The Pence/Pense? Bentz family has been documented by several persons and I have chosen to use their combined research for the first three generations in America. Note that the first two generations of Pence families must be taken from here with a "grain of salt". It has been noted that Jacob and Valentine Pence/Bentz came from Germany to America in 1747 and settled in Augusta County (now Rockingham), Virginia. Note that our branch of the family settled in Cub Run and from there came to Greenbrier (now Monroe County, West Virginia), Virginia.

 1  Jacob Pence I, b: ABT 1710 in Germany, d: ABT 1750 in Rockingham (Augusta)  Co., Virginia               

+Mary Catherine ????                                     

 2 Jacob Pence, Sr., b: Aft. 1730 in Rockingham (Augusta) Co., Virginia, d: ABT 1800 in Cub Run, Rockingham Co., Virginia, Burial Site: unknown

 +Catherine Mary Persinger, b: ABT 1738 in Germany, d: ABT 1865 Virginia, m: February 1763 in Rockingham County?, Virginia, Burial Site: unknown                                                                                                  

    2 George Pence, b: Aft. 1737 in Rockingham County, Virginia, d: December 19, 1816 in Sullivan County, Tennessee                

 +Sarah (Zimmerman) Perkey, m: ABT 1764 in Rockingham County, Virginia

 *2nd Wife of George Pence:                                       

+Margaret Jane (Zimmerman) Carpenter,m: October 12, 1782 in Rockingham County, Virginia

 2 John Pence, b: ABT 1747 in Augusta County, Virginia, d: June 26, 1826 in Preble County, Ohio               

 +Margaret Perkey, m: ? 

             *2nd Wife of John Pence:                        

 +Barbara (Zimmerman) Carpenter, m: January 10, 1873 in Rockingham County, Virginia           

 2 William Pence, b: Aft. 1736 in Lancaster County ?, Pennsylvania, d: Bef. July 20, 1819 in Rockingham County, Virginia                       

 +Elizabeth Price or Breis, d: August 24, 1835 in Rockingham County, Virginia, m: ABT 1774 in Shenandoah, Virginia

2 Barbara Pence, b: ABT 1748 in Augusta County, Virginia 

          +Christopher (Christian) Persinger, b: ABT January 8, 1842 in Berks County, Pennsylvania?, m: November 14, 1768 in Botetourt County, Virginia

Generation 2

The children of Jacob, Sr. spread into Rockingham County in the southern Shenadoah Valley. Their son Jacob, Jr. moved to Indian Creek in Monroe County, Virginia that became Monroe County, West Virginia in 1863.

Jacob Pence, Sr.,b: Aft. 1730 in Rockingham (Augusta) Co., Virginia, d: ABT 1800  in Cub Run, Rockingham Co., Virginia, Burial Site: unknown

+Catherine Mary Persinger, b: ABT 1738 in Germany, d: ABT 1865, m: February 1763 in Rockingham County ? , Virginia, Burial Site: unknown

2 Anna Maria Pence, b: February 28, 1763 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: died young in Rockingham County, Virginia            

 2 George Pence, b: August 18, 1764 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: June 11, 1824 in Warren County, Ohio             

                 +Elizabeth Sour                                              

*2nd Wife of George Pence:                                       

                 +Anna Elizabeth Nicholas, m: September 9, 1796 in Rockingham Co., Virginia

 2 John Pence, b: ABT 1768 in Rockingham Co., Virginia                                

+Mary Ervin, m: October 6, 1796 in Rockingham Co., Virginia

2 Jacob Pence, Jr.,b: ABT 1769 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: ABT 1819 in Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia, Burial Site: unknown

+Elizabeth Tresler or Trisler, b: June 1780 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: March 13, 1865 in Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia, m: April 15, 1799 in Botetourt County, Virginia 

2 Catherine Pence, b: ABT 1772 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: in Tennessee?                 

     +Adam Trobaugh, m: December 3, 1799        

2 Henry Pence, b: ABT 1775 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: ABT 1836 in Rockingham Co., Virginia                

 +Margaret (Rebecca) Dundore, m: November 10, 1800 in Rockingham Co., Virginia           

 2 Elizabeth Pence, b: ABT 1776 in Rockingham Co., Virginia                          

+Jacob Leigh,  m: July 23, 1788 in Rockingham Co., Virginia  

2 Peter Pence, b: 1777 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: in Botetourt Co., Virginia?, Burial Site: unknown.

+Elizabeth Hinton, d: in Botetourt Co., Virginia?, m: October 30, 1801 in Rockingham County, Virginia   

2 William Pence, b: ABT 1779 in Rockingham Co., Virginia                            

+Racheal Zircle, m: May 31, 1804 in Rockingham Co., Virginia        

2 Adam Pence, b: ABT 1781 in Rockingham Co., West Virginia, d: ABT 1815                                     

+Catherine Sellers, m: August 15, 1808 in Rockingham Co., Virginia    

 2 Susanna Pence, b: ABT 1784 in Rockingham County, Virginia                                                     

     +Jacob Butt, m: November 24, 1806 in Rockingham Co., Virginia        

 2 Charles Persinger Pence, b: October 21, 1876 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: August 27, 1861 in Clinton Co., Ohio                       

+Mary Dunmore/Dunsmore, m: December 10, 1808 in 1st marriage - Rockingham Co., Virginia       

 *2nd Wife of Charles Persinger Pence:                                    

+Anna (Roof) Hoffman, m: April 3, 1816 in 2nd marriage- Rockingham County, Virginia          

 *3rd Wife of Charles Persinger Pence:                                    

+Sarah Pence Kyger, m: January 16, 1840 in 3rd marriage- Clinton Co., Ohio   

Generation 3

Jacob, Jr.’s family settled in northeastern Monroe County and many children were born to this family. Jacob bought some acreage and settled in a fine rock house built earlier by Isaac Estill still stands today as a Bed and Breakfast site. Here Jacob built rooms onto this house and raised his growing family. Many of their descendants still reside in this county and are buried in the Pence Cemetery on the Dowdy farm on Indian Creek. One townsite Pence Springs bears the Pence name and was so named for the famous hotel that Andrew Pence erected on this site is just across the Greenbrier River from the town of LOWEll reported named for two hotelers by the name of brother Erastus and Alexander Campbell "A..C." Lowe.                                              1 Jacob Pence, Jr., b: ABT 1769 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: ABT 1819 in Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia, Burial Site: unknown

+Elizabeth Tresler or Trisler, b: June 1780 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: March 13, 1865 in Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia, m: April 15, 1799 in Botetourt County, Virginia      

 2 Henry Pence, b: June 23, 1800 in Rockingham Co., Virginia, d: December 22, 1867 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Buried in Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

     +Nancy Stodghill, b: February 10, 1808 in Monroe County, West Virginia d: June 26, 1880 in Monroe County, West Virginia, m: November 9, 1830 in Monroe County, Virginia, Burial Site: Buried in Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

2 Catherine Pence, b: ABT 1803 in Monroe Co., West Virginia                                  

            +Jesse Dickerson, m: January 28, 1820 in Monroe County, West Virginia       

 2 Juliana Pence, b: ABT 1805 in Monroe Co., West Virginia                           

     +John Schultz, m: 1825           

 2 Moses Pence, b: October 15, 1807 in Alleghany Co., Virginia, d: April 13, 1873 in Monroe Co., West Virginia, Burial Site: Buried in Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

     +Delilah Smith, b: January 25, 1812 in Monroe County , West Virginia, d: May 28, 1872 in Monroe County, West Virginia, m: February 12,1834 in Monroe County, West Va. by Johnson Keaton, Burial Site: Buried in Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

 2 Elizabeth Pence, b: ABT 1808 in Monroe Co., West Virginia                            

 +James Goodell, m: July 4, 1831 in Monroe County, West Virginia                                                     

             2 David Pence, b: April 11, 1810 in Monroe County, West Virginia, d: April 28, 1893 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Dowdy Farm, Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia

 +Mary F. Rankin Clark, b: May 1823 in Monroe County?, West Virginia d: October 21, 1877 in Monroe County, West Virginia, m: April 16,1835 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

2 Peter George Washington Pence, b: ABT 1812                                 

 2 Nancy Agnes Pence, b: ABT 1816,d: ABT 1895 in Summers County, West Virginia              

+Lewis E Smith, b: ABT 1810, m: March 16, 1835 in Monroe County, West Virginia  

Generation 4

David and Mary Pence lived on a farm in the Greenville Area where they farmed on land that his father Jacob, Jr. was deeded on November 18, 1817. The original deed was delivered to David Pence on March 30,1830 on "land that was heavily forested with trees". It was near here that daughter Elizabeth K. Pence met her husband Erastus Preston Lowe, a CSA veteran and paroled POW, that had a small store in the nearby town of Greenville.

1 David Pence, b: April 11, 1810 in Monroe County, West Virginia, d: April 28, 1893 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Dowdy Farm, Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia

+Mary F. Rankin Clark, b: May 1823 in Monroe County?, West Virginia, d : October 21, 1877 in Monroe County, West Virginia, m: April 16, 1835 in Monroe County, West Virginia Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

 2 William H. Pence, b: ABT 1836 in Monroe County, West Virginia                                        

                  +Margaret Smith, b: in Monroe County, West Virginia, m: 1874 in Monroe County ? , West Virginia        

 2 Margaret Eddie Pence, b: May 11, 1839 in Monroe Co., West Virginia d: August 13, 1915 in Monroe Co., West Virginia            

+John H. Canterbury, b: February 16, 1839 in Monroe Co., West Virginia, d: April 10, 1904 in Monroe Co., West Virginia, m: December 30, 1859 in Monroe County , West Virginia          

 2 George Washington Pence, b: October 18, 1840 in Monroe County, West Virginia, d: October 13, 1909 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

+Susan Awilda Clark, b: 1854 in Monroe County, West Virginia, d: 1932 in Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

2 Virginia Francis Pence, b: ABT 1843 in Monroe County, West Virginia                                

                    +J. M. Jones, b: in Monroe County, West Virginia                          

             2 Augusta A. Pence, b: ABT 1846 in Monroe County, West Virginia                          

                     +Hugh A. McNeer     

           2 Elizabeth Katherine Pence, b: August 23, 1848 in Hunters Spring, Monroe County, West Virginia, d: August 15, 1907 in Hunters Spring, Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Indian Creek

+Erastus Preston Lowe, b: September 21, 1842 in Red Sulphur Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia, d: March 4, 1875 in Lowell, Monroe County, West Virginia, m: March 16, 1869 in Monroe County by Rev. M.H. Bittinger, Burial Site: Springfield Church Cemetery, Monroe County, West Virginia

 2 John W. Pence, b: ABT 1852 in Monroe County, West Virginia                               

             2 Caroline Ellen Pence, b: ABT 1854 in Monroe County, West Virginia                                               

                   +J. E. Murdock                                               

2 Hugh Pence, b: ABT 1860                            

+Virginia A. Harvey                                         

Generation 5

Elizabeth’s husband, Erastus Preston Lowe was a failure as a farmer, but thrived as an merchant in the town of Greenville. He was a Civil War Veteran of the CSA Virginia 26th Unit and was captured at Gaines Farm at the battle of Cold Harbor in June 3, 1864 and was held at Point Lookout Maryland with his two first cousins Lorenzo Green Lowe and Thomas Garner Lowe and later transferred to Elmira Prison Camp in Elmira, New York under the guard of Black Soldiers. He married Elizabeth Kathryn Pence, son of David and Mary Rankin (Clark) Pence and then moved from Greenville to two miles west of Lowell where he and brother A.C. built a two story wooden hotel and livery near the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad stop just before the old bridge over the Greenbrier River. He drowned here during a winter flood in March and his body was not found until much later three miles downstream. Heartbroken, Elizabeth moved her family to her father David’s farm and raised her two orphan children away from the hurly-burly of this RR stop. Elizabeth died almost destitute and was buried on the Dowdy farm in the old Pence Cemetery.                                                1 Erastus Preston Lowe b: September 21, 1842 in Red Sulphur Springs, West Virginia d: March 4, 1875 in Lowell, Monroe County, West Virginia, Burial Site: Riverview Church Cemetery, 3 miles so. Lowell, Monore Co., West. Virginia

 +Elizabeth K. Pence b: August 23, 1848 in Hunters Spring, West Virginia, d: August 15, 1907 in Hunters Spring, West Virginia m: March 8, 1869 in Monroe County, W. Va., Rev. M.H. Bittinger, Burial Site: Pence Cemetery on Dowdy farm near Hunters Springs, Monroe Co., W. Virginia

2 Laura Etta Lowe, b: May 5, 1870 in Springfields Farms, Monroe Co., West Va d: 1928 in Lahoma, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, Burial Site: Enid Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma near Hiram Liveley's grave.

             +Howard "Dick" Lively b: December 9, 1870 in Lindside, Monroe Co., West Virginia d: ABT 1952 in Ft. Supply, Woodward Co., Oklahoma, m: May 18,1892 in Mother home in Monroe County, West Virginia by Rev H. M. Reese, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

 2  Eldridge Pence Lowe, b: September 24, 1872 in Hunters Springs, Monroe Co., West Virginia, d: February 18, 1923 in Navina, Logan Co.?, Oklahoma Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

+Edith Belle Zachary, b: September 12, 1882 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri, d: July 13, 1968 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, m: September 26, 1900 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Eniid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

Generation 6

Eldridge was a sickly child afflicted with asthma but was an avid gardener after his grandfather David Pence. At age 16, Eldridge ran away to work on the C&O Railroad for several weeks until his Mother found him and brought him home. A couple of years later he traveled to Mound City, Missouri to be near his double cousin Randolph Smith, a Monroe County native, who farmed near this town. Eldridge tried his luck at business, but unlike his father was not cut out to be a merchant, so he managed the local grain elevator, a profession he followed the rest of his life. He married young Edith Belle Zachary and after their children were born settled his family in Enid, Oklahoma while he took a job in Navina, Oklahoma. When Eldridge (5’8" tall and 250 pounds) died, his son Henry took over the household and took several jobs to keep income coming in during the depression. Edith lived many more years in Enid seeing her children and grandchildren thrive.                        1 Eldridge Pence Lowe b: September 24, 1872 in Hunters Springs, Monroe Co., West Virginia, d: February 18, 1923 in Navina, Logan Co., Oklahoma, Burial Site:  Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

 +Edith Belle Zachary b: September 12, 1882 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri d: July 13, 1968 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, m: September 26, 1900 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

 2 Henry Preston Lowe b: September 17, 1901 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri d: March 1981 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, Burial Site: Enid City  Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

              +Veda Gay Combs b: August 27, 1901 in Auburn, Nemaha Co., Nebraska d: April 15, 1977 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma m: August 27, 1927 in  Kingfisher, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

 2 Laura Kathryn Lowe b: June 18, 1903 in Mound City, Holt Co. , Missouri d: March 12, 1999 in Bass Hospital, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

         +John Elwood Bailey b: December 28, 1915 in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth Co., New Jersey d: August 15, 1992 in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth Co.,  New Jersey, m: June 3, 1942 in Lawton, Comanche Co., Oklahoma by J.P. 

A.A. Logan                

 2 Mary Margaret "Marg" Lowe b: February 12, 1905 in Mound City, Holt Co.,  Missouri d: November 3, 1999 in Corpus Christi, Neuces Co., Texas Burial: Seaside Funeral Grounds, Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Texas 

                  + Sidney Arnold Weaver b: June 30, 1898 in Neeper, Clark County, Missouri d: July 15, 1968 in Corpus Christi, Neuces Co., Texas, m: ABT 1932 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, (No children), Burial Site: Seaside Funeral Grounds, Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Texas

2 Celia "Cel" Caroline Lowe b: December 17, 1908 in Mound City ,Holt Co., Missouri d: July 7, 1996 in Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Texas Burial Site: Cremated, interred in Enid Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

 +Frank R. Richardson b: December 12, 1905 in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas d: April 12, 1956 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, m: ABT 1937, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma.

2 Frances Virginia Lowe b: January 12, 1912 in Highlands, Doniphan Co., Kansas                                                                                   

+Edwin Samuel Theodore Wiancko, b: February 12, 1904 in Guthrie, Logan Co., Oklahoma, d: December 12, 1954 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma  m: December 31, 1932 in Kingfisher, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma, Burial  Site: Enid Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma.  

*2nd Husband of Frances Virginia Lowe:                                                       

     +Don Long, b: November 22, 1907 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, d: February 22, 1984 in Enid, Oklahoma, m: July 3, 1958 in Alva, Oklahoma, (No children), Burial Site: Square Cedar Cemetery west of Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

Generation 7, 8, 9

Laura Kathryn, known as Kat, by the family was in Navina visiting father Eldridge when he suddenly died of a stroke. She delivered Enid newspapers with Henry and her sisters to help the family survive her fathers death and then entered nurses training. In 1928 she became a registered nurse, a profession she retire from in 1969. Army nurse and First Lt. Kathryn Lowe married Army private John Elwood Bailey at Ft. Sill during WWII and lived with him for about four years until their divorce. Kathryn raised her two sons without aid from John.                                                                             

1 Laura Kathryn Lowe, b: June 18, 1903 in Mound City, Holt Co. , Missouri, d: March 12, 1999 in Bass Hospital, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma, Burial Site: Enid City Cemetery, Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma

+John Elwood Bailey, b: December 28, 1915 in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth Co., New Jersey,d: August 15, 1992 in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth Co., New Jersey, m: June 3, 1942 in Lawton, Comanche Co., Oklahoma by J.P. A.A.Logan             

2 William Henry Bailey, b: April 11, 1943 in Enid, Garfield Co., Oklahoma