The Lance Family of Wayne County, Ohio

. Among those who braved the wilds of this section of Ohio when the Indians were still here and the wild animals were everyday sights in the dense woods was James Lance, long since passed to his reward, but whose name will continue to adorn the annals of his community for all time, owing to the fact that he performed well his part in the drama of civilization and led a life that was exemplary in every respect, setting an excellent example to the younger generations, for he was a leader in his locality in all matters that tertained to its upbuilding, and in a conservative manner doing what good he could in all lines as he labored for his own advancement and that of his family. His memory is well worthy to be cherished by his descendants and friends.

James Lance, son of Christopher Lance and wife, was born in the state of New Jersey, January 28, 1794, and his father, who was a native of Germany, brought him to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1795, the family locating near Steubenville. He and his brother Henry came to Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, and he entered three quarter sections of land, giving his brothers, Henry and William, their choice, the former locating on the north and west and William on the east, leaving James the best farm, and he had more property when he died than both his brothers, he having been a very successful farmer. His farm was well located, the public road running north and south and east and west through his place. It was good land and he developed it into one of the best farms of the community. He built a substantial residence that is in use at the present time, on the east and west road, about eighty rods east of the cross roads, near a stream of never-failing water, there being several good springs on the farm. There was a school house at the cross-roads, called the Lanceto'wn school, driving its name from the village, Lancetown, which was quite a town for that early day in the wilderness, there being two grocery stores, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, tailor shop, and a log church; now everything is gone but the two dwellings, the blacksmith shop having been converted into a cheese factory. James Lance had five brothers and five sisters.

James Lance was married to Fannie Holmes, September 5, 1815, a lady of Scotch descent, ber birth having occurred on July 3. 1798. I'our children were born to this union, two hoys and two girls, namely: Christopher, horn 1817. died in 1880: John H., born in Milton township, Wayne county. Ohio, in 1820, died in Homer in 1883; Sarah, born in Milton township in 1822, died in 1886; Elizabeth, born in Milton township May 19.

1824, died January 31, 1896. The mother of these children died August 5, 1827. James Lance was married a second time, his last wife being Iary Johnson, of Jefferson county, Ohio, her birth having occurred October 10, 1810, and this union resulted in the birth of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls, as follows: Sophronia, born February 15, 1829, died October

2, 1903, in Akron, Ohio; Abraham, born August 12, 1830, died November 17, 1887; William E., born May 12, 1832, died February 24, 1909, in Lima, Ohio; Rosilla, born October 2, 1834, died Januaiy 14, 1906: Mary, born December 13, 1836, died December 21. 1904, in South Haven, Michigan; James S., born September 30, 1838, lives in Ithaca, Michigan; Henry, born November 8, 1840, lives in Bloxburg, California, whither he went in 1863 and he has never been back home; Washington,, born September 9, died December 23, 1844; Madison, born October 9, 1844, lives at Rittman, Wayne county; Andrew Jackson, born October 29, 1846, lives in Creston, Mayne county: Oliver Perry, born September 18, 1848, died in Creston, Wayne county, July 9, 1898; Peter J., born November 25, 1850, lives in Ashland, Ohio; Riley J., born January 19, 1853, died April 9, 1869, on the old farm.

The death of James Lance occurred May 19, 1866, and his wife died on May 17, 1875. He was a man loved and respected by all who knew him for his life was exemplary in every respect.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ABRAHAM LANCE is a son of John and Sarah (Johnson) Lance, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio, who came to Wayne County in 1820, and purchased a farm in Milton Township, where they resided until their deaths. The grandfather of Abraham, Christopher Lance, was a native of Germany, who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, and participated in that memorable struggle. John Lance was a prominent man in his day, and was a supporter of the old Democratic principles. He was an honored member of the Pres. byterian Church. He died in 1852, and his widow survived him about twenty years. They had a family of eleven children, Abraham, the subject of this sketch, and John, of Medina County, Ohio, being the only ones now living. Abraham Lance, whose name heads this notice, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, August 25, 1813. His education was obtained in the old-fashioned log school-houses, which he was privileged to attend only when his services were not required on the farm. He has spent his life at farming, and in 1838 bought the farm in Milton Township where he now lives, which contains 166 acres of well-improved land. That same year he married Miss Sarah Lance, daughter of James Lance. She died in 1886. To them were born seven children, four of whom are living: Peter, of Medina County, married Adeline Hollowell, and has five children: Azilpha Ann, Mary L., Cora L., Andrew J. and Charles P.; James A., of Milton Township, married Lydia E. Hollowell, and has ten children: Mary E., Martha A., James H., Henry H., Rosa A., Franklin P., Ethel R., Elvie C, Lydia L. and Weston; Sarah, wife of Edward Shook, of Medina County, has seven children: Henry A., Franklin W., Arthur L., William E., Rosa C, Pearl and Rebecca; and Elizabeth J., wife of Edgar Steele, of Milton Township, has five children: Wilson, Arthur, Mary, William and Floyd. Mr. Lance married again in 1888, his present wife being formerly Mrs. Elizabeth J. Moore. He is a Democrat in his political views, and in religion is a prominent member of the Presbvterian Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JLLIAM J. LANCE is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Hoffstat- — ' ter) Lance, and was born in Milton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, December 10, 1834. Christopher Lance, his grandfather, a native of Germany, married in New Jersey, where Henry Lance was born, and afterward settled in Jefferson County, Ohio. In 1819 Henry and James Lance came to Wayne County, Ohio, and entered a tract of land in Milton Township, where they engaged in farming, and in connection operated a distillery. Henry Lance married for his first wife Lucy Lee, and by her had five children, three of whom are living: Christopher, Catherine (widow of Isaac Wekly), Jane (widow of Henry Zeigler), all in Milton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. By his second wife, nee Elizabeth HofPstatter, he had children, as follows: William J.; John and Abraham, in Milton Township, Wayne Co.; Elizabeth, wife of Allen Walker, in Michigan, and Teressa, wife of Isaac Grossman, also in Michigan. Henry Lance died April 21, 1862.

William J. Lance, our subject, was educated in the schools of his township, and has always followed farming, having lived on his present farm in Milton Township since 1864. In 1862 he married Miss Clara M., daughter of Daniel Johnson, of Milton Township, Wayne County, and she died in ISS-l, leaving seven children, one of whom has since died. Those now living are Alfred D., married to Miss Hannah Chatman, and residing in Michigan; Edwin R., married to Sarah, daughter of Johnston Swagler, and residing in Milton Township; Medwin H., Winfred, Daniel Dewitt and Viva Mabel, all at home. Mr. Lance took for his second wife Mrs. Annie Swagler, widow of Jonathan Swagler. He has since served as constable for one year, trustee for five years, also school director, supervisor, etc. He is a member of Sterling Lodge No. 1818, Royal Arcanum, and is a trustee and deacon in the Baptist Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ANIAREW JACKSON LANCE.

It was early in the nineteenth century that Peter Lance landed in Connecticut as a recently-arrived immigrant from Germany. Later he caught the western fever and, determining to better his fortunes beyond the Alleghanies, he joined the rush to Ohio and finally pulled up in the county of Jefferson, when that section was still wild and but sparsely settled. He engaged in farming and met with fair success, being able to leave a small estate at his death. He married Mary, daughter of John Johnson, by whom he had a number of children, most of whom grew up and did well in after life. James, one of his sons, came to Wayne county in company with four brothers, three of whom settled in Milton and one in Chippewa township. James engaged in farming and prospered, being an extensive land owner at the time of his death in 1866. He was married twice and became the father of seventeen children. He married Mary Johnson, who died in 1875, after becoming the mother of thirteen children.

Andrew Jackson Lance, who was one of the “baker's dozen," was born in Wayne county, Ohio, October 29, 1846, and grew up as a member of that historic band known as the “pioneer children.” The only schools of the famous early days in Milton township were of the log cabin variety, with luncheon seats, greased paper windows and immense gaping fire places. Mr. Lance as a boy took special interest in spelling and still proudly recalls his victories at the many spelling bees held under the roof of the old school house. He became known as the crack speller of the whole neighborhood, as a result of his “spelling down” both teachers and pupils, in fact all comers, when the lineup took place to test the skill in the old Webster speller, with its long lists of words. In 1888 Mr. Lance came to Canaan township and bought sixty-five acres of land, which at present lies within the corporate limits of Creston. He always followed farming and is regarded as a careful and painstaking agriculturist. Of late years he has given especial attention to onion raising and found it profitable. He has greatly improved his farm by erecting a commodious residence and up-to-date barn and other outbuildings, suitable for a progressive farmer in this age of advanced agriculture. Though a Democrat, Mr. Lance has tried to avoid office-holding and to keep out of the struggles of practical politics, notwithstanding which he was drafted to serve two terms as trustee of Milton township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum.

On May 20, 1875, Mr. Lance married Katie Kostenbader, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio with her parents at the age of six years. By this union there are two children: Burr, the only son, assisted his father on the farm, and Bonnie, the daughter, is the wife of Lee H. Crunder and they have four children, namely: Anna, born in 1898; Reba, born March p 1901; Dale, born September 22, 1903; bay, born June 21, 1906. Mr. Lance is a very pleasant and jovial man to meet.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

There was little to encourage a man lacking grit and stability to undertake to hew a farm from the seemingly interminable wilderness in A’ayne county upwards of a century ago when the ancestors of Edwin Lance first made their advent here. It was his grandparents, Henry and Betzie Lance, who first established themselves here. The former was a native of Pennsylvania and it is supposed that his wife was also a native of the old Keystone state. They made the laborious journey across the mountains in a covered wagon, bringing w'hat few household effects they had with them. When they reached Chestnut Ridge in the northeastern part of Milton township. Wayne county, they were delighted with the prospect, and here they purchased one hundred and sixty acres, clearing a small place for a log cabin, which later gave way to a more modern and commodious dwelling. In a few years the place was cleared and yielding bounteous crops and here the old pioneer couple spent the remainder of their days. Henry Lance was a man of much influence in Ins township, prominent in politics, and he was a member of the Presbyterian church. The maternal grandparents of Edwdn Lance were Daniel and Julia Johnson. They also came to this county from New York state in a very early day and bought eighty acres of timber land, without any improvements whatever. It was also swampy, but this hardy woodman cleared and drained the land, making a good home, and lived there until his death. The town of Sterling is now on a part of this land.

William J. Lance, son of Henry Lance and wife and father of Edwin Lance, was born in Milton township, Wayne county, and he came to this county with his parents when a child and received his education in the primitive schools of this township. He began farming early in life and continued the same the rest of his days. He first bought eighty acres east of his father’s place; in time this was sold and by three different ])purchases he finally had a farm of seventy-two acres where his son, Edwin Lance, of this review, nov,' lives. Here William J. Lance prospered and lived until within a few years of his death. He married Clara Johnson, a native of the same locality in Wayne county, from which he came.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Lance was married in 1887 to Sarah Swagler, daughter of a well known family, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Flossie May, Clara Anna and William Clayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Lance are members of the Baptist church, and their two daughters are Lnited Brethren. In politics Mr. Lance votes with the Democrats. He is always interested in whatever promotes the general good of his community, but he does not find much time to mingle in politics. Mrs. Lance belongs to the Ladies of the Maccabees.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

In the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and solid career on the part of the average business man fighting the every-day battle of life, there is but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensational chapter; but for a mind fully awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and immortal lessons in the life of the m:m who, without other means than a clear mind, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers fortune and gains not only the temporal rewards of his toil, but also that which is greater and higher, the respect and confidence of those with whom his years of active life have placed him in contact.

The subject of this sketch is a native son of Wayne county, having been born north of Sterling, in Milton township, on the 5th of April, 1864, and is the son of Abram and Melissa ( Ross) Lance. His paternal grandparents, Henry and Betsy (Hoffstater) Lance, were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Wayne county in a very early day. They located in Milton township, northeast of Sterling and there cleared a fine farm, on which they spent their remaining days, rearing a family and otherwise doing their full part in the development of this section of the country. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Ross, was a native of the state of New York and he too was an early settler in Wayne county, having at one time owned the land where the thriving little town of Sterling now stands. There he and his wife spent their later years and died. Abram Lance, the subject's father, was born in Wayne county, in October, 1838, she who afterwards became his wife being born here two years later. They grew to manhood and womanhood in their respective homes and in due time met and married. They at once took up farming on their own account, occupying a part of the old Lance homestead. I'hev were successful and stood high in the community, the father having taken a ])prominent and leading part in the Ba])tist church. Fhey are now both deceased. They became the parents of seven children, all of whom are yet living. Abram Lance was three times drafted for military service during the Civil war. The first two times he sent substitutes in his stead, but the third time he went to camp himself, being soon discharged because of disability.

Milward Lance received his education in the common schools of Milton township and during his 'action periods he assisted in the work of the farm. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, having early in life realized that agriculture was the great basic industry on which rested the entire national commercial structure, and he has never regretted his choice. He rented land for a number of years, but in December, 1908, he bought a farm of eighty-nine acres, lying west of Sterling, and he established his home there in the spring of the following year. He has made a number of permanent and substantial improvements on the property and has others in contemplation. He is a wide-awake and progressive man and adopts twentieth-century methods in his work when he is satisfied of their feasibility. He carries on a diversified system of farming and is meeting with a gratifying degree of success.

In May, 1886, Mr. Lance was married to Emma Glessner, a native of.Ashland county, Ohio, but who came with her parents to Wayne county at the age of ten years. Her parents were Alfred and Sarah Glessner, prominent and highly respected persons. Mr. and Mrs. Lance have become the parents of the following children: Flossie and Ray, who are at home, and one that died in infancy unnamed. Politically, Mr. Lance is a supporter of the Democratic party in national elections, but in local affairs he is inclined to be independent, believing that the personal fitness of the candidate is of paramount importance. He is a man of worthy parts, no one in the community enjoying a better reputation for integrity of word and deed, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him during his entire lifetime no greater testimonial of his worth can be offered.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.