Lewis J. Pence, one of the oldest and most honored of the citizens of Richland township, Grant county, Indiana, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, January 18, 1829, and is a son of Lewis and Savilla (Norman) Pence, the former of whom was born in Virginia, and was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Pence, natives of Germany, who first located in Virginia on coming to America and alter emigrated to Champaign county, Ohio, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

        To Lewis and Elizabeth Pence were born nine children, viz.: Jacob, who died in Ohio; Susan became the wife of George Myers and died in Grant county, Indiana; Mrs. Kate Bayler died in Champaign county, Ohio; Mrs. Millie Bloce also died in the same county; Martin came to Grant county in 1846, entered land, and here passed away; Adam died in Champaign county, Ohio; Mrs. Barbara Philips died in Somerset, Wabash county, Indiana; Millie (second) was first Mrs. Nun, and next Mrs. Laing, and died in Miami county, Indiana, and Lewis, the father of Lewis J.

        Lewis Pence attended school in Virginia until taken, when still a boy, to Champaign county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married in 1823. In 1842 he came to Grant county, settled one mile north of Marion and there made his home until 1845, when he came to Richland township and in 1846 entered one hundred and sixty acres of woodland in section 27, where he was compelled to clear a space large enough for the erection of a log cabin. He was percerving, however, cleared off all the timber from his original entry and added to it until he at one time owned one thousand and one hundred acres of fine farm land, and was considered to be the best farmer in the township. In politics he was first a Whig, but on the disintegration of that party became identified with the Republicans and always took a lively interest in his party's success. On this homestead his wife passed away, September 1, 1874, and his own lamented death took place February 1, 1875.

        The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Pence were seven in number, namely: Christian, who was born in Ohio, but died a farmer of Richland township, Grant county, Indiana; Mary, was the wife of John Highley, and also died in this township; Lewis J. is the subject proper of this sketch; Solomon resides near Mier; Emanuel, in Richland township; Lemuel in Grundy county, Missouri, and Barbara died in Richland township in 1846.

        Lewis J. Pence was reared in Ohio until his fifteenth year, when he came to Grant county, Indiana, with his parents, whom he assisted in clearing up the homestead in the woods, and partly cleared up his own farm, which had been entered for him by a cousin, Samuel Long. Mr. Pence remained on the parental homestead until he was twenty-three years old and then settled on his own property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres and built himself a log cabin in the woods. This land he has since cleared off and put under a high state of cultivation, has erected upon it a handsome dwelling and substantial barns and other farm buildings, and now has one of the best farms in the county.

        January 1, 1852, L. J. Pence married, in Richland township, Miss Elizabeth Fisher, who was born in Union county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Moss) Fisher, who were born near Richmond, Virginia, early located in Union county, Indiana, and in 1848 came to Grant county, and bought a timber tract in Richland township, and wrought from the wilderness a profitable farm. On this homestead Mrs. Fisher died in 1854, and six weeks later Mr. Fisher was called away. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher; Deliah died in Sweetzer in 1895; Mrs. Frances Sexton died in Howard county in 1892; David was accidentally killed in Richland township, Grant county; Jonathan resides in Howard county; Daniel died in the army in 1862; Mrs. Pence is next in order of birth; Mrs. Martha Crane died in Miami county in 1853; Mary died in 1854; Catharine died in Union county when two years old and Lydia died in Richland township, Grant county, in 1879.

        The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis J. Pence are five in number, viz.: Mary S., born April 19, 1852, is the wife of William Wimmer, of Greene township and the mother of the following children: Aaron Sherman, Clarence M., Wilbur Orthello, Abalulah Magdalena, Gi Lindley, Letitia (deceased), Galura, Mrs. Melissa Jones, Arthur Abner, Alvah Loren, Dora and Mancelona. David Monroe Pence born in 1854, resides with his father, Theodore Freeman Pence was born in 1855, married Belle Payne, lives in Jackson township, Miami county, and has seven children, viz.: Mary Belle, Edith Mary, Lewis Raymond, Rose Pearl, James Monroe, and William Hobart, who died in July, 1898; Erl N. Pence is the seventh child born to L. F. and wife; William C. Pence was born in 1860. Amanda Rosetta Pence died in September 9, 1871, aged five years, seven months and ten days.

        Lewis J. Pence is, politically, an active Republican and fraternally is a member of Converse Lodge, No. 601, F. & A. M. and stands to-day among the most substantial and highly respected citizens of Grant county.