Is that William Penn on the Quaker Oats box? As a proud Philadelphian, I do have to set the record straight. Despite what Quaker Oats says today, early advertisements from the company were proud to associate their breakfast cereal with our beloved Penn. See the March 18, 2013 post here and decide for yourself: http://phillyflashbacks.wordpress.com/
I’m guessing that you’re referring to this Staff Report?
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1553/is-the-guy-on-the-quaker-oats-box-john-penn
And just to make your link a little more precise:
http://phillyflashbacks.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/if-it-walks-like-william-penn-talks-like-william-penn-and-looks-like-william-penn/
If you eliminate the period hat, the period coat, and the period wig, they don’t look much alike.