William T. Pence

PENCE, MOULDER, MISCHLER, FRANKS, CAMPBELL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/8/2010 at 15:39:22

History of Jackson County, Iowa, James W. Ellis, 1910

WILLIAM T. PENCE.

A valuable farm of three hundred acres, located on sections 14 and 23, Monmouth township, which is owned and operated by William T. Pence, was also the place of his birth, his natal day being March 3, 1845. He is one of ten children born of the marriage of Allen Wallace and Christine (Moulder) Pence. It is supposed that the father was born in Ohio, and the year 1830 witnessed his arrival in Davenport. He spent five or six years trapping and hunting between Davenport and Dubuque and all this time he was waiting for the land to be placed on the market that he might homestead a tract. Accordingly, about 1837, he came into possession of the farm which is now owned by his son William. He built a log cabin and the following year took up his abode on the place, he being the first man in Jackson county to develop a farm. As the years passed he further developed and improved his land and became a successful farmer. In 1850, at the time of the gold excitement on the Pacific coast, he made a trip to California and met with success. In 1860 he made a trip to Pike's Peak but this venture did not prove so successful and he returned home and resumed work on the farm, there continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 4th of September, 1899, when he was well advanced in years. At the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson county, so that he left his family in very comfortable circumstances. His wife, who was born in the Buckeye state and whom he wedded in Indiana, departed this life in 1867. She was the mother of ten children, namely: Alvira and Robert, who are now deceased; Martha, the wife of D. C. Mishler, a resident of Maquoketa; Mary, the widow of Jacob Franks, also of that city; William T., of this review; Harriet, the wife of S. W. Johnston, who makes his home in Enid, Oklahoma; N. B., a farmer of Monmouth township; and three who died in infancy.
William T. Pence, the fifth in order of birth, early became familiar with the duties incident to the development and improvement of a new farm, for he assisted his father in the fields as soon as he was old enough to handle a plow. In the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the district schools, which at that time were quite primitive. Following his father's demise he and a brother purchased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead farm and for a few years the two operated the place as partners. Eventually, however, Mr. Pence of this review purchased his brother's interest and he is now sole owner of the farm of three hundred acres, situated on sections 14 and 23, Monmouth township. It is a
well improved and valuable property and Mr. Pence has for many years been busily engaged in carrying on general farming, but his labors have brought him such gratifying success that he is now contemplating laying aside business cares and spending his remaining days in retirement.
Mr. Pence was married, in 1878, to Miss Mary A. Campbell, who was born in Jackson county, and by her marriage has become the mother of seven children: R. W.. who after graduating from the Maquoketa high school, studied medicine and is now engaged in practice in Minot, North Dakota; R. A., who is a banker of Dogden, that state; one who died in infancy; Christina, also residing in Dogden; J. R., who is also a practicing physician at Minot, North Dakota; Glendola, who lives in Dogden and Florence, who is attending school in Maquoketa.
Mr. Pence has always given staunch support to the men and measures of the republican party but he has never been active as an office seeker, although he has filled some school and township offices. His wife and family are members of the German Reformed church. Honorable and upright in every relation of life, he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. He is classed among Jackson county's pioneers, for during the period of his early boyhood and youth the settlers were just entering this district and it was not until a year after his birth that the state was admitted to the Union. He is therefore familiar with all the scenes of a pioneer district where the homes of the settlers are widely scattered and the trading points are reached only after many miles of travel. He has lived to witness remarkable changes, however, and feels a just pride in the work that has been accomplished and has placed Jackson county in the front rank of civilization, for he has been an active participant in this work and is now regarded as one of the county's best and most substantial citizens.

Pence Cemetery
 

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