History of Northeast Indiana
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties
Editorial Supervisors: Ira Ford [LaGrange], Orville Stevens [Steuben],
William H. McEwen [Noble] & William H. McIntosh [DeKalb]
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York City
1920

Frank Drenning. In order to make a success of farming a man must have
a natural inclination for it, and understand all of its possibilities.
The reason that some fail in this line is because they only engage in it
as a last resort, without any practical experience or liking for the
soil. Their experiments are costly and seldom successful, and the land
under their ineffectual management loses many of its porperties and
becomes unferile and practically worthless. However, when a man does
know how to cultivate his farm and likes the work there are almost
unlimited opportunities for him. Given fair treatment land will yield
more generously than almost any other kind of investment. The out of
door life, good food and dignity which comes of being a proprietor
instead of a hired man, all are aids in keeping the farmer on his job.
Within the past couple of years a new element has arisen which gives
added importance to the work, for owing to the pressure of circumstances
arising out of the great war American farmers will have to supply a
large amount of the food for the world during the next few years. They
can and will do it, and those thus fed will accord praise where it is
due. Indiana farmers will rank among the best in this work of
regenerating the devastated people, and one who is now and has been for
many years one of the representative farmers of Steuben County is Frank
Drenning of Steuben Township.
Frank Drenning was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, January 31,
1850, a son of John Drenning and a grnadson of Henry Drenning, the
latter having been a farmer in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. John
Drenning was married to Catherine Clark, of Greenberry, Bedford County,
Pennsylvania, and they had the following children: James, Mary, who died
young; John; Maria, who married Sam Laizer; Martin; Frank; Elizabeth,
who married Martin Penner; and Susan, Richard and Josiah, all of whom
died young. In 1872, John Drenning came to Steuben County, where he
passed the remainder of his life. He and his wife were devout members
of the United Brethren faith.
Frank Drenning attended the local schools of Bedford County,
Pennsylvania, and was taught farming from the time he was a small boy,
assisting his father until his marriage in 1873, when he secured a farm
in Steuben Township and began farming for himself. With the exception
of three years he spent in Angola, Mr. Drenning has lived on this farm
since he bought it, and his premises show that the owner is on hand and
takes a pride in having everything in order. The excellent and suitable
buildings on the farm have either been erected or completerly remodeled
by him, and he has also put in many other improvements, adding very
materially to the value of his 100 acres. When he bought this property
it was practically in the timber, and he has cleared off the greater
portion of it.
On March 13, 1873, Frank Drenning was married to Jane Menges*, a
daughter of Peter Menges, and they had the following children: Alice,
who married George Grubbs and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana; William
H.; Lovina; and Fannie, who married George Crossland. Mrs. Drenning
died January 1, 1906.

*Sarah Jane Menges d/o Peter Menges & Salome.


Submitted by: Joey Pedigo