38 Facts About Dennis Pennington

Dennis Pennington was a farmer and a stonemason who became known for his many years in public office as an early legislator in the Indiana Territory and in Indiana's General Assembly as a representative of Harrison County, Indiana.

Dennis Pennington was the first speaker of the Indiana Senate, and served in the state legislature for eighteen years, which included five years in the Indiana House of Representatives and thirteen years in the Indiana Senate.

Dennis Pennington supervised construction of the limestone courthouse that served as Indiana's first state capitol building in Corydon, Indiana.

Dennis Pennington, who farmed land east of Louisville, befriended Clay and supported Clay's attempt to make Kentucky a Free State In 1799.

Dennis Pennington married Elizabeth English in Kentucky on August 4,1800.

William and Virginia Dennis Pennington settled near present-day Lanesville, Indiana, a part of the Northwest Territory at that time.

Sometime between 1801 and 1804 Dennis Pennington crossed the Ohio River Louisville, Kentucky, entering the Northwest Territory at Clarksville.

Dennis Pennington arrived in Harrison County around 1802, purchased land near Lanesville, where his brother, William resided with his family, built a homestead, and established a farm.

Around 1804 Around 1804 Dennis Pennington was among the early pioneers who explored the site in what became the town of Corydon, Indiana, where he built a cabin.

In 1815 Dennis Pennington moved to "the Barrens", 4 miles north of Corydon.

On one of his trips to Vincennes, the territorial capital, Dennis Pennington encountered William Henry Harrison, who became the pro-slavery governor of the Indiana Territory in 1801.

Dennis Pennington, who became a justice of the peace for Harrison County in 1807, entered politics in open opposition of Harrison and the pro-slavery government.

On October 10,1807, Dennis Pennington vocalized his opposition to slavery during a meeting at Springville in Clark County.

Dennis Pennington's speech condemned slavery and the government that legalized it.

Dennis Pennington supported the doctrine of "squatter sovereignty," which would grant citizens the right to decide the future of slavery in the territory.

Dennis Pennington became the first speaker of the territorial legislature's lower house.

Dennis Pennington introduced and helped pass laws to repeal the slavery and indenturing laws implemented by Harrison, and along with his anti-slavery allies sought to prohibit the introduction of indentured servitude, including slavery, into the territory.

Dennis Pennington helped secure Corydon's selection as the new seat of government, which became effective May 1,1813, by pointing out its ideal location.

Dennis Pennington was awarded the contract to supervise construction of the new courthouse, which began in 1814 and was nearly completed when Indiana's first state legislature convened at Corydon in 1816.

Dennis Pennington continued to attack the territory's pro-slavery faction and, according to some sources, his unrelenting political assault drove Posey from the capital at Corydon.

In 1815 Dennis Pennington served as the Indiana Territory's census enumerator.

Dennis Pennington used the position to promote his anti-slavery platform to every home within the territory and laid the groundwork for the election of anti-slavery delegates to the constitutional convention.

In May 1816 Dennis Pennington was elected as one of Harrison County's five delegate to attend Indiana's first constitutional convention.

Dennis Pennington was present when the delegates convened at Corydon from June 10 to 29,1816, to consider statehood and to draft fIndiana's first state constitution.

Dennis Pennington continued to be an outspoken critic of slavery and a Whig.

Dennis Pennington was a candidate for Indiana's Lieutenant Governor in 1825, but he was defeated.

Dennis Pennington was among the nine legislators, which included James Whitcomb, who voted against the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act of 1836.

Dennis Pennington opposed the majority view, claiming their plans would have no direct benefits for his constituents and would only bankrupt the state.

Dennis Pennington argued that the arrival of railroads would quickly make plans for a statewide canal system obsolete.

Dennis Pennington was one of the oldest men in the Indiana House and was affectionately called "Old Uncle Dennis" and "Father Pennington".

Dennis Pennington remained active in civic life during his later years.

When Dennis Pennington was about sixty years old he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as sheriff of Harrison County, and won election to a second term.

Dennis Pennington responded by challenging the younger candidate to a wrestling match.

Dennis Pennington died at his Harrison County home near Corydon on September 2,1854, at the age of seventy-eight.

Dennis Pennington was buried in Harrison County's Pennington Chapel Cemetery.

Dennis Pennington is remembered for his honesty and common sense, as well as his kindness.

Dennis Pennington is best known for his opposition to slavery and years of public service representing Harrison County as a territorial and state legislator.

Dennis Pennington was a delegate to the 1816 constitutional convention that drafted Indiana's first state constitution and served in the Indiana General Assembly for eighteen years.