John Pennywitt
John Pennywitt was born on Gift Ridge, Monroe Township, October 28, 1810, and died at Washington, D. C, May 4, 1882.
In 1740 there landed at the port of New York a young immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine. His name was John Pennywitt, or Pennwitt. (The name was afterwards variously spelled Penniwitt, Penny wit, Bennywitt, etc.) He was a Huguenot; his family had been well-nigh exterminated and he had been persecuted and driven from his native land because of his religious faith. He was by occupation a miller, and found employment at his trade at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He married his employer's daughter, and with his bride started to join the Huguenot colony in South Carolina. On the way thither they passed up the Shenandoah Valley and were so impressed by the beauty of the scenery and the fertility of the soil that they decided to locate there. He built the first mill in the valley, the foundation of which is still standing near Mount Jackson. He had two sons and several daughters. One son, John, emigrated to the West and came to Adams County. He was a giant in stature and his strength was remarkable. He could carry two barrels of flour at once, one under each arm. His remains now lie in the cemetery at Quinn Chapel. He had four sons, one of whom, Mark, succeeded to the home farm on Gift Ridge. Mark had six sons, one of whom, Samuel, was accidentally killed when a youth. The five surviving brothers, John, James, Reuben, David and Mark, lived to ripe old age. They were all large and muscular. Their aggregate weight was more than a thousand pounds, and their combined strength doubtless exceeded that of any other family of equal numbers in southern Ohio. As to their physical development they constituted perhaps the most remarkable family that Adams County has ever produced. And they were equally noted for their sterling integrity and irreproachable character.
The eldest of these brothers, John (the subject of this sketch), was married in early manhood to Ann Wade, a schoolmate of his boyhood days, the daughter of a near neighbor. They reared a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living at the date of this writing (September, 1899). At the age of nineteen he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Naylor's Meeting House. To that denomination he continued faithful to the end. He organized a class made up of his immediate neighbors, donated the ground and was the chief contributor to the fund for erecting Quinn Chapel, and the main support for many years of the society that worshipped there. During a considerable portion of his life he was one of the stewards of West Union circuit in which was embraced Quinn Chapel.
In his younger days he served as Justice of the Peace and as Captain of Militia. He was an old-line Whig. When the Republican party came into existence he identified himself with that political organization. To the principles of that party he was firmly attached. To the institution of slavery he was always a relentless enemy. His party honored him with a nomination to the State Legislature and elected him County Commissioner. While serving in the latter capacity he was largely instrumental in securing the construction of improved roads throughout the county. He was Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee for several years, during which period his party was generally successful at the polls; but for his right arm he would not have used a single dollar to corrupt an American voter.
The panic of 1875 brought financial ruin to him. He gave up his home and his last dollar, and in 1874, with his wife and one unmarried daughter, removed to Washington, D. C, to accept a home proffered them by one of his sons. In May, 1876, he received an appointment to a clerkship in the United States Treasury Department, which position he held during the remaining six years of his life.
The distinguishing features of John Pennywitt's character were unswerving honesty, absolute integrity of purpose and unflinching adherence to the truth. He never told a lie. He was an absolute stranger to deceit. A near neighbor, Peter Thompson, saw him grow from infancy to manhood and clearly recognized this trait in his character. Once upon a time this old gentleman had occasion to repeat a statement made by him, and a bystander expressed some doubts of its truth. This aroused his Scotch ire and he burst out in tones of indignation, "I know it's true, for John Pennywitt himself told me." From this incident he became generally known as "John Pennywitt himself." Higher tribute than this can not be paid to human character. Those who knew him well never doubted a word that he uttered.
He was self-educated and his education was thorough and practical. Notwithstanding his limited opportunities for attending school he became familiar with all the common branches of learning, and in mathematics he was superior to many college-bred man. He taught many terms in the public schools. Algebra, geometry and surveying he mastered without a teacher. He became widely known as a land surveyor, and in contested cases his surveys were accepted by the courts as thoroughly reliable. His remains rest in Odd Fellow's Cemetery in Manchester. His funeral was one of the largest ever witnessed in the county. By his side sleeps the partner of his life's joys and sorrows. Adams County may justly be proud of such a son.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900