NANCE
In The News
ALABAMA
From H. G. Farrell's Liniment advertisement, in the Florence [Lauderdale Co., AL] Gazette, Saturday, May 17, 1851, p. 4. . . . Beware of Counterfeits. The genuine article is manufactured only by H. G. Farrell, sole inventor and proprietor, and wholesale druggist. No. 17 Main street, Peoria, Ill., to whom all applications for agencies or purchase must be addressed. Be sure you get it with the letters H. G. before Farrell's, thus-H. G. FARRELL'S-and my signature on the wrapper; all others are counterfeit. For sale by W. B. BARTON, Florence, Ala. E. B. WESTMORELAND, Lexington. R. J. [Rufus J.] NANCE, Russellville, and regularly-authorised agents all over the United Sta[t]es. Call and get a Farrier Book free of charge! Florence, Feb. 9, 1851. 37-pm.
From the Florence [AL] Journal, Thursday, October 25, 1866, p. 2. From the "The Tournament," (North Alabamian, Tuscumbia, Franklin County, AL, 19th inst.) The Tournament. . . . The second prize for the best pistol shot was awarded to the "Knight of the Caged Eagle," Mr. William H. Nance, and the third for the sabre exercises to "Impromptu Knight," Capt. Thomas, who, through Gen. FORREST, presented to the Tennessee Valley Association the Spurs. The other Knights, in token of their appreciation of "Charles O'Malley," Mr. Emmett Baxter who was the contestant of Capt. Thomas, purchased the spur from the Association, and presented them to him. . . . Note: I believe this was some kind of Knights of Pythias fair or contest.
From the Florence Journal, Thursday, August 1, 1867, p. 3. SOUTHWORTH AND NANCE.-The advertisement of this long established and eminently reliable Memphis House appears in our new advertising column, and we take much pleasure in directing a reference not only to the advertisement, but to the inducements offered our Merchants and Planters by Messrs. Southworth & Nance. Memphis is at our very doors, and the fact added to the certainty of quick sales of cotton and prompt returns, must surely act as an incentive to increase the North Alabama trade to the 'Bluff City.' More than this, Memphis boasts of North Alabamians as being of her leading and enterprising Merchants, and Messrs. Southworth & Nance are determined by most liberal advances, quick sales and small profits, to deserve a large share of the shipments from this section.
From the Florence Journal, Thursday, December 5, 1867, p. ? W. S. Southworth, W. H. Nance. Southworth & Nance, Commission Merchants AND COTTON FACTORS, 195, Main Street, Memphis, : : : Tennessee. Refer to Rev. John Walston, McAlester & Irvine, J. O. Jones, Dr. A. H. Jones, J. K. Swoope and Dr. Edward McAlexander, Florence, Ala. August 1st, 1867, -6m.
Madison County Al Archives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat October 11, 1882 LEGAL NOTICES Administrator’s Notice ---------------------------- Estate of Tulley NANCE Deceased ---------------------------- LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 7th day of October, A. D., 1882, by the Hon. William Richardson, Judge of the Probate Court of Madison County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time required by law, or the same will be barred. CHARLES R. DONEGAN oct11-3w. Administrator of Tulley NANCE dec’d
Madison County Al Archives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat November 8, 1882 MARRIED: NANCE-BURTON.—at the Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 7, 1882, by Rev. Dr. J. H. Bryson, MR. HARRY S. NANCE to MISS BELLE C. BURTON, daughter of Mr. Thos. O. Burton—all of Madison County.
Madison County AL Arhives Marriages.....Burton, Belle C. - Nance, Harry S. November 7, 1882 The Hunsville Weekly Democrat, 8 Nov 1882 NANCE-BURTON.—at the Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 7, 1882, by Rev. Dr. J. H. Bryson, MR. HARRY S. NANCE to MISS BELLE C. BURTON, daughter of Mr. Thos. O. Burton—all of Madison County.
Madison County Al Archives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat November 29, 1882 Miss Viola Baldridge has come home from Florence, accompanied by her cousin, Miss Jimmie NANCE.
Madison County Al Archives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat December 27, 1882 Recent Arrests by Sheriff Cooper ---------------------------------------- Sheriff Cooper, himself or by deputies, arrested, Dec. 14, Jeff. Margin, negro, charged with forgery of orders on Harry NANCE for $10, and A. Campbell & Son, in the name of Septimus C. Davis, of Hazel Green; Dec 15, Carrie Landman, negro, petit larceny; Dec 14, Wm. E. Hill alias Birmingham Bill, and Wm. Smith alias Knoxville Bill, grand larceny and playing three card monte; Dec 23, Fascal Donegan, disposing of mortgaged property; Dec. 24, Theo. Roach, white, attempt to murder a man named Washington, and shooting O’Keefe, in this city last Sunday, and brought to-day, before Judge Richardson, on writ of habeas corpus; Dec. 26, Elias Hartsfield, negro, grand larceny; George Haden and Amos Allison, negroes, stealing hogs, Elias Hartsfield was indicted in August, 1881, and was on the M. & C. train going West. When Sheriff Cooper and his two deputies, Joe and Willie Cooper, arrested him, he attempted to draw a revolver, but he was disarmed and taken to jail. There are, now, 37 prisoners in our County jail—31 State and 6 United States.
From "Correspondence: Perpendicularities (From Our Franklin County Correspondent)," The North Alabamian, Friday, Sept. 5, 1884, p. 3. Mr. Lucas NANCE and family, who have been spending some time with relations and friends in and around Russellville, have returned to their home in [Jackson] Tennessee. Their friends really enjoy their visits.
From the Tuscumbia, Colbert (formerly Franklin), County, Alabama, North Alabamian and Times, Thursday, May 30, 1872, p. 3. Our friend Clay NANCE (cadet by appointment) from this Distrist[sic], left for West Point last week. He carries with him not only the esteem of our entire people, but their best wishes for his future success and prosperity.
From the Florence [AL] Gazette, Saturday, April 9, 1887, p. 3. Captured. For two or more months past, the circulation of spurious silver dollars has been quite profitable and a great many have been passed upon the unsuspecting in this place. The imitation is always perfect, the only way of detecting them is by the ring of the coin, the appearance being strikingly similar. It was known, sometime since that they were manufactured by parties near Russellville, and efforts were made to have them apprehended. Marshal Keller's* deputy was taken into their confidence, became one of their associates, and soon had them all "spotted." Yesterday afternoon five men rode into this place, three of whom were counterfeiters, and were lodged in jail. The two others were Messrs. James Nance, of Russellville, and Barrett, the deputy. The names of the counterfeiters were Hoover, R. Peoples, and Jerome Peoples. Eleven moulds were found in their rendezvous, and it is thought that much of the "bad money" has been circulated. Keep your eyes open and you can readily perceive, by sounding the dollars, that they are spurious.-Tuscumbia Dispatch, 5th. * Capt. Arthur H. Keller, Helen Keller's father, who was variously a lawyer, Confed. Capt., city marshal, and editor of the North Alabamian.
From the North Alabamian (Tuscumbia, AL), Friday, January 4, 1889, p. 3. Mr. Lucas NANCE and wife, formerly Miss [Fannie Lou] McNutt, of Birmingham, have [been] visiting Mr. O. Halsey's family [this] week. We congratulate Mr. Nance on his rare fortune in winning so lovely a bride. Note: Fannie Lou McNutt was was Lucas' second wife. His first wife was Mollie Rivers (1844-1882), who, according to My Riverside Cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions Scrapbook Part II, by Jonathan K. T. Smith, is buried in the Riverside cemetery in Jackson, Madison Co., TN. Also, no record has yet been found which indicates Fannie Lou McNutt was from Birmingham, AL, or that she and Lucas ever lived there. Lucas was one of three sons of Rufus J. NANCE, a brother of William Henry and John A. NANCE.Orlando Halsey was the husband of Mary Katherine Jones (c. 1849/1851-1929), variously listed as a sister and niece of W. H. , Lucas and John A. NANCE, Kate Jones had one sister, Patti (c. 1850-aft. 1920), who married W. L. Reeder, and at least one brother.
From the North Alabamian, Friday, February 1, 1889, p. 3. Since associating himself with his brother Lucas Nance, in the cotton buying business, we have had the pleasure of meeting our friend W. H. Nance, Esq., of Russellville, quite often, and are glad to know that he is meeting with a large measure of success, which, however, can not be greater than he deserves.
From the North Alabamian, Friday, February 8, 1889, p. 3. Messrs. [Lucas] NANCE and Dick Rivers, of Russellville, have located at Fort Smith, Ark.
From the Florence [AL] Times, Friday, October 3, 1890, p. 3. Mr. W. H. Nance, of Russellville, has opened an office in Florence and will buy cotton here during the fall and winter.
Obituaries. From the Franklin County Times (Russellville, AL), Friday, May 11, 1900, p. 7. The 2 year old baby girl of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. NANCE passed away Thursday night after a very brief illness, passed to Him who said: "Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
From the Franklin Times, Friday, May 25, 1900, p. 7. Passing of Annie Myrtle. Like the golden ray of a spring morning sun, suddenly obscured by a drifting cloud; like the hushing of the sweetest music, or like the plucking of the most fragrant rose, was the passing of little Annie Myrtle, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. NANCE. She was born March 27, 1897. She died May 3, 1900. Annie Myrtle was an unusually bright little girl, too gentle and angel-like for an earthly possession.
From "Local," the Franklin Times, Friday, June 3, 1903, p. 5. Some of the younger set of Russellville had a goodbye sociable, complimentary to their school mate Claude Reid, Monday night, Claude leaving Wednesday. The entertainment was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Norris where the young people met after church and enjoyed themselves with games, music, etc., for a couple of hours. Those present were Misses Gertrude NANCE [dau. of W.H. NANCE] Ruth Gast, Eva Dell Gast, Inez Clark, Mollie Greenhill, Annie Orman, Messrs. Guy McIntosh, Billie [William, a son of W. H., and brother of Gertrude?] NANCE, Frank Gaines, Coffee Wilson, Freddie Greenhill[,] Billie Wilson, Strat Jones and Claude Reid.
From "Locals," The Franklin Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 4. Gorman [Thomas Gorman] NANCE is now on the road for Fly & Hobson, the place formerly held by his father.
From the Franklin Times, Friday, July 3, 1903, p. 4. W. H. NANCE. We stop the press to tell of the death of our townsman, Mr. W. H. [William Henry] NANCE, who was killed yesterday near Lacy's Store, Sloss Mines, by being thrown from his buggy. Mr. Nance was showing Elder Hooten over the mines. When this side of Lacy's his mare became frightened at an ore car. Mr. Hooten jumped out of the buggy, Mr. Nance thinking he could manage, kept his seat. The frightened animal whirled, the buggy was overturned and Mr. Nance thrown headforemost against a cross-tie. He lived only about an hour, never regaining consciousness after he was struck. Internment will be at K. of P. [Knights of Pythias] cemetery, to-day, Friday, at 3 p. m.
From the Sheffield [Colbert Co., AL., formerly part of Franklin Co.] Standard, Friday, June 3, 1903, p. 5. W. H. NANCE KILLED Thrown From a Buggy in a Runaway Near Russellville. Horse Became Frightened at Loose Ore Car Running Down Track at Ore Mines. RUSSELLVILLE, July 2. - W. H. NANCE, a prominent cotton buyer, well known over North Alabama, was killed here this evening. He was driving Rev. Mr. Hooten, a Christan minister, over the mines. When near Lacey's store the horse became frightened at a loose ore-car running down the track. Mr. Hooten jumped out and urged Mr. Nance to do so, but the latter thought he could manage the horse and kept his seat. The buggy was overturned and M. Nance thrown out, his head striking a crosstie. He lived about an hour, never regaining consciousness. Mr. Nance was about 57 years old. He was a leading member of the Christian Church, a Knight of Pythias, and was very popular. He leaves a wife and six children. Mr. Nance was well and favorably known in Sheffield, having been associated with Mr. Stockton Cooke for several years in the cotton business. He was an affable gentleman and a good citizen.
From the Leighton [Colbert Co., AL.] News, Friday, July 3, 1903, p. 1. Cotton Buyer Killed. RUSSELLVILLE, Ala., July 2.- W. H. NANCE, a prominent cotton buyer, well known over North Alabama, was killed here this evening. He was driving Rev. Hooten, a Christian minister, over the mines when near Lacey's store the horse became frightened at a loose ore car running down the track. Mr. Hooten jumped out and urged Mr. Nance to do so. The latter thought he could manage the horse and kept his seat. The frenzied animal overturned the buggy. Mr. Nance was thrown out, his head striking a cross tie. He lived about an hour, never regaining consciousness. He was about 57 years old, leaving a wife and six children; was a leading member of the Christian church, a Knight of Pythias, and very popular.
The Tuscumbia Dispatch (Colbert, Co., AL), Thursday, July 9, 1903, p. 1. Cotton Buyer Killed. Russellville, Ala., July 2.- W. H. NANCE, a prominent cotton buyer, well known over North Alabama, was killed here this evening. He was driving Rev. Hooten, a Christian minister, over the mines when near Lacey's store the horse became frightened at a loose ore car running down the track. Mr. Hooten jumped out and urged Mr. Nance to do so. The latter thought he could manage the horse and kept his seat. The frenzied animal overturned the buggy. Mr. Nance was thrown out, his head striking a cross tie. He lived about an hour, never regaining consciousness. He was about 57 years old, leaving a wife and six children; was a leading member of the Christian church, a Knight of Pythias, and very popular. The above will be read with much regret by our citizens. Mr. Nance was well known in Tuscumbia and often visited our city, Mrs. Orlando Halsey being his sister.
From the Florence [Lauderdale Co., AL] Herald, Thursday, July 9, 1903, p. 1. FATAL ACCIDENT. W. H. NANCE Killed in a Runaway at Russellville. Russellville, Ala., July 2.- W. H. NANCE, a prominent cotton buyer, well known over North Alabama, was killed here this evening. He was driving Rev. Hooten over the mines, and when near Lacey's store the horse became frightened at a loose ore car running down the track. Mr. Hooten jumpred out and urged Mr. Nance to do so, but the latter thought he could manage the horse and so kept his seat. The frenzied animal overturned the buggy and Mr. Nance was thrown out, his head striking a cross tie. He lived about an hour, never regaining consciousness. He was about 57 years old, leaves a wife and six children, was a leading member of the Christian church, a Knight of Pythias and very popular. Mr. Nance was an uncle of Mrs. W. L. Reeder and Miss Kate and Mr. J. Oscar Jones, and was well known in Florence. Mr. Jones left for Russellville immediately on being notified of the acident, to attend the funeral.
From the Florence [AL] Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p.1. The distressing death of Mr. John D. [sic] NANCE, an account of which is published elsewhere in The Times today, shocked his Florence friends. He was a good man, held in high esteem by all who knew him.
From the Florence Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 2. Cotton Buyer Killed. W. H. NANCE Thrown From a Buggy. Horse Became Frightened and Ran Away. Russellville, Ala., July 2.- W. H. NANCE, well known over North Alabama, was killed here this evening. He was driving Rev. Hooten, a Christian minister, over the mines, when near Lacey's store the horse became frightened at a loose ore car running down the track. Mr. Hooten jumped out and urged Mr. Nance to do so. The latter thought he could manage the horse and kept his seat. The frightened animal overturned the buggy. Mr. Nance was thrown out, his head striking a cross tie. He lived about an hour, never regaining consciousness. He was about 51 [sic] years old, leaving a wife and six children; was a leading member of the Christian church, a Knight of Pythias, and very popular.
From The Franklin Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 1. Funeral of Mr. W. H. NANCE. Mr. Nance was laid to rest last Friday evening. The funeral procession was formed at the home, the Knights of Pythias having charge of the remains of their dead brother, and proceeded to the Christian church, which was packed with a large audience, assembled to pay the last sad tribute of respect to to the man whom all of them honored, respected and loved. The prayer by Rev. Whitten was tenderly pathetic, the sermon by Elder Bradley, an eloquent tribute to the man who had been his staunch friend for so many years. The sense of a great loss, the memory of that tragic death, the sight of the coffin resting near where its occupant only a few hours before had knelt and humbly asked of his God guidance and blessing, the tenderly eloquent words of the men of God, the sight of the sorrowing family, the memory of the kindly, courteous, Christian gentlemen, "who only yesterday was, but now was not," touched that vast audience of of his friends and left few dry eyes and unsaddened hearts in the assembly. At the conclusion of the church service the funeral procession proceeded to the Knights of Pythias cemetery, where the mortal remains were laid to rest. The death of Mr. Nance is a great and a distinct loss, not only to the family, who adored him and whose prop and mainstay he was, not only to the circle of close friends, not alone to the church of which he had long been a consistent, active member, but to the community at large as well, on whom his high ideals, his right living had left their impress, and made, perhaps unconsciously to himself through life, for the betterment and uplifting of his kind. Human to the core as he was, with human frailties and human faults not lacking, his trend was always upward, his life. [sic] "A reaching for better things," a constant, striving to touch the heights altho' perchance falling now and then in the valleys below. Zealous Christian as he was, intense in his devotion to his church, the summons to the Higher Life, came to him as the finale of a two weeks protracted meeting at his church, a meeting that had thrilled every fibre of his being, when putting off and aside the carking cares of this little life, he had given himself wholy [sic] and unreservedly to the Masters [sic] Work. Can we doubt that "all is well with him" entering thus into the presence of his Master? To doubt it, were to doubt the Great God himself, who was and is and will be forevermore.
From the Franklin Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 4. In Loving Memory of Our Brother. We your Committee to draft resolutions expressive of our love and esteem for Bro. W. H. NANCE, who was a charter member of Franklin Lodge, No. 19 K. of P. beg to submit the following: Whereas, In the allwise Providence of our Omnipotent Father our beloved Brother W. H. Nance, has been severed from our midst. Therefore be it resolved: First That in the death of our Brother, we as a Lodge sustained an irreparable loss. As a Knight Bro Nance, was a faithful and conscientious worker. He faithfully lived up to the tenets of Friendship, Benevolence, and Charity; the founding principles of our noble order. Second: That while we deeply mourn his untimely death, and are keenly sensible of our great loss; we bow in humble submission to Him, who holdeth all power in His hands and do all things for the best. Third: That we as a Lodge adopt Bro. Nance's motto; "Do noble deeds, not dream them all day long, and thus make life, death, and that vast forever one grand sweet song." Fourth[:] That we extend to the bereaved Wife and Children, our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolence in this their great affliction. Wife! Children! we commend you to Him, who hath said "I will be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless." Fifth: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, a copy be spread on the register of our Lodge, and a copy sent to the Franklin Times for publication. Respectfully submitted, JOHN K. CLARKE, JAS. H. WALSTON, W. W. WHITE, Committed.
From the Franklin Times, Friday, July 10, 1903, p. 5. The late W. H. NANCE had a policy of $3,000 with the Knights of Pyhias.
From the Florence Times, Friday, July 17, 1903, p. 1. It is possibly not necessary to say that Mr. J. D. NANCE of Rodgersville [Laud. Co., AL] is still in the land of the living, notwithstanding our type made us say last week that he had passed over the river. Of course we meant W. H. instead of J. D. The particulars of the sad affair to which we referred explained the facts.
From the Florence Herald, Friday, July 24, 1903, p. 1. Quick Payment. Mrs. W. R. [sic] NANCE, whose husband met with a fatal accident in Russellville, July 2, was forwarded a check for $3,000 by General Manager E. S. Jones of the Endowment Rank, Knights of Pythias, on July 16th. The check was in payment of a policy held by Mr. Nance, and was paid just two weeks after his death.
From the Florence Times, Saturday, June 20, 1936, p. 5. MRS. MOLLIE J. NANCE SUCCUMBS AT RUSSELLVILLE. Mrs. Mollie J. NANCE, aged 82, died last night at 10 o'clock at her home in Russellville, where she had spent her entire life. She was the widow of the late W. H. Nance and was a lifelong and devoted member of the Church of Christ. Surviving are four sons, T. G., L. H., and C. E., NANCE, all of Russellville, and W. H. NANCE, of Elizabethtown, Ky., and one daughter, Mrs. C. H. Morrissette, of Richmond, Va. Funeral services will be conducted from the Russellville Church of Christ Sunday at 5 p. m., with Evangelist Granville W. Tyler, officiating.
From Undated Obituary Clipping, June, 1936. Mrs. Mollie Gorman NANCE RUSSELLVILLE, June 25, 1936-Mrs. Mollie Gorman NANCE, 82, died very suddenly of a heart attack at 10:15 o'clock last Friday evening at her home on Cotaco street. She had been in feeble health for some time but her untimely death came as a shock to her many friends and relatives. Funeral services were held from the Church of Christ, Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock, with Elders A. Kay Gardner and Granville Tyler officiating. A quartette composed of Messrs. C. O. Stout, E. N. Floyd, T. Stratton Jones, Jr., and C. E. McNatt sang several beautiful hymns. Interment followed the services, in the K. of P. cemetery, Spry's directing. Pallbearers were J. E. Orman, Sr., Foster Gavin, W. A. Gresham, T. S. Jones, C. E. Wilson and S. A. Allen. Mrs. Nance was born and reared in Russellville, and was Miss Mollie Gorman before her marriage to Mr. William Henry Nance, who died about thirty-two years ago. Both families were among the early settlers of Franklin county and very prominent, both socially and in the business world. For fifty-four years she had been a member of the Church of Christ. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. C. H. Morrissette, Richmond, Va., and four sons-William H., Elizabethtown, Ky.; T. Gorman, Charles E. and Lucas H. Nance, all of Russellville; three grandchildren, Mrs. Hollis Blair, West Point Tenn., and Barkes and Carlisle Morrissette, of Richmond.
From Undated Obituary Clipping. Thomas Gorman Nance Thomas Gorman NANCE, 60, died at Russellville Hospital at 6 o'clock, Tuesday morning, January 16, following a week's illness. Mr. Nance had lived a great part of his life in Russellville, where he was born and had a host of friends. Son of William NANCE and Mollie Gorman NANCE, a grandson of Rufus J. NANCE, a pioneer merchant of Russellville[,] also a grandson of Thomas Gorman, who emigrated from Cork, Ireland, to this country in Russellville's early days, and was a merchant of note and a large landholder in Franklin county. Funeral services were held at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning from the Underwood Funeral Home, Elder Ben Hardin, of Columbia, Tenn., conducting final rites. Interment was in K. of P. cemetery, Underwood directing. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. H. F. Blair, Kansas City, Mo., three brothers, Charles E., Tupelo, Miss.; William H., Elizabethtown, Ky.; and Lucas H., of Russellville, and a sister, Mrs. C. H. Morrisette, of Richmond, Va. Pallbearers were Coffee Jones, C. E. Wilson, Jr., T. E. Farned, Fred Plaxco, J. R. Moody and W. H. Thompson. Among out-of-town relatives attending the funeral of Mr. T. Gorman Nance on Wednesday were: Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Nance, Tupelo, Miss.; Mr. W. H. Nance, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Mrs. H. F. Blair, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Maude Nance, West Point, Tenn.
A big WOW to Lee Freeman for the news articles from old Alabama newspapers.
GEORGIA
CARROLL COUNTY, GA - Newspapers -
"Carroll Free Press"
Issue of Friday, June 10, 1887
Roopville The Roopville news is "Reported by W. P. N."
"Crops are as fine as I ever saw them. Mr. J. F.
Nance
has got corn shoots and tassels. I don't believe there is
any sickness around here now. Married at the residence of
the bride's father on last Sunday evening, Charley Tumlin
of this place to Miss Susie Echols of Heard, Rev. W. W.
Roop officiating. Charley is a nice young man, and
married a young lady that is an honor to any young man.
We wish them much happiness. Mr. A. D. Harman has got a
three legged pig. It is a curiosity. Won't we have a good
time when we get the stock law."
OKLAHOMA
Appears in "The Ravia Herald" 30 May 1908, Ravia, Johnston County, Oklahoma
HORSE THIEVES ARRESTED
A L. Tribble, of DeQueen, Arkansas, Sheriff of Sevier County, arrived here last Wednesday and made himself and his mission known to Constable Lee Parker and former Deputy Sheriff Tom Brown. He told them that he had trailed two horse thieves from his town in Arkansas to the Choctaw Nation; that they were headed for this county and that they were Ben Works and Will Nance. The parties were known to Parker and Brown, so that night, with Sheriff Tribble, they searched the Troy country, where Nance and Works live, and located them. Thursday morning they raided the place where Nance and Works were and captured them, but not before they made a dash for liberty, barefooted, but were headed off by Constable Lee Parker and his gun. Parker had to fire two shots before he could convince one of the parties that he would shoot to kill if necessary. Birt Keith also assisted in making the arrests. The sheriff, after talking with our people, thinks he has the parties who have been extensively engaged in horse stealing, and that possibly several horses from this county are now at his town in Arkansas, among the number the Norris horse stolen last March. Lack of space forbids an more extended notice.
Appears in "The Ravia Herald" 27 June 1908 Ravia, Johnston County, Oklahoma
STAY WITH OUR OFFICERS
Our constable, Lee Parker, has two suits on his hands as a result of doing his sworn duty. In the first suit, in which also appear the names of Sheriff Tribble of DeQueen, Arkansas, Tom Brown and Bert Keith appear as defendants, the sum of $15,000 is named as damages for kidnapping {Will} Nance, the young man captured with the horse thieves that Sheriff Tribble trailed form Arkansas to this county, and with the assistance of Parker, Brown and Keith, arrested three men and carried them back to Arkansas, young Nance being one of the number. Works, one of the other prisoners, who is now in jail in Arkansas awaiting trial on the charge of horse stealing, has brought suit against Constable Parker for a horse, two saddles and $30 damages. Both suits were filed by John Grisham, a Tishomingo lawyer.
We understand the boot-leggers are threatening to sue him for damages for interfering with their illegal right to bring whiskey into Ravia and sell it.
It is time that our law abiding citizens were getting together and giving Mr. Parker their loyal support. The way to do this is to organize a law and order league, thus forcing every citizen to come out and show where he stands. Let’s organize and get rid of the thieves and boot-leggers.
SOUTH CAROLINA
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Strange But True: Buried Beneath A Church
There's a woman buried underneath Washington Street United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. Her tomb is made of metal, and there's a glass cover showing her face.
Church officials believe her name to be Sophia Nance. She died in 1853, and since that time, her body has remained in what is now an abandoned graveyard underneath the church.
The graveyard was originally above ground, but the church constructed a new building over top of it in the 1920s. Families with loved ones buried there were given the chance to move their relatives, but no one from the Nance family ever came forward to inquire about moving Sophia.
Legend has it, her family chose her burial style based on her beauty. She died at age 28, and church historians say the family wanted to preserve her face. So they chose a unique tomb that covered the body entirely, but left a glass plate over the face, leaving that part of Sophia open for viewing.
Since that time, a few people have made the trip beneath the church to see Sophia. Church officials say, five years ago, someone tapped on the glass and broke it, leaving the face exposed to the elements. Condensation formed mold on top of the face, leaving what now appears as a white mask as a cover.
Little is known about Sophia, more than 150 years after her death. Church historians are still trying to figure out why she died so young, and how her two children died. They reportedly died at ages two and six, and are buried nearby. Historians do believe Sophia was originally from Newberry, and that her maiden name may have been Wells.
This was posted on the Nance Family Genealogy Forum by Tammy Simms... Thanks Tammy!! Does anyone know who Sophia was?
Posted on Thu, Jun. 06, 2002
Is this her???
Descendants of Sophia Catherine (NANCE)
1 Sophia Catherine
(NANCE) b: 10 Jul 1824 d: 24 Jan
1853 in SC
.. +Frederick Agustus
NANCE b: Abt. 1820
.... 2 Amelia Pauline
NANCE b: 05 Mar 1845 in SC d: 23
Jan 1847 in SC
.... 2 Frederick Agustus
NANCE b: 18 Jul 1847 in SC d: 15
Dec 1853 in SC
<>
Mysterious lady lies under downtown church
By DAWN HINSHAW
Staff Writer
The church history book doesn't make note of Sophia Catharine Nance.
But she is legendary even beyond Washington Street United Methodist Church, the first church in town.
Sophia's life ended in the winter of 1853.
She was said to be an extraordinary beauty when she died at 28 years old.
For the better part of a century, her grave would have been visible in the cemetery just outside the sanctuary of the stately church, at the corner of Washington and Marion streets downtown.
But in 1928, when the church expanded, much of the graveyard was covered over.
Some families wanted the remains of their ancestors moved to Elmwood Cemetery. Others apparently did not.
Sophia's gravesite stayed behind, along with dozens more. A plat was made so that remaining graves might be located.
At some point, they were made accessible by a trap door cut in the floor of a broom closet.
Open the door, and lying in the dust is an electrical cord.
A string of bare, 100-watt bulbs under the church ends at Sophia's casket, imbedded in a shallow grave.
The belly crawl is perhaps 20 yards in dust that clouds and clings.
She is entombed in an embossed metal casket, not a traditional rectangle but in the shape of a reclining body.
At the head is an oval plate that, once removed, reveals a porthole of glass.
As recently as six years ago, the glass revealed a skull covered in leathery skin, said the Rev. Mike Alexander, the church pastor. Even teeth were visible.
Then a tiny crack appeared in the glass. The harsh remains began to change. Alexander considered whether to try to have the glass cover fixed but then decided to "let nature run its course."
By now, the skull looks as if it's covered in soft, white foam.
A granite tombstone propped over the casket records the days of Sophia's birth and death.
Beyond that, legend and imagination take over.
When Alexander was assigned to Washington Street in June 1996, someone told him about the woman buried under the church first thing.
Since then, he figures he has been under the church a dozen times, taking people who ask to see her, many of them associated with local colleges and the university.
"I try to tell people to be reverent down there and to not look at it as a Halloween experience," Alexander said.
"This is a part of history."
He shares the story of Sophia Nance with people joining the church.
It is said that she was so beautiful that her husband - or was it her lover? - wanted her body preserved so he could continue to see her.
Some say that "Sophie" stirs, walking the halls at night whenever someone has come down to view her, Alexander said.
James Brown, the night janitor at the church, has no interest in looking on Sophia.
"I let the dead rest," he said. "She has been there so long, I don't think I would want to go down there and disturb it."
Sheila Riley has been collecting memorabilia related to death for the past 20 years.
She said burying someone in a casket with a window to the inside wouldn't have been considered strange in the mid-1800s.
The casket might have been available by catalog, she said, and shipped to Columbia by rail.
About that time in America, the funeral industry was just beginning to emerge. Scientists were making progress with the embalming process.
Influenced by royalty in England, Riley said, people in this country began a tradition of mourning that involved wishing to capture an image - a shadow, some called it - of their loved one. That's why it became common for people to photograph a corpse and display the photo in their homes, said Riley, once with the S.C. State Museum and now working in Indianapolis.
Laurely Nance, who sings in the choir with her husband, Luke, said no one in their family has been able to establish a link with Sophia Nance.
Still, her granddaughter carries the name Sophia Catherine Nance after "the lady under the church."
Riley said when she lived in Columbia, she kept hearing about the unusual grave.
"It's this great legend," she said, a story of beauty and love and fitful mystery.
Reach Hinshaw at 771-8641 or dhinshaw@thestate.com.
(Copyright State Newspaper 2002)
TENNESSEE
Brushy Valley Man's Life Is For The Birds- Clinton-
Woody NANCE doesn't mind at all. Go ahead.
Call him the Birdman
of Brushy Valley. It suits him just fine.This time of year, when the ground is as hard as a black heart, Nance is a bird's best friend. He feeds them hundreds of pounds of food during the winter. Nance's feed bill, says his wife, Elizabeth, is something she doesn't want to know about. He says it tops out at about 800 pounds a year. "I feed them enough corn to fatten a hog" is the way he says it. And the birds, all kinds of little wild winged things, repay him with kindness.
Let Nance walk out in his back yard with his customery straw hat on his head and his hands filled with sunflower seeds, and finches of all hue, titmice, tiny sparrows, clouds of pine siskins, chickadees and a variety of other birds flock to his shoulders, his head and hands. He becomes Pied Piper of Brushy Valley bird world.
They skitter underneath his feet. From this view, Nance, a wisp of a man, must seem like an elephant. He gingerly steps around his flittering friends. They peck away at the cracked corn, without fear of being squashed.
He carries them around on his hat and in his hands as if they are made of china and should be exhibited on shelves. They feed in his hands without worry or concern. He pets them and observes them up close. They ride his shoulders and hop to his hat.
Nance lives in Brushy Valley a peaceful dip of land in Anderson County where it is so quiet you can hear your thoughts as they pound and circulate. The air is fresh and still along Mountain Road where Nance and his wife live with their friends.
As the smaller birds swirl like dark crystals and flash to nearby branches, the larger birds move in for a time at Nance's open table. Bluejays, grosbeaks, doves, cardinals, they all come to dine. "You take the redbird,"Nance says to no one in particular. "Now, during this time of year, the pretty red male will run the female off. He won't even let her eat."
Nance smiles and looks out of his window as hundreds of birds gather to gorge themselves again on yet another bright morning. "But, in springtime, that old redbird will take his lady friend food," Nance chuckles. "That's just like a man, isn't it?" Nance's birding doesn't stop here. He walks to a row of martin poles. He puts out 46 martin gourds in the spring. Nance, an organic farmer of some note, grows his own gourds.
"I have had martins show up as early as late February. They are usually gone by the rnd of July.
"No, I'm never bothered by mosquitoes. My martins take care of that. You can sit out here at night and never feel a bite."
But, Nance doesn't stop here. He has his buddies the bats, too.
Nance ordered a mail-order home for them and installed it high on a green pole in his back yard. He isn't quite sure when the bats arrive or when they leave, but he is absolutely glad to see them each year. "They come when it gets hot is all I know. Now, a bat will eat about as many if not more mosquitoes than a martin," Nance says. His eyes sparkle like sunlight dancing off Brushy Creek.
Nance doesn't stop here. He built a home for his friend, the owl.
"Comes back every year," he says with laughter that is wise in tone and mood.
Nance doesn't stop here. He built a pond, mainly for his fish. But, a big blue heron, who enjoys dominance over Brushy Creek, stops by the Nance gourmet pond for a few choice delicacies in the evenings.
"I call him Big Bird," Nance says, pushing back from his kitchen table. He demonstrates the strange walk of a spindly legged blue heron in action. "When he's in deep water, he looks like this, " Nance says, his arms straight and poking like toothpicks underneath his chest.
"Now, when that old boy gets in shallow water, he's like this." His arms are bent and low on the table, as if he's about to leap at something. "He never misses what he's after, " Nance says.
He takes care of his pals in the fish pond in a rather unique way also. He feeds them all the Japanese beetles they can hold. He's rigged a kind of beetlesmorgasbord for his fish in an all-they-can-eat fantasy.
Nance rigged a shovel-mouthed soft bottle atop a long pole. He puts beetle bait in the bottle and waits for the beetles to arrrive. In the summerwhen the beetles are at their worst, they hone in on the soft drink bottletrap, slip down the long tube to the waiting froth of Nance's finny friends.
The catfish and bream feed like sharks.
"When the beetles hit the water, they are long gone."
Last year, Nance fed his birds more than 800 pounds of feed. And that's just for four months. He doesn't put out the welcome sigh in the spring."I don't want the birds to become dependent on me," he says. "I've seen 200 maybe 300 birds out here at one time," says Nance, who won't tell his age, except to say that he was in the lobby of the Ford Theater getting popcorn the day Lincoln was shot.
"I enjoy watching and feeding the birds. I like having them around." It is obvious the birds enjoy the companythey keep. They flock to the Birdman of Brushy Valley.
VIRGINIA
By Justin Faulconer
Ray Nance (left) accepts a set of World War II dog tags on behalf of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford in a 2007 ceremony. Nance was the last surviving member of the ‘Bedford Boys’, a storied group of soldiers who landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Danville Register & Bee
Media General News Service
Published: April 20, 2009
The National D-Day Memorial is set to receive its final visit from the “Bedford Boys” Wednesday, nearly 65 years after the storied group stormed Omaha Beach.
Just prior to an 11 a.m. graveside service in Bedford for Ray Nance, who died Sunday at age 94, a hearse will carry the D-Day veteran around the memorial’s grounds one last time.
Nance was among the three dozen or so young men from Bedford who took part in the invasion — 19 died in the first wave and two died shortly after. He was the last surviving member of the group.
Author Alex Kershaw published a book several years ago titled “The Bedford Boys” that told their story. Such heavy loss of men from the same community ultimately led to the decision to build the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, which opened in 2001.
Nance was part of Company A, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, which included the Bedford Boys. The son of a tobacco farmer, he spent his last days residing at the Elks National Home in Bedford.
Skip Tharp, Bedford’s mayor and local funeral home director who is serving the family at this time, described Nance as a leader who deeply cared for fellow soldiers. He and his wife Alpha never sought for his passing to become a big event, Tharp said.
“They are just very quiet, gentle, easygoing folks,” he said. “He didn’t seek the spotlight. He just did what he had to do.”
Nance’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory in Bedford. Graveside services will at held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery in Bedford. Nance’s hearse will tour the D-Day Memorial grounds just prior to the service, but there is no public ceremony planned there.
Tharp, who has handled funeral arrangements for other D-Day veterans from Bedford, said the area has lost a living testament of the Greatest Generation.
“Every time one of these gentlemen passes away, it’s another loss
for our history and our community.”
Danville Register & Bee
The News & Advance Ray Nance, the last
remaining survivor of the group known as the “Bedford Boys,“ has died. Nance, 94, of Bedford, died Sunday, according to his obituary. The “Bedford Boys” are the famed group of soldiers that participated
in the D-Day invasion on Normandy during World War II. Their participation in the invasion ultimately led to the decision
to build the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.
Published: April 19, 2009
Virginia Guard pays tribute to last of the “Bedford Boys”
By Maj. Cotton Puryear
Virginia Guard Public Affairs
Published: April 23, 2009
BEDFORD, Va. — Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard joined family, friends and the community of Bedford April 22 to bid farewell to Maj. Elisha “Ray” Nance, the last of the “Bedford Boys” who stormed the beaches of Normandy almost 65 years ago. Nance passed away April 19 at the age of 94.
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Soldiers from the Bedford-based Company A, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team served as pallbearers during the funeral of Elisha “Ray” Nance April 24 in Bedford. All of the Soldiers were combat veterans, and the Soldiers wore their Army Combat Uniform at the request of Nance’s family. (Photo by Maj. Cotton Puryear, Virginia Guard Public Affairs) |
Nance was one of 32 Virginia Guard Soldiers from Bedford’s Company A, 116th Infantry, 29th Division who were among the 160,000 Allied troops that landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany and begin the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.
According to the National D-Day Memorial web site, Company A assaulted Omaha Beach and by the end of the day, 19 of the company’s Bedford Soldiers were dead and two more died later in the Normandy campaign. Bedford’s population in 1944 was about 3,200, and proportionally the community suffered the nation’s most severe losses on D-Day, as well as all of World War II.
Congress saw Bedford as a symbol of all communities whose Citizen-Soldiers served on D-Day, and chose Bedford as the location to establish the National D-Day Memorial.
According to Virginia Guard historical documents, Nance enlisted in Company A in 1932 to help provide some income for his parents and because of the appeal of two weeks of annual training at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach.
Nance was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing a condensed officer training program in late 1940, and he returned to the unit just prior to its Feb 3, 1941 mobilization date. First Lt. Nance was Company A’s Executive Officer on D-Day.
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Virginia National Guard Soldiers pay tribute to Elisha “Ray” Nance during his funeral April 22 in Bedford. More than two dozen Virginia Guard Soldiers were on hand for Nance’s funeral service. (Photo by Maj. Cotton Puryear, Virginia Guard Public Affairs) |
Virginia Guard historical documents indicate the Virginia National Guard did not plan to station a unit in Bedford in its post-World War II structure. The feeling, according to Nance, was that Bedford having suffered so much during the war, the community would not support a Guard company again.
Nance set out to prove them wrong. After personal visits to both the Adjutant General of Virginia and National Guard Bureau he got permission to try to recruit a company again in Bedford. By 1948, 124 men had joined the re-formed Company A, and Nance served as the company’s first post-World War II commander He retired as a captain on April 6, 1953 and was given a state promotion to major.
More than two dozen Virginia Guard Soldiers were on hand for Nance’s funeral service and helped the community remember his service, as well as the service of the other Bedford Soldiers.
“It is a positive thing to reflect back on the heroism and courage of the average American citizen, because the American citizen always steps up and does the right thing.,” said 1st Lt. Michael Maxwell, the executive officer for Company A, the same position 1st Lt. Nance held on D-Day.
"I'm personally proud to be commanding a unit that traces its heritage to such brave patriots as Ray Nance," said Maj. Gen. Grant Hayden, present-day commander of the 29th Infantry Division. "Somewhere in Heaven they are mustering Company A again, this time at full-strength with Ray Nance rejoining his Bedford Boys buddies in formation. If we listen carefully, we may even hear a proud call from up above as the troops come to attention: '29, Let's go!'"
Last updated on 11/25/2011