My Genealogy Hound

JOHN J. PENN, farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 26; P. O. Holder; one of the early settlers of McLean Co., born in Northamptonshire, England, Oct. 25, 1824; he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in New York when five years of age; they lived in New York State five years, when they emigrated West and located in Harrison Co., Ohio; his father, John Penn, was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1777. He married in England to Hannah Watson; she was born in the same shire in 1787; she died in Ohio in the fall of 1845; Mr. Penn died at the residence of his son in McLean Co., Ill., in 1860, at the advanced age of 82 years; they were the parents of thirteen children, of whom six are now living. The subject of this sketch engaged in teaming in Ohio until he emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. in the fall of 1851; he then farmed upon rented land until 1863; he first purchased ninety acres, for which he ran in debt $2,000, which he paid for in four years, and disposed of the same at a profit of upward of $2,000; he then purchased 160 acres of raw prairie, which he improved some four years and sold at a profit of $7,000; he purchased 157 acres of his present place in 1868, and settled upon the same in 1869, where he owns 238 acres with farm buildings, all of which he has made by his exertions and perseverance. His marriage with Sarah J. Boyce was celebrated Sept. 12, 1844; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 30, 1825; she was a daughter of William Boyce, who was born in New York State Oct. 14, 1797; he emigrated and settled in McLean Co., Ill., in 1851, where he lived until his decease, which occurred May 7, 1879, in the 82d year of his age. He was married in Ohio to Sarah Reynolds; she was born in Ohio in 1807, and is living upon Section 26, Old Town Township; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom six are now living.