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| Research Note | Generation No. 1
1. William H. "Brig" Pennell, born April 24, 1889; died April 11, 1964 in MO, buried Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Barry Co., MO. He was the son of James T. Pennell and Melvina Furlow. He married Vida Belle Lowe September 24, 1911 in the home of Francis and Florida Lowe, by Rev Ben Crawford. She was the daughter of Francis Marrion Lowe and Florida Roberts. Notes for W. H. "Birg" Pennell and Vida (Lowe) Pennell - By Pauline (Pennell) Dummitt It was in Butterfield, MO, where William Harrison Pennell met Vida Belle Lowe. They were married on September 24, 1911, by Rev Ben Crawford, at the home of the bride's parents, The Rev. Frances M. and Florida Lowe. They moved to Webb City, MO, where Birg and his brother Oliver operated a grocery store. Their daughter Naomia Loraine was born there before the family moved to the Gunter Community, 1913, to care for Birg's father, James Pennell, until his death in 1918.. The family then moved to Butterfield, MO, where Birg and his brother in-law, Bruce Lowe operated a grocery store. It was here that Freeda Claudine, 1914, and Flora Pauline, 1918, were born. Birg Pennell was for a time a road grader and maintenance man for the Butterfield road district, in later years he was custodian and bus driver for the Butterfield school system. Vida was post mistress at the Butterfield post office and later cook at the school. They lived to see many changes in Butterfield. At one time it was a thriving community, they even considered putting the Barry County court house there. Butterfield had two wells to serve the community one on the west side of town and the other on the east side. The Baptist church was built in 1904 also a Methodist and a Pentecostal Church. There was located in Butterfield several filling stations, cafe, grocery stores, post office, depot, bank, hotel, Rebecca and lodge hall, feed store, chicken hatchery, high school, skating rink, beauty school, Tomato canning factory and two strawberry sheds built along side the railroad. Butterfield was considered one of the largest tomato and strawberry growing communities around. Strawberries were shipped out by the train car loads. People came from all states during strawberry season to harvest the crop. They came by covered wagon and on foot, every vacant lot was full of campers. The season gave jobs to many men, women and children. Vida and Birg lived to see their children graduate from high school and married with families of their own. Loraine married Blaine Ray(1905-1983) from Butterfield. They had three children, Pattie, Jim and Jerry. Pattie and Neal Nalley have four children, Cindy, Sherry, Terry and Penny. Jim and Gloria Jean (Brandon) have have four children, Mike, Todd, Jamie and Tracy. Jerry and Linda (Luke) had two children Jenifer and Ryne. Loraine and Blaine lived in Olatha, Kansas until the time of their death. Freeda married Marold Fredrick Smith (1906-1975) from Minnesota in 1936. They are the parents of one son Fred Jr., living in Monett, MO, two grandchildren Fred and Michelle Smith. Pauline was married to William Edwin Dummitt (Abe) (1914-1985) from Purdy, MO, in 1938. They were also married by the Rev Ben Crawford. Abe was employed by Pet Milk Co. until the plant was moved to Neosho. He was Deputy sheriff for 16 years and sheriff of Barry County for four years before retiring. Pauline retired from Jumping Jack Shoe Co. and is presently employed at the Barry Co. Neighborhood center in Cassville. Pauline and Abe were parents of two children W. E. (Eddie) Dummitt, 1942 and Nancy Jo, 1956. Eddie married Glenna Sturgell, 1962, they are the parents of one daughter Quetta Sue, married to B. J. Crafford. Vida and Birg lived an interesting and colorful 53 years together, they were a close family and had many enjoyable times together with their children and grandchildren. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Butterfield Jim with family friends and neighbors. They are buried in Mt Pleasant Cemetery west of Butterfield, MO. Notes for Vida Belle Lowe: By Gerald Lowe Aunt Vida wrote this letter dated July 7, 1974 addressed to my children. And when that time comes I am ready to go to meet my Lord and Savior and all the loved ones gone before and my greatest prayer and wish is for all my children - grands and great prepare to meet me in that home where old age never overtakes us and we never get lonely. Now don't blame yourselves as loneliness is a thing that overtakes when you lose a companion, some can find another but me there was 1 never anyone else and we will be reunited some day and when that day comes I want you all to meet here at the old home for that last meal and get together as we have enjoyed this get together so many times and try to go to church more often and prepare for that get together in that home above, all love one another and keep the family ties together, may God bless you all, your loving mom. Please excuse writing as age takes its toll. Children of William "Birg" and Vida Lowe are: i. Naomi Loraine Pennell, born July 14, 1912 in Web City, Jasper Co., MO; died August 12, 1972 in Buried, Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Barry Co., MO; married Blaine Ray. ii. Freda Claudine Pennell, born March 06, 1914 in Butterfield, Barry Co., MO; died November 11, 1998 in Monett, MO; married Marold Fredrick Smith, May 27, 1936. iii. Flora Pauline Pennell, born May 22, 1918 in Butterfield, Barry Co., MO; married William Edwin Dummitt 1938. |
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| Submitted by | Gerald Lowe |
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