Co-Founder of the City of Frankfort, Indiana
Source: Frankfort Crescent, Wednesday, August 2, 1882, page 1
Death Date: July 31, 1882
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
A Good Man Has Passed Away. Death of John Pence.
It was with a feeling of profound regret that the announcement was heard on Monday morning that John Pence, the old pioneer and founder of Frankfort, had passed from this earth. A little over a week ago, he was around as usual, riding in his buggy, looking after his somewhat extensive business, but early last week he was taken with neuralgia of the stomach, attended with a general letting down of the system, and gradually grew worse till on Sunday night he passed away. Had he lived till December 30, he would have been eighty-three years of age.
Born in Virginia the last year of the past century, the third child of George and Anna Nicholas Pence, his mother dying when John was but six years old, about the year 1817, his father, with the family, moved to Ohio, when his father purchased a farm of 120 acres, near Lebanon, Warren county, where John remained till the death of his father in 1824, when he was married to Miss Judith Aughe, who as his faithful wife and companion, traveled life's rugged road with him till January 2, 1874, when she was called from labor to reward. In the year 1827, he left Ohio to seek his fortune in the then young and growing state of Indiana. He first came out in 1828 having made the purchase of the land upon the now flourishing city of Frankfort stands, paying $400 for 320 acres, and the next year moved his family thither. Here he has ever since resided. Few were the inhabitants of Clinton county in that day; in searching the annals of that early period, we find him contemporary with such early pioneers as the Clarks, the Rogers, Nathan Kirk, Babcock, Kilmore, Ross, the Youngs, Abner Baker A. H. Southard, Wm. Anderson, Samuel Aughe, Dorsy, Wm. Miller, James Stinson, Reed Kelly, Noah Bunnell, I. D. Armstrong, the Douglasses, S. D. Maxwell, the Fudges, Armentrouts, Jesse Carter, the Rogers, Andrew Major, Samuel Seawright, Wm. and N. Pence, and some others that cannot be mentioned. Among all these, John Pence was the peer of any of them, sharing all the privation and danger of pioneer life and filling up the measure of his duty as a public spirited citizen, a father of a family, and later, a member of the church. On the second Monday in May, 1830, commissioners previously appointed as by act of the legislature, met in Jefferson to examine proposals for the county seat. Propositions were before the commissioners for the capital to be at Jefferson, at Frankfort and at the point almost exactly in the center of the county, near the residence of Richard Frazer. John Pence proposed to donate sixty acres of land and $100 in cash if the county seat would be located on its present site, on his land. This being exceedingly liberal, his offer was at once accepted. Here he has lived, seeing the brush and the timber give way to the cultivated farms, the little straggling village transformed into the beautiful and thriving city of 5000 inhabitants. He has witnessed all the improvements in our county and town, the splendid farms, the comfortable homes that dot this county over; the rise and progress of the business and thrift, the improvements made in Frankfort, the opening of the various lines of railway and all that marks our social, financial and material advancement. This spot, which, when he first saw it, was the home of the Indian and of the beast of prey, is now the abode of civilization, culture and refinement.
Besides holding official position in his church; for ten years, from 1830, he was county treasurer, which office he filled with honest and fidelity. The same uprightness of conduct and honesty of purpose has marked his whole life. Though at times seemingly of a rough exterior and rather brusque of manner, yet no man had a kinder heart or oftener sympathized with the poor and unfortunate. No landlord was ever more lenient or indulgent to his tenants, man of whom, as is well known, have lived for years in his houses without paying a dollar of rent.
As far as can be learned, John Pence received his early religious training in the Presbyterian church. In 1839, at a camp meeting, held by the Methodists, near this city, he professed to experience religion and united with the M. E. church, in which he continued an acceptable and consistent member until his death. Soon after he united with the church, the official position and responsibility of class leader was thrust upon him, which duties he discharged for 43 consecutive years, and served in the position of Recording stewart, from Aug. 29, 1840, and also as a member of the Board of Trustees of the church from July 16, 1845, until his death. During all these years he not only professed the rich fruits of a living faith, and the Christian's hope, but discharged the duties of a trust-worthy officer in all the responsibilities of the financial, social and devotional works of the instituted and prudential means of the church.
John Pence was the father of eleven children, all but four of whom survive him, namely: Mrs. Mary A. Kelly; Nancy J., Samuel Kyger's first wife, who died a year or so after her marriage; Amanda E., first the wife of Willard Reed, now of Henry Coleman; Harriet L. Fetter; Harmon, a son who died in early childhood; Louisa M., also dying young; Samuel D., Charles P., John W. and Aaron Wood Pence, all now living and Thomas C., the youngest child, who died a few years ago. As a parent, he was kind and indulgent almost to a fault; though ever and firmly insisting upon that upright, consistent and Christian course of conduct, which has so pre-eminently marked his life. He deemed it better to influence his children and those around him, rather by precept than by command; by admonition rather than compulsion, and by the example of an upright, regular and Godly life, than by the authority vested in him as a father and head of a family. As a neighbor and citizen, though his standard of moral rectitude was high, and often insisted upon him; yet, no one more readily forgave wrong doing, knowing, as he did, that it was but human to err.
Resolutions adopted by the official Board, of Frankfort station, North-west Indiana Conference, M. E. church [continued]
The funeral was held at the residence of the late deceased at 3 o'clock, p.m., on August 1. The 991 Hymn was sung by the choir, followed by prayer by Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., and a Scriptural reading by Rev. W. H. Hickman; then Hymn 971 was sung, and then Dr. McMurray read a memorial paper after which Mr. Hickman preached a discourse, followed by Dr. Wood in some very appropriate remarks. The attendance at the funeral was very large, and the interment was in the cemetery east of town.
Source: Frankfort Crescent, Wednesday, August 2, 1882, page 1
Death Date: July 31, 1882
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
A Good Man Has Passed Away. Death of John Pence.
It was with a feeling of profound regret that the announcement was heard on Monday morning that John Pence, the old pioneer and founder of Frankfort, had passed from this earth. A little over a week ago, he was around as usual, riding in his buggy, looking after his somewhat extensive business, but early last week he was taken with neuralgia of the stomach, attended with a general letting down of the system, and gradually grew worse till on Sunday night he passed away. Had he lived till December 30, he would have been eighty-three years of age.
Born in Virginia the last year of the past century, the third child of George and Anna Nicholas Pence, his mother dying when John was but six years old, about the year 1817, his father, with the family, moved to Ohio, when his father purchased a farm of 120 acres, near Lebanon, Warren county, where John remained till the death of his father in 1824, when he was married to Miss Judith Aughe, who as his faithful wife and companion, traveled life's rugged road with him till January 2, 1874, when she was called from labor to reward. In the year 1827, he left Ohio to seek his fortune in the then young and growing state of Indiana. He first came out in 1828 having made the purchase of the land upon the now flourishing city of Frankfort stands, paying $400 for 320 acres, and the next year moved his family thither. Here he has ever since resided. Few were the inhabitants of Clinton county in that day; in searching the annals of that early period, we find him contemporary with such early pioneers as the Clarks, the Rogers, Nathan Kirk, Babcock, Kilmore, Ross, the Youngs, Abner Baker A. H. Southard, Wm. Anderson, Samuel Aughe, Dorsy, Wm. Miller, James Stinson, Reed Kelly, Noah Bunnell, I. D. Armstrong, the Douglasses, S. D. Maxwell, the Fudges, Armentrouts, Jesse Carter, the Rogers, Andrew Major, Samuel Seawright, Wm. and N. Pence, and some others that cannot be mentioned. Among all these, John Pence was the peer of any of them, sharing all the privation and danger of pioneer life and filling up the measure of his duty as a public spirited citizen, a father of a family, and later, a member of the church. On the second Monday in May, 1830, commissioners previously appointed as by act of the legislature, met in Jefferson to examine proposals for the county seat. Propositions were before the commissioners for the capital to be at Jefferson, at Frankfort and at the point almost exactly in the center of the county, near the residence of Richard Frazer. John Pence proposed to donate sixty acres of land and $100 in cash if the county seat would be located on its present site, on his land. This being exceedingly liberal, his offer was at once accepted. Here he has lived, seeing the brush and the timber give way to the cultivated farms, the little straggling village transformed into the beautiful and thriving city of 5000 inhabitants. He has witnessed all the improvements in our county and town, the splendid farms, the comfortable homes that dot this county over; the rise and progress of the business and thrift, the improvements made in Frankfort, the opening of the various lines of railway and all that marks our social, financial and material advancement. This spot, which, when he first saw it, was the home of the Indian and of the beast of prey, is now the abode of civilization, culture and refinement.
Besides holding official position in his church; for ten years, from 1830, he was county treasurer, which office he filled with honest and fidelity. The same uprightness of conduct and honesty of purpose has marked his whole life. Though at times seemingly of a rough exterior and rather brusque of manner, yet no man had a kinder heart or oftener sympathized with the poor and unfortunate. No landlord was ever more lenient or indulgent to his tenants, man of whom, as is well known, have lived for years in his houses without paying a dollar of rent.
As far as can be learned, John Pence received his early religious training in the Presbyterian church. In 1839, at a camp meeting, held by the Methodists, near this city, he professed to experience religion and united with the M. E. church, in which he continued an acceptable and consistent member until his death. Soon after he united with the church, the official position and responsibility of class leader was thrust upon him, which duties he discharged for 43 consecutive years, and served in the position of Recording stewart, from Aug. 29, 1840, and also as a member of the Board of Trustees of the church from July 16, 1845, until his death. During all these years he not only professed the rich fruits of a living faith, and the Christian's hope, but discharged the duties of a trust-worthy officer in all the responsibilities of the financial, social and devotional works of the instituted and prudential means of the church.
John Pence was the father of eleven children, all but four of whom survive him, namely: Mrs. Mary A. Kelly; Nancy J., Samuel Kyger's first wife, who died a year or so after her marriage; Amanda E., first the wife of Willard Reed, now of Henry Coleman; Harriet L. Fetter; Harmon, a son who died in early childhood; Louisa M., also dying young; Samuel D., Charles P., John W. and Aaron Wood Pence, all now living and Thomas C., the youngest child, who died a few years ago. As a parent, he was kind and indulgent almost to a fault; though ever and firmly insisting upon that upright, consistent and Christian course of conduct, which has so pre-eminently marked his life. He deemed it better to influence his children and those around him, rather by precept than by command; by admonition rather than compulsion, and by the example of an upright, regular and Godly life, than by the authority vested in him as a father and head of a family. As a neighbor and citizen, though his standard of moral rectitude was high, and often insisted upon him; yet, no one more readily forgave wrong doing, knowing, as he did, that it was but human to err.
Resolutions adopted by the official Board, of Frankfort station, North-west Indiana Conference, M. E. church [continued]
The funeral was held at the residence of the late deceased at 3 o'clock, p.m., on August 1. The 991 Hymn was sung by the choir, followed by prayer by Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., and a Scriptural reading by Rev. W. H. Hickman; then Hymn 971 was sung, and then Dr. McMurray read a memorial paper after which Mr. Hickman preached a discourse, followed by Dr. Wood in some very appropriate remarks. The attendance at the funeral was very large, and the interment was in the cemetery east of town.
Co-Founder of the City of Frankfort, Indiana
Source: Frankfort Crescent, Wednesday, August 2, 1882, page 1
Death Date: July 31, 1882
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
A Good Man Has Passed Away. Death of John Pence.
It was with a feeling of profound regret that the announcement was heard on Monday morning that John Pence, the old pioneer and founder of Frankfort, had passed from this earth. A little over a week ago, he was around as usual, riding in his buggy, looking after his somewhat extensive business, but early last week he was taken with neuralgia of the stomach, attended with a general letting down of the system, and gradually grew worse till on Sunday night he passed away. Had he lived till December 30, he would have been eighty-three years of age.
Born in Virginia the last year of the past century, the third child of George and Anna Nicholas Pence, his mother dying when John was but six years old, about the year 1817, his father, with the family, moved to Ohio, when his father purchased a farm of 120 acres, near Lebanon, Warren county, where John remained till the death of his father in 1824, when he was married to Miss Judith Aughe, who as his faithful wife and companion, traveled life's rugged road with him till January 2, 1874, when she was called from labor to reward. In the year 1827, he left Ohio to seek his fortune in the then young and growing state of Indiana. He first came out in 1828 having made the purchase of the land upon the now flourishing city of Frankfort stands, paying $400 for 320 acres, and the next year moved his family thither. Here he has ever since resided. Few were the inhabitants of Clinton county in that day; in searching the annals of that early period, we find him contemporary with such early pioneers as the Clarks, the Rogers, Nathan Kirk, Babcock, Kilmore, Ross, the Youngs, Abner Baker A. H. Southard, Wm. Anderson, Samuel Aughe, Dorsy, Wm. Miller, James Stinson, Reed Kelly, Noah Bunnell, I. D. Armstrong, the Douglasses, S. D. Maxwell, the Fudges, Armentrouts, Jesse Carter, the Rogers, Andrew Major, Samuel Seawright, Wm. and N. Pence, and some others that cannot be mentioned. Among all these, John Pence was the peer of any of them, sharing all the privation and danger of pioneer life and filling up the measure of his duty as a public spirited citizen, a father of a family, and later, a member of the church. On the second Monday in May, 1830, commissioners previously appointed as by act of the legislature, met in Jefferson to examine proposals for the county seat. Propositions were before the commissioners for the capital to be at Jefferson, at Frankfort and at the point almost exactly in the center of the county, near the residence of Richard Frazer. John Pence proposed to donate sixty acres of land and $100 in cash if the county seat would be located on its present site, on his land. This being exceedingly liberal, his offer was at once accepted. Here he has lived, seeing the brush and the timber give way to the cultivated farms, the little straggling village transformed into the beautiful and thriving city of 5000 inhabitants. He has witnessed all the improvements in our county and town, the splendid farms, the comfortable homes that dot this county over; the rise and progress of the business and thrift, the improvements made in Frankfort, the opening of the various lines of railway and all that marks our social, financial and material advancement. This spot, which, when he first saw it, was the home of the Indian and of the beast of prey, is now the abode of civilization, culture and refinement.
Besides holding official position in his church; for ten years, from 1830, he was county treasurer, which office he filled with honest and fidelity. The same uprightness of conduct and honesty of purpose has marked his whole life. Though at times seemingly of a rough exterior and rather brusque of manner, yet no man had a kinder heart or oftener sympathized with the poor and unfortunate. No landlord was ever more lenient or indulgent to his tenants, man of whom, as is well known, have lived for years in his houses without paying a dollar of rent.
As far as can be learned, John Pence received his early religious training in the Presbyterian church. In 1839, at a camp meeting, held by the Methodists, near this city, he professed to experience religion and united with the M. E. church, in which he continued an acceptable and consistent member until his death. Soon after he united with the church, the official position and responsibility of class leader was thrust upon him, which duties he discharged for 43 consecutive years, and served in the position of Recording stewart, from Aug. 29, 1840, and also as a member of the Board of Trustees of the church from July 16, 1845, until his death. During all these years he not only professed the rich fruits of a living faith, and the Christian's hope, but discharged the duties of a trust-worthy officer in all the responsibilities of the financial, social and devotional works of the instituted and prudential means of the church.
John Pence was the father of eleven children, all but four of whom survive him, namely: Mrs. Mary A. Kelly; Nancy J., Samuel Kyger's first wife, who died a year or so after her marriage; Amanda E., first the wife of Willard Reed, now of Henry Coleman; Harriet L. Fetter; Harmon, a son who died in early childhood; Louisa M., also dying young; Samuel D., Charles P., John W. and Aaron Wood Pence, all now living and Thomas C., the youngest child, who died a few years ago. As a parent, he was kind and indulgent almost to a fault; though ever and firmly insisting upon that upright, consistent and Christian course of conduct, which has so pre-eminently marked his life. He deemed it better to influence his children and those around him, rather by precept than by command; by admonition rather than compulsion, and by the example of an upright, regular and Godly life, than by the authority vested in him as a father and head of a family. As a neighbor and citizen, though his standard of moral rectitude was high, and often insisted upon him; yet, no one more readily forgave wrong doing, knowing, as he did, that it was but human to err.
Resolutions adopted by the official Board, of Frankfort station, North-west Indiana Conference, M. E. church [continued]
The funeral was held at the residence of the late deceased at 3 o'clock, p.m., on August 1. The 991 Hymn was sung by the choir, followed by prayer by Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., and a Scriptural reading by Rev. W. H. Hickman; then Hymn 971 was sung, and then Dr. McMurray read a memorial paper after which Mr. Hickman preached a discourse, followed by Dr. Wood in some very appropriate remarks. The attendance at the funeral was very large, and the interment was in the cemetery east of town.
Source: Frankfort Crescent, Wednesday, August 2, 1882, page 1
Death Date: July 31, 1882
ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.
A Good Man Has Passed Away. Death of John Pence.
It was with a feeling of profound regret that the announcement was heard on Monday morning that John Pence, the old pioneer and founder of Frankfort, had passed from this earth. A little over a week ago, he was around as usual, riding in his buggy, looking after his somewhat extensive business, but early last week he was taken with neuralgia of the stomach, attended with a general letting down of the system, and gradually grew worse till on Sunday night he passed away. Had he lived till December 30, he would have been eighty-three years of age.
Born in Virginia the last year of the past century, the third child of George and Anna Nicholas Pence, his mother dying when John was but six years old, about the year 1817, his father, with the family, moved to Ohio, when his father purchased a farm of 120 acres, near Lebanon, Warren county, where John remained till the death of his father in 1824, when he was married to Miss Judith Aughe, who as his faithful wife and companion, traveled life's rugged road with him till January 2, 1874, when she was called from labor to reward. In the year 1827, he left Ohio to seek his fortune in the then young and growing state of Indiana. He first came out in 1828 having made the purchase of the land upon the now flourishing city of Frankfort stands, paying $400 for 320 acres, and the next year moved his family thither. Here he has ever since resided. Few were the inhabitants of Clinton county in that day; in searching the annals of that early period, we find him contemporary with such early pioneers as the Clarks, the Rogers, Nathan Kirk, Babcock, Kilmore, Ross, the Youngs, Abner Baker A. H. Southard, Wm. Anderson, Samuel Aughe, Dorsy, Wm. Miller, James Stinson, Reed Kelly, Noah Bunnell, I. D. Armstrong, the Douglasses, S. D. Maxwell, the Fudges, Armentrouts, Jesse Carter, the Rogers, Andrew Major, Samuel Seawright, Wm. and N. Pence, and some others that cannot be mentioned. Among all these, John Pence was the peer of any of them, sharing all the privation and danger of pioneer life and filling up the measure of his duty as a public spirited citizen, a father of a family, and later, a member of the church. On the second Monday in May, 1830, commissioners previously appointed as by act of the legislature, met in Jefferson to examine proposals for the county seat. Propositions were before the commissioners for the capital to be at Jefferson, at Frankfort and at the point almost exactly in the center of the county, near the residence of Richard Frazer. John Pence proposed to donate sixty acres of land and $100 in cash if the county seat would be located on its present site, on his land. This being exceedingly liberal, his offer was at once accepted. Here he has lived, seeing the brush and the timber give way to the cultivated farms, the little straggling village transformed into the beautiful and thriving city of 5000 inhabitants. He has witnessed all the improvements in our county and town, the splendid farms, the comfortable homes that dot this county over; the rise and progress of the business and thrift, the improvements made in Frankfort, the opening of the various lines of railway and all that marks our social, financial and material advancement. This spot, which, when he first saw it, was the home of the Indian and of the beast of prey, is now the abode of civilization, culture and refinement.
Besides holding official position in his church; for ten years, from 1830, he was county treasurer, which office he filled with honest and fidelity. The same uprightness of conduct and honesty of purpose has marked his whole life. Though at times seemingly of a rough exterior and rather brusque of manner, yet no man had a kinder heart or oftener sympathized with the poor and unfortunate. No landlord was ever more lenient or indulgent to his tenants, man of whom, as is well known, have lived for years in his houses without paying a dollar of rent.
As far as can be learned, John Pence received his early religious training in the Presbyterian church. In 1839, at a camp meeting, held by the Methodists, near this city, he professed to experience religion and united with the M. E. church, in which he continued an acceptable and consistent member until his death. Soon after he united with the church, the official position and responsibility of class leader was thrust upon him, which duties he discharged for 43 consecutive years, and served in the position of Recording stewart, from Aug. 29, 1840, and also as a member of the Board of Trustees of the church from July 16, 1845, until his death. During all these years he not only professed the rich fruits of a living faith, and the Christian's hope, but discharged the duties of a trust-worthy officer in all the responsibilities of the financial, social and devotional works of the instituted and prudential means of the church.
John Pence was the father of eleven children, all but four of whom survive him, namely: Mrs. Mary A. Kelly; Nancy J., Samuel Kyger's first wife, who died a year or so after her marriage; Amanda E., first the wife of Willard Reed, now of Henry Coleman; Harriet L. Fetter; Harmon, a son who died in early childhood; Louisa M., also dying young; Samuel D., Charles P., John W. and Aaron Wood Pence, all now living and Thomas C., the youngest child, who died a few years ago. As a parent, he was kind and indulgent almost to a fault; though ever and firmly insisting upon that upright, consistent and Christian course of conduct, which has so pre-eminently marked his life. He deemed it better to influence his children and those around him, rather by precept than by command; by admonition rather than compulsion, and by the example of an upright, regular and Godly life, than by the authority vested in him as a father and head of a family. As a neighbor and citizen, though his standard of moral rectitude was high, and often insisted upon him; yet, no one more readily forgave wrong doing, knowing, as he did, that it was but human to err.
Resolutions adopted by the official Board, of Frankfort station, North-west Indiana Conference, M. E. church [continued]
The funeral was held at the residence of the late deceased at 3 o'clock, p.m., on August 1. The 991 Hymn was sung by the choir, followed by prayer by Rev. Aaron Wood, D. D., and a Scriptural reading by Rev. W. H. Hickman; then Hymn 971 was sung, and then Dr. McMurray read a memorial paper after which Mr. Hickman preached a discourse, followed by Dr. Wood in some very appropriate remarks. The attendance at the funeral was very large, and the interment was in the cemetery east of town.
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