Pence was founded in September 1902 by Frank R. Pence, who purchased 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land for the purpose. In 1903, Pence became the smallest town in the United States to have a central water system. In the early part of the 20th century, Pence had numerous businesses including a grain elevator, a blacksmith shop, a welding and machine shop, a lumber yard, a coal yard, the Bank of Pence (which closed in the 1920s), a hotel (which also housed the post office for a time), restaurants, a general store, grocery stores, a hardware store, a weekly newspaper, a funeral home, a jewelry store, and various others. As of 1913, the population was about 150.
Passages that mention Pence, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Judge John Pence and descendants, born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, January 15, 1775. Resided in Champaign County, Ohio, Bartholomew County, Indiana, and Henderson County, Illinois1912 · page 13Read the page →
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The History of Judge John Pence and Descendants 13 Benjamin Pence five hundred dollars when required thereto by said Benjamin— and six hundred and seventy five dollars to my other children within five years after the death of myself and wife as follows, to Jacob Pence my eldest son two dollars, to the heirs of my son Samuel Pence dec'd. two dollars and the balance of the six hundred and seventy five dollars the said Norman is to pay an equal proportion to the other children : Henry Pence, Abraham Pence, John Pence, David Pence, Joseph Pence, Isaac Pence,
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The history of Judge John Pence and descendants, born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, January 15, 1775. Resided in Champaign County, Ohio, Bartholomew County, Indiana, and Henderson County, Illinois1912Read the page →
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Robert Lincoln Pence' (Robert Titus Pence", John Pence'), b. Apr. 13, 1864, Henderson Co., Ill; partial college education. For some years was railroad agent and telegraph operator, being in the employ of the Burlington Ry. System in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. Conducted a newspaper for a few years, first at Palisade, Hitchcock Co., Neb., afterwards at Crab Orchard, Neb.; m. Mch. 29, 1886, at Palisades, Hitchcock Co., Neb., Genevieve A. Larned. Began merchandise business at Merino, Wyo., and Jan. 1898, erected the first house in the town of Ault, Weld Co.,
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Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
