1914 Delaware County History pgs. 221-222
John J. Pentony
John J. Pentony, a deputy sheriff of Delaware county,
has demonstrated that he is a man of high standards of public service and of absolute
fearlessness in the discharge of his duties. He was born in Woodstock, McHenry county,
Illinois, February
22, 1861, a
son of William Pentony, who was born in Ireland in 1822. By trade the father was a carpenter
and in 1864 he settled in Delaware county,
where he passed away in 1905. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth
Gannon, was born in the same county in Ireland, although they did not meet until
after they had come to this country. Her death occurred on Christmas day, 1894.
They had seven children, namely: Mary, the wife of Edward Malone, a resident of
Milesville, South Dakota; Henry, who has passed away;
J. J., the subject of this review; Julia, who passed away leaving four
children; William F., deceased; Anna Lucinda, the wife of Peter J. McEnany, of Adams township, this county; and Mrs. Ella
Collis, living at Yuma, Arizona.
John J. Pentony attended the common schools of the county in the acquirement
of his elementary education and subsequently was a student in the Manchester Academy, now defunct, until 1880. He then
began reading law in the office of E. M. Carr and so continued for two years,
but before he was admitted to the bar he gave up his plan to become a member of
the legal profession and entered the railway mail service, with which he was
connected until 1890. He was then for two years a traveling salesman and subsequently,
during Cleveland's second term, was deputy postmaster of Manchester under P. J. Wellman. However, he
gave up his position before the expiration of his term in order to open a drug
store at Ryan in 1895. After three years he sold the business to his partner,
A. S. Gibbons, and devoted his energy to the real-estate business, handling
land in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota until 1906. However, he spent the
winter of 1903-04 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In September, 1906, he became
deputy sheriff of Delaware county and
has served continuously in that office. He is his party's nominee, in 1914, for
sheriff. He has displayed the admirable characteristics of energy, decision and
sound judgment in everything that he has done and holds the respect and
confidence of his fellowmen.
Mr. Pentony was married on the 10th of
February, 1886, to Miss Clara Eleanor Magill, who was born in
Clinton, Illinois, on the 7th of December,
1866, a
daughter of William and Mary (Simms) Magill. Her
father, who was a banker and merchant, has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Pentony have been born six children: Madge A., the wife of
Charles G. Newcomb, a resident of New Mexico; Mary C., the wife of Earl A.
Davis, of Glenwood county, this state; Clara M., the
wife of Roy Stewart, who resides in Manchester; and Joseph, Beatrice and Isabel,
all at home. Mr. Pentony is a democrat in politics
and is ever loyal in his support of the men and measures of that party.
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