Biography - Lott Pennington
PROF. LOTT PENNINGTON. Among the newspaper men of Montgomery County, Ill., who are planning so wisely to help forward the interests of their section in the future, we are pleased to mention Prof. Lott Pennington. This gentleman is the proprietor and editor of the Mercury, of Coffeen, which paper was established on the 30th of June, 1892, and he now has it in first-class condition and good working order. Integrity, intelligence and system are characteristics which will advance the interests of any man and will tend to the prosperity to which all aspire. Such are some of the traits of the gentleman mentioned above, who is now a resident of the thriving village of Coffeen. Prof. Pennington was originally from New Jersey, born in Somerset County, July 22, 1842, and his father, James Pennington, was born in the same county and State.
The father followed the occupation of a farmer and met with substantial results in this pursuit. He married Miss Elizabeth Richards, a native of Wales, who came when a small child to America and nettled in New Jersey. Eleven children were born to this union, four sons and seven daughters, all of whom grew to mature years. Mr. Pennington was a descendant of Scotch ancestors, and inherited much of their thrift and enterprise, the same characteristics having descended to his son, the subject of this sketch, who was tenth in order of birth of the above-mentioned children, and the fourth son_ When but fifteen years of age, or in 1857, young Pennington came to Jersey County, Ill., but previous to that he had received a good practical education in the schools of his native county. After reaching the Prairie State, he attended school at Bunker Hill and Rock River Seminary. After this, he started out as a school teacher and followed this occupation very successfully for twenty years, becoming quite noted as an educator. He held the position of Superintendent of Schools of Jersey County for nine years, and during that time did much to advance the educational interests of the community. As a man of sterling integrity and an earnest, conscientious, progressive educator, he ranked high, and .for many years was connected with the schools of Illinois. In 1888, he came to Montgomery County, Ill., and located at Raymond, where he remained until 1891, when he came to Coffeen. On the 30th of June, 1892, he started his paper, which already has a good circulation. After locating here, Mr. Pennington was Principal of the schools of Coffeen for some time, and, as usual, met with the best of success.
In December, 1863, he was married to Miss Rebecca A. Rue, a native of Jersey County, Ill., and six children have been born to this union, four sons and two daughters, as follows: George R., Herbert, Kate E., Jesse J., Frank and Edith Ray. Prof. Pennington is a Democrat in his political views, and while a resident of Jersey County was one of the leaders of his party. He has shown his appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Prof. Pennington has a plain but forcible manner in appealing to public sentiment, which makes him one of the people as an integer, and which would elevate him politically if he possessed the cheek of the average office-seeker, but being built on a more modest plane, it works to his disadvantage in holding office, though probably leaving him free to follow the pursuits which are more to his taste.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 381-382.
