WILLIAM PENNINGROTH

One of the best known and progressive agriculturists of Red Oak township is William Penningroth, the proprietor of the Grand View Stock Farm. His entire life has been passed in Cedar county, for he was born in Springfield township, December 1, 1860, and is a son of Charles and Lezetta (Hempke) Penningroth. His parents were natives of Westphalia, Germany, where they were reared and married, and on their emigration to America landed at New Orleans, whence they proceeded up the Mississippi river to Illinois, first locating near Red Bud, that state, where they spent eleven years. It was in 1856 that they took up their abode in Cedar county, Iowa, and here they spent the remainder of their lives, the father devoting his attention to farming. Being industrious, energetic and economical, he prospered in business affairs and became the owner of three well improved farms near Lowden, each comprising a quarter section of land, and besides this property he had ten acres of timber land on the Wapsie river. His useful and well spent life was ended in 1890, when he was seventy-two years of age, having survived his wife for some years, as she died in 1876, at the age of fifty-six years. Their children were: Louise, the wife of Philip Schneider, of Massillon township; Fred; Charles, who died in 1908; Henry, a resident of O’Brien county, Iowa; William, of this review; and Annie, the wife of Henry Meyer, of O’Brien county, Iowa.

During his boyhood and youth William Penningroth assisted his father in the work of the farm and while thus engaged acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, which has well fitted him for the practical duties of life, as he chose farming for the occupation to which he wished to devote his time and attention. He started out for himself in 1884 upon his present farm, buying one hundred and sixty acres of it at that time and later one hundred and sixty acres more, so that he now has a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 12, Red Oak township. To this he has given the name of the Grand View Stock Farm, as he was an extensive breeder of shorthorn cattle for nine years. In 1909, however, he retired from the business, but is still feeding a large amount of stock annually, having about eighty-five head of cattle upon his place and one hundred hogs. Upon his home farm he erected a fine eleven-room residence in 1906 and has built all of the other necessary structures for the shelter of grain and stock. In fact, his is one of the best improved places of the locality. Besides this farm he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Mitchell county, Iowa, which he purchased in 1909.

On the 22d of February, 1884, Mr. Penningroth was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Mensendick, a daughter of Gottlieb and Louise Mensendick, both natives of Germany. She, however, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, April 13, 1868, and continued to reside there until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Penningroth now have a family of nine children, namely: Charles, who was a student in the Iowa City State University until he enlisted in the regular army, being now third lieutenant of his company, stationed in the Philippine Islands; Martha, who pursued a course at the State Normal in Cedar Falls and is now at home with her parents; Louis, a graduate of the Tipton high school and now a student at the State University, being president of the freshman class; Walter S. and Edward M., both attending the high school of Tipton; and Benjamin, Bertha, Paul and Harold, all at home. Walter is making the four years’ course in the high school in three years, as did also Louis.

Mr. Penningroth is a stanch supporter of the republican party and has taken quite an active and influential part in local affairs, serving as treasurer of the township school board and as road commissioner. The success that he has achieved in life is due entirely tohis own unaided efforts, because he had but few opportunities in his youth and by perseverance and industry has worked his way upward until he is now one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of his community. He has not only prospered but has also gained the good will and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.