My Genealogy Hound

William Vance, Jr. This much-esteemed and influential citizen is one of the most distinguished and prominent residents of West Memphis, and is of Irish birth. Born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1823, he is the son of William and Mary (Small) Vance, also of Ireland nativity, who came to the United States in 1827 or 1828, locating in New Orleans. He was a linen draper and bleacher, and lived in New Orleans till 1840, then moving back to Belfast, where he died. William Vance, Jr., was left at Belfast to be educated, after which he emigrated to New Orleans in the latter part of 1838, and commenced clerking in a wholesale grocery house. He remained with this firm for several years, then left them, and for five years kept books for one of the largest commission cotton houses in New Orleans. Locating at Memphis he was similarly occupied for the Planters’ Bank a little more than a year. He then crossed the river and settled on and commenced farming his father-in-law’s farm until 1856, when, the latter having died, he was made executor of the estate, and still remains as such. Mr. Vance purchased over 600 acres of land in what is now known as West Memphis, in 1869, and laid out the town of that name in 1870. He married Frances Winchester, a native of Tennessee, who died in 1867 at the age of forty years. To this union were born ten children, of whom the following seven are still living, viz.: Robert, Hopefield, Agnes (who is the wife of H. L. Bugg), Frank E., May (who is the wife of John C. Dunlap), Arthur and Stonewall J. The deceased are Lucy (wife of C. P. Williams, died in 1869, leaving two children, who died soon afterward); William (who died at the age of two years), and one infant unnamed. All the children are living in West Memphis except Agnes, who lives in Black Rock, Ark., and Arthur, in Memphis, Tenn. Robert and Hopefield were educated in Toronto, Canada; his three daughters were educated in Memphis, Tenn., and the other son, at home. The entire family are adherents to the Presbyterian Church, but at present are not members. Mr. Vance has received several prominent appointments from the Governor, among which are those of assessor, auditor, and circuit court clerk, all since the war. Politically, he was an old line Whig before the civil strife, but since then he has voted for the best man. In 1871 he made a general division of his property among his children, and in 1881 presented them with deeds for the same. Hopefield Vance is married to Bettie Sweeney, a native of Virginia, and is the father of three children: Leslie, Ralph and Hope. Robert Vance is married to Miss Lula Franklin, a native of Tennessee, and has four children: Walter, Robert, Nellie and Lottie.