Pennay, Walter Edward, 1862-1936

PENNAY, PENNY, LEAN, HOVITT

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, January 24, 1936:

The following is an account of the death of W. E. Penny, a former resident of Rock Valley, at his home at Beach, N. D.

“The community was shocked last Saturday to learn of the death of W. E. Penny, resident of this section since 1903, following but a week’s illness. Erysipelas was the cause of his death.

“Funeral services for the deceased were conducted on Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the local Methodist church, with Rev. B. T. Osborne officiating. A quartet composed of Mrs. Chas. Parvis, Mrs. Stanley Smith, Edwin Teed and Stanley Smith rendered several hymns of consolation. Burial was in the Beach cemetery.

“Walter Edward Penny was born January 17, 1862 at Dimmock, Pa., and died at his home in Beach at 11:30 A.M. January 4th, 1936.

“In the year 1882 he migrated westward and settled at Rock Valley, Sioux county, Iowa. In 1895 he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Lean. They resided in Rock Valley where Mr. Penny engaged in the butcher business for some years and later took to farming which work he pursued until he retired in 1927. In 1903 they sojourned further westward, coming to this section of North Dakota and settling a claim in Golden Valley county, six miles south of Beach, Here they resided until in 1927 they established their home in Beach where they have since lived.

“Mr. Penny’s parents were Methodists and Walter joined that church at the age of 14 years. During his active life he and his wife were regular attendants at church services.

“One week from the day of his death he contracted a cold. Erysipelas developed very rapidly and early resulted in his death. He suffered intensely the last week and early Saturday morning he succumbed to the embrace of death at their little home in Beach.

“Of the immediate family remaining there is a brother and a sister living in Pennsylvania and his wife, Mrs. Jennie Penny of Beach. A community of neighbors and other friends extend heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Penny and other remaining loved ones.”

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page gives his full name as Walter Edward Pennay, born Feb. 1862 in Dimock, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania; died 4 Jan 1936 in Beach, Golden Valley County, North Dakota; buried in the Beach City Cemetery. Spouse, Jennie E. Fisher Pennay (1851-1948). There is a photo of their joint headstone, confirming the surname as Pennay.

The 1900 U.S. census for Sioux Township, Sioux County, Iowa has Walter Penney, age 39, born Feb. 1862 in Pennsylvania, a farmer, married 5 years; wife Jennie, age 41, born Nov. 1858 in New York, mother of 0 children; farm laborer William Regan, age 39. In subsequent censuses he and Jennie were living in Beach.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1895 has groom Walter E. Pennay, age 34, resident of Rock Valley, a butcher, born in Dimock Pa, parents Nathan Pennay and Betsy Hovitt; bride Jennie Lean, age 36, resident of Pa., born in Duchess, New York, parents John Lan [Lean] and Isabella Champeron[?]; married at Rock Valley, March 31, 1895, first marriage for both.