Depenning, Peter

DEPENNING, SCHUT, BURGRAF, VOSS, MCDUNNINK, COOPER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 21:44:32

DePenning, Peter

It has been said by scientists that human life is made up of two elements, power and fom1, and they add that the proportion must be carefully preserved if we would enjoy a life worth the living. Each of these attributes would work a mischief if either were in excess, as harmful as would be its deficiency. But it is hard to keep the proper equilibrium, in view of the fact that everything seems to tend to excess. Every good quality is said to be noxious if unmixed, and to carry the danger to the edge of ruin nature causes each man's peculiarity to super abound. One speaking from the standpoint of a farmer would adduce the learned professions as examples of this treachery. They are nature's victims of expression. If we study the lives of the artist, the orator, the poet, we find their lives no more excellent than that of mechanics or farmers. While the farmer stands at the head of art as found in nature, the others get but glimpses of the delights of nature in its various elements and moods. Peter DePenning, farmer, of the southern part of Jasper County, is not an artist or an exponent of the learned professions, but like many others who live close to the soil, sees beauty and gets inspiration from nature, thus taking a delight in existence, as a result of thus being in touch with the springs of life.

Mr. DePenning was born in Marion County, Iowa, on July 11, 1852. He is the son of Lane and Nellie (Schut) DePenning, both natives of Holland, the father's birth having occurred on September 17, 1820, and they grew up and were married in their native land, and there the father conducted a saloon, which at that period in the old country's history was quite as respectable as any other business, especially in view of the fact that he ran the same in a strictly honorable manner and was known as a man of splendid principle. Having heard so much of our thriving western republic, Lane DePenning and family immigrated in an old-fashioned sailing vessel to our shores in 1851, and they located at Pella, Marion County, Iowa, living in the country near that city and engaged in agricultural work. In 1865 the father decided to try his fortune in the far West, favoring the idea of establishing a home in the new country of Oregon, at that time sparsely settled, so he took his family on a circuitous route thither, by way of New York City and the isthmus of Panama. After a long, weary trip they finally reached the new land on the Pacific, and there they found homes, for there had been little development and money was scarce and hardships were constantly encountered. Under this unusual strain the thread of life snapped for the mother in 1867 and she was buried there. The rest of the family returned to Marion County, Iowa, in 1868. Soon after his return here the father bought ninety acres near Otley, Marion County, and there he finally became very well established and made that his home until his death. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religious matters was a member of the Holland Reform Church. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, who lived beyond infancy; they were named as follows: Jacob, who lives east of Galesburg, Iowa; Mrs. Gertie Burgraf; Walter is living south of Galesburg; Peter, of this sketch; Andrew lives south of the town of Galesburg; and Mrs. Kate Voss, who is a resident of the state of Minnesota.

Peter DePenning had little opportunity to obtain an education, but not withstanding his lack of text-book training he is a man of keen perceptive faculty and good common sense so that his sound judgment and close observations have brought an average measure of success in his chosen life work. He has met and overcome many obstacles and won a larger material reward than many another who, although perchance highly educated, but lacking the nerve, courage and fortitude has been thwarted and failed. He made the trip to Oregon when a lad with the rest of the family, and he tells many interesting reminiscences of that eventful, long journey, the vivid impression he then received remaining fresh in his memory; but the hardships endured, in the great West seem to have been lightly passed over by him, thus proving his grit. When he reached the age of twenty-one years he purchased forty acres of land in Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, Iowa, and, later sold that and purchased eighty acres on the south boundary line of Jasper County, and there he resided ten years, becoming well established the meanwhile. Selling that farm, he later purchased two hundred and twenty acres in the northwest corner of Elk Creek Township, this County. Here he prospered from the first and he has since added two hundred and twenty-seven acres, just west of the former purchase, the latter lying in Palo Alto Township. He owns altogether seven hundred and eighty acres in this County. His dwelling is on the boundary line between Palo Alto and Elk Creek Townships. He has as valuable land as the County can boast and it yields abundant harvests annually under his skillful management. He farms on an extensive scale and raised a large amount of livestock, generally feeding several carloads of cattle annually. He keeps his land well improved and employs modern implements and methods in his agricultural pursuits. He is also the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Mead County, South Dakota.

Mr. DePenning was married in 1878 to Josena McDunnink, who was born in Marion County, Iowa, on April 11, 1860, and there she grew to womanhood. She is the daughter of Ed McDunnink, who was born in Holland, where he spent his early days, immigrating to Marion County, Iowa, when that country was comparatively new. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. DePenning: Lane, Mrs. Maggie Cooper, Nellie, Ed, Ira, Fred and Harry. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1056.