Orin Jennings was throughout a long period actively and busily engaged in general agricultural pursuits on a well improved tract of ninety-four acres situated in Lafayette township, but he has now put aside the more active duties of life and is living retired, merely giving his supervision to his farming interests. He is a native son of Coshocton county, born March 23, 1829, the eldest in a family of eleven children, born of the marriage of Joseph D. and Abigail (Powelson) Jennings. The father was a native of New Jersey and came to Coshocton county at a very early day, purchasing two hundred acres of land and following farming throughout this entire life. The record of the family is as follows: Orin, of this review; Hiram, also of Coshocton county; Alexander, Reuben, John and Emily, all of whom have departed this life; Harrison and Leander, of this county; Samuel, who has departed this life; David, also of Coshocton county; and Joseph, deceased.

Orin Jennings whose name introduces this review was educated in the common schools and was trained in the duties of the home farm, assisting in the plowing, planting and havesting from an early age. He remained under the parental roof until he reached mature years when he establed a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Susan Wells, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio. Following their marriage the young couple began their domestic life upon the homestead farm which Mr. Jennings rented from his father. During this period he accumulated a sum of money that enabled him to invest in land, thus becoming the owner of ninety-four acres in Lafayette township. With the exception of one hundred days' service rendered to his country during the Civil war, Mr. Jennings followed farming throughout his entrire business career. Although he still retains his residence on the home farm he is practically living retired, leaving the more active duties to others. In former years he worked hard and persistently so that the rest which he is now enjoying is well merited. The marriage of Orin and Susan (Wells) Jennings was blessed with eight children, as follows: Louis of Coshocton county; Mary Werts, the widow of George Wertz and a resident of this county; Alexander; Abbie, the wife of William West, a resident of this county; Clistie, the wife of Price Owens, also of Coshocton county; Margaret J., the wife of Joseph Gray, also residing here; Hiram, a resident of Coshocton, Ohio and William, in this county. The wife and mother died in 1892, after which Mr. Jennings was again married, his second union being with Harriet Law, who still survives.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Jennings has supported the republican party and has served as supervisior and as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm and helpful friend. He is a self-made man, one who through the inherent force of his nature and the utilization of opportunites has worked his way upward until he is numbured among the honered and revered citizens of his section of the state.

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