Lovicy A. Roberts Vance 1840-1923

VANCE, ROBERTS, FELLOWS, PATTEN, ROWLEY, RANKIN

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 10/8/2002 at 11:27:50

MRS. BENJAMIN VANCE

Lovicy A. Roberts, daughter of Isaiah and Wilkin Roberts, was born Oct. 14, 1840, at Taylorsville, Highland Co., Ohio. The family moved to Iowa 1857, locating on a farm southeast of Keosauqua, where the children grew to manhood and womanhood, and became substantial citizens of the community. Especially was the Roberts family active in the work of the Christian church, then holding services on the south side of the river. Lovicy early became a member of this church, and all her life was a devoted, earnest Christian worker, with a clear, unfaltering faith that shed its benediction on all who knew her.

She was united in marriage with Benjamin B. Vance, Nov. 3, 1861. To this union were born five children: One son, Wyatt Vance of Dolores, Colorado; four daughters, Mary Fellows of Mitchell, S. Dak.; Emma Patten of Eldon, Iowa; Anna Rowley who departed this life in Des Moines June 10, 1918; and Margaret Rankin of Yuma, Arizona. They lived on a farm for many years, moving to Keosauqua to spend their declining years. The husband and father died Sept. 30, 1920, since which time Mrs. Vance has lived for the most part of the time with her children.

For some months she had been living with her daughter, Mrs. Anderson Patten and family near Eldon, but had been planning a trip to Arizona to visit her youngest daughter, Mrs. Walter Rankin of that state. The journey had been postponed several times and not until Thursday morning, Jan. 24, did she start on this trip. She was accompanied as far as Kansas City by her son-in-law, Anderson Patten. There she met relatives who accompanied her the rest of the way. She had not complained of feeling badly, only that "she was not very well." When she reached the home of her daughter at Yuma she was quite ill, a physician pronouncing the trouble acute bronchitis; four days after her arrival she was obliged to bid them a long farewell. Her age was 83 years, 3 months and 10 days.

Mrs. Vance was the oldest of five children, and last survivor of the family. Besides the children already named she leaves fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who will miss the dear familiar face. She will likewise be missed by many other relatives, a host of friends, and the church family all of whom will miss "Aunt Vicy."

Her son-in-law, Walter Rankin, of Yuma, Arizona, accompanied the body to Keosauqua, where funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 2, from the Christian church, with Elder Isaac N. [rest of obit missing]

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 129 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in Oct 2000. Name of newspaper and date of obit not given.)

I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.

[Original Post 04 Nov 2000]