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Article
"To An Old Time Minister"
Elder A. M. Pennell, 1842-1915
Elder A. M. Pennell was born February 18, 1842, in Ellendale Township, Alexander County, North Carolina. He was a son of Joseph and Mary (Boo) Pennell, an English girl of some social and financial standing. Tradition says that in her girlhood she had maids to attend her.
A. M. Pennell probably had less educational advantages than any body in Alexander County. It is not definitely known whether he ever set foot in the widely scattered schoolhouses of that pre-war day, but he soon convinced friends and foes alike that he could fight. When the Civil War broke out he at once enlisted for service in the Confederacy and was assigned to Co. B, 2nd N. C. Cavalry. Then until the end of that conflict his military conduct was admirable.
Before the war he married Prissie Pennell, and after her death he married Sarah Walker. Except for a few years in Wilkes County his entire life was spent in Alexander County.
The bloody war experience so changed the young man that he began to feel that he had more important work to do. Is it not known just when he was converted to christianity, but he was baptized and joined the church. The impression, that he should warn sinners of "judgment to come", persisted and grew so strong that he, too, felt that "Necessity is laid upon me and woe to me if I preach not the Gospel."
No one could quite appreciate the obstacles confronting him. He was, now, fully matured physically, but wholly illiterate. An old neighbor, who was teaching school at Little Rock in Wilkes County, during the noon hour taught him the alphabet and how to spell. Then by persistance and a lot of practice he made a passable reader and became a lifelong student of the Bible. At last, he was ordained and preached nearly fifty years in Alexander, Wilkes and Caldwell counties.
He was not a polished orator, but his sermons were well proportioned and orthodox. The greatest success attained was in revival work, for he had great powers of persuasion and was able in prayer.
He won and retained the love and respect of his comtemporaries and is remembered yet for his childlike humility. He performed a most useful service in his community, and, which might have been left undone but for him.
He supported himself and family from a nice mountain farm and was always ready to help anyone in need. Elder A. M. Pennell was one of Alexander County's finest citizens and a most kindhearted neighbor.
He died June 29, 1915, and was buried in the beautiful cemetery at Dover Church, where the pine scented breezes of the Brushy Mountains, sweep across his silent grave:
"Servant of God, well done;
Rest from thy loved employ.
The battle's fought, the victory won;
Enter thy Master's joy."
By: J. A. Oxford
Taylorsville, North Carolina
August 18, 1953
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