Jacob and Margaret Boots Pendroy had six children; Elizabeth (1819), Jemima (1821), Rachel (1825), Nancy (1829), Jacob (1832), and James (1834). Four of their children became residents of McHenry County. The family began their trek from the east; Jacob born in North Carolina and Margaret born in Virginia. Before settling in Iowa they lived in, at least, Ohio and Indiana.
Their sons Jacob Andrew and James Martin arrived here in the late 1800's. Daughter Nancy married John Young and they moved here. Daughter Rachel married William Berry and they moved here preceded by their son who arrived with Jacob and James. Included in the movement was one grandson; Marion Pace, who was a son of their daughter Jemima Jane Pendroy Pace.
The article "J. Andrew & Margaret (Brown) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
Jacob Andrew Pendroy (1832-1901), the son of Jacob and Margaret Boots Pendroy, was born in Ohio and then moved with his parents to Indiana. In 1849 the family moved to Iowa where he met and married Margaret Brown [Mary Margaret Brown]. They became the parents of seven children:  James Martin, named for Andrew's brother, Elizabeth [Lizzie], Gertrude, Beatrice, Cora, Juverna [Olive/Ollie] and Charlie [Editor Note: Gertrude, Beatrice, and Cora cannot be found in other records whereas Julia, Barbara, and Margaret are not listed].
In 1882, Andrew with his brother, James, and his nephews, Thomas Berry and John Pendroy (Johnnie), came to Dakota Territory to investigate the possibility of finding land for themselves and a number of other relatives.
From a former Hudson Bay trapper, Yankee Robinson, who had hunted and trapped through Dakota and Montana Territory for some twenty years, they learned of the Mouse River country and found the area to be exactly what they were looking for. Andrew and James returned to Iowa to sell their farms and prepare for the trip while Tom and Johnnie remained in Bismarck that winter.
In the spring in 1883, Andrew and his wife Margaret, sons Charlie and James and James' wife, , together with a number of other relatives came over land with teams and wagons or buggies, bringing household goods, farm implements, live stock, horses and driving a large herd of cattle belonging to various members of the family. The summer was hot and grass and water were scarce so it took seventy-seven days to make the trip. They arrived on the Mouse River on August 3, 1883 and the lush grass and fresh, pure water were a welcome sight to man and beast.
Their first task after their arrival, and before any homes could be built, was to put up enough hay to last their cattle and horses over the winter. The hay was cut with scythes and stacked by hand that year but by November the haying was finished and snug log cabins had been built. The first winter was spent building log sheds and barns for the horses and young calves. The cattle were sheltered by the timber and stood the winter well, and the feed supply was ample for their needs.
Andrew and his sons, James and Charlie, worked together in their ranching operations. They both had good hayland on their homesteads and Andrew rented the hayland on the school section. The cows and steers were fed on Jim's ranch while Andrew and Charlie fed the young stock on Andrew's ranch two miles away.
The cattle industry continued to thrive in the valley during Andrew's lifetime and he always felt that they were indeed fortunate to have met Yankee Robinson, although quite by accident, that day in Bismarck.
Margaret Pendroy passed in 1899 and Andrew in 1901. Both are buried in the Velva Cemetery."
Margaret was the daughter of George and Jane Brown born in 1829 in Pennsylvania. She and Andrew were married in Marion County, Iowa on 3 November 1853.
Several burials contain more family information, photos, and links to other family members. Jacob Andrew Burial Margaret (Mary) Burial Julia Burial Elizabeth Burial Barbara Burial James Martin Burial Margaret (Maggie) Burial Charles William - Information Below CHARLES WILLIAM PENDROY Son of Jacob Andrew and Margaret Brown Pendroy The article "Charles & Elsie (Gilmore) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
"Charles W. Pendroy, the youngest son of Andrew and Margaret Brown Pendroy, was born in Marion County, Iowa on October 5, 1874. In 1883, at the age of nine, he came to Dakota Territory with his parents, his brother James and several of his sisters and other relatives. His father and brother homesteaded along the Mouse River north of what is now Verendrye and there Charlie was reared and educated. He lived with his parents, working with his father and brother in their ranching operation. Upon the death of his father in 1901 he inherited the home ranch and continued ranching.
On August 9, 1903 he married Elsie Gilmore of Granville and they became the parents of two children: a son, Andrew [24 April 1904-1908, and a daughter, Avis. The family lived on the home ranch and expanded the operation until Charlie's sudden death on February 21, 1908.
Elsie and the children remained on the ranch and with assistance from James and some hired help, continued ranching. The following November four year old Andrew followed his new puppy out onto the ice on the river where he fell through the thin ice and was drowned. Shortly after that Elsie rented out the land and moved to Granville where Avis was reared and educated. Elsie passed away in California in 1953."
This writer could not find a burial for Elsie, Andrew, or Avis although there is more information on Avis below.
AVIS PENDROY GILMAN Daughter of Charles William and Elsie J. Gilmore Pendroy The article "Gilman & Avis (Pendroy) Lee" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
"Gilman Lee, the son of Herbrand and Anne Huso Lee, was born in Falsen Township on October 18, 1903. He was reared and educated there and in about 1925 [Note: 22 September 1926, Ramsey County] he married Avis Pendroy.
Avis, the daughter of Charles and Elsie Gilmore Pendroy, was born on her grandfather's homestead on November 29, 1907. Sometime after the death of her father in 1908 and that of her brother the following November, Avis and her mother moved to Granville where Avis was reared and educated.
After their marriage, Gilman and Avis moved back to her grandfather's ranch which they operated for some ten years. In the late 1930's they moved to Detroit, Minnesota where they lived for a number of years before moving to California. In 1942 they sold the ranch property to Gilman's father, H.T. Lee.
Gilman passed way at Huntington Park, California on September 14, 1968 and Avis still lives in Downey, California."
Avis died on 5 December 2003 in California.
The article "James M. & Sarah (Baldwin) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
"James Martin Pendroy (1834-1899) was born at  Albany, Delware County, Indiana, the son of Jacob and Margaret Boots Pendroy. With his parents he moved to Marion County, Iowa in 1849, assisting his father and older brother in improving a new farm in a new country, sharing the hardships of the first settlers of that day.
In 1857 he married Sarah Jane Baldwin (1826-1902), the daughter of James and Margaret Finley Baldwin and they became the parents of four sons: John, Levi, James and Perry. [Editor Note: Two children died in infancy; William (1858) and Margaret (1868).]
In August, 1862 he enlisted in Co. H 40th Iowa Infantry where he fought in the seige of Vicksburg and through the swamps of Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, returning home in September, 1865. There he continued to farm and raise cattle until 1882. By that time Iowa was filling up with settlers and since he and his brother, Andrew, had four widowed sisters with children  who were ready to start farming, he and Andrew with their nephew, Tom Berry, set out to see if there was enough suitable land in Dakota Territory to support a rather large settlement. The three men drove over land with mules and wagons and in Bismarck they met James' son, John, who had come by train. Together the four men explored the Knife and James River valleys without finding what they wanted and were in camp in
Bismarck preparing to return to Iowa when they met Yankee Robinson. In a casual conversation they described what they were looking for and Robinson advised them to follow his wagon tracks and he would show them land that would fit their needs. A day or so later they were ready to leave Bismarck so they followed the wagon track northward and again met Mr. Robinson who showed them around the Mouse River Valley. They were delighted with what they saw and James M. staked his claim near where the Verendrye Monument now stands.
Ole Hovind was already established in the valley [Falsen Township, Section 30] having come earlier that summer, so he helped cut logs for James' house. But while the men were working in the timber they were startled to hear gunfire. Thinking that possibly Indians were attacking their camp, they moved cautiously to the edge of the timber only to find that sparks from their campfire had been fanned into flames that had destroyed their tent, guns and ammunition, food, clothing and blankets. Fortunately their wagons, harnesses and one or two guns had been spared. They were able to buy some flour from Mrs. Wilson and a tarp and a couple of blankets from Yankee Robinson and went back to their camp to finish cutting logs before leaving for Bismarck.
Back in Bismarck, James and Andrew took the train to Iowa to sell their farms and prepare to move their families to Dakota Territory while Johnnie and Thomas kept the teams in Bismarck and worked there until spring. James and Sarah shipped their household goods, machinery and some livestock to Bismarck by rail and on July 4, 1883 left Bismarck by wagon for their new home on the Mouse River. This time the trip took seven days.
James received his commission as postmaster and the Pendroy post office was established on May 23, 1884. This was the second post office in the county and it, too, was unpretentious, just a small wooden box nailed to the kitchen wall and divided into two compartments, one labeled "Up the river" and the other, "Down the river".
James' love for McHenry County and its people never waned. His home was always a gathering place for friends, family and neighbors and travelers through the area would stop to visit and spend the night. The first English church service was preached there by Rev. Royce, a Methodist minister who returned quite often, and it was a polling place for early day elections. James was chairman of the first elected board of county commissioners and served in that capacity for several terms. He was a charter member of the Mouse River Lodge No. 43 A. F. & A. M. and of the Jerry Rusk G. A. R. Post, both at Towner. He was elected judge of probate court but passed away before he could serve in that office. Both he and Sarah Jane are buried in the Union Cemetery at Towner."
James and Sarah were married on 22 March 1857 in Marion County, Iowa. In addition to the children listed in the article, they had another son, William, and a daughter Margaret who died in infancy.
Several burials contain more family information, photos, and links to other family members. James Martin Burial Sarah Jane Burial William Finley Burial John Baldwin - Information Below Levi Boots - Information Below James Andrew - Information Below Perry Austin - Information Below Margaret Burial JOHN BALDWIN PENDROY Son of James Martin and Sarah Baldwin Pendroy The article "John B. & Belle (Honnold) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
John Baldwin Pendroy (1860-1933) was the son of James M. and Sarah Jane Baldwin Pendroy. He was born in Marion County, Iowa and was reared and educated there. In 1882 he came by train to Bismarck where he met his father, his uncle Andrew, and his cousin, Thomas Berry  who had driven by team and wagon from Otley, Iowa. The four men explored along the Knife and James Rivers looking for land on which to establish their cattle ranches and finally found exactly what they were looking for in the Mouse River country.
Johnnie and Tom spent that winter in Bismarck and returned to the Mouse River in the spring when the other members of the family began arriving. Johnnie staked his claim on land about two and a half miles north of what is now Verendrye and built a log cabin. His place was the winter headquarters for the cattle since there was timber for shelter and a spring-fed creek that provided open water all winter. The first schoolhouse in Oak Valley was built on his land.
On February 20, 1889 he married Belle Honnold who had come to Dakota Territory to teach school. Belle and Johnnie had been schoolmates in Iowa and Belle had taught school there after graduation. The wedding was held at the Pendroy postoffice with Judge W. D. McClintock of Towner officiating and a large crowd attended, coming from Towner and Burlington as well as nearby. They became the parents of one daughter, Fannie, who was born on Christmas Day in 1889. Belle passed away on March 4, 1897.
After Belle's death, Johnnie and Fannie with the aid of a housekeeper continued to live on the homestead. In 1899 Johnnie's father, James M. Pendroy, passed away and his mother who was now blind, came to live with them. A nurse, Mrs. Verry, was hired as her companion. By 1900 homesteaders were coming into the county, the open range was disappearing and towns were springing up all along the railroad lines.
Late in 1899 the townsite of Balfour was sold and Johnnie and his brother, Perry, bought lots and built a large livery, feed and sales stable and a large office for feed and coal. Johnnie sold his cattle and moved his household to Balfour where he built a home.
Later the brothers built an opera house over the office.
Most towns had an opera house to accomodate traveling bands and shows, plays and lectures but the Balfour opera house was also used for church services, plays, school entertainments, some weddings, church socials, card parties, church suppers and lodge meetings. And any number of new comers arriving by train would get a
night's sleep in the hay loft of the livery stable before going out to their claims.
But two disastrous fires and seven straight years of crop failures took its toll on the town. Many of the young people went to Montana to homestead and some farmers sold out and moved away. It was time to retire so Johnnie sold his holdings there and went back to his beloved homestead along the river.
John Burial
John and Belle Picture Provided by Corabelle Brown. FANNIE PENDROY Daughter of John Baldwin and Belle Honnold Pendroy The article "Fred C. & Fannie (Pendroy) Peters" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
"Fred Chance Peters (1888-1965), the son of Christian F. and Cora Chance Peters, was born in Delano, Minnesota and lived there until his mother and step-father, Tom and Cora Wolfenden, moved to their homestead in Balfour Township in 1904. During the summer Fred would live with the family and herd horses for his stepfather who, in addition to having a photograph studio in Balfour, bought horses in Montana which he broke and sold to homesteaders in Dakota. In the fall Fred would return to Delano where he lived with his grandmother and attended high school.
After graduation Fred returned to Balfour and, when he became of age, took a homestead in the Horseshoe Valley of McLean County. He taught school there while proving up on his homestead and then returned to Balfour where he purchased a confectionery store. He operated the store until 1916 when he purchased a restaurant
in New Rockford.
On December 20, 1916 he married Fannie Pendroy (1889-1980), the daughter of John B. and Belle Honnold Pendroy. Fannie was born on her father's homestead on the Mouse River north of Verendrye and spent her early childhood there. In 1900 she and her father and grandmother and other household members moved to Balfour
where her father developed large farming and business interests and Fannie was reared and educated.
After their marriage, Fred and Fannie lived in New Rockford where they owned and operated several restaurants. Three children were born to them there: Corabelle Frances, Fredrick John [1919-1989 and Marguerite Fannie [~1922-]. In 1924 the family moved to the West Coast where Fred was in the Insurance and real estate business.
In 1932 they returned to the family homestead and operated Pendroy's Pavilion and the picnic grounds. There were dances on Friday nights to "Sam and His City Fellers", "The Montana Cowboys" and other popular bands of the era; roller skating on Sunday afternoons, and church picnics, school picnics, family picnics, Old
Settler's picnics, political rallys and Fourth of July celebrations in the shady, wooded grounds.
In 1940 they opened a restaurant in Velva, then spent the war years in Seattle returning to the ranch in 1945. There they raised cattle until their retirement when they spent the winter months in Towner with their daughter, Corabelle, and summers on the ranch.
Fred was an active member and a Past Master of the Balfour Masonic Lodge and Fannie was active in the Eastern Star, Towner Pioneer Daughters and Daughters of the American Revolution."
Some burials contain photos and links to other family members. Fannie Burial Fredrick Chance Burial Corabelle Frances Burial LEVI BOOTS PENDROY Son of James Martin and Sarah Baldwin Pendroy "The article "Levi and Jessie (Robinson) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
Levi Boots Pendroy was born in Otley, Iowa in 1861, the son of James M. and  Sarah Jane Baldwin Pendroy. He came with his parents and brothers by train to Bismarck, then traveled by teams and wagons to the Mouse River valley in 1883.
In 1884 Levi went back to Iowa and marriad his childhood sweetheart, Jessie [Edith] Robinson. Four children were born to them, George, Lulu [Louella B. 1886-1976], Martha "Mattie" [1889-1974] and Myrtle. The family lived on their ranch in the Pendroy settlement until 1894 when they moved to Towner so the children could attend school. Levi built a home for his family and started a general store in Towner. A few years later both the home and the store were destroyed by fire.
Levi was appointed U.S. Land Commissioner in 1902 and again 1906 and after that was elected County Treasurer. In 1907 he bought the Towner Hotel, remodeled it and changed the name to the Hotel Pendroy. It was a fine hotel, having not only a large dining room but a special "sitting room" for the ladies. The grand opening was held on Tuesday evening, December 31, 1907, with an impressive list of speakers on the program and a menu that included hors de eouvres, oysters on the half shell, celery, stuffed olives, cream of celery soup; young turkey with sage dressing and giblet gravy, roast young pig stuffed with nuts and spring lamb with jelly; baked sweet potatoes, stewed tomatoes and stewed corn; queen of fruit puddings with brandy sauce, fruit cake, cake a la Hotel Pendroy and ice cream; Florentine, green apple, mince and cranberry pies; nut, grapes and dates; and
tea, coffee and milk. Some years later Levi sold the hotel and moved to Montana where he went into large scale farming with his brother, Jim. Pendroy, Montana is named for them. Later he and his family moved to California where they remained."
Some burials contain photos and links to other family members. George Clefton Burial Myrtle Winnifred JAMES ANDREW PENDROY Son of James Martin and Sarah Baldwin Pendroy The article "James A. & Silda (Masteller) & Alice (Harris) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
James Andrew Pendroy, the son of James M. and Sarah Jane Baldwin Pendroy, was born in Otley, Iowa in 1863 and came with his parents and brothers by train to Bismarck and then by teams and wagons to the Mouse River valley in 1883. For several years he ranched in the valley with his father and brothers.
In 1892 he married Silda Masteller who died in 1901 leaving three children, Floyd, Abbie and Claude. In 1904 he married Alice
Harris.
In 1894 Jim and Silda moved to Towner where Jim started a blacksmith shop and later was deputy sheriff for Bob Gorman. Jim had filed on a homestead west of Towner and when the Great Northern Railroad platted the townsite of Denbigh on his land, he and his family moved there and Jim was appointed Denbigh's first postmaster in 1900.
The Great Northern Railroad usually allowed the men building the roadbed to name the townsites they established along their right-of-way and since there were a large number of Welshmen in that track crew, it is reasonable to assume that the town was named for Denbigh, Wales or possibly Denbigh, Virginia. In any case it
was named by the railroad, not by Jim, and not in honor of anyone living in the area.
Jim, with his brother Johnnie as a silent partner, built a thriving lumberyard in Denbigh and later established a drugstore and was editor of the newspaper, the DENBIGH PROMOTER. Several years later he was instrumental in establishing the Denbigh Brick Plant which manufactured brick for the Denbigh school, the Granville school and firehall and a number of other buildings including, some say, the first brick school in Towner which later became known as the Rosecrans Flats.
Jim's wife, Alice, was a good cook and the family did much entertaining which she enjoyed. James, J. Hill, President of the Great Northern Railroad, kept a vigilant eye on his railroad, spent most of his time traveling over the road and knew every section boss that worked for him. He also knew that the best prairie chicken hunting was in the Denbigh area and that Alice Pendroy could cook the game better than the chef on his private car. So Mr. Hill liked to set his private car on the siding and go hunting
with the men from Denbigh, and he particularly enjoyed it when Jim invited him home to the house along the lakeshore for a home cooked meal afterward. But Alice always felt a little flustered.
Then came the dry years and the small towns began to dwindle away. Jim's son Floyd had graduated from Towner High School when the family moved to Montana where Jim and his brother Levi operated one of the first large tractor equipped wheat farms in Montana. When the railroad reached their farm the town of Pendroy, Montana was started and named for them. Later the families moved to California where they remained.
Some burials contain photos and links to other family members. James died on 5 February 1951 in Los Angeles County, California Sildia Burial Alice was born on 16 January 1884 in Illinois and died on 8 March 1976 in Los Angeles County, California Floyd was born on 12 June 1893 and died 28 February 1982 in San Bernardino County, California Abbie Burial Claude was born on 29 July 1896 in North Dakota and died on 28 April 1978 in Sacramento, California PERRY AUSTIN PENDROY Son of James Martin and Sarah Baldwin Pendroy The article "Perry A. & Alice (Tice) & Etta (Marion) Pendroy" from the McHenry History 1885-1985 is quoted below:
Perry Austin Pendroy, (1867-1935) the son of James M. and Sarah Jane Baldwin Pendroy, was born in  Otley, Iowa and came with his parents, brothers and other family members to Dakota Territory in 1883 at the age of sixteen. He worked with his father and brothers on the cattle ranch along the Mouse River, drove a stagecoach for a time, gathered buffalo bones, worked on the railroad and did the things other young men of that time and place did to earn a few dollars. When he was old enough to file on a
homestead he established a sheep ranch along the Wintering River south of what later became Balfour.
In 1892 he returned to Iowa to marry his childhood sweetheart, Alice Tice, and they became the parents of three children, Roy, Allen and Theodore. Alice passed away while the children were very small and later Perry married Etta Rose Marion.
When Balfour began Perry and his brother, Johnnie, bought lots and went into business together building a large livery and sales stable and a coal and feed office. Later they built the opera house. Perry, Alice and the two boys left their sheep ranch and moved into Balfour where Perry built a large home. Their youngest son,
Theodore, was born there.
In 1906 when Dogden, later known as Butte, began, Perry, Johnnie and a doctor established a drugstore there. After a time Perry and Johnnie divided the business partnership, Perry sold his home to Dr. Stone and moved his family to Dogden where he built a large home and ran the drugstore in addition to the sheep ranch.
With the dry years in Dakota the population began to diminish and small towns were feeling the impact. Canada and Montana were opening up for homesteading with Montana offering a half section of land to homesteaders. Many young people as well as families who were feeling the pinch of the dry years, left the area and the towns. By now Etta Rose, Perry's second wife, had died so sometime later, Perry and the boys moved to California where they remained.
Perry died on 13 September 1935 in Los Angeles, California Alice Burial Etta Burial Roy Burial Allen Burial Theodore Perry was born 15 October 1902 and died on 5 March 1979 in Los Angeles, California A great deal more is written about the Pendroy experiences and the Pendroy community pictures in the history book,
beginning on Page 135. |
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Anyone interested in saving their McHenry County ancestor family information on this NDGenWeb McHenry County website please contact Mike Peterson - lineage40@cox.net. I would be happy to do what I can to publish it for you within our Families Section.
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