My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW J. PENLAND is a prominent citizen of the county and one of nature’s noblemen. Abounding in affection for his fellow-kind, and being supplied with a fair share of this world’s goods, he is well content, and tries to make others so. He is a farmer by occupation, but is also engaged in blacksmithing and is making a success of both occupations. In the year 1889 he was elected Highway Commissioner and has held that position ever since, discharging the duties in a very efficient manner. He was born in Elkhart County, Ind., to the union of William and Catherine (Boswell) Penland.

William Penland was born in Ohio in 1814, and is living in this county, in the enjoyment of comparatively good health. At an early date, and while still single, he emigrated to Elkhart, Ind., and there married Miss Boswell, a native of Ohio. In 1849 he removed to Berrien County, Mich., settled on a wild tract of land, and immediately began making improvements. He has seen the country grow from its wild and undeveloped state to its present prosperous condition and has done his share toward its improvement. With the exception of two years he has resided on that farm ever since, and is classed among the foremost farmers of Berrien County, and among the worthy old settlers of this region. In connection with farming he was also engaged in the blacksmith business, and for thirty-five years was a Methodist preacher, following his ministerial duties for two years in Van Buren County. He is of Scotch descent. His wife is now deceased. They were the parents of fourteen children, four sons and ten daughters. Our subject’s maternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Andrew J. Penland was third in order of birth of the above-mentioned children. He remained in Elkhart County, Ind., until ten years of age, when he came with his parents to Berrien County and there received the principal part of his education. Our subject has known the demands of poverty, for his parents were poor, and as he had to assist in making a living his educational advantages were limited. After remaining under the parental roof until about sixteen years of age, he hired out to work by the month on a farm, and during that time was also engaged in the sawmill business. He learned the blacksmith trade of his father, and in 1861 was married to Miss Matilda Shearer, a native of Berrien County. Immediately afterward he built a shop at Royalton, began working for himself, and followed this for about five years. Six children have been born to his union: Elsie; Catherine E., wife of A. Courtville; Sarah A., wife of Calvin Stoops; Rosie E., Ida May and William.

Mr. Penland has held the office of Drain Commissioner for two years, and when elected to the office of Highway Commissioner he received the largest majority ever received in the township. He is a strong advocate of Democratic principles, and his vote is ever cast with that party. His first Presidential vote was cast for McClellan. He is now a member of the County Central Committee of his township and has held other positions of trust and responsibility.

Socially, he is a member of Royalton Lodge No. 373, I. O. O. F., and has held membership in the same since 1882. He has represented that lodge in the Grand Lodge at Grand Rapids. Mr. Penland’s farm, consisting of fifty acres and located eight miles south of St. Joseph, is well improved and well cultivated, although when he first settled upon it it was covered with a dense growth of timber. The day he moved on this place he cut the date on a beech tree, and it is now plainly visible (May 1, 1865). Although not an educated man in the technical sense of the word, Mr. Penland harmonizes cause and effect so logically that he is recognized as one whose opinion is of much weight.