Edward L. Penn, 1814-1901

PENN, WEAVER, BOSWORTH, AMBLER, HOLWICK, BARTLETT, SMITH, HARBIN, KETCHAM, INGERSOLL, COLE

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 8/8/2012 at 07:45:52

A GOOD MAN GONE.
E.L. Penn Lays Aside the Burdens of a Long and Busy Life.
One of Mt. Pleasant's Oldest and Most Honored Citizens Passes Away - Death Was Peaceful and Triumphant - Was a Descendant of Good Ancestry.

With a bright May morning smiling a benediction upon a life well spent, and amid the echos of sacred song, with prayer upon his lips and with visions of the paths of peace into which he was about to be ushered, Edward L. Penn triumphantly closed his earthy career. Surrounded with those nearest and dearest and all welcoming the merciful coming of the angel of Death, the end came not as a calamity, not as a tragedy, nor as circumstance surrounded with grief and anguish, but rather as the fitting close of the life of a good man whose life work had been finished.

The last illness of Mr. Penn dates from a week ago last Saturday. Prior to that he had been enjoying as good health as a man of his years could reasonably expect. For many years Mr. Penn has suffered from an aggravating heart trouble, probably induced by frequent spells of dyspepsia, and which eventually proved fatal.

A week ago Saturday, Mr. Penn awoke feeling weakened and exhausted, but he insisted on going to the First National Bank of which he was the president. He was unable to remain long, however and went home suffering a good deal. A physician was at once called and the acuteness of the trouble seemed to yield to treatment, but in spite of all that could be done, Mr. Penn continued to fail; and at times suffered from periods of intense suffering.

It was not until the last of the week, however, that hopes for his recovery were abandoned, and the relatives of the family informed of his grave condition. Yesterday the condition of Mr. Penn assumed a very alarming aspect and his death was looked for at almost any hour. However, he continued to linger along, until this morning when at seven o'clock, he passed away surrounded by his wife and children.

The scenes in the death chamber during the last twelve hours are described as beautiful, and a blessing to those who were privileged to witness them. His mind clear, conscious of the approaching end and welcoming the transition from this world to the world to come, he joined with those around him in the singing of the old familiar songs, and in prayer and praise and affectionate conversation, until his weakening powers surrendered to Death and wrapped in unconsciousness his sprit was wafted to the Great Beyond.

Edward L. Penn was born in 1814 at Philadelphia, Pa. Of his ancestry he was particularly proud, being a descendant on one side from Admiral Penn of the English royal navy and on the other from the Livingstone family whose head was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His grandfather was the master builder at the royal dock yards at Chatham London, and his father followed the sea and at the time of the birth of the subject of this sketch, was master of one of the clipper ships that made the American marine famous the world over.

When eight years of age Mr. Penn with his father and family moved to Circleville, a small Ohio town. He refused to take interest in school but had a most decided leaning toward business and mercantile pursuits. When fifteen years old he accepted his first position, a clerkship in a store in his home town at a salary of $6.00 per month and "keep", but he was patient and faithful to the interests of his employer and not long afterwards was offered a position in a neighboring town at a salary that was then considered munificent. Mr. Penn continued to climb the ladder of success until finally he had accumulated enough money and experience to warrant his first business venture, and in his young manhood he in partnership with a friend engaged in the dry goods business at Lafayette, Indiana, where for many years they prospered.

In 1851, Mr. Penn was married to Miss Amelia A. Weaver of Harrisburg, Pa., but her health failing and fearing that she was developing consumption and at the imperative orders of the family physician, Mr. Penn and his family left Indiana to seek some favorable inland town for a temporary residence. By chance they arrived in Mt. Pleasant October, 1856 and being attracted with the apparent healthfulness of the place, concluded to make it their home until the health of Mrs. Penn would warrant a return to Lafayette.

Mr. Penn at once opened up a store on North Jefferson street where Bosworth's pharmacy now stands. A year later he bought the site of Union Block and associating with him, Mr. Henry Ambler, that substantial structure was built. Mr. Penn at once occupied the building, opening up the first exclusive dry goods store in the city and the first to attempt the cash system. For many years, Mr. Penn continued in business, finally disposing of an interest to Mr. C.A. Holwick and eventually the firm selling out to Bartlett & Smith.

Mr. Penn first went to housekeeping in a modest home where the residence of Mr. Harbin now stands. Later he bought the Penn tract on Broadway and for a while lived in the house that occupied the Ketcham residence, and later erectd the fine home now occupied by the family and probably the most expensive house in the city.

['Mt. Pleasant Daily News', Wednesday, May 1, 1901.]

The last will and testament of the late E.L. Penn discloses the fact that he possessed a fortune of something over $100,000. The entire property is left to his wife and three children, Miss Ella Penn, Mrs. Ingersoll and Mrs. Cole. Each of the children will receive about $25,000 and Mrs. Penn the balance of the estate. The Iowa Wesleyan, of which Mr. Penn was for years a trustee, was bequeathed about $2,000 worth of mining stock.