179Senior Citzen Madison B. Pennington, 82 years old, of Davis, is able to recall the terms of thirteen United States presidents beginning with William McKinley who inauguated in 1897 when Pennington was just 8 years old. A liftetime resident of Tucker and neighboring counties, he was born August 13, 1888, to Martin and Louise Flanagan Pennington at Stringtown. His mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by his grandmother until his father remarried.
His father's second wife was the former Amelia Wolford of Dry Fork. There were six children born to the second marriage and Mr. Pennington's halfbrothers and half sister are: Mrs. Bill (Margie) Kuhlman, of Hyattsville, Maryland; Mrs. Gordon (Lectie) Bonner, of Eglon; Alta Cooper, who is deceased; Asa Pennington, of Canaan Valley; Claude and William Pennington, both of Eglon. Married before his nineteenth birthday, his bride, the former Mammie Ethel Elza, was only fifteen. They were married 63 years and were the parents of five children: Mrs. Pennington died March 16, 1970, the last member of her immediate family.
The Pennington's children are: Mrs John (Lois) Pennington and Mrs. Howard (Annabelle) Dunmire, both of Hambleton, Mrs. Virla Paugh, of Davis and Clarence Pennington, of Cleveland, Ohio. One daughter, Evelyn Mae, died infancy. There are seventeen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.
Having worked in coal mines, pulp mills and driving cattle, he worked in Benbush in 1922. The census shows the population of that town to have been 500 just two years prior to that time, and he recalls when the coal cars were hauled by mules. He also remembers when he town of Laurel Hill was built. He tells of working in the pulp mill in Davis and remembers when apples were brought into the mill to sell to the workers.
According to Homer Floyd Fansler's History of Tucker County: "The Manufacture of paper was a major industry in Tucker County for 32 years. During 19 of those years two pulp mills, employing approximately 800 men, were in operation. The mill at Davis, owned by the West Virginia Pulp & Lumber Company, operated from 1900 to 1927, when it went out of business and was dismantled and sold. "According to Mr. Pennington, Lean Shaffer had a slaughterhouse between Davis and Thomas and he and Jake Shaffer drove cattle to be butchered.
Although not as well as he was some time ago, Mr. Pennington is able to live alone and enjoys puting out a garden and tending to his flowers. Each month when his son and daughter-in-law visit from Cleveland he joins them in a fishing trip. He finds pleasure in reading his Bible, seeing church services on television, and attends church when he is able. He particularly enjoys gospel singing.----June 24, 1971, by Mrs. Clarence (Esta) Pennington.
From the book: ...and live forever A compilation of Senior Citizens articlesfrom the Parsons Advocate by Mariwyn McClain Smith Pages 181-182


179Children
1. Evelyn Mae Pennington
2. Lois E. Pennington b: 5 Jun 1909
3. Clarence E. Pennington b: 5 Aug 1914
4. Anna Bell Pennington b: 1919

179Children
1. Evelyn Mae Pennington
2. Lois E. Pennington b: 5 Jun 1909
3. Clarence E. Pennington b: 5 Aug 1914
4. Anna Bell Pennington b: 1919