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JAMES T. PENNINGTON was born at Liberty Corner, Somerset county, New Jersey, May 26th, 1818. The Pennington family has descended from two brothers, who emigrated from Scotland to New Jersey. His grandfather, John Pennington, was a lieutenant in one of the New Jersey regiments during the revolutionary war. His father was Elijah Pennington, and his mother, Martha Todd. When seventeen, he became an apprentice at the carpenter's trade. He came to Illinois in the spring of 1839. After working at Brighton, Alton and in Jersey county, in 1841 he settled on his present farm. August, 1841, he married Cynthia Bullman, also a native of Somerset county, New Jersey. He has been a democrat in politics. Soon after coming to the county he was elected justice of the peace; but after holding the office a year, he resigned. In 1860 he was elected representative in the legislature, and was a member of that body during the exciting period of the opening of the war of the rebellion. All the different measures for the raising of troops and the furnishing of supplies received his hearty support, as did all other measures looking to the suppression of the rebellion. In 1871 he was chosen the first member of the Board of Supervisors from Bunker Hill township. He was elected sheriff of Macoupin county in 1872, and was re-elected in 1874. He has five children living and two who died in infancy. He is well known throughout the county, and his genial and social manners have made him hosts of friends.