Miranda (Ball) Penrod

WPA Grave Registration has many inaccuracies, listing her as "Maranda J. Penrod' b. 9-7-1853. I have copies of the family Bible, her birth certificate, marriage license and death certificate and am sure of the dates I have listed. Also, her headstone has accurate dates engraved.

Buried in Section 1, Row 9. Miranda's headstone says "Mother", Daniel's reads "Father". In the same row is C. Harry (died age 17), Phillip (infant), son Frank and his wife Cora.

One picture of Miranda has the following photographer's notations on the backside: Eyes: light blue. Hair: very light brown. Complexion: Very fair, not much coloring.

From Missouri Valley Times Newspaper: "Miranda Penrod was granted a divorce from D. D. Penrod September 11, 1902."

Listed in 1905 Residents of Jefferson Township, Harrison County, Iowa

PENROD Mrs. L. M. (sic)

PENROD Frank clerk

PENROD Gale clerk

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION ADDRESSED TO Mrs. A.M. Longman, 865 S. 36 Street (sic), Lincoln, Nebr. POSTMARK Logan, Iowa Sep 16, 1923 NO RETURN ADDRESS (transcriber's note: This letter is in Miranda's handwriting, to her granddaughter Hildred, written about a week before her death. Miranda did not punctuate, capitalize, or indent paragraphs, so I have taken a few liberties with the transcription.)

Monday morning 7 o'clock

Dear Hildred and all

It has been so long since I have written to you or anyone. I am real well and so busy cooking and canning and the whole business but I have so much ambition not like I was last year. Mrs. Huber was away two weeks down to Minden but she has been back over a week she said she was so glad to get back. She is such a good boarder and helps do lots of the work and all my errants (sic) downtown. Hildred you remember that big Teigles girl that went by here she is in school now and works for her board here. She is such a good girl. Just willing to do anything gets in all the fuel gets the slop at Sterns and peels the potatoes and apples peaches and cukes the best I ever had them done so thin and nice she mops the Linoleum and cleans the rings and dusts. Yesterday afternoon I told her she might go home for a couple of hours if she wanted to but she said she rather stay here. I have her take her bath once here so I will know she is clean for you know how they all look. I fixed my bath tub so it looks real good put on three coats of flat white and two of enamel all white it looks fine. Mrs. H is just coming down to breakfast but she only eats a dish of cornflakes and a peace of toast and coffee her never eaten an egg since she has been here. I have quite a few boarders nowdays. Mr and Mrs Wisher the bank examiners they room at (unreadable word). I have had the Judge and reporter the past three weeks. They will be here just one more week. Judge Whitmere and Mr. Lynn they are both so sociable and nice for a breed of Rockekefeller. I have Mrs. Brue served her boy for dinner every school day then Fritchie when he is in town and McCoids. They have been to the lake most of the summer but George never goes. Stays all alone eats dinner here but Friday Mrs. came home and Laura a girl and yesterday Helen was here to dinner and will be today. She came home to get her trunk and so on. She is teaching in Sap City and rooms and boards in a private family. Her man is on the road traveling and demonstrating the Maytag Washing Machine ha ha don't that seem funny for Helen to marry a traveling man. Hildred my cannas and asters are so frilly I want to send you some in one of your flower boxes so you tell me Archies address at the Ford plant then you will get them sooner. I expect you have lots of flowers but I want you to have some of mine and Alices. The girl can take them to the postoffice for me or Mrs. Heithes one Mrs. Gammet baked me a nice angel cake yesterday and she has baked other cakes for me. Sunshine and swan. Alice goes up there and gets them for me. Charlie Huber has been taking his mother and me out riding several times, to Woodbine twice, to Mag town 2 times, to Mo. Valley twice, and last Sunday to Pernian but really I don't enjoy it much but I hate to tell Mrs. H. Last Sunday it just about made me sick. I had all I could do to keep from throwing up but I never said a word to them. They had planned to go this afternoon but thank the (series of dots) it is raining this morning so that will end the trip for today. Well I must close and get at my work. I won't have only Virgil for dinner today. I expect Rollin and men have gone to take Marie to her school. Dr. Boahen will be here three of them and 5 of McCoids and Mrs. H and Fritchie but I have every thing planned. We dressed three chickens yesterday so for desert today will have nice peaches and whipped cream angelfood cake and I have lovely green corn I bought of a Gresham boy Friday. Then I have tomatoes and cucumbers and celery and cottage cheese so you see I can take my choice on what to have. Bertha Herverd has been so good to sell me tomatoes and cukes and corn all the time. I got 30 quarts of cold packed corn it looks fine on the ears. I got a half case of beans yesterday will can them in a few days they aren't so very ripe yet. Well I must close for this time. I owe Gayle a letter and must write to Cora and Frank this afternoon. I expect you are busy all the time. Well work is fine for me so much better than last year.

Hildred they sent one of the prison boys to Eldora and a Demmere boy for stealing and other bad things. Send this letter to your mother. Lots of love to all and tell B Nana is going to send him a nice chicken as soon as it is (unreadable word) weather enough. Good bye from your old Nana.

Obituary: (Logan Gazette, Thursday, September 27, 1923)

HIGHLY RESPECTED LADY, A LONG TIME RESIDENT HERE, PASSED AWAY TUESDAY OF APOPLEXY

"Logan people were sadly shocked Tuesday morning when the report became general that Mrs. M. I. Penrod had passed away early that morning. She had been busy all day Monday, as was her custom. She arose early in the morning and did a washing, got dinner for her boarders and supper as well, and spent the evening at work about the house preparing fruit for canning. She and Mrs. M. Huber were alone in the house that night, and some time after midnight Mrs. Huber noticed that Mrs. Penrod was ill. A physician was called, but it was found that very little could be done for the sick woman. She passed away shortly after two o'clock in the morning, the cause of her death being apoplexy (stroke).

Mrs. Penrod was a native of Michigan, having been born at Wayne, Cass County, in that state, February 7th, 1853, and was here for 70 years, 7 months and 18 days old when she was called to rest, Tuesday morning, September 25th. She came to Harrison county in 1876 with her husband, Daniel Penrod, who preceded her in death a number of years ago. Here her children were born and reared. She was the mother of four children, Pearl, now Mrs. I. O. Leonard, of Edison, Nebr., Frank E. of Fremont, Nebr., Gail H., of Cumberland Iowa. One son, Harry, died nearly 30 years ago. There are also several grandchildren, Mrs. A.M. Longman, Donald, Alan and Barbara Penrod and one great-grandchild, Kenneth Longman.

Mrs. Penrod had long been a resident of Logan. She was a hardworking woman and competent in her work. Her first thought was always for her children and they would have been glad to have had "Mother" cease her labors and live with them. But she preferred her own home and the friends she had known so long and the scenes she loved so well. She was a member of the Christian church and lived up to the teachings of that organization and her faith. A good woman has gone home.

The funeral service was held at the Christian church Thursday afternoon September 27th, conducted by Rev. L. L. Chamness, her pastor. She was laid to rest in Logan cemetery.

From Funeral Card: "In Memory of Miranda I. Penrod, born Wayne, Michigan, passed away at Logan, Iowa on Sept. 25th, 1923, aged 70yrs 7mos 18days. Services at Chirstian Church, officiating clergyman L. L. Chamness. Song Selections 'Safe in the Arms of Jesus', 'On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand', 'A City Four Square', rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Hook, Mrs. R. Havens and Mr. F. Copeland. Interment at Logan, Iowa. Fraternal Orders attending, W.R.C. Pall Bearers C. F. Johnson, Jim Case, George Harvey, C.L. Isbell, T.D. Stearns, J.A. Heterick.

Probate index: Document 11, Page 181, Case 2839, Year 1923. (Penrod, Miranda I.)

Miranda's Will (handwritten document):

I, Miranda I. Penrod of the Town of Logan, Harrison County, Iowa, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make, declare, and publish this, my Last Will and Testament, and hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time or place made.

First, I direct the executor of this will hereinafter named to pay all my just debts including the expenses of my last sickness and funeral and the costs of administration upon my said estate.

Second, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved niece, Hildreth H. Longman, my piano.

Third, all the remainder of my property of whatsoever kind or nature, I give devise, and bequeath to each of my three children, Pearl Leonard, Frank E. Penrod, and Gaylord H. Penrod share and share alike. In the event any of my said children should precede me in death, then the share that said child or children would inherit shall pass to the children of said deceased child or children.

Fourth, all of my personal effects, furniture and the like may be distributed among my three children in any manner agreeable to the, or it may be sold at their election and proceeds divided in accordance with the above direction. That is they may agree on the division of the same or any part thereof and sell the remainder.

I hereby nominate my son Frank E. Penrod to act as executor of this will and hereby direct that it shall not be necessary for him to give bond for such purpose.

Witness my hand at Logan, Iowa, on this 23rd day of June, 1922

(signature) Miranda I. Penrod

(Witness) T. K. Berry

(Witness) Walter I. Wolfe

Excerpts from Final Probate Report of Executor:

Miranda I. Penrod died testate in Harrison County, Iowa on or about the 25th day of September, 1923; that said Miranda I. Penrod at the time of her death was a widow; that said deceased left surviving her as her only heirs the following children, namely, Pearl Leonard, Daughter, age 49, residence Edison, Nebraska; F. E. Penrod, son, age 39, Fremont, Nebraska; and G. H. Penrod, age 37 of Cumberland, Iowa; That Hildred H. Longman of Lincoln, Nebraska, of full age and a granddaughter of said deceased - she being a daughter of Pearl Leonard, named above, was a beneficiary under said Will; That said legacy does not constitute a charge on any real estate left by said deceased.

Executor further reports that at the time of her death, the said deceased was seized in fee simple of the following described property, to-wit: Lot Eight in Block Sixty in Shanks Addition to Logan, Iowa, which property constituted the homestead of said deceased.

Your executor states and it shows of record that there has been no claims filed against this estate; that the expenses of the last sickness and funeral of deceased has been paid by the heirs, who make no claim against the estate therefor; that the personal property of deceased consisting principally of personal belongings has been distributed amongst the heirs in accordance with the suggestion make in the Will of deceased that they divide her personal effects among themselves in accordance with their own wishes; that the piano devised to Hildred H. Longman has been claimed and obtained by her; that the expenses of administration are fully paid.

From Logan Observer, June 26, 1924 -- Gail H. Penrod of Cumberland, Iowa, was here the latter part of last week to oversee the placing of tombstone over the grave of his mother. His sister, Mrs. I.O. Leonard of Edison, Nebraska, was here also.

From Logan Observer, July 10, 1924 - FOR SALE -- To close an estate I am offering the residence of the late Mrs. M.I. Penrod at a bargain price of $2,000. A 6-room, modern house, barn and good improvements. Also a good building lot, (north 1/2 of 1 and 2 in block 78), just west of schoolhouse yard at $425. Sidewalks on north and east. If interested see Ed Cowan for terms, etc. (F.E. Penrod, Administrator, July 10 - Aug 7, 1924)