the life of F.W. Jennings. The city's interest was very close to his heart. He was Mayor twice and it was during one of these administrations the first streets of Spur were paved.
One of the three founders of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Jennings remained a ruling elder in this church until the time of his death. Mr. Jennings was always a strong supporter of all of the churches of Spur and generously shared his singing talent with them and all public organizations.
Fred Jennings was most happy to be one of the four men who organized the Rotary Club of Spur and he remained a loyal member for his lifetime.
Mr. Jennings had many varied experiences as a citizen of Spur, one of which occurred as President of the Spur School Board. This incident happened to a boy whose life Fred had touched many times.
The Superintendent of the Spur School had announced that he would either ship or expel from school any senior boy who played hookey. This boy came to Mr. Jenning's office and conferred with him, stating that he was practically grown and would not be whipped, but would be expelled from school first. After a conference of one hour behind closed doors, when the boy passed through the outer office, he turned and said to those present, "I am going to take the whipping.". To this day this boy is one of Spur's most prominent young business men.
F.W. Jennings married Miss Bennie Little from Georgia, who still resides in their family home in Spur on Hill Street.
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971, page 273
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in the First Methodist Church for Frederick Walter Jennings, a retired Spur businessman.
Mr. Jennings arrived in Spur in 1909 on the first train. He served as manager of Brazelton Lumber Co. from 1909 until his retirement in 1952. He was very active in civic affairs and served as the mayor of Spur on two different occasions; he was a charter member of the Spur Rotary Club; was one of three people who helped organize the Presbyterian Church and had been an elder in the church since it was organized.
Mr. Jennings was a member of the Masonic Lodge; Odd-fellows; Woodmen of the World and was past president of the Spur Rotary Club and the Spur school board.
Mr. Jennings died on November 16, in Spur Memorial Hospital. He had been in failing health for some time.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Bennie Jennings and one sister, Mrs. Tom Posey, Knoxville, KY.
Pallbearers included Lawis Lee, W.F. Gilbert, James B. Reed, M.H. Bragg, John L. Green, Carter Robinson, Neal Chastain and Bob Conner.
Burial in Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, November 19, 1964
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
Funeral services were held Friday at 10 a.m. in the Methodist Church for a long time Spur resident, Mrs. Bennie Little Jennings, 84.Rev. Clarence Stephens officiated, assisted by Thomas Bigelow, St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Lubbock.
Mrs. Jennings died in Navasota, Feb. 15. She had been a resident of Spur since 1909 and in the early days of the town, she was employed by the Swenson Land and Cattle Co. Her husband, a prominent Spur businessman, died in 1964.
Survivors include three nieces, Mrs. Virginia Thomas, Navasota; Mrs. Ellen Ross Lightfoot, Miami; and Mrs. Ruth Cogell, Atlanta, GA; two nephews, Fred Stewart, Pecos; and Rowell Rooney, Florida.
Pallbearers included John L. Green, N.A. Chastain, Alvin Jones, Horace Hyatt, E.S. Lee, R.A. Conner and Lawis Lee.
Interment was in Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur February 23, 1967
Transcribed by Becky Hodges, September 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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