Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 690 - 693 

DAVID S. PENCE, who is Superintendent of Schools of Sedgwick County, and a resident of Wichita, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, where he was born Jan. 6, 1852. His father, Samuel N. Pence, was born in Pennsylvania in 1821, and moved with his parents to Ohio when thirteen years of age. When old enough to decide upon an occupation, he chose that of farming. He was twice married; the maiden name of his first wife was Hannah Serber, a native of Ohio. Of that union two children are now living: David S., and Eliza A., wife of W. K. Sheffer, editor of the Angola Herald, Steuben County, Ind. Mrs. Pence died in 1858. For his second wife, Mr. Pence married Miss Eliza Simmons, by whom he has six children, all living, namely: Maggie B., John, Ida, William, Emma and Ervin. In 1863 Mr. Pence disposed of his property in Ohio, and removed with his family to Noble County, Ind., and purchased a farm in Ligonier, where he has since resided.

            The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, but having the misfortune, when only two years old, to fall in the fire and injure himself so seriously as to result in the loss of all his fingers, and the toes of his right foot, more attention was paid to his education than might have been under other circumstances. He was a diligent, ambitious pupil,and when he removed with the family to Indiana, was admitted to the High School, of Ligonier, where, among other studies, he took lessons in penmanship of Prof. W. H. Burdette, and was awarded the first prize in a class of ninety-six competitors.

            After leaving the High School, our subject continued his studies in the Northwestern Ohio Normal University, where he remained five years, and was graduated in 1876. On entering the university Mr. Pence had but $15 in his pocket, and to pay his tuition and board, would, during vacations and Saturdays, sell books and charts, or work in the harvest field, driving the harvester or carrying bundles of grain, receiving the same wages as the others. When school was in session he had charge of the book-keeping department and mathematics, and taught penmanship. After completing his education, Prof. Pence took charge of the Ada Union Schools, having seven departments, he being chosen from the fifteen applicants for the position. At the end of the year the authorities were so pleased with his good management and its results that they offered to increase his salary $10 a month if he would continue his good work, but having received a more liberal offer from Prof. B. F. Niesz, of the Kentland school, Newton County, Ind., as Assistant Professor of the Indiana Normal School, he accepted it and remained as instructor in the Normal School two years. He was then appointed Superintendent of the Newton County schools, to fill an unexpired term, which he completed, and was again appointed to the same position for the following year. Mr. Pence then accepted a position in the commercial department of the Business College at Denver, Col. Three months later, Hoppings, the proprietor of that institution, failed, and our subject returned to Indiana, where he took charge of the lower grammar schools at Angola, meeting with such marked success that he was promoted the following year to the High School. After teaching five months, Mr. Pence resigned his position in that school to enter a publishing house in Chicago.

            In 1884 Prof. Pence came to Wichita, and was employed by the Board of Education as special teacher of penmanship in the city schools. After serving in that capacity two and one-half years, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, a position for which he is eminently qualified by his talents, superior education, and many years' experience as an instructor. Mr. Pence takes an active part in all questions relating to educational matters in the county and State, and is devoting his life to studying and utilizing the best methods of education advocated by the prominent educators of the country. Mr. Pence takes a prominent part in religious matters in this city, and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Central Christian Church.

            Our subject was married, in 1887, to Miss Dora A. Hays, formerly Principal of the Second Ward school of Wichita. As people of marked intellectual ability and decided force of character, Mr. and Mrs. Pence occupy a distinguished position in social circles, and their pleasant home is the resort of the cultivated and the refined of the city.

            Prof. Pence is noted for his beautiful and elegant chirography, and in plain writing cannot be surpassed by any one west of the Mississippi. He has taken the first premium for plain and ornamental writing at the Sedgwick County Fair, and also the first premium for penmanship at the State Fair in Ohio, and, although he has no fingers, he can write the Lord's Prayer on a space the size of a gold dollar, each word being so legible that it can be read by the naked eye. Mr. Pence takes a warm interest in public affairs, and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, and is a Knight of Pythias.

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