John W. Penn was born December 3, 1808, in Shelby County, Ky. His parents, Ephraim and Mary Penn, were both natives of Kentucky, but removed to Jefferson County, Ind., in 1816. Their son was (___) eight years of age at the time, and grew to manhood with but limited educational advantages. The country was unsettled and heavily timbered, and from the time he was old enough to work, his services were demanded in the improvement of the home farm. There were no school taught in the neighborhood of his home, except at rare intervals, yet by patient study and application, he acquired a fair knowledge of the common branches, and was an intelligent man, and well posted in the current events of the day. He was a man of keen observation, and learned more from his surroundings than from books. He occupied a position in life whereby his entire time was demanded by work, and he had but little opportunity for mental culture. He was always identified with pioneer settlements. The locality in which his parents settled was a wilderness at that time, and in its development he bore a full share, by the labor he performed in converting the forest into fertile fields. On the 24th of February, 1831, he was married in Jefferson County, Ind., to Miss Huldah Christie, and in October, 1833 removed with his wife and one son to Carroll County, Ind. They performed the journey in a four-horse wagon, accompanied by Mrs. Penn’s brother, Preston Christie. Mr. Penn located upon the farm in Jackson township, where he resided until his death. Here the experiences of his boyhood were revived, for the place in which he settled was a dismal wilderness. His family lived for three or four weeks in a cabin which stood unoccupied on an adjacent piece of land, the father being engaged, meanwhile, in the construction of a cabin on his own land for their reception. This completed, they occupied it, and Mr. Penn addressed himself to the task of "making" a farm. Year after year he plodded patiently on, until at last he could view the many broad acres stripped of the cumbrous timber, and covered with waving grain. The generous soil yielded ample support for his family, and the sale of the surplus was the foundation of the fortune which accumulated little by little, under good management, until it ultimately reached handsome proportions.
Mr. Penn had no political aspirations, and never occupied any public positions, save the office of Constable; yet among the early settlers of Jackson Township, none, perhaps, were more prominently connected with its growth and improvements, and none more liberal than he in contributing to the advancement of measures designed to promote the public good.
While devoted heartily to his work, Mr. Penn yet found time to cultivate friendships. He won the warmest regard of all with whom he associated, and those who knew him loved him for his manly nature and the sterling integrity which was so truly characteristic of all his dealings with his fellow-men. He died on the 22d of September, 1878, leaving a void in the hearts of his neighbors and friends never to be filled.
His wife, who still survives him, is the daughter of James and Mary Christie, natives of Virginia. They removed to Shelby County, Ky., at an early date, where their daughter was born on the 7th of July, 1813. When quite young, she removed with her parents to Indiana, locating in the southern extremity of Ripley County, and within three miles of the family of Mr. Penn. They attended the same school, the same church and singing schools. In a word, they grew up together, and learned to know each other, their childish friendship developing into love in their maturer years, and cultivating in a happy marriage. To bless their wedded life there were eight children, named respectively, Ephraim, Mary, James C., Elizabeth, William, Rebecca A., John C. and Silas Israel; all of whom are now living save Ephraim, William and Rebecca.
County Coordinator: Suzy Sprague suzyq.wa@worldnet.att.net