Simeon S. Pennewill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Simeon S. Pennewill | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Preston Lea |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Miller |
|
|
|
| Born | July 23, 1867 Greenwood, Delaware |
| Died | September 10, 1935 Dover, Delaware |
| Residence | Dover, Delaware |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lydia Wright Elder Elizabeth Halsey |
| Profession | farmer |
| Religion | Methodist |
Simeon Selby Pennewill (July 23, 1867 – September 10, 1935) was an American farmer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and family
Pennewill was born July 23, 1867 near Greenwood, Delaware, son of Simeon & Ann Curry Pennewill. The elder Simeon was one of the larger peach growers and owned the land that later became the town of Greenwood. He was also active in the Republican Party and served in the Governor's Guard during the Civil War. Simeon, the younger, was educated at Wilmington Conference Academy, now Wesley College in Dover, and married later in life, after he served as Governor, first in 1920, Lydia Wright Elder, and second in 1927, Elizabeth Halsey. There were no children by either marriage. Pennewill inherited and continued to operate his family's peach orchards in Greenwood and Bridgeville, but lived at 228 North State Street in Dover. He was a member of the Methodist Church.
[edit] Governor of Delaware
Pennewill was elected to two terms in the Delaware State Senate and served from the 1899/1900 session through the 1905/06 session. In 1908 he was elected Governor of Delaware by defeating Rowland G. Paynter, the Democratic Party candidate and served one term from January 19, 1909 until January 21, 1913. Like his predecessor, Pennewill began his career as an Addicks Republican, but was dedicated to reuniting the party.
This General Assembly at this time approved the sale of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to the Federal government, and passed the Boulevard Corporation Act, which provided the legal authority for T. Coleman du Pont to begin to build his privately funded highway the length of the state.
Delaware's antiquated whipping post again received embarrassing national attention. Out of state pressure forced Pennewill to reduce the number of lashings given in one sentence, but the pressure seemed to only intensify local opinion in favor of the use of the whipping post. He also made the controversial appointment of his elder brother, James Pennewill, to the position of Chief Justice of Delaware. He served until his death 26 years later in 1935. It was during Pennewill's term that the DuPont Company lost its anti trust suit and was forced to divest itself of what became the Hercules Powder and Atlas Powder Companies.
[edit] Death and legacy
Pennewill died September 10, 1935 at Dover and is buried at the Bridgeville Methodist Cemetery, Bridgeville, Delaware.
| Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore |
House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
| 1909-1910 | 95th | Republican | George W. Sparks | Democratic | Thomas O. Cooper | ||||||
| 1911-1912 | 96th | Democratic | Thomas M. Monaghan | Republican | Denward W. Campbell | ||||||
[edit] Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.
| Public Offices | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Term began | Term ended | notes |
| State Senator | Legislature | Dover | 1898 | January 10, 1899 | January 13, 1903 | |
| State Senator | Legislature | Dover | 1902 | January 13, 1903 | January 8, 1907 | |
| Governor | Executive | Dover | 1908 | January 19, 1909 | January 21, 1913 | |
| Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Assembly | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | District |
| 1899-1900 | 90th | State Senate | Democratic | Ebe Tunnell | Sussex 1st | |
| 1901-1902 | 91st | State Senate | Republican | John Hunn | Sussex 1st | |
| 1903-1904 | 92nd | State Senate | Republican | John Hunn | Sussex 1st | |
| 1905-1906 | 93rd | State Senate | Republican | Preston Lea | Sussex 1st | |
| Election results | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1908 | Governor | Simeon S. Pennewill | Republican | 24,905 | 52% | Rowland G. Paynter | Democratic | 22,794 | 48% | ||
[edit] References
- Sobel, Robert; J. Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4.
- Carter, Richard B. (2001). Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr.. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-20-6.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
[edit] Images
- Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery [1] Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.
[edit] External links
- Delaware’s Governors [2]
- Find a Grave [3]
- National Governors Association [4]
- Political Graveyard [5]
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [6] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [7] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
