VANCE, Amos M.

VANCE, CRAWFORD, FERGUSON, TROYER

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 9/11/2012 at 11:31:46

Amos M. Vance was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, son of Nicholas Milton Vance and Lucinda Ellen (Crawford) Vance, both of English descent and pioneers of Illinois. His ancestors fought in the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, Civil and Indian wars.

Sickness in the home made it necessary for the son Amos not only to earn his own way but from the early age of nine years to assist in the keeping up of the home. This was accomplished as a newsboy (Saturday Blade, Chicago Ledger) and errand boy. He worked in a minister's home (J. W. Derr) for board and room, while attending the public school, graduating from public school in 1898 with good standing. His early record as a student was good, as he always stood among the best in his class. His record as a debater during public school days was excellent. The most noted debate of that period in which he took part was on the subject, "Resolved that a knowledge of history is more important than a knowledge of geography." Strange as it may seem he won this debate, although debating against upper classmen and on the negative side of the question.

He early became interested in religion and united with the Palmyra Baptist church, Rev. William Rhodes of Alton, Illinois, baptizing him. From the age of fourteen he was an active worker in the Baptist Young Peoples Union and also as a Sunday-school teacher.

His first experience in a boarding school was at West Sangamon College, where his ability as a student and a debater made him a leader. As a student here he became prominent by winning a debate on the negative side, the subject being, "Resolved that the president and United States' senators should be elected by pop­ular vote."

In 1900 he entered Lincoln University, now the James Millikin University, where he continued his former record as a student and debater. He was a mem­ber of the Athenian Literary Society and won a place on the open program of that society with an oration entitled "Pou Stou." He was one of the youngest persons ever to become an officer in the Athenian Literary Society. He was student pub­lisher of the school paper, the "Linconian."

While in school here he became interested in the Y. M. C. A., being a delegate to state Y. M. C. A. convention, while continuing his interest in church work as a teacher in Sunday school and mission churches. Although he entered the univer­sity with but thirty-four dollars and sixty cents, he had at the expiration of two years' time, with the assistance of his younger brother, purchased the home where his parents are now living. Due to trouble with his eyes, he was forced to drop out of school for three and one-half years. During this entire time he was in the employ of Hanger Brothers, music dealers. During this time he continued his interest in church and social work and became well known as a speaker and worker in local option. As a result of his interest in politics he was made secretary of the county organization of his party before he became twenty-one years of age, and the following year was made county president, also sent to the state convention, then to the national convention as a delegate from Illinois.

As a student in the Illinois State Normal School, he made a record as an athlete and student, then went into western Nebraska, teaching at the town of Oak. This was a hard school, but the tenderfoot proved equal to the occasion. His experiences here won for him a promotion. He went to Bennett, Nebraska, where he remained three years. During this entire time he was a student during the summer sessions at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and in absentia. His first class at Bennett, Nebraska, consisted of seven boys and two girls. During the entire time here he was recognized leader among the boys. He reorganized and graded the school, established and equipped a laboratory and library. He had charge of the entire music of the school, organizing a chorus, a school orchestra and band, furnishing music for the teachers' association at Lincoln, Nebraska, many times with these organizations. He also organized the high school literary societies for the social, literary, and moral uplift of the students. He was three times unanimously reelected for the position, each time with an increase in salary. He was leader in church work, taught in Sunday school, was president of the Young Peoples' Society.

As a result of his work in Bennett he was called to the Peru State Normal by President J. W. Crabtree of that institution as instructor in violin and orchestral instruments, remaining with that institution during the first year of D. W. Hayes' administration. During this time he pursued his studies with the result that in January, 1911, he was graduated from the Peru Normal with a diploma and a life certificate. In June, 1911, he completed his work for the degree of Bachelor of Education from that institution.

In the same year the James Millikin University (formerly Lincoln University) conferred upon him the Master's Degree in History and Education in recognition of a thesis entitled "The Educational Value of Music." In the summer of 1911 he left the Normal School for the more remunerative employment as superintendent of public schools. As superintendent of the schools at Wood River, Nebraska, he organized and regraded the schools, putting them in good condition; built an addition to the school building, and added one teacher to the corps, equip­ped a library and laboratory. In 1912 Oskaloosa College conferred upon him the degree Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of a thesis entitled "The Industrial Problem of Today," in other words "The Connecting of Men and Jobs." In June, 1914, he graduated from the Nebraska Wesleyan with the degree Bachelor of Arts. In August of this same year he was united in marriage with Rilla T. Ferguson, a woman of his own age, daughter of H. J. Ferguson and Mary (Troyer) Ferguson, who had been prominent in the school work of Nebraska for several years, first as a teacher, then as an assistant county superintendent of Lancaster county, and later as county superintendent of Lancaster county, Nebraska. In the summer of 1912 he entered Nebraska State University as a graduate student in political science and sociology. His record there was such that in the fall of that year he was made teacher of normal training subjects in the T. C. H. S. where he made a strong record as a teacher while continuing his graduate work in the graduate school of the university. In 1914 he went to Kansas as principal of the Humboldt high school, returning to the University of Nebraska during the summer season as instructor in history and civics. At the close of the summer season he received the degree of Master of Arts in political science and sociology from the University of Nebraska. He then went to McPherson College as professor of history and education, was later made prin­cipal of the academy and professor of political science.

During his stay at McPherson he was prominent in all the activities of the school as faculty adviser in establishing the college paper, McColpa, instructor of the Y. M. C. A. Bible class, assistant teacher in the College Men's Sunday School Bible Class, with an enviable reputation as a lecturer, giving one number of the college lecture course. In May, 1916, he was called to the principalship of the Cedar Valley Seminary, arriving in Osage in time to give the commence­ment address of the class of 1916. Immediately following the commencement exercises the matter of repairing and modernizing the buildings on the campus was begun with the result that a complete revolution in the appearance and equip­ment of every building was accomplished, also the campus. While personally overseeing the repairs and remodeling of the buildings and campus, he also com­pleted a catalogue announcing the organization of a Junior College, offering the first two years of college work in addition to the regular departments of the school as he found them, which were academy, conservatory, and business. In the fall of 1916 another department was added to the school, that of art with Jessie M. Zimmerman in charge. As a result of these improvements and the increase in curriculum the enrollment has greatly increased at the institution, which in 1916 was considered to be practically dead. It has taken on new life and bids fair to play an important part in the educational work of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Work done in the institution is recognized for advanced standing in other institutions of more advanced learning.

Mr. Vance has had considerable experience in Chautauqua and Lyceum work both as superintendent and lecturer.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II; pages 464-466.