Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1943-01-28

When he was five years old his
father responded to the call OF Pres
ident Lincoln for volunteers and as
private in CO. B, 62nd Ohio Vol
unteer Infantry, marched away to
the war leaving behind a devoted
wife and mother with six unprovid-
ed-for children.
The memories of the bitter but
heroic struggle of his mother to
provide for her family through the
bleak winters of 1863-64 were too
painful for Julius to talk of except
very briefly. In February, 1866,
after peace had again come to the
Union, the seventh of her children,
son, William, was born and on
March 2, II days later, she gave up
the struggle and passed to her re-
ward.
julius was nine and half years
of age when this blow fell. When
the family was scattered abroad he
| went to live with Presbyterian un-
| Gle during which time he received
such schooling as might be acquired
in the backwoods schools of that pc
riod.
In the few months that he was
OFT hn
had advanced to the third reader
and had acquired an unquenchable
thirst for learning. When no long
er able to attend school, he gathered
about him such books as he was
able to obtain and sat over them
far into the night.
In the spring of 1877 he began
to learn blacksmithing, trade at
which he became highly skilled, and
at which he worked in the plow
factory In the fall of that same
year he married Mary Evans and
found happiness and contentment,
but it lasted less than three years
when death claimed her. Twin
daughters had been born to this
union, one dying soon after birth.
the other some months later. Soon
after the death of his wife, his old
ambitions and desire for learning
revived and again he turned to his
books and his night studies.
A year and a half later he met
a kindred spirit in Margaret ]. Der
wacter and soon after they were
married and together they continued
their studies in their home. Both
were reared in the Methodist faith.
Favorite among the books upon their
study table was Bible which his
uncle had given him when he was
ten years old. Shortly after their
marriage both decided that this was
to be their guide in life-that they
would study and obey its teachings
and in September, 1881, both were
baptized into Christ at McConnels-
vAAAOS UCCOAAA6 ACmUOAo VI SAO
Christian church at that place.
In April, 1882, their first child, a
son, Marion E., was born. In the
fall of '83 Brother Pennell moved
to GAINESVILLE, O., to a position Of
master mechanic in railway shop,
a position which he soon left to be-
gin business career starting as
salesman in one of the city's lead
ing haberdasheries. While he held
this position he attended CONNER
cial School at night and soon there
after found himself filling two
places; salesman by day while he
kept set Of books at night. In his
merchandising career Brother PEN
nell served in the GAINESVILLE stores
of Derwacter and Gregg; A. p. Starr
& Co., and Gallagher'g Hat and Fur
establishment. Much later in life
he operated a general store near
Sardfs, O.Three more years Of long
hours behind the counter and inten-
sive study at night brought physi-
cal collapse and soon the little
money and property that had been
acquired had all gone for medical
treatment which apparently had
done no good.
With hope OF regaihing his health
he moved back to his old home in
Morgan county. After year in the
country his health began to i'm
prove and he began preaching for
his home (Malta) congregations and
others nearby. and was ordained .
minister at Malta, O.. on Aug. II, [
1895.
In 1896. he moved to Deaver-
town. O.. where he preached regu-
larly for the congregations there
and at Triadelphia and worked at !
his old trade Of blacksmithing at |
the same time. In the fall OF 1898.
be moved his family now number