THOMAS R. PENINGTON, one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Comanche county, [Texas,] is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Knox county, that state, November 13, 1834. His parents were Wesley and Margaret (McCallester) Penington, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and are now deceased, the father having passed away in 1867, while the mother was called to the eternal home in 1862. They were married in Vincennes, Indiana, and after some years’ residence in Illinois they removed to Missouri, settling in Polk county, where they continued to make their home for two years. They then started southward and for a number of years were residents of Texas. They then returned to Missouri, and after the mother’s death the father subsequently again came to the Lone Star state, living in Comanche county for a time and spending his last days in Washington county.
The subject of this review was reared in his parents’ home and early became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Since that time he has continued his labors in the fields and is now the owner of one of the fine farms of Comanche county. He resides on his father’s old homestead, situated about six miles north of the city of Comanche, and there owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres of land, one hundred of which are under a very high state of cultivation. The richness of the soil and the careful attention which he pays to his crops brings him a good yield. He also has a very fine peach orchard of three acres, and his farm stock is graded, his cattle being of the Jersey breed. He is progressive, keeping abreast with all the improvements of the day, and is an energetic, wide-awake businessman, whose success is well deserved.
Mr. Penington has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and does all in his power for the advancement of this cause in his community. For fifteen years he has been an efficient and valued member of the school board and has labored untiringly to raise the standard of schools in this locality. He and his family are consistent members of the Christian church, and in politics he affiliates with the Populist party.
Mr. Pennington was married in the year 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Frances Jane Whitaker, a native of Texas. Ten children have been born to them, namely: Margaret, Matilda, William H., Ollie, Maud, John E., Thomas, Claude, James and Beulah.
Source: History of Texas, Supplemented with Biographical Mention of Many Families of the State: A Concise History of the State From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Date; Together with Biographical Sketches of Many of the Families of Central Texas, Vol. I (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1896, repr.), p. 90.