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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. L. Nance, manager of the well-known firm of Tedwell & McClure, hardware and furniture dealers of Lewisville, was born in Alabama, in 1844, being the youngest of a family of five children, four sons and one daughter—born to the union of W. L. and Emily (Williams) Nance, natives of Virginia and Georgia, respectively. The father immigrated to Russell County, Ala., at an early day, while the country was still wild and uninhabited, and Indians were numerous, and there he engaged in agricultural pursuits, being a farmer and slave owner until his death, which took place the same year our subject was born. He passed away in full communion with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as did his wife also, who departed this life in 1874. Of the family of five children born to their marriage, only four are now living: Isom A. (deceased), William B. (resides in Nevada County, Ark.), Thomas M. (makes his home in Hempstead County, Ark.), Anna F. (wife of W. H. Jordan, of Ouachita County, Ark.), and W. L. The latter was reared to farm life in his native State, and received his education in the schools of Salem, Ala. When he was in his fourteenth year he came to this State, settling in Columbia County, and at the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the Confederate cause, joining Company C, Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, and was assigned to the east side of Mississippi River, where he served until the fall of Port Hudson. He was in the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson; being captured at the latter battle he was sent to Springfield, Ill., where he was retained from February, 1862, to September 7, 1862, when he was exchanged, immediately after which he came back and joined his command, then at Vicksburg, Miss. From there the next battle was Port Hudson, where he was engaged for forty-nine days, and there he was captured and paroled. He came home on parole, remaining some three months, and then went into parole camp at Washington, Ark., from where he was declared exchanged, and in the spring of 1864 he again entered into active service, and participated in the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry. After the surrender he returned to his home in Columbia County, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1879, at which time he moved to this county, and since then about half of his time has been spent here, the other portion being spent in Buckner, Columbia County. From 1881 until 1883 he conducted a general merchandise business at Hurricane Hill, in this county, and from 1883 to 1886 at Buckner, in Columbia County, and from 1886 to 1888 he was occupied in various pursuits. In 1889 he commenced business with Tedwell & McClure, and the same year opened up in this city in the hardware and furniture line, and is now doing an extensive and lucrative business. His marriage to Miss Minnie L. Briant, of Nevada County, Ark., was consummated on January 28, 1869, and their marriage has resulted in the birth of four children: Maude L., Mollie L., Cora A. and Sidney A. Mrs. Nance was a daughter of J. Sidney and Lucretia (Jones) Briant, Mr. Briant a native of Tennessee, and Mrs. Briant of North Carolina, the former being a prominent merchant of Falcon, Ark. She and husband both hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Galveston, and have the confidence and esteem of all who know them. Socially Mr. Nance affiliates with Buckner Lodge No. 121, A. F. & A. M., and Buckner Lodge No. 2934, K. of H., being recorder of the last named lodge. He also holds membership in the Lewisville Lodge No. 57, K. of P., of which he is prelate. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lafayette County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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