|
Page 80 |
|
1898 with his shoes under his arm traveling across a field of growing corn.
You will find his life in one single verse of the bible Isah (sic) xxvi:18. Yours truly. C. N. Willard. " 
Caleb C. Vance was born at Portland, Maine, April 11, 1828: moved with his parents to St. Charles, Illinois, when he was 16 years of age; was married at Beloit, Wisconsin, February 14, 1856 to Emily Wyman.
Mr. Vance was postmaster and justice of the peace at Roscoe, Winnebago county, for several years, In 1860 he went across the plains to Pike's Peak remained there one year.
He occupied the position of hospital steward in the regular army during the last years of the war, but later resigned on account of ill health.
He became a Free Mason at Wabash, Minnesota, in 1858; and was a charter member of Almena lodge.
He came to Norton county in February 1873 and settled one mile east of Almena.
He was admitted to the bar in May, same year, at the first term of court ever held in Norton.
He was elected to the legislature in the fall of 1873, and early in the session secured the passage of a bill restoring the name of Norton to this county.
He was a delegate from this county to the congressional and state conventions in 1874 and was again elected to the legislature in 1874; was county attorney for one year by appointment.
He made a popular representative and his course as county attorney won him the confidence and respect of all.
When the county seat fight came on he espoused the cause of Leota. It was said by his friends that he took this step against his better judgment, but was influenced by his brother Jim.
Had he remained a Norton man he would have been renominated and probably elected to the legislature in 1870; but his friends assured him that the Leota party would nominate him, but in this he was disappointed, as their convention chose Dr. Green.
On account of ill health he abandoned the practice of law. In 1880 he moved to Phillips county near Long Island, and engaged in farming.
In 1890 he made a trip to Southern California in quest of health but found no relief from his old disease rheumatism and kidney trouble.
He died from the effects of lagrippe on February 2, 1893 and was buried at Long Island.
The funeral services were performed under the auspices of the Almena Masonic Lodge.
Mr. and Mrs. Vance never had but one living child and it died in infancy. Mr. Vance's father lived with him the last seventeen years of his life; he died from the effects of a fall February 22, 1886, at the age of 89 years. He was a superannuated minister and took no part in public matters after coming here. He performed the marriage ceremony for Mr. and Mrs. William Simpson, it is the only time his name appears on the public records of this county. C. C. Vance was a devoted spiritualist during the last years of his life. His brother, Jim Vance Iives at Burwick, Oklahoma; Fred Vance lives at Palmer, Washington county, Kansas; this statement is made here to correct a former |
|
Page 80 |
