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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Thomas Nance, farmer, of Bird Township, was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., in 1849, the youngest of fifteen children born to Thomas Nance and his wife. Thomas was a farmer of North Carolina, and in 1846 came to Missouri, bought land and improved it; he also bought land in Butler County, Mo., and in March, 1861, came to Jackson County, Ark., moving to Cache Township in 1866, and then to Independence County, where he bought land near Fairview, which he made his home till his death, in August, 1874. His wife died when our subject was an infant. Grandfather Nance died, at the age of one hundred and fifteen, in North Carolina; the grandmother died in the same State, at the age of one hundred and fourteen. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm, receiving his education in the subscription schools of Missouri. In 1861 he came to Jackson County, and aided in clearing and improving the home farm. In September, 1864, in Jackson County, he enlisted in Capt. Steen’s company, and was with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri. He was in the battles of Pilot Knob and Kansas City, returning home in 1865, and engaged in farming. In August, 1866, he married Sarah Cheshire, of Jackson County, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Seiner) Cheshire, natives of North Carolina, and early settlers of Jackson County. Both died some years ago. After his marriage Mr. Nance settled on Black River, this township, and later moved to Tuckerman, and engaged in farming. His excellent wife died in October, 1877, leaving three children: George W. (married and residing in Lawrence County), Mollie (now Mrs. Parrott, of this county) and Savannah (at home). In 1881 Mr. Nance married Rebecca Goodman, of Tennessee, whose father was one of the early settlers of this county. Both her parents are dead. Mr. Nance has resided on his present place since 1880. He owns a good farm of eighty acres, forty acres of which are under cultivation. He is a Democrat, active in politics, being now county coroner; was bailiff of Bird Township two years, also deputy sheriff for two years, and has always taken an interest in school matters, and all enterprises for the good of his county, aiding liberally in such matters. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Kirkpatrick Lodge No. 192, at Tuckerman, and was Senior Deacon in 1888. He is also a member of Jacksonport Chapter, and a member of the Eastern Star order, as is his wife. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 144 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Jackson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jackson County, Arkansas family biographies here: Jackson County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Jackson County, Arkansas here: Jackson County, Arkansas Map

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