John Stewart Pennington (1784 - 1859)

Born 10 Jun 1784 in Yadkin, Rowan, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Sep 1859 at age 75 in Industry Township, McDonough, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gerald Jones [send private message]

Biography

John Stewart Pennington was born in 1784 to Richard Pennington and Hannah Boone.^[1]

John Stewart Pennington, third son of Richard and Hannah Pennington, was born 10 Jun 1784 either in NC. or just across the border in VA. ^[2]

He died 20 Sep 1859 at the home of his son-in-law, William Pile, in Industry twp., McDonnough Co., IL. He was buried in the Pennington Point Cem. in New Salem twp. in McDonough Co.

He was married on 24 Mar 1807 to Miss Jemima Houser, daughter of Nickolas and Jane Houser of Barren Co., KY.

John Stewart, better known as Stewart, was still a child when the family moved to KY. Like his father and older brothers he became a farmer. When he was 22 yrs. of age, he married Jemima Houser. They settled near Thompkinsville, Monroe Co., and it is believed eleven of their thirteen children were born there. In the fall of 1829 he helped his son, Thos. Jefferson, and his family move to near Astoria, Fulton Co., IL. and then returned to his home in KY. The following fall he and all of his family with the exception of two of the children moved to IL.

Stewart Pennington with his family settled upon the northwest quarter of section 30, in what is now New Salem township, in 1830. He was a nephew of the famous Kentuckian, Daniel Boone, and was himself born on the "Dark and bloody ground" in 1783. A history in detail is given of him in the history of the township, further on, in this volume. ^[3]

T. J. Pennington, a son of Stewart Pennington, came to Pennington's Point, New Salem township, in 1830. Here he remained a short time, when he removed to Industry township, southeast of the village. He died in the township in 1875.

Richard Pennington, another son, although but a lad of sixteen at the time, came with the family and is worthy of mention in this list of the old settlers of the county. He was born January 24, 1814, in Monroe county, Kentucky. He was married January 30, 1834, to Delilah Shannon. They settled, on their marriage, on section 30, and the old homestead is still the residence of Mr. Pennington. ^[4]

The two who remained in KY. were the oldest son, Nicholas Houser and who had a dry-goods store, and Nancy who had married J.E.D. Hammer. They settled in McDonough Co. in the district known as Pennington Point. This was the second family of the same name to settle in New Salem twp. A little history of how Pennington Point received its name may be of interest to members of this branch of the family. Pennington Point was the third settlement in the Co. and still retains its original name.

In 1834, Cyrus Walker is said to have named the district in honor of Stewart Pennington, although William Pennington was the first settler, having moved away and went to Spring Creek in the North Part of the Co. The relationship between William and Richard has not been established but it probably was close. Early in 1835 word came from KY. that Stewart's son, Nickolas Houser, had died and his business needed immediate attention. So on April 7 Stewart left for KY. and did not return until June 1, when he brought with him the J.E.D. Hammer family. He sold his Pennington Point farm to Mr. Hammer and bought the Jeff Pennington farm. (Probably his son, Thos. Jefferson). He lived on the farm until the last month or so of his life. After the death of his wife, Jemima, in 1852, it is quite probable Stewart made his home with various ones of his children. He was 68 at that time and was probably unable to do any farming. He was sick with consumption for the last 8 yrs. of his life. In the late summer of 1859 he was taken to the home of William Bird and Nancy (Pennington) Pile to stay awhile and died there on Sept. 20. He and Jemima are buried in the Pennington Point Cemetery, McDonough Co., IL.

Stew and Jemima were the parents of thirteen children all of whom were born in Barren Co., KY. with the exception of the two youngest who were born in McDonough Co., IL."

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Janice Hardin, Nov 24, 2011
2. ↑ Pennington Pedigrees Vol. 1 No. 1, pg 3
3. ↑ Ref: McDonough Co., IL Early Settlement - Early Settlers
4. ↑ Source; https://mcdonough.illinoisgenweb.org/1885earlysettlement.html

• findagrave
• Janice Hardin.
• Marie Mills.
• This profile was adopted by