When Dora Ethel Thompson was born on 27 August 1876, in Miller, Missouri, United States, her father, William Marion Thompson, was 36 and her mother, Nancy Jane Radford, was 24. She married Colonel Anthony Pennington on 30 June 1892, in California, Moniteau, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. She lived in Maxwell, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States for about 20 years and Maxwell Township, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States for about 5 years. She died on 20 October 1946, in Ada, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Ada, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States.