My Genealogy Hound

William B. Nance, of Alabama Township, Nevada County, Ark., is a leading citizen of that place, having numerous warm personal friends, and being in all business transactions exceedingly fortunate. His birth occurred March 13, 1838, and he is the son of William L. and Emily Nance, natives of Virginia and Georgia, respectively. He commenced farming in his own interest at the age of twenty, and by means of a great deal of natural ability, energy and judgment, has succeeded well. He moved to Arkansas in December, 1858, locating in this county (then a part of Columbia County), and enlisted in the Civil War, in 1862, in the Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. In most of the prominent battles the subject of this sketch braved death in defense of the principles that seemed to him right; was captured at Vicksburg, and retained as a prisoner for several days, after which he was paroled, and returned home, and afterward exchanged. Mr. Nance was married to Mrs. Caroline Edmundson, widow of William D. Edmundson, and daughter of James and Mahalie Henry, natives of the State of Missouri. James Henry moved to this country and State in 1818, and his father was the first Methodist preacher who came to Arkansas, and one of the pioneers of Hempstead County. He has at the present writing about 150 living descendants, and he is now a resident of Texas. To Mr. William B. Nance (subject of the present sketch) and wife have been born nine children, viz.: Willie (Mrs. Bragg), Bascomb, Emma (deceased), Henry, Judge S., Marvin, Stephen Walter, and Eli, besides which Mrs. Nance has one son by her first marriage, viz.: Charlie E. Edmundson (now living in Texas). The subject of this sketch owns a valuable estate of 320 acres, which is well cultivated; has held the office of justice of the peace for more than four years; is a school director, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Nance’s father, William L. Nance, was a farmer by occupation. He lived in the State of Georgia for quite awhile, and there married, and then moved to Alabama, when the subject of this sketch was only nine months old, and died in that State in the year 1844. To him and his wife were born five children, four of whom are still living, viz : Isham A. (deceased), William B., Thomas, Anna (wife of William Jordan), and Williamson L.