For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 604
RICHARD IRWIN VANCE....High respect and good-will were ever tendered Richard Irwin Vance, for he was a man of upright life and high principles and wherever he went won the confidence of those with whom he came in contact. He was born in Newville, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of April, 1817, a son of John and Jane ( Irwin ) Vance, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married. In 1808 they bade adieu to the Emerald isle and sailed for the new world, landing at New York. After a year there passed they removed to Pennsylvania, where their remaining days were spent. The father was a stone-mason by trade, following that pursuit for many years in Newville. In his family were five children : Richard, who died in infancy ; John, who died at the age of eight years ; Isabelle, who died when twenty-two years of age ; Richard Irwin ; and John Jackson.Richard I. Vance was the last surviving member of his family. He remained a resident of his native town until 1845 and during that period acquired his education in the public schools and served an apprenticeship to the cabinet-maker's trade, beginning his term of indenture when fourteen years of age. When his apprenticeship was completed he went to Pittsburg, but the failing health of his parents caused his return to his native town and he continued there, as previously stated, until 1845. In that year he sought a home in the middle west and came to Muscatine, then called Bloomington, in company with his younger brother, John, traveling by boat all the way. Both worked at the cabinet-maker's trade until 1855, when they located upon the prairie on adjoining farms. In Muscatine they erected a good building, in which they conducted their cabinet-making business, which they carried on for a number of years after buying their land. The farm, however, remained the place of residence of Richard I. Vance until his death and as the years passed by he prospered in its development and cultivation. He purchased unbroken prairie land of a Mr. Evans, who had entered it from the government, and since it came into possession of Mr. Vance in 1855 it has been owned and occupied by members of the family. He placed the fields under a high state of cultivation and added to the property until he owned over two hundred acres on section 34, Sweetland township. He added many improvements to the place, including good buldings, and at all times he followed progressive methods in the care and cultivation of his farm.
In Muscatine on the 19th of March, 1852, Mr. Vance was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Hershey, who was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1829, and in 1850 came to Muscatine county with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth ( Klepper ) Hershey, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but spent their last days in Muscatine. They had a family of seven children, as follows : Catharine, who became the wife of Samuel Frantz but is now deceased ; Mary M., who became Mrs. Vance ; Abraham B., a physician who has also passed away ; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Dr. Christian Hershey ; Benjamin Franklin, living in South Pasadena, California ; Emanuel W., a resident of Fairplay, Colorado ; and Emeline, the deceased wife of Lyman Banks.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Vance was blessed with seven children, all of whom are yet living, namely : Charles, a resident of Wymore, Nebraska ; Elizabeth, at home ; John J., who is living in Alliance, Nebraska ; Margaret, at home ; Edward, of Harvey, Illinois ; Katherine, at home ; and Marian, the wife of J. D. Barnes, of Morgan Park, Illinois.
The father passed away April 15, 1904, and the mother on the 4th of May, 1907. Both were people of the highest personal worth and were devoted members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they took an active part for many years. Mr. Vance was closely identified with the early history of Muscatine and this county and always rejoiced in its advancement and progress. He was interested in its welfare to the day of his death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years of age. His sterling traits of character, his fidelity to duty, his strict honesty and his kindly spirit were qualities which endeared him to all who knew him and won him the respect of many friends.
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