The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-11-09
Death Of Russell HI. Penfleld.

Although for several days the death of
Mr. Russell H Penfield was an event that
was considered probable, yet when it was
announced on Friday morning that he ex-
pired on the previous evening, an univer-
sal feeling of sadness pervaded the entire
community. He had been so long identi-
fed with the business interests of Elyria,
and more especially of Lorain, where his
chief investments were made, that his
death, without the previous admonition of
disease, was felt to be public loss. The
peculiar circumstances of his death tend
greatly to excite the sympathy of fthepublic
in behalf of his stricken family, who are
so suddenly called to part with oneson
whom they had ever leaned for counsel
and support. He was in the 10th year Of
his age.
The deceased emigrated with his father,
Peter Penfield, from Eastern New York,
to the township of Penfield, in this county,
in 1921. He was then nine years of age,
and grew up to manhood Injured to the
hartlships and privations of life in the
wilderness He resided in Penfield until
about twenty-five years ago, when he re-
moved to this city, where he has ever since
resided.
In 1853 he, in connection with his
brother, A c. Penfeld, entered into q
contract for the purchase.of a large tract of
land at the mouth of Black River, which
was then considered valuable mainly for
,ha IL .;,,,1,x,- a+and;orx tbaraan He at
once devoted his energies TO the develop
ment of his property, and his brother
dying soon after, he became the purchaser
of the entire estate. A number of years
ago he conceived the idea of building up
a town at the mouth of the river by secur-
ing Railroad facilities to the coal fields
and it was chiefly through his untiring
exertions that the Cleveland, Tuscarawas
Valley s. Wheeling Railroad was project
ed and finally. constructed.
From that period until his death he has
been overwhelmed with business projects
in aid of manufacturing establishments,
hoping thereby TO enhance the value of his
possessions. His last venture was the
boldest and most liberal offer ever made
in the West by single individual. 1t was
a proposition to the Joel Hayden Brass
Manufacturing Company, of Massachusetts,
to erect buildings suitable for their use,
and donate the same, together with ten
thousand dollars in money, on condition
that they would move their establishment
to Lorain. This proposition was accepted,
and the buildings are now nearly com
pleted and ready for operation.
The entire amount thus donated will
probably exceed sixty thousand dollars. The
burden thus assumed had to be met in
cash, as the work progressed, and this added
greatly to the labors of the deceased, and
his anxiety for the success of the enter
prise, and the fear of ultimate loss on his
part, led him to enter into a contract with
Braman, Horr s. Warner, heretofore de
tailed in these columns, whereby they be
came managers of his estate and assumed
the payment of these obligations. But
the worry and labor of the summer were
too great tax for him to bear, and his
nervous system suddenly broke down,
lcdNluS n1n1 Win NJ hOPCs oAAA - AAS OAeSA
expressed himself, with no desire to live
longer He died on Thursday evening, ,hav,
ing suffered no pain, but like weary man
falling into gentle sleep, his spirit took
its fight. ras u
A large number of sympathizing friends
attended his funeral on Monday afternoon,
the services being conducted by his pastor,
Rev. E. E. Williams, assisted by Rev. j.
W. Cracraft, of st. Andrews Church. A
writer In the Cleveland Leader thus
speaks of his Christian character:
"Amid all the various and pressing
claims of business Mr.. Penfield was an
earnest and consistent Christian, and one
whose practical sense and warm sympathy
could always be counted on in all moral
questions. A firm opponent of slavery
and consistent and lifelong friend OF
temperance, society has lost in him one i
could i'll afford to spare. In the closer and
dearer relations of home and kindred he
was a model husband, father and brother. y
-Elyria Republican ssa