Generation No. 1
1. William1 Brence was born February 22, 1820, and died August 13, 1898 in Arkansas. He married Elizabeth Bradley.
Notes for William Brence: Served in the Civil War for Northern States. Went into 128th Regiment, Company A, Illinois Infantry, on August 14, 1863; reported to Camp Butler, Illinois in September. He had been sent to take a dying soldier home when the war ended. He did not report back for duty after that and he was shown on a list of deserters dated January 21, 1864. Application for removal of desertion charges denied Dec 8, 1883. He was still trying to have citizenship restored at the time of his death.
After the war he traveled by river boat down the Mississippi River to Memphis, TN. They made their way to Pine Bluff or Duvall Bluff, AR, finally settled in Benton, AR. He was a blacksmith who made his own farm tools and a Church of Christ preacher. Legend has it that he walked to church (having no horse & buggy) carrying his shoes, putting them on after he arrived. He was known for counseling other preachers in the area.
The history of the Northside Church of Christ in Benton Arkansas complied by Helen Suggs Geurin on March 6, 1986 gives details of the congregation that he founded. "Between 1869 and 1870 the William Brence family along with two married daughters and families came to Benton, Arkansas from Benton, Illinois seeking a more favorable climate. He was a "restoration preacher", who on his own homesteaded land (40 acres) built his home and the first chruch in Benton. The area was part of the old Selicia community with the first congregation know as Antioch.
The first leaders of the church were his sons-in-law. First elders were Cage Wright, Henry
Walker. First deacons were John A Gee and Tom Steel. In addition to this congregation,
William helped form other congregations in the area. Listed as leaders in the church since its
beginning in Saline County, Arkansas are: W. P. Brence, Cage Wright, Henry Walker, John A
Gee, Tom Steele, Harry S Gee and John A Gee's son-in-law, G. Bethard who was a singing
school teacher, song leader and preacher."
Children of William Brence and Elizabeth Bradley are:
2 i. Ada2 Brence.
3 ii. Isabell (Pud) Brence.
4 iii. Mary (Sis) Brence.
5 iv. William P. Brence. He married Mary A. Treadaway December 23, 1886 in Benton, Arkansas.
+ 6 v. Martha Jane Brence, born June 1860 in Illinois; died April 15, 1916 in Navarro County,
Tx.
Generation No. 1
6. Martha Jane2 Brence (William1) was born June 1860 in Illinois, and died April 15, 1916 in
Navarro County, Tx. She married Micajah Wright May 10, 1877 in Saline Co Arkansas, son of
Micajah Wright and Sarah.
Notes for Micajah Wright: Micajah went to Texas in search of work. About 1894 Martha, along with sons Charlie, Connie and Donald, traveled with Martha's sister Ada and her husband Tom Steele to Navarro County. They made the trip in a covered wagon from Benton, Arkansas in three months.
Much of the information concerning the Brence family was gained when I attended the Brence Family Reunion in 1997 in Cordell, Oklahoma. There I met relatives that I didn't even know existed. They made me feel welcome and a part of this wonderful family. I was able to visit with many who had been doing this reserach for years. I copied information that they had brought to share and even got pictures of pictures.
Other surnames being researched: SPENCER, WEBB, NELSON, KILLION, BEAN, STORY, CAMPBELL, BRESSIE, BUSH. I will be willing to share any information on these families until such time as they can be added to this site.
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