Pg 723 ADAM PENCE  retired farmer, P O Westville. Among the many pioneers of this county we find Adam Pence living in an old time cottage under the beautiful hills that overlook the Mad River Valley. He is one of our comfortable men, retired from active business, and with his wife, three sons and two daughters, lives a happy contented life, surrounded by domestic comforts, and free from care. Adam was born in Shenandoah Co, VA, probably in 1802; his parents Lewis and barbara pence immigrated to Ohio in 1820; they are both of German descent, and Mrs Pence came from Germany. Their children (eleven in number) were born in Virginia, the youngest being 21 years of age; four of them were married. Lewis had considerable money when he came here, and purchased a section of land, afterward buying 300 acres more; this he divided among his children at once; and they set to work and soon those who were married had a comfortable log house erected. Adam, our subject, is now living in the house first built, in 1821 and which has been occupied by his family for fifty-nine years. He was married to his present wife Mary Prince, a native of Kentucky, in 1824; they were both hard workers, saved their money, and soon had gained enough to purchase 240 acres of land; this was in turn divided among their children, of whom they have nine, seven sons and two daughters. Three sons are married; Wesley married Emily Strickler; Adam Jr wedded Nancy McCarty and William married Mary Miller. The two daughters are named Sarah and Elizabeth. There are also three sons living at home-Henry, John and David. Adam Pence has also raised another man, who might properly be reckoned a son named Charlie M Overhulse. The sons living at home have lately added to their possessions 200 acres more land, purchased in partnership, lying west of the home farm. Their father still owns his original tract of 100 acres given him by his father, with an income sufficient to furnish every comfort while they live. We have been to many farmhouses, but the culinary skill of the mother and her daughters cannot be excelled by any housewives in the county. Their habits are of a quiet sort, for which the pioneers are noted, and the family are members of the Lutheran Church, to which Mr and Mrs pence have belonged for nearly three quarters of a century. They are noted for their honesty, and as neighbors, enjoy the confidence of all with whom they are acquainted. This sketch will ever be a source of pride to their descendents indicating the character of their ancestry, and the high esteem in which they are held in the community.According to the 1874 atlas, the Adam Pence Sr. tract or farm was in the west half of Sec. 27.

pg 723 DAVID PENCE retired farmer P O Westville. The gentleman is one of the oldest men and represents the first families of this county. His father, Abram Pence, came to this county from Shenandoah Co, VA in 1811 and sellted on the farm now owned by our subject; he built a log cabin in the woods that had never been defaced by an axe, save when the indian in his hunt for wild honey would fell a tree in which bees were discovered. He was married in Virginia, before his emigration, to Miss Elizabeth Mauck. The children are Mary, Abram, Elizabeth and David, who is the gentleman frunishing the facts for this sketch. Mary, the oldest is also living and will be 89 years of age in November ; she is the mother of Allen Loudenback., whose sk.etch appears in this work.. During the boyhood of David, there were Indians still living in the neighborhood, and frequently played with Indian boys, shooting the bow and arrow, etc.; there were frequent Indian scares previous to this, and one of his uncles, Joseph Mauck., left the settlement on account of it; the Indians, however, always treated the settlers kindly; families were on the most friendly terms, and all the neighbors were obliged to help each other in their log-rollings and in the erection of their log cabins. Henry and Mary Pence-the grandparents of David settled in this township about 1805. The members of the Pence family who settled in Mad River Township were Benjamin, Isaac, HenrJ, Abram, the father of our subject, John, Samuel and Reuben. In Urbana Township, Jacob and Joseph settled. In Fairfield County. David Pence was the only male representative. The daughters were all settled in Mad River Township-Susannah, Annie, Elizabeth, Mary and John Stewart's wife, Magdaline and Barbara. The parents of all these children were among the first families that settled here. Henry was born in 1740, and Mary Blimly, his wife, in 1746. They emigrated from Germany to America in their youth; two of their children died in infancy and were not named, consequently they were the parents of ninetren children. David, our subject, was married to Priscilla Frazee in 1831, and has five children living; one child who died in infancy. Moses F. married Kate McFarland; Wilson T. wedded Angeline Stien barger ; Abram M. married Mary J. Wheeler; Maggie is the wife of W. S. Garrett, and Amanda wedded U. G. Burke. Mr. Pence and his wife live entirely at their ease on the home farm, surrounded by their children and blessed with plenty of this world's goods. They are both members of the Baptist Church, and, as they are descending the hillside of life hand in hand, they feel happy in the thought that they are still spared to each other.

ELI PENCE, farmer; P. 0. St. Paris ;is a son of Samuel Pence, born in Champaign Co., where he was raised through the early part of the nineteenth century, many privations being connected with his life. He married about 1825, to Mary A. Howard, a native of this State. After a companionship of some years, he died and left nine children. Mary A. still survives ;has married and buried her second husband, by whom she had four children. Eight of her thirteen children now survive. Eli was born in Johnson Township Jan. 20, 1842, and was left fatherless when but a child; he then fell into the hands of some of his relatives, by whom he was properly cared for until Aug. 4, 1862. At this time the great crisis of our country was raging, and he entered Co. H, 45th 0. V. I., serving to the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. During his military life, he participated in the battles of Knoxville, Tenn. ; Loudon, Tenn. ; the battle of Resaca, Ga., where he was slightly wounded in the right shoulder, and many other battles of minor importance. On March 4, 1866, after his return from the service, he married Rachel A. Sroufe. One year later he located on what is now his farm. This he has since purchased by degrees, and now owns a well-improved grain farm. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pence are Orlando, William F., Samuel C., Mary E. and Emma A. Mrs. Pence was born on their present farm, and is a daughter of George 0, Sroufe, who was a prominent pioneer of this township.

ELLIOTT PENCE, teacher, Millerstown ;son of Barney and Jane (Morris) Pence, was born Jan. 24, 1848, and is one of a family of eight children, five by first wife, Jane, above mentioned, to whom his father was married in 1836, and three by second marriage, to Margaret Johnson in 1852. We mention them in the following order, viz., Benjamin F., John Wesley, Elliott, James H. T. and Nancy Jane by first marriage ; and by second wife three girls, of whom Mary and Jenny are now living. Elliott was married Nov. 24, 1870, to Barbara A. Hanback, by whom he has two boys, Victor Augustus and Homer. The Pence family is a large one, and figures conspicuously in the annals of Champaign Co. We are indebted to the subject of this sketch for a brief record of the family. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Pence, was born in Buckingham Co., Va., and married Eve Prince, of the same county and State. Seven children were born to them, three boys-Peter, William and Barney (the latter being the father of our subject), and four girls-Anna, Polly, Betsy and Susie. With his family he removed in 1819 to Ohio, occupying a month in making the journey, and settled on Owen's Creek in Champaign Co: All the children reached maturity, married and struck out for themselves. In the following order: Anna became the wife of Jesse Jenkins ; Peter married Sarah Dosh; William married Susan Hoak ; Betsy became the wife of Jacob Miller; Polly, the wife of Fredrick Dosh; and lastly, Barney married Jane Morris, as previously noted. Barney Pence settled in Concord Township, where he still resides, never moved but once, and has never voted outside of said township.

JACOB PENCE,farmer; P. 0. St. Paris; son of Jacob and Sarah(Ebert);  both natives of Virginia. They emigrated iu their youthful days to J ohnson Twp Champaign Co., where they married. They soon after became the owners of 80 acres of land (in Sec. 6, J ohnson Township) which they took from its wilds to a good  of cultivation and improvement. During life, Jacob Pence, Sr., devoted most time to his trade of blacksmith, following the same until within a few years of his which occurred in August, 1857. His third wife now survives at the advanced age of 73. Jacob, Sr ., was the father of ten children, of whom four are now living. Jr., our subject. was born in Johnson Township in 1828, where he has ever resided. He was raised to farm life and obtained a limited education. In 1828 married Mahala Offenbacker, after which he engaged in farming for himself spring and summer months, and during the fall and winter months he was engaged in  threshing. Mr. Pence started in life on a mere nothing and by his own exertions accumulated until he now owns a fine farm of 262 acres inl a good location and well impoved. Mr. and Mrs. Pence are the parents of seven children, of whom six are now living

LEMUEL PENCE, retired farmer; P. 0. St. Paris; is a son of David and Barbara (Offenbacker) Pence, both natives of Virginia, where they married. They emigrated to Ohio at an early day, locating in Champaign Co., where he became the owner of several fine farms, which he superintended during life. His wife died about 1840 and he in 1864. Their children were ten in number, of whom three are now livi ng Lemuel being the second youngest; he was born in Concord Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1821, and was raised to farm life and obtained a common education. remained at home and nobly assisted his father until Aug. 5. 1847, when he married Miss Ann J ffries, after which they commenced housekeeping on the old farm and cultivating the land. Mr. Pence is a practical farmer, and success has accompanied through life. In 1871, he erected his present commodious and attractive dwelling in  Sec. 1, Johnson Township, where he owns a fine farm in connection with other land. His residence is decorated with many attractive ornaments, aud is kept in complete order by his noble and worthy wife. They are the parents of three children, viz., Sarah L., born Aug. 8, 1848; Aug. 8,1864, she married T. P. Kite, and March 1, 1877 death severed their union, and she was consigned to the silent tomb. J. S., born July 30, 1850, received his primary education in the common schools, improved it at college and is now a resident of Concord Township. The third child, Alice S., was born 2,1860, and Jan. 1,1879, married J. W. Byler. May 25, following, she was called hence by that destructive disease, consumption. Mrs. Pence was born in Butler Ohio, March 8, 1826. On her 54th anniversary. there assembled about fifty peersons of a refined class to celebrate the day. The parties came from Urbana, St. Paris Millerstown. All passed off as merry as a wedding bell. After the big dinner, whichg all such occasions afford, Mrs. Pence was more completely surprised with num erous presents, among which we mention a gold watch and chain from her devoted husband  and a fine chair from her beloved and only son.

WILLIAM F PENCE farmer, P O St Paris. His father, Frederick Pence was born in Virginia, where he was drafted in the war of 1812. He married in his native State, Amelia Jenkins, and, in 1819, when the Pence emigration came from Virginia they, too, were a part of its company. On reaching Champaign Co. they settled near Millerstown, in Johnson Township. Fredrick erected a gristmill at the head of Mosquito Lake. This he ran for years. On Feb. 2, 1836, after a stay in the newly settled country of nearly onescore years, he passed away. His wife followed about 1862. Nine children were born to them, of whom William F. is the youngest and only one left to put on record the untold history of his father's family. He was born in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Feb. 11, 1830; he has always been a resident of the county ;his father dying when he was but a child, and the duty of rearing the family devolved mainly upon the mother. In 1850, William F. married Emiline Pence, born in Clark Co., Ohio, 1833, and died April 15, 1877. Nine of their eleven children are now living. After the above marriage, W. F. settled on his father's farm. A few years thence rented unti1 1861, when he located on his present farm of 80 acres, in Sec. 28, Johnson Township. This he has mostly cleared up and has under a good state of cultivation and improvement.