George Pennington

PENNINGTON, WILSON, RUSSELL, AMOS, MOWRE, MCCOMBS, SMITH, DODGE, GILFILLAN

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/2/2001 at 18:25:04

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
GEORGE PENNINGTON
George Pennington, an early settler of Van Buren County, who for thirty-three years has held the office of Justice of the Peace, is now a resident of Milton. Delaware is the state of his nativity. He was born in Kent County, September 30, 1823, and is a son of Benjamin and Ann Wilson Pennington, who were also native of the same county. The father died in Delaware in early life, after which the mother became the wife of William Russell. The family removed to Rush County Indiana in 1835, and some years later to Franklin County, where the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He was married on September 24, 1843, in Franklin County Indiana the lady of his choice being Miss Casander Amos, daughter of Ditto Amos, and a native of Kentucky. One child, a daughter, was born unto them—Mary Adeline, who died aged three years, in this county.
In April 1846, Mr. Pennington came to Iowa and settled in Jackson Township, Van Buren County, and engaged in farming. During his residence there his wife died on July 24, 1848, and on August 1, 1850, he was again married to Miss Mary M. Mowre, daughter of David and Sarah Mowre. She was born in Kentucky in February 1834; during her girlhood accompanied her parents to Indiana, and in 1848 came to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington are parent of the following children: David Benjamin, the eldest, died at the age of eight months; Sarah Ann resides with her parents; Mary Frances is the wife of Samuel A. McComb, of Milton; Charlotte E. is the wife of Oscar Smith, a resident of Fairfield, Iowa; Amanda J. wedded A.H. Dodge, who is living in Bloomfield, Iowa; George Sherman married Miss Kate Gilfillan, and resides in Milton; Charles E. is single and is now located in Centerville Iowa; Cora Belle, the youngest is unmarried and yet makes her home with her parents.
In 1867, Mr. Pennington left the farm and removed to Milton, where he engaged in hotel keeping with good success for a number of years. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1851, immediately after the first code of the State was enacted, and was re-elected from term to term having for the past forty years, with the exception of six terms, held the office continuously. He is now serving n the sane position, his time not expiring until 1891. He has served, more years in the office of Justice that any man in Van Buren County, and more acceptably—a fact indicated by his long retention in the position and by the large majorities, which he received at the elections. His views on political subjects are in support of the principals of the Democratic Party. He has frequently filled other local offices. He was at one time the candidate of his party for the position of Sheriff, and received the flattering home endorsement of one hundred and six votes out of one hundred and forty six cast in the precinct, although defeated by an adverse party majority in the county. Mr. Pennington served as Notary Public many years; has held the office of sub-district Treasurer of his township, and is now Secretary of the independent school district of Milton. He has also assessed the city of Milton ever since it was incorporated as a city, and is now entering upon a new term in that position, and has assessed the township several times. He is a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 28, K.P. and he and his wife, with several of their children, are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Pennington is a genial and affable man, whose sound judgment and upright and impartial discharge of duty, have won for him the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
I am not related, and am posting this biography for those who may find this person in their family history.