William A. Penn 1848-1942

PENN, ALLEN, DARLING, SWIFT, MOLISON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/26/2010 at 00:16:58

Wm. Penn Died on Tuesday
Dies at Five A.M. at Home of Son, Nearly 94 Years of Age and Long Time Resident

William A. Penn, a long time resident of Emmet County passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Darling at 5 A.M. on Tuesday. Mr. Penn, who would have been 94 years old November 11 had been ill for quite some time and was confined to bed the last two weeks of his life.

Mr. Penn was born in Scotland near Edinburgh. While in Scotland he was a horticulturist. He spent some time in London, England where he was a member of the King’s Church of England singing in the choir.

He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Allen in 1871 and they lived in Scotland until April, 1884 when they came to America. They did farming in Jack Creek township for a few years and then moved to Graettinger where he was a horticulturist. While in Graettinger he was a member of the Methodist church.

Mrs. Penn died in 1936 on Christmas Day and he was also preceded in death by an infant son who died in Scotland. Two daughters, Mrs. Emerson Johnson and Mrs. Nate Hanlin.

Mr. Penn died on July 14, 1942 at the age of 93. He is survived by his sons, Robert Penn, with whom he has been living and William Penn of Olivet, South Dakota, three daughters, Mrs. John Darling of Estherville; Mrs. John Swift of Graettinger and Mrs. John Molison of Spencer; twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-eight great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Presbyterian church on Thursday. A short service will also be held in the Robert Penn home. Rev. Claude Fausnaugh will be in charge of the services and the burial took place at the Oak Hill cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, July 16, 1942)

William Penn, 93, Passes On
William Penn, 93, a former resident of Graettinger, died on Tuesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Darling, at Estherville. He had been ill for some time and was confined to bed two weeks before death. Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church at Estherville this (Thursday) afternoon with burial in Oak Hill cemetery there.

The deceased was born in Argileshire, Scotland, Nov. 11, 1848, and was married to Elizabeth Allen in 1871. They lived in the British Isles until April, 1884, and came to America at that time. In Scotland, Mr. Penn was a gardener on large estates and while living in London he sang in the King’s church choir.

After coming to America, Mr. and Mrs. Penn took up farming in Jack Creek township near Graettinger. A few years later they moved to the town of Graettinger and lived there until 1929. In that year they moved to Estherville where Mrs. Penn died Dec. 25, 1936.

Surviving are two sons, Robert Penn of Estherville and William Penn of Olivet, S.D.; three daughters, Mrs. John Darling of Estherville, Mrs. John Molison of Spencer, and Mrs. John Swift of Graettinger. There are 21 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. (The Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA, July 16, 1942)