Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

Captain John Pennington

Lexington Herald (5 Aug. 1905)

LONDON, Ky., Aug. 4. - CAPTAIN JOHN PENNINGTON, ex-Union soldier, died at his home at Annville [Jackson County, KY], aged seventy-eight years. He was Captain of Company A, Forty-seventh Regiment, Kentucky Infantry Volunteers. He was the father of County Judge P. R. Pennington,* of this county [Jackson]. Deceased was prominent in politics. His last office was Sheriff of Jackson County.

[ *Son Preston R. Pennington]

From Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 3, No. 4, April 1968, page 180

CAPT. JOHN PENNINGTON, was born in Perry County, Kentucky, February 22, 1827, and died August 3, 1905, being 78 years, 5 months, and 19 days old. He was a son of Abel Pennington [and Elizabeth Boling]. His only brother, Levi, was Captain of Company C 7th Ky. Volunteers and was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, during the Civil War. Father was the last of his father's family to pass through the valley of death. His first wife, Sarah Moore, lived to the age of 72 years and was the mother of 12 children*, all of whom she saw grown men and women; 10 of those are still living.

In 1898 he married Mrs. Susan [King-Mullens-] Parsley, who has been very patient, loving, and faithful during the seven years she has been with him.

While our grief is keen, yet we realize that our loss is his gain. He enlisted in the service of the Lord at the age of 18, and kept a strong faith in the Lord as the only Savior. During his life he served his country in many stations. He was captain of Company A, 47th Ky. Vol., during the Civil War. He contracted diseases which continued to grow worse until his death. He was laid to rest beside his mother on the hill facing Annville in Jackson County, KY, there to await the call of our Lord and Master: "Come up higher to inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world."

Sleep our dear father, blessed sleep,
While your dear memory we do keep:
And trust that we will meet you where Our love and cherished kindred are.
Those who loved him, P. R. Pennington, Brothers and Sisters.

[Captain John Pennington is buried in the York Cemetery, on the beautiful knoll overlooking Annville and Bond, in Jackson County, Kentucky.]

*The children of John and Sarah are:

1. Mary Jane Pennington Casteel, b. 1845
2. Abel F. Pennington, b. 1847
3. Elias Pennington, b. 1849
4. Cecelia/Selah Pennington King, b. 1851
5. Preston R. Pennington, b. 1853
6. Levi Pennington, b. 1855
7. Elizabeth Pennington Medlock, b. 1857
8. Minatree J. Pennington, b. 1859
9. Nancy Pennington Hixon, b. 1861
10. Martha Lou "Mattie" Pennington Flinchum, b. 1863
11. William M. Pennington, b. 1866
12. John H. Pennington, b. 1870

See his Biography