1845-1931) was a founder of the Penman mill, which grew into a large, multi-factory operation in Ontario during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
In 1868 John Penman moved to Paris, Ontario, where he founded a new mill with W.E.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was on the board of administration and Senate of Knox College.
John Penman’s home, Penmarvian, was originally called Riverview Hall and was built by the founder of Paris Hiram Capron in 1845.
At the time it was a modest two storey building overlooking the Grand River and it stayed that way until 1887 when Penman purchased the home and began an ambitious plan to turn the building into what we now recognize as Penmarvian with all of its glorious and extensive arrays of turrets, towers and arches.