Anderson Democrat 23 Jul. 1880
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
On Wednesday forenoon between 10 and 11 o'clock a terrible accident, resulting in the killing of a brakeman of the Bee Line Railway neear the depot in this city, took place. The brakeman's name was Isaac C. Penisten. He was on the top of a freight car at the time and was getting ready to couple the car with one in front, when a car to the rear of the one he was on came rolling along, striking it and knocking him off. He fell on the track and was crushed at once by the wheels, which passed over his left arm and breast, killing him instantly, as he never breathed after being lifted from the ground. Penisten was about 23 years of age, was married, his family consisting of a wife and two children. He resided at Indianapolis. He was well-known in this county, having resided here several years. A brother, George T. Penisten, resides in Lafayette township, and a sister is the wife of Carroll Bronnenberg. His mother also, we believe, is living in Lafayette township. His wife is the daugher of Squire Heath, of Chesterfield. His remains were taken to Indianapolis for interment. He had been in the employ of the railroad company for a year or more, and was popular among the men all along the line.
Source :Zook, Haroldyne S.. Deaths and Administrations from Madison County, Indiana 1849-1880. Kokomo, Indiana, USA: Selby Publishing & Printing, 1988, page 363.
A cursory search of the 1880 census records on Ancestry.com has failed to locate him in the 1880 census. Was also unable to locate him in the marriage records database for Indiana.
There were numerous PENISTEN families in the Richland Township, Madison County, Indiana area. My line comes from John PENISTEN (1839-1908), son of George Washington and Sarah (MUSTARD) PENISTEN of Pike County, Ohio. The surname is spelled a number of ways, including PENNISTEN, PENISTON, etc.
