Penfield, Charles Giles 1826-1921

PENFIELD, HAWORTH, SPENCER, MACDONALD, DAVIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/30/2010 at 08:44:40

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa)

WAS NINETY-FIVE YEARS

Fifty-Eight years in Grinnell Was Record of Man Buried Here Monday

CHARLES G. PENFIELD CAME HERE IN 1859

Was Honored Member of Company E, Fourth Iowa Cavalry

When Charles Giles Penfield, died last week at the home of his son Rollo at Harvey, Ill., there passed a man who had been a factor for fifty years in the industrial progress of the city, a soldier of the Civil War and a useful and worthy citizen.

Charlie Penfield, as everybody still called him, was born at Camden, Herkimer County, N.Y., Feb. 1, 1826. He had reached the wonderful age of 95 years, 3 mos. and 7 days. He spent his earlier days in Herkimer County. In 1852 he was married at Watertown to Margaret P. Haworth. To this marriage seven children were born. Two died in infancy. One Dr. Chas. H. Penfield died in Grinnell just as he was entering a field of usefulness. Another son, Ernest, died here but a few years ago. Three children survive, W.E. Penfield of Little Falls, Minn.; C.L. Penfield of Harvey, Ill.; and Herman Penfield of Los Angeles.

Mrs. Penfield was one of three sisters who made their home in Grinnell for many years, the others being Mrs. Chas. H. Spencer and Mrs. R. MacDonald. Mr. Penfield came west, first to Lee Center, Ill., but in 1859 he brought his family to Grinnell and until he went to Harvey in 1917, he maintained his home here, liked, respected and honored. Mrs. Penfield died in 1880 and in 1884 he married Mrs. Davis who also preceded him to the better land.

Mr. Penfield enlisted in Co. E, 4th Iowa Cavalry with many other Grinnell soldiers and has an honorable record in the service.

Mr. Penfield was a carpenter and joiner by trade and with that other master builder of the early days, R. M. Kellogg, with whom he was associated, he left his handiwork in many buildings that still stand in this city.

Mr. Penfield was an active Free Mason and had filled the chairs with credit and honor. In fact so enthusiastic was he that a son born during the year he was holding the highest office was named Hermon from the name of the lodge.

Mr. Penfield's father was a Methodist minister, and his mother a Quaker by birth, and the teachings of his earlier days he tried to follow and practice in his manhood.

The funeral was held Tuesday at 2:30 o'clock conducted by Rev. W.C. Wasser, pastor of the M.E. Church. Members of Gordon Granger Post and the Hermon Lodge attended in a body to show their regard for a deceased brother and join in the last sad rites with the relatives and the friends who gathered in kindly memory of a friend.

The body was accompanied to Grinnell by W.E. Penfield, who with Mrs. Libby Davis, a step-daughter, were the only members of the family able to be present.