Penelope ALLEN, daughter of Josiah and Winnie ALLEN, was born February 12, 1837. She was married to Clinton DeWITT, June 1, 1856.

To this union eleven children were born, ten of whom survive her, one having died in infancy.

Her husband being called away some 35 years ago left her the burden of raising her large family alone, which she did with all the love and sympathy of a good Christian mother, having lived to see them all Christians.

She professed faith in Christ at the age of eleven, uniting with the Ten Mile Baptist Church, moving her membership later to Union Baptist Church, where she was a member for several years. At the time of her death she was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

Surrounded by nine of her children she departed this life at the home of her daughter, Alice RICHARDSON, at Belle Rive, March 24, 1911, leaving to mourn her loss, ten children, 46 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, one sister and a host of relatives and friends.

She has fought the good fight; she has kept the faith and finished the course. While our grief at____ of mother is great and hard, we feel our loss is her gain.

Her funeral was preached to_____ and sympathetic audience Sunday afternoon by Elder J. D. HOO_ and her body was laid to rest in the cemetery nearby. May God comfort the bereaved.

J. D. HOO____

Source: The Daily Register - Mt. Vernon, IL
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 1911
Submitted by: Mary Zinzilieta