Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 672
FRANCIS M. DANCE

Francis M. DANCE, attorney-at-law, practicing at Missouri Valley, came to the place in 1868. He was born May 5, 1838, in Grant County, Wis., near Plattville. The father of our subject was Drewry R., and the mother Amelia (SAIDE) DANCE. The father came from Plattville to Iowa in 1840 and settled near Delhi, Delaware County, where he followed farming, and there died in 1848.

Our subject is the second child in a family of three sons and one daughter. His mother, after the death of our subject's father, married John W. PENN, and by this second union there were five children born.

Our subject's early education was received at the common-schools of Delaware County, and later on he attended Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for one year, and then went to the Epworth Seminary at Epworth, Iowa, for one year, and from there went to the Michigan University, where he took a course in law, and was admitted to the bar in Delaware County in 1867, and later was admitted to practice before the Supreme Courts. In the month of May, 1868, Mr. DANCE opened an office in Missouri Valley, since which time he has been in constant practice there, and is the oldest attorney in this place. He has served the county as Deputy Treasurer under George S. BACON, and has served as Justice of the Peace for twelve years. Was Mayor of the city four years, City Attorney two years, City Clerk for many years, and Secretary of the School Board for over ten years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Valley Lodge No. 232, A. F. & A. M., is a member of Triune Chapter No. 81, being its present High Priest. He also belongs to Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, of Knights Templar, at Council Bluffs. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of both the Subordinate and Encampment degrees.

Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. DANCE was united in marriage October 11, 1876 at Logan, Iowa to Miss M. E. VAN HOSEN, a native of Iowa, born near Knoxville, Iowa. She is the daughter of C. N. and Almira (CUNNINGHAM) VAN HOSEN. Both of her parents are deceased. The DANCE family are of German descent, also the VAN HOSENs trace their ancestors to Germany. The CUNNINGHAM family are Virginians.

Politically, Mr. DANCE believes in supporting the best man for the place for President of the United States, but has always voted with the Democratic party.

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