My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN F. PENROSE, of Ogontz, Pennsylvania, belongs to an old family of Friends long domiciled at or near Richland (Quakertown), Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The family are of English origin, although the immigrant ancestor came to this country from Ireland. Robert Penrose, son of Robert and Jane Penrose, born in Yorkshire, England, removed to Ireland, and in 1669 married Anna Russell, who bore him three children. Their son Robert, born in Blackane in 1670, in 1695 married Mary Clayton, and they were the parents of thirteen children. With part of their family Robert and Mary Penrose came to Pennsylvania in 1717. A son Robert, born in 1697, followed the others of the family to America. He married, in 1731, Mary Heacock, and their third child, John, married Ann, daughter of John and Martha Roberts. John Roberts was the son of Thomas Roberts, a pioneer in the settlement of Richland (now Quakertown), and Martha, his wife, was the daughter of Edward Roberts, one of the earliest settlers in the same vicinity. The two families intermarried so frequently that they have become practically one.

John and Ann (Roberts) Penrose married 11 mo. 8, 1764, and ten children were born to them, of whom the youngest son, Evan, born 4 mo. 2, 1782, married, 4 mo. 23, 1807, Rebecca Ball. They were the grandparents of Benjamin F. Penrose. Aaron Penrose (father) married, 3 mo. 22, 1838, Maryetta Foulke. Their children are: Benjamin F., mentioned hereinafter; Caroline, who became the wife of David J. Ambler; and Rebecca, who became the wife of Lewis Ambler.

Benjamin F. Penrose was born in Milford township, May 25, 1839. He was educated in the Friends’ School at Quakertown, and after completing his studies continued on his father’s farm until 1877, when he removed to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, locating on a farm of fifty acres which he cultivated until 1893, when he relinquished active farming pursuits. He has taken an active part in county and township affairs for many years, and serves as director of the Ambler National Bank. He was elected jury commissioner, and served a term in that position very acceptably. In the fall of 1902 he was elected to the important and responsible office of county commissioner on the Republican ticket, his associates in the board being Daniel M. Anders and John S. Shelmire. On this board of commissioners devolved the task of completing the new Montgomery county court house, which structure was finished in the spring of 1904, the building being dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on May 24 of that year. This herculean task was completed to the satisfaction of all concerned, Mr. Penrose assuming his full share of the responsibility and labor connected therewith. On all sides were heard expressions of approval at the elegance and convenience of the building, which may be considered worthy of the great county of Montgomery, and a credit to the board of commissioners which planned it, as well as to that under whose auspices it was completed. Mr. Penrose is an active member of the Society of Friends, as have been his ancestors for many generations, and attends Abington Meeting. Being a man of good business ability, he holds many appointments in the Philadelphia Yearly Meetings of the Society of Friends. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community in which he lives, few men being so widely known or so highly respected.

On March 4, 1874, Mr. Penrose married Alice J. Thomson, daughter of John and Caroline Jones Thomson. Mrs. Penrose died October 9, 1903. He still resides at the homestead, which is situated on Cedar Road, near Ogontz, Pennsylvania.