My Genealogy Hound

John C. Pence is numbered among the honored and respected old settlers of Union county, having for more than a third of a century resided within its borders, and during this period he has been closely identified with the growth and development of this section of the state through his labors as an agriculturist, although at the present time he is practically living retired in a comfortable home in Creston.

Mr. Pence was born in Washington county Pennsylvania, November 28, 1843, a son of Henry and Mary Ann (Case) Pence, who were likewise natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. Later they removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he remained for a time and then made his way on to Muskingum county, that state, while still later he took up his abode in Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1868, in which year he located in Iowa, settling on the northern boundary of Union county, where he opened up and developed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Disposing of that property he then removed to Kansas, settling on a farm in Jewell county, where he made his home for a time and then moved across the border into Nebraska, locating in Superior. Later he spent three years in Newark, that state, and from there removed to Custer county, Nebraska. Eventually, however, he returned to Iowa, making his home in Creston for three years, but his last days were spent in the home of his son John, where he passed away in 1897, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

John C. Pence is one of a family of nine children, of whom three sons and one daughter survive, his two brothers being William and R. W. Pence, while his sister is Lizzie, the wife of John McIntyre, a resident of Norton county, Kansas. John C. Pence accompanied his parents on their various removals and was reared to general agricultural pursuits. It was during his residence in Ohio, however, that his labors were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war, when in 1862, being then a youth of eighteen years, he joined the State Militia, with which he did active duty for a time, while in 1864 he reenlisted on the 27th of April as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a member of Company B, this company going to the front for one hundred days’ service. He went south to Charleston, Virginia, and did guard duty, being discharged on the expiration of his term, September 3, 1864.

Returning to his home in Ohio, he was married in Muskingum county, August 17, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Susannah Steers who was born and reared in that county. Following his marriage Mr. Pence took his bride to Henderson county, Illinois, where he rented a farm, which he cultivated for one year, and then removed to Knox county, locating on a farm which he purchased near Cameron. After three years, however, he disposed of that property and removed to the city of Galesburg and cultivated farm land near that city for four years, subsequent to which time he again located on a farm, which he rented for four years, but in the fall of 1873 came to Iowa and purchased eighty acres of wild and unimproved land in Adair county on section 17, Union township. He there developed a splendid property, cultivating the same for more than twenty years. He likewise built thereon a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings, set out a good orchard as well as a grove to furnish shade. Mr. Pence prospered in his labors as an agriculturist, so that in due course of time he felt justified in spending his days in less of care and labor and accordingly leased his farm and removed to Creston and erected a nice home on North Cedar street, this residence being surrounded by nineteen acres of land. He likewise planted a good orchard, built a barn and made this property an attractive as well as a valuable place.

After a residence of thirteen years in this home, Mr. Pence was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away May 7, 1903. The three children of this marriage are: W. E., who owns a fine farm but makes his home in Creston; H. A., who lives in Traer, Iowa, is married and has two children, Susie A. and Wilma; and H. D., who owns the original home farm in Adair county, is married and has two daughters, Mamie O. and Virl.

In 1905 Mr. Pence returned to Muskingum county, Ohio, and was there married on the 13th of February of that year, to Anna A. Ross, who was born and reared in Muskingum county. Mr. Pence then sold his residence on North Cedar street for six thousand dollars and purchased a home on West Poplar street, where he made his home for a time but is now occupying a comfortable home at 612 Prairie avenue in Creston, he having remodeled this house, installed a steam furnace, electric lights, and added other modern accessories until it is now one of the up-to-date and convenient residences of the city. He has here three acres of ground, which he has set out to fruit, and altogether the place is one of the valuable properties of Creston.

Although reared in the faith of the democratic party Mr. Pence is now a stanch republican and while on the farm served as township trustee and as road supervisor. He also served as a member of the school board for many years and was chosen as a delegate to numerous county conventions, also as a delegate to the congressional convention. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are deeply interested and Mr. Pence belongs to J. T. Potter Post, G. A. R., at Creston. Almost thirty-five years have passed since he came to this state and during the years which have since passed he has not only witnessed a wonderful transformation but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed wild land into rich and productive tracts, and now in his declining years, through earnest and unremitting toil in former years, he is now enabled to live retired, enjoying the well earned rest which is the merited reward of a long and honorable business career.