Payette County ID Archives Biographies.....Pence, Peter 1837 - 1922
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Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com September 16, 2005, 9:37 pm

Author: The Idaho Magazine

The Idaho Magazine
Vol. 1, No. 2
July 1905
By F. W. Ellis

An Appreciation of Hon. Peter Pence,
One of the Fathers and History Makers of the Payette Valley.

Of the hundreds of settlers who have located in Idaho during the past few years 
Hon. Peter Pence claims the distinction of being the very first and is 
therefore an indispensable part of our story of the Payette Valley.

He was one of the vanguard of  civilization to the state and a pioneer of Idaho 
industries. 

When first attracted to the Payette Valley in 1862 he saw the possibilities of 
its future development and drove deep his stake, although there was as yet not 
a single settlement in South western Idaho he determined to seek no further; 
soon tiring of the uncertainty of prospecting and the hardships of freighting 
to and from the mining camps in this section he took up a homestead in the 
valley and became one of Uncle Sam’s husbandmen.  

Those were the halcyon days when flour sold for $1.00 and bacon for $1.50 per 
lb, oats at $30 per cwt.  Here his whipsawed lumber brought him $300. per M.

He saw the first ranch staked out in the Boise Valley on June 16, 1863 
by “Beaver Dick” but his personal preference held him in the Payette Valley.  
His home for several years was about ten miles up the Payette river from the 
Present city of Payette nearly opposite the present location of New Plymouth.  
Here he soon made a record in stock raising, with his steadily increasing herds 
of cattle, horses and sheep on the unexcelled Summer range in the surrounding 
mountains and valleys, his sales of cattle alone in 1887 amounting to $42, 
750.00, but all was not clear sailing in those early days.  

None of the streams were bridged and many hardships and dangers encountered 
that are unknown to the present homeseekers to the beautiful Payette Valley 
with its modern conveniences, Rural mail delivery and Independent telephone 
system.  

The Indians were a constant menace and many times settlers were obliged to seek 
refuge in the three stockades of the valley where Mr. Pence with a few other 
sturdy yeoman repeatedly repulsed their attacks, guns and ammunition being 
furnished by the territorial Government from the post in the Boise Valley where 
it still remains a token of pioneer days.  

Mr. Pence was one of the original promoters of the first irrigating systems in 
the Payette Valley, known as the Lower Payette Ditch, of which company he has 
been president for the past twelve years, and under his leadership two 
extension companies have been organized and the original canal materially 
lengthened until it now empties into the Weiser river, and under this system he 
still retains over 1000 acres of choice land.  

His sturdy character and efficient leadership have often demanded his service 
in public life, he was chosen the first mayor of Payette and served as chairman 
of its first school board.  In 1901 he yielded to the popular demand of his 
many friends and served as the representative in the state legislature.  

While nearing the seventieth mile post of his active and helpful life he is 
still increasing his sphere of usefulness in developing the many industries in 
his home locality.

He is president of the Idaho Ganning Company, Vice-president of the Malheur 
Irrigation Company, President of the Payette Valley Creamery and Vice-president 
of the Bank of Commerce, the leading bank of Payette. 

He is still a recognized power in the community, one who has borne golden 
sheaves from the harvest field, reaping where he has sown, acquiring success by 
steadfast drudgery and stern endeavor.   


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