Warren E. Penny
Warren E. Penny, hardware merchant and one of the leading citizens of Lima, was born in 1850 in Miami County, Ohio, but accompanied his parents, in childhood, to Darke County, where he was reared and educated.
For a number of years in early manhood, Mr. Penny taught school in Darke and Miami counties, entering business in 1877, when he established a meat store at Van Wert. He continued there for two years and then, for some five years, dealt in agricultural implements, thus becoming connected with the McCormick Harvester Company. Later he became general agent for this large company in Western Ohio, remaining in that capacity for eight years, and then represented the State of Wisconsin for the J. I. Case Thresher Company, of Racine.
On June 1, 1900, Mr. Penny came to Lima and, in association with a nephew, established the hardware firm of Penny & Penny, one of the city's large and prospering concerns.
Politically Mr. Penny is a Republican. He is president of the Business Men's Association of Lima, and stands as a representative citizen.
Mr. Penny was first married, in 1874, to Francis Brown, who died in 1893, leaving three children viz: Aaron A., Russell L. and Velma Grace. In 1897 he was married to Mrs. Anna (Bryant) Gillette. His church affiliations are with the Presbyterians.