William H Chance

CHANCE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/8/2010 at 17:26:48

William H Chance of Boone, Iowa, is a partner in the firm of T H Chance & Son, who conduct a large and profitable machine shop in that city. He is one of the younger business men of Boone county, his birth having occurred in Angus, this county, March 14, 1884. He is a son of Tillman and Jennie (Davis) Chance the latter a native of Boone county. The father was born in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, about sixty years ago. He spent his boyhood and youth in Dallas county, there attending the public schools. In his earlier life he assisted in farm labor but subsequently became an engineer in the gold mines of Colorado and upon his return form the western state established himself as a stationary engineer in Angus in 1880. He now deals in farm lands, besides being interested in the firm with which son is connected. Both Mr and Mrs Chance are members of the Christian church and the former is fraternally a Knight of Pythias and a Mason. He votes independently, preferring to follow his own judgment in giving support to the various candidates. Previous to his marriage to Jennie Davis, Mr chance was wedded to Miss Garoutte, who bore him two children: Zilla and Clifford A, of Ralston, Iowa who married Jessie Le Compte by whom he has one child, Eloise. Tohis second marriage the following children were born: William H of this review, Myrtle, who now resides with her parents and who is the widow of James McCart by whom he has one child, Grace, Josephine, the wife of R A Timmins and the mother of Audrey Timmins, Emma who is Mrs Frank Burris of Des Moines, Lena who married Richard Harrison and resides in Des Moines, and Linnie at home.
William H Chance was but a year old when his parents removed form Angus to Fishville, Iowa. There they remained about a year and then proceeded to Van Meter, which was the family home for about four years. The next two years were spent in Victoria, British Columbia, whence the family returned for one year to Van Meter, thence going to Fraser, Iowa, where they domiciled for thirteen years. William H Chance was educated in the public schools of Fraser and Ogden. He completed his lessons in the latter place at the age of sixteen and then became a fireman of the Boone Coal & Mining Company at Fraser, holding that position for two years. At the end of that time he was promoted engineer and for six years acted in that capacity. He then was given charge of an engine in the Ogden mines for one year and for the next two years was employed as master merchanic. On the expiration of that period he came to Boone, becoming part owner of the machine shop which is operated under the firm name of T H Chance & Son. Mr Chance is not only an expert machinist but an able business man and has done much toward establishing the reputation of his farm. They now do an extensive business and are numbered among the prosperous concerns of his city.
In June 1905, in Fraser, William H Chance, married Miss Bessie Grylls, who was born in Angus in September 1883, and is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Williams) Grylls of Fraser. Mr and Mrs Chance have two children: Clifford Howard who was born February 27, 1907, and Raymond Samuel born March 25, 1909. Mr Chance votes independently, not submitting to any party dictation. Fraternally he belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the National Association of Steam Engineers. Mr Chance has not only built up an individual success but has been a factor in the growth and development of his community. He is very ready to give his support to measures which are undertaken extend the trade interests of his city and also takes a lively interests in the moral and intellectual up building of the people. He receives the confidence and esteem of all who know him an d is worthy of the trust which is placed in him.

1914 Boone County History Book