FRANCIS EUGENE PINGREE, farmer and stock-raiser and veterinary surgeon, residing on sction 14, Jefferson Township, was born in Kane County, Illinois, April 27, 1850, a son of Francis PINGREE, decased, and of English descent. The father was a native of New Hampshire, and was a granduate of Kimball Union Academy, in his native State. Our subject's ancestry can be traced back to 1640, he being a lineal descendant of Moses PINGREE, who came to America that year. His ancestors took part in the war of the Revolution. The father of our subject was a whaler under Captain SWAIN for six years, and traveled three-quarters of the way around the world, and was the first American citizen to fire a gun in Sitka. He carred on the mercantile business at Elgin, Illinois, about eighteen months. In 1852 he settled with his family in Buchanan County, Iowa, where Francis E., our subject, was reared on a farm, and received his education principally in the high school of Fayette, Iowa. He was married March 26, 1874 [Kier, Buchanan Co. IA], to Miss Eleanor E[ricus] HARTER, a daughter of Henry [and Elisabeth] HARTER, of Buchanan County, Iowa. They are the parents of eight children - Edith E., Francis H., Jennie C., George R., William C., Daniel H., Albert E., and Walter B. Mr. PINGREE located in Buena Vista County, Iowa, in 1876, and in 1878 came to Ringgold county, and settled on his farm in Jefferson Township, where he has 120 acres of fine land. Mr. PINGREE is a member of the Odd Fellows order.

NOTE: Francis' father, Francis PINGREE, was born Febuary 13, 1909, Springfield, New Hampshire, and died February 2, 1879, Littleton, Buchanan County, Iowa. He married Lydia Barney PATCHIN June 18, 1843. Lydia, the daughter of Charles and Laura (BARNEY) PATCHIN, was born circa 1827, and died November 5, 1853. Francis married 2nd Melissa HOUSTON.

From "Genealogical History of the Andrew PINGREE Family":

"Francis Eugene PINGREE, of Eugene, Ringgold County, Iowa, born at Pingree Grove, Kane Co., Ill., April 27, 1850. Married at Kier, to Eleanor E. HARTER on the 26th of March, 1874. She was at the time of marriage about 22 years of age. Born in Portage, Summit Co., Ohio. Her parents, Henry and Elizabeth HARTER, were born in Ohio, and are both of German descent. They are substantial farmers, living at Kier, their P.O. He is a good farmer. Democrat and Universalist, and his wife is, or was, a Presybterian.

"[Francis and Eleanor] have four children as follows, viz; Edith Eugenia Amelia, Francis Henry, Jennie Carson, and George Roscoe. Edith Eugenia Amelia PINGREE, born at Kier, Iowa, Jan. 5, 1875. Francis Henry PINGREE, born at Kier, Iowa, Aug. 18, 1876. Jennie Carson PINGREE, born at Kier, Iowa, Feb. 5, 1878. George Roscoe PINGREE, born Dec. 13, 1879, at Eugene, Ringgold County, Iowa."

Another daughter Eleanor Mae PINGREE was born December 2, 1896, Shannon City, Union County, Iowa, and died March 15, 1978. She married November 12, 1916 to Earl Roscoe KENT, born November 7, 1894, Barton Co. MO; died January 12, 1968.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 231-32, 1887

PINGREE, Daniel. "Genealogical History of the Andrew PINGREE FAMILY." A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Moses PENGRY of Ipswich Mass., p. 157. Warner & Hyde, pub. 1881

WPA Grave Survey; IAGen Gravestone Photograph Project

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z