John J. Pentony, a deputy sheriff of Delaware county, has demonstrated that he is a man of high standards of public service and of absolute fearlessness in the discharge of his duties. He was born in Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois, February 22, 1861, a son of William Pentony, who was born in Ireland in 1822. By trade the father was a carpenter and in 1864 he settled in Delaware county, where he passed away in 1905. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Gannon, was born in the same county in Ireland, although they did not meet until after they had come to this country. Her death occurred on Christmas day, 1894. They had seven children, namely: Mary, the wife of Edward Malone, a resident of Milesville, South Dakota; Henry, who has passed away; J. J., the subject of this review; Julia, who passed away leaving four children; William F., deceased; Anna Lucinda, the wife of Peter J. McEnany, of Adams township, this county; and Mrs. Ella Collis, living at Yuma, Arizona.
     John J. Pentony attended the common schools of the county in the acquirement of his elementary education and subsequently was a student in the Manchester Academy, now defunct, until 1880. He then began reading law in the office of E. M. Carr and so continued for two years, but before he was admitted to the bar he gave up his plan to become a member of the legal profession and entered the railway mail service, with which he was connected until 1890. He was then for two years a traveling salesman and subsequently, during Cleveland's second term, was deputy postmaster of Manchester under P. J. Wellman. However, he gave up his position before the expiration of his term in order to open a drug store at Ryan in 1895. After three years he sold the business to his partner, A. S. Gibbons, and devoted his energy to the real estate business, handling land in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota until 1906. However, he spent the winter of 1903-04 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In September, 1906, he became deputy sheriff of Delaware county and has served continuously in that office. He is his party's nominee, in 1914, for sheriff. He has displayed the admirable characteristics of energy, decision and sound judgment in everything that he has done and holds the respect and confidence of his fellowmen.
      Mr. Pentony was married on the 10th of February, 1886, to Miss Clara Eleanor Magill, who was born in Clinton, Illinois, on the 7th of December, 1866, a daughter of William and Mary (Simms) Magill. Her father, who was a banker and merchant, has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Pentony have been born six children: Madge A., the wife of Charles G. Newcomb, a resident of New Mexico; Mary C., the wife of Earl A. Davis, of Glenwood county, this state; Clara M., the wife of Roy Stewart, who resides in Manchester; and Joseph, Beatrice and Isabel, all at home. Mr. Pentony is a democrat in politics and is ever loyal in his support of the men and measures of that party.