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I am the son of Benjamin Marcellous Jernigan and Mary Elizabeth Moren. I was born 3 November 1893 in our home located some twenty miles south of Little Rock in Saline County, Arkansas.
After finishing the eighth grade at the Sardis High School in 1914, I attended the Tyler Commercial College at Tyler, Texas. Due to finances, I did not finish the course, but what little I learned has helped me through life and I do not regret spending what little money I had to attend this school.
After various jobs in our area, I took the examination for a license to teach school at the Duck Creek School for $60.00 per month. This was in the fall of 1917 and they could not find a teacher. I received a third grade certificate, good for one year, but never did try to teach any more. I still have my license in my lock box at the bank.
In the summer or 1918 I went to Bauxite, Arkansas and went to work for the Norton Bauzite Co. for 25 cents per hour, working twelve hours per day. This was good money and I was glad to get a job. While at Bauxite I purchased my first T-Model Ford for $450.00. This is when I first met Prudie Jane Stacks and was married on 29 December 1918.
We lived at Bauxite for a short time, then moved to Hensley, Arkansas where I went to work for the Farrell Lumber Co. in the log works department. Later I was transferred to the general store and worked there for some 15 months. I then went to Little Rock to work for the Magnolia Petroleum Company for $100.00 a month. This was 2 August 1920. Our first home was at 1318 College St., where Maida was born. We raised our three daughters here in Little Rock and all were graduated from the Central High School. I continued to work for the Magnolia Petroleum Company until my retirement at the end of 1958.
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