JOHN PENCE

Among the farmers of Worth county who have won a substantial measure of success that now enables them to live retired is numbered John Pence, who makes his home in Fertile at the present time, but for many years was actively associated with agricultural interests. He receives the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one of his years, for he has now passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey. He was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, May 7, 1828, and is a son of Gabriel and Nancy (McConnell) Pence, The father was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1806, and in 1830 removed to Henderson county, Illinois, where he resided until 1837, when he became a resident of Jackson county, Iowa. There he lived for about twenty years, and in 1857 established his home in Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, where he followed farming, purchasing one hundred acres of land which he converted into rich and productive fields. His labors were always of both a practical and progressive character and accomplished splendid results. He lived to see his children and grandchildren down to the fourth generation settle about him in Cerro Gordo county, the family being noted for longevity. He passed away February 7, 1880, while his wife survived until October n, 1882.

John Pence was only two years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Bartholomew county, Indiana, to Illinois, and then removed with them to Jackson county, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood and married. In the spring of 1857, when he was twenty-nine years of age, he and the family removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, and he purchased land, becoming the owner of a valuable tract of six hundred acres. As the years passed on he bought, sold and traded in land, owning at different times various valuable farms in that locality, but about eight years ago he disposed of his farm in Cerro Gordo county and took up his abode in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Yokom, in Fertile.

It was in 1849 that Mr. Pence was united in marriage to Miss Louisiana Lock, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Skinner) Lock. She was born in Kentucky, and by her marriage became the mother of eleven children: Lavinia, Nancy, Sarah J., Charlotte E., Gabriel, Elizabeth E., Ella E., Arthur, Rachel Ann, John Myrten and Lawrence W. Mrs. Pence passed away July n, 1906, in Cerro Gordo county, when seventy-two years and eight months of age.

Mr. Pence now finds a pleasant home with his daughter. He is a member of the United Brethren church and his has been a well spent life, measuring up to high standards of manhood and citizenship. While living upon the farm he served as trustee of his township and in other local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. For seven years he served as postmaster of Rock, with office at his home. His father had established the office and was one of the first postmasters of the county. Mr. Pence of this review took up his abode in Cerro Gordo county when there was1 only one store in Mason City. The entire district was undeveloped and unimproved. There was plenty of wild game, -which furnished many a meal for the early settlers. The Indians were found in the district and there was little evidence of development and little indication of the changes which the future was to bring. There were no railroads in this section of the state and all farming was done with ox teams. Oxen were also driven to market and conveyed the early settlers from point to point as they went about to visit friends or on business. One could travel for miles without coming to any house or without seeing any indication that the work of progress and civilization had been begun in the neighborhood. Mr. Pence and his family went through all the period of pioneer hardship and privation, but with resolute spirit met the conditions existing, and as the years have passed on he has won a substantial measure of prosperity as the result of his well directed labors. Moreover, he lived to see a remarkable change in all this section of the country and has ever rejoiced in the progress that has been.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 122 & 123

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 9/13/2006