Marion Thompson Pence

1850 Census Wilson County Tennessee shows George J (47) with Rebecca (41), Louiza (22), Joshua W. (19), George W. (16), Matilda A. (13), Evaline (9), Marion L. (6), Sarah Nailoz (Nailor) (60).

1860 census Dogwood, White shows MT living with mother R (Rebecca) widow, sisters M A (Matilda) and E (Evaline), next door to Joshua W's family.

Co. A 36th Ark. Inf. & Cav. Enlisted June 24, 1862 at the same time as Joshua W., both at Searcy, Ark, 70 miles travel allocation on card.

1870 census for Dogwood, White Ark shows M. Pence with wife Matilda (18), Clarence (5/12) and S. Hurt (Hunt?) 25, laborer.

1880 census for Dogwood, White Ark living with Matilda, J M and A G (Joshua M and Arthur G). Other children born and died between 1870-1880 (James, Maritta, Rila, Unnamed infant, Matilda) are buried in Liberty Cemetery Walker, White Ark.

1910 census shows living in Marshall County Oklahoma with wife F M and children B W and G S Pence

Marion told his son, Gilbert, how he as a young lad in Tenn., would gather chestnuts in the Fall to earn money to buy shoes, and how painful it was to step on a chestnut burr with bare feet.

Rebecca, Joshua, Eliza (Louisa), Matilda and Evaline Pence all asked for and received letters from the Little Cedar Lick Baptist Church in October, 1855, in preparation for moving away. Rebecca sold what belongings could not be brought with them and moved to White County, Arkansas, the young Marion Thompson rounded out the travelling group. (Memoirs, M. T. P., ca 1918.) Family tradition states they travelled overland by oxcart to the Mississippi River, then by river boat down river to the White river, then up stream to West Point, White County. A new home was established in Dogwood Township, just south of present day Griffithville, Ar. We believe the most logical route would have been almost totally on the river. Most likely they simply boarded a riverboat or barge on the nearby Cumberland, making their way into the Mississippi, then up the White River to West Point, Ar. near their destination. That was the current mode of most travel in those early days, the rivers were the highways. Since they had lived virtually on the banks of the Cumberland for 20 years, they would have been totaly familiar with river traffic.

The land in Arkansas was young, with small settlements around, not as well civilized as the community from which they came. Wild game and animals were in abundence. (Memoirs, M. T. P., ca 1918). Many years later, Gilbert, the son of Marion Thompson Pence, recalled a story his father told him. They had a young cow expecting to become fresh and M. T. had gone out to search for her, and came upon a female mountian lion with her kittens. M. T. remembered having heard that one should avoid making threatening or sudden moves, and to avoid making eye contact. He felt for his knife, only to remember he had loaned it out earlier in the day and hadn't got it back. Pretty soon, the old lion trotted away with her kittens following.

Not long after arriving in White County, Ar., there was a lot of sickness in the community and George W., the 22 year old brother M. T. Pence died August 22, 1856 of a congestive chill. (Memoirs, M. T. P.) His grave is thought to have been the first in the cemetery established on the farm of their brother Joshua. This left Louisa 28 (later widow of William Allen), Matilda 22, Evaline 18, along with the 16 year old Marion at home with Rebecca 52, their mother. Of this, Marion wrote, "This left me to care for my mother and three sisters." Farther, he added, "I promised my mother that she should not suffer for anything that I could do. I hired out for 37 1/2 cts. per day." (Memoirs, M. T. P., ca 1918.) How long he worked in this capacity is not known, but it is believed he continued to live at home and farm as best he could until the Civil War came.

Knowing he would be conscripted and forced to do so if he did not, M. T. joined the Confederate Army. Conscripts were regarded little better than prisoners, enlistees were given some benefits. On 14 June 1862, the 18 years old Marion T. Pence enlisted in Capt. Davies Co., McRae's Regt. Ark Inf. at Searcy, Ar,, later known as Co. A., McRae's 28th Ark Inf. (soon became McRae's 36th Ark Inf.) On 24 June, 1962, he reported to Springfield, Conway Co., Ar. for service, some 70 miles away. Insufficient numbers arrived so about 3 weeks later, the regiment marched back through the area they had come from in an effort to fill the ranks. After doing so, by 20 July 1862, they arrived at Camp Crystal Hill, 10 miles west of Little Rock on the Arkansas River. That summer, an epidemic raged in the ranks, many men died, some too sick for service were sent home to recouperate. Joshua, the brother of Marion T., was among these and his leave was extended a number of times. It is believed he was never able to return.

By 29 Aug, 1862, the regiment marched to Camp Hope, near Austin in Prairie Co., camping here for a month. About 9 Oct. 1862 they marched up the Arkansas River, reaching Point Remove, near Morrilton, by the 12th. After going into camp at the Mulberry River on 1 Nov. 1862, significant changes in organization were made, among which was McRae being promoted to Brigade and John Glenn assigned as Regimental Commander. By Nov 15, the regt. was camped at Camp Massard, about 10 miles southeast from Van Buren.

On 3 Dec. 1862, the regt. marched north through Van Buren, continuing until encountering Federal forces near Prairie Grove Church. When heavy fighting came on the 7th, McRae's Brigade was on the Confederate left, with the 36th in reserve. The following morning, the Confederate army had pulled back to the vacinity of Van Buren, passing through Charleston, Ar. on Dec. 28. About 12 Jan., reaching the vacinity of Morrilton, short on supplies, the Regt was on half rations and suffering in the severe cold, with many sick. A few days later they arrived at Camp Anderson, near Little Rock, where they remained through the Spring months. Another epidemic came. Here, some men were granted leaves to go home, it is believed M. T. Pence was among them, since he spoke one time of going home one time on leave. He advised his sisters to ride their mare horse side saddle with no saddle blanket to cause sores on the animal's sholders. This saved it from being confiscated by the army, it was still home at the end of the war. Departing from Camp Anderson on 26 May 1863, the regiment marching to Camp Martin Green at Bayou Meto, 12 miles east of Little Rock. Departing here 1 June, they marched about 100 miles northeast to Camp Stonewall Jackson, near Jacksonport, Ar., arriving on June 6. Here they remained for 20 days while many other units arrived. Leaving on June 25, the regt. marched to Cotton Plant, Ar., crossing the Cache River, they continued southeast toward Helena, Ar. At daybreak on July 4th they attacked Union forces there. The 36th, along with other units, was to attack and take Graveyard Hill. This was done at a high cost, but in the end the Confederate Army lost the battle and withdrew. The regt. had 28 killed, 78 wounded and 89 missing, about 25 percent of their number.

On July 5, 1863, after a hasty reorganization, they retreat on the same route of their approach, through Jacksonport. Halting at Searcy until July 25th, the regt resumed the march, arriving at Camp Martin Green on the 28th. On August 25th the regt marched on to Camp Bowen, near Little Rock and begin to fortify defenses around the city. By Sept 10, it became clear the city could not be held so the Confederates withdrew, arriving at Arkadelphia on Sept 14th. Shortly after, because of the shortage of men, another reorginization was done in which the 10 companies of the regt. became 5 by combining the companies by twos.

By Oct. 4th camped on the Little Missouri River, on Nov. 20th, they were at Camp Bragg, northeast of Camden, Ar., where they remained until Jan 30, 1864. On this day, marching 40 miles west, they arrived at Spring Hill, arriving Feb. 2. Four days later they marched 4 miles east to Camp Sumpter. On March 18, 1864, due to an enemy threat coming from the south toward Shreveport, La., the 36th was ordered from Camp Sumter to Keatchie, La. to support the troops defending that city. A battle was fought at Mansfield on April 8, 1864, the 36th was ordered to that place, arriving at 2 A. M. on the 9th after a forced march of 20 miles. Continuing to lead the army southward, the regiment came upon the Union forces drawn up in a defensive posture near Pleasant Hill, La. It was about noon on the 9th, the weary troops, having marched some 45 miles in 24 hours, were given 3 hours rest. Late in the day the Battle of Pleasant Hill was fought. Union troops withdrew southward at dark and the Confederates drew back to the nearest water.

Within the week, the regt. marched back to the area of Camden, Ar. to oppose Federal troops that had arrived from the north. After hearing of the Union forces defeat in La., these units started back for Little Rock. Another forced march was conducted with the 36th Regt leading the way to the north in pursuit of the Union army. Catching up with them as they were making a river crossing at Jenkin's Ferry, a battle was fought on April 30th until the Federal forces could free themselves and continue toward safety at Little Rock. This was the last major action in the state. Allie V., the daughter of M. T. Pence remembered his telling of having been wounded, hit by a "spent ball". It is believed this happened at Jenkin's Ferry. After that battle, he was with a contingent of mounted soldiers likely on a foraging mission, which came in contact with a group of Federals at a place called Ashley's Station, now Hazen, Ar. When the firing started, Pence was injured when his horse started bucking, pitching him onto the saddle horn. M. T. had said at one time he was in the 36th Ark Inf Cav. but no record was ever found of such a unit. It is believed that, being unable to walk well after being wounded, he was assigned to a foraging crew that went by this name.

By Dec. 30, 1864, the much depleted Regt. arrived from Lewisville, Ar. to assist in the construction of defensive positions at the Red River crossing near Fulton, Ar. Leaving on Jan. 25, they marched to Minden, La. and went into winter quarters. By May, men begin leaving for home openly, M. T. Pence said his Company Commander had released him about May 1, 1865 at Shreveport to go if he wished. Returning home, he found the place in a serious need of repairs. With an old cripple sow that drug its hind legs, he was able to start another herd. By using the poor old horse with bad saddle sores, he was able to put in a small crop that first year to raise their food. In time colts were born to this old mare and they were able to get on their feet again.

On 14 Feb. 1869, M. T. married the sixteen year old Matilda Louise Holladay at the home of her father, W. A. Holladay, with James B. McNeal, Methodist Preacher officiating (White Co., Ar. Marriage book Vol. B, p 236). Matilda L. had been born 7 Aug. 1853. Eight children b. to this union, of which only the first, G. W. C., would lived to see children of his own. He married Avie Sugg, their children were Annie, Ruth, Ethel, Audie, Emmit and Pearl. Children of M. T. and Matilda Louise were:

George William Clarence Pence, 23 Dec 1869; 12 April, 1912. Joshua M. 19 Feb. 1871, lived 19 years, died 24 April 1890. James A. 27 April 1872; 8 Aug 1872. Marietta, 16 Aug 1873; 13 June 1874. Rillie V., 27 April 1875; 3 Nov. 1875. Arthur G., 14 Feb. 1877; 12 Nov. 1902, lived 25 years. An Infant, 14 March 1878; 23 March 1878. Matilda Lou, 3 July 1880; 7 Sept. 1881.

All these children except G. W. C. were laid to rest in the family row in Liberty Cemetery, about 3 miles northwest of Griffethville, Ar. G. W. C. died after M. T. Pence left White Co. and was buried in the cemetery on the farm of Joshua Pence, the brother of Marion T. It is believed that M. T. and Matilda made their home near the cemetery at the time. Matilda Louise, the wife of M. T. Pence died 10 April 1881 from T. B. (Letter from Allie V., 11©30©1962), and was buried at Liberty Cemetery.

Marion T. wasted no time in finding a new wife. On August 24, 1881, at 37 years of age, he married the 20 year old Allie Virginia Wortham, b. 1 Feb, 1861, John T. Walker, J. P. officiating. Allie Virginia came into a ready made family of four children, G. W. C., 12 years of age, Joshua M. 10, Arthur G. 4 and Matilda Lou 13 months, who was to die a month after the wedding. Children born to this union were:

Emuel, 1 July 1882; 25 Feb. 1959. Hettie Ora, 12 Jan. 1884; 29 July 1929. Edward P., 17 Dec. 1886; 26 Jan. 1890. Allie Virginia on 27 Oct. 1891; 17 April 1972.

Allie Virginia, the wife of M. T. died 23 July 1892 and was likewise buried at Liberty Cemetery. Three of her children lived to adulthood.

Emuel married Minnie Ester Lee Vandiver on 31 Dec. 1900 at Egbert, White Co., Ar., Their children were Clara Belle, b 9 Aug., 1903; William Eldred, b 3 Jan., 1905, d. July 1906; Ovie L., b 27 Apr., 1906; Wilma Marie, b. 27 Jan, 1911, d. Apr. 1912; Floy Thalia b. 9 July 1913 and Emuel Lee b. 8 Sept, 1919. In 1919, soon after this last child was born, Emuel deserted his family. He lived for 6 years in Detroit, Michigan. About 1954, he developed Cancer and made contact with the family again, some went to see him. Living in Ovedia, Fla., he had changed his name to George Adams and had another wife and adopted son. (letter from George and Mary Adams 17 Sept. 1958.) He died in the hospital at Orlando, Fla., bu. Long Wood Cem.

Hettie Ora married John Robert Kinsey on 18 January, 1903 at Egbert, White Co., Ar. Their children were Marvin Odell Kinsey, b. 29 Nov. 1903, White Co., Ar., lived at Mexia, Tx.; Carl Reeves Kinsey, b. 25 March 1906, White Co., Ar., lived in Houston, Tx. Hazel Loraine Kinsey Campbell, b. 4 June 1908, Faulkner Co., Ar., lived in Houston Tx.; Hettie Lera Kinsey Culwell, b. 19 Dec 1910, Athens, Henderson Co. Tx., lived in Amarillo and Eula Mae Kinsey Haynie, b. 19 Dec 1915, Athens, Henderson Co., Tx., lived in Houston. She also died of cancer.

Allie Virginia married William on 27 Feb. 1910 at Kinlock, Marshall Co., Okla., they had ten children.

On 4 Sept. 1894, the 50 year old M. T. married the 19 year old Lora Ann Willyard, born 1 Oct. 1874, with a Primative Baptist Preacher, Elder Elias Kirk officiating. One son, Brooker W., was born 19 Oct. 1897, married Myrtle Royce 29 May 1922 and lived to see his own children. Another infant was born and died on 23 Jan. 1901. The day following, Lora Ann also died of complications, she was buried in the family row at Liberty Cemetery with the child in her arms.

On 28 July 1902, at 57 years of age, M. T. married the 19 year old Fannie May Rodgers, born 16 Dec 1882, with I. F. Baxter, Christian preacher officiating. To this union six children were born, four of which were two sets of twins. Their daughter, Rebecca R., was born 16 May 1903 and died 19 July 1904 at the age of 15 months. Fannie maintained that she was a beautiful child, and her death hurt her very much. Twin girls were born 25 June 1906, one died on June 30, the other on July 2. These children were buried separately beside their sister Rebecca in the family row at Liberty Cemetery. Gilbert Sylvester was born 13 June 1907 at Oakland, Picket Co., Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (five months later it became Marshall Co. Ok.) Another set of twins, Elmer L. and Alma June was born 12 May 1814 at Belleville, Ar. These last three children all lived to see their own children. M. T. died 6 Sept. 1919 and was buried at Harkey's Valley Cemetery, Yell Co., Ar. Fannie May lived until Oct 13, 1972 and was buried in the I.O.O.F. cemetery at Norman, Ok.

When Marion T. Pence came home from the Civil War, he started farming with almost nothing. Were he lived is not clear at this time, perhaps he didn't stay on one farm all the time. One record refers to him as being a Prairie County Farmer (Article, Joshua W. Pence, Biographical History of Eastern Arkansas, Goodspeed, 1890). There is a record of him having paid taxes on 136.26 acres, (Township 5n, Range 5w), value $1,000, according to the 1890 reconstructed census of Prairie Co. We know of no time when he lived in that county, which joins White Co. on the south. Since his family has a large row of graves in the Liberty Cemetery, some 3 miles northwest of Griffethville, it is assumed the home was in this community. His first child was buried here in 1874, some five years after his first marriage, the last buried here were twin daughters in 1906. Most likely the family lived in the same place for more than that 32 year period. At the last of these days, M. T. had a general store with a saw mill, grist mill and perhaps other operations (Memoirs, Brooker W. Pence). At one time the sawmill burned. When he married Fannie May, his last wife, it was said he built her a large two story house northwest of Griffethville, they moved into the house before Rebecca was born. Fannie was only nine years older than her stepdaughter, Allie Virginia, sometimes they would get into disputes about who would have to do the dishes, etc. and M. T., more like a father to Fannie than a husband, would settle the problems.

For some reason, M. T. became quite unhappy and decided to move away (rumored to be problems with his grown boys). After selling out in 1906, he loaded his family, Fannie May, Allie Virginia and Brooker, into a covered wagon about the last of November and started for Indian Territory. The trip took them south through Hot Springs and passed through Stringtown in Indian Territory. After a month's travel, they arrived at Oakland, near Madill, about Christmas, 1906. In June, 1907, Gilbert S. was born. After a short stay here, they moved out onto the Prairie for abour a month, after which they moved to a farm near Kenlock, some 6 miles northeast of Oakland (manuscript, Brooker W. Pence). G. S. fondly remembered meeting his father coming from town carrying a large sack of bananas on several occasions.

M. T. seemed to choose a spirited team with which to work. One time. while he was gathering corn, throwing it into the wagon, the team decided to run away, The small G. S. was sitting in the wagonbox. The team soon tired to where G. S. could control them. Another time, while returning an old sow from the neighbors, the team ran away and M. T. was able to maintained control. When the team tired and started walking, M. T. would not let them, making them run the rest of the way home!

One day, M. T. was plowing in a field when Fannie came running toward him, waving a letter and screaming, "I've found him", over and over. Setting the plow deep to keep the team stopped, he ran to her, not knowing what terrible thing had happened. She had found where her long lost brother was living, from whom she was separated as a young girl when her parents separated. Avery Rodgers, her brother, was living in Yell Co., Ar., nothing else would do except for her to go for a visit. By the time she returned to Oklahoma, M. T. had figured out they would probably be moving to Arkansas, where she could be near her brother. Of course she was agreeable to the suggestion, so, in 1913, Fanny and the children went on to Belleville, Ar. on the train, taking some clothes and bare necessities that would be needed with them. She was able to rent a small house. That was the fall of 1913. M. T. remained in Oklahoma until the crops were harvested and despensed with. Leasing a boxcar, he loaded everything they owned, including the two mules, old Tobe and Jack, and rode in it with them to Belleville. After Christmas, the family moved to the community of Corinth where the twins, Elmer "Bud", and Alma, were born 12 May 1914. They continued to farm here until 1915. That year they moved to and farmed the F. C. Jones place, and in 1916, moved to the Jewel place on Cedar Creek, where they farmed for two years.

The State of Arkansas passed legislation in 1915 to give all deserving veterans of the Civil War a pension. M. T. Pence applied for this and drew it for the rest of his life. (Application to State of Ar. Confed. Pension, 1915; Confed Pencion Record Book, Yell Co., Ar.). After his death, Fannie drew a widow's pension until her marriage to J. R. Carrouth. In December, 1917, M. T. bought the 80 acre Leonard Spradlin farm, near Stafford, Ar., that overlooks the north bluff of Chickalah Mountian (traded his two aging mules for it). Stafford no longer exists, the site is under the water of Spring Lake, northeast of Belleville. At the time it was a growing community with a post office, store, cotton gin, lumber mill and a school. Upon moving there, a number of visitors came for a visit, including his half brother Emuel, Barney and Allie Virginia Bice (affectionately known as Aunt Virgie) and Hettie Ora, with her two daughters. World War #1 came in 1917 and it was forecast that flour would become hard to find. M. T. bought up a large supply and fixed a ratproof place in the attic of the smokehouse, wrapped in a wagonsheet, for storage. When the shortage became acute as forecast, the government begin urging people not to hoard flour. M. T. took his excess flour to the local store to be shared with others (remembrances of G. S. Pence of his father).

The winter of 1918©1919 was a bad winter, with a lot of snow and ice that stripped the limbs from many trees. An epidemic of Influenza swept around the world bringing devistation with it. The Pence family did not escape its ravages, M. T. became so seriously ill that he was unable to work in the fields when Springtime came. He kept the young twins at home while the rest of the family worked. By lifting the bedposts and setting them on their gown tails, he insured they would not get into something they didn't need to be in (this was probably done in an earlier time, the twins would have been over 4 years old when M. T. had the flu). When able he would, with a short handled hoe, work the rose bushes on his knees and keep all the weeds and grass out of the front yard. Never regaining his strength, at 75 years of age, M. T. died at 6 A. M., September 6, 1919, thus ending the story of a remarkable life. When he died, he left the family debt free with a home, a team of horses and farm tools, with cattle and hogs. He was buried in Harkey's Valley Cemetery, some 6 miles west of Chickalah Springs, and a Confederate marker was placed at his head.

Fannie was not satisfied to stay on this farm after that. After the crops were gathered and some timber cut and sold, she moved her family to the George Morse farm in Shark Community, 8 miles west of Danville on Dutch Creek, to be near her brother. On Nov. 24, 1921, Fannie married the widowed J. R. Carrouth and moved her family to his farm in the Macedonia community a couple of miles to the east.

Marriage to Matilda Holladay has names listed as Matilday L. Halladay and Marion T. Pance

According to the Yell County Confederate Pension Applications: Pence, M.T.-widow Fannie M. Co. A, 36 Ark. Inf & Cav his application 1915 her application 1920 his dod 9/6/1919