A.B. Pennock, proprietor of the Concordia elevator, is one of Concordia's most esteemed citizens and business men. He was born in Barry county, Michigan, in 1849. He is a son of Ozias and Mary Ann (Rafler) Pennock. Ozias Pennock was a native of Vermont, but emigrated to Michigan in the early settlement of that state. He was seemingly fond of pioneer life for he emigrated to Allen county, Kansas, in 1859, and removed to Doniphan county in 1863. He subsequently returned to Michigan, where he died in 1898, followed by the wife and mother one year later. Mr. Pennock's mother was a native of Ireland and came to America with her parents when about five years of age.

Mr. Pennock received a limited education in the common schools of Michigan. He came to Kansas when the country was new and when there were no schools, in 1837. He crossed the plains when but fifteen years of age, driving six yoke of cattle for the freighting company of Stebbins & Porter, who were well known in those days. He went through to Central City, Colorado, returning in 1865 to Doniphan county, and later, with his father's family, to Michigan, where he worked on a farm until 1870, and again came to Kansas and filed on a homestead in Aurora township, Cloud county, which he improved and lived on for five years. Retaining his homestead he came to Concordia and began working at his trade, that of stone mason and plasterer, which he had learned during his last residence in Michigan. Four years later he entered the employ of William Blair, the man who established the elevator Mr. Pennock now operates. He bought grain for him four years. Mr. Blair was succeeded by Glucose & Company. Mr. Pennock remained in their employ for one year and then established a grain business for himself in the town of Aurora. At the expiration of two years he, with his father-in-law, who owned a half section of land together, returned to the farm for one year, and in 1881 moved to Concordia. In 1892 he was appointed under sheriff and jailor, under Sheriff Archer. Two years later he bought the elevator and has since been successfully engaged in the grain business. On Mr. Pennock's advent in Kansas he had practically nothing, but now owns two farms in Aurora township, one he purchased and the other is his old homestead. They are both finely improved. He has a handsome residence property on the corner of Broadway and Eleventh streets in the city of Concordia.

He was married in 1873 to Kesiah Prince, a daughter of E.L. Prince, a farmer of Aurora township, and an old settler who came to Cloud county in the early 'seventies. Mr. Prince left the homestead in 1876 and established a grain business in Jamestown, owning an interest in an elevator there. They now reside in Concordia. To Mr. and Mrs. Pennock four children have been born: Ada, Florence, Alfred and Hazel, all educated in the Concordia schools. Mr. Pennock is a Republican in politics and was deputy sheriff, under John Wilson, the second sheriff of Cloud county, for four years. He has also served as constable of his township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Security and Triple Tie. By his industry and integrity Mr. Pennock has accumulated a comfortable fortune. He possesses a kindly and benevolent disposition. Although an unpretentious, quiet man, he has a host of friends who appreciate his good qualities.