Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-07
CONFEDERATE WOMAN SPY.
heath Of Mrs. John Nance After an
Eyentful Life.

kseoth OF mrs. JOuh mauee .sAe'
Eventual Life.
Mrs. Jane Nance, one Of the oldest
Of odd characters, was found dead seat
ed by the roadside in Clay county,
Tenn, recently. Hers was indeed
strange and eventful life. Sixty years
ago Jacob Schroeder, Pennsylvania
Dutchman, emigrated to this country
and settled down to farming and deal
ing in stock. His family consisted OF
two sons and daughter. By frugal
habits Schroeder accumulated consider
able property, and was known as one OF
the wealthiest men in this section. The
daughter, Kate, had many admirers,
the favored sutton being Wilson Begs-
man, a carpenter. Owing too fancled
insult offered him by Bergman, old
man Schroeder was opposed to the mar
rage of his daughter. and forbade
Bergman entering his house. A few
days after the wordy war between
the two men old man Schroeder
was shot from ambush. Suspicion
pointed to Bergman as being the as
sassin, but evidence was not sufficient to
warrant his arrest. Two weeks after
the murder Bergman attempted to
elope with Kate Schroeder. The elop-
ing couple were overtaken by two
Schroeder boys and Bergman killed.
The schroders left for parts unknown.
Two years later Kate Schroeder mar
ried John M. Nance, farmer and for
mer almirer.
At the commencement Of the war
Nance, who was strong southern
sympathizer. was arrested and taken
to Louisville, where he died in prison.
Mrs. Nance always claimed his death
was caused by the cruel treatment Of
his captors. Burning for revenge, Mrs.
Nance entered the service Of the con-
federates in the capacity of spy. She
was of great value to the confederates,
and was considered one of the most
daring spies in the service. She was
with Bragg when he raided through
Kentucky, and at the battle of Perry
vile handled a musket in the front
ranks. During the war she was usual
ly attired in male attire, unless FEM
mine attire suited her purpose bet
ter.
Many were her hairbreadth escapes
from capture and death. One of the
closest calls she ever experienced was
while forflng the Red river, In Logan
county, Ky. She had visited Russell
vile in search Of information. An hour
after her departure the federal com
mander of the town, learning she was
confederate spy, dispatched com-
pany Of cavalry to capture her. The
troops overlook the daring woman at
the river, which was bankful and past
fording, owing to recent rains With
certain death behind and a dangerous
river in front, she plunged into the
raging torrent. When half way across
the stream the federal cavalry APP
peared and fired volley at the fee
ing woman. Her horse was killed, and
she received wound in the shoulder
Surprising she had received her death
wound. the troops left her to the mer-
cies of the stream. She was washed
against pile of driftwood and reached
the opposite shore. She reached her
command, and gave information which
resulted in the capture of Russelville
the following week.
During her career as scout she
made oath that not until the indepen-
dence of the confederate states would
she ever sleep beneath roof. At the
close of the war Mrs. Nance returned to
this county, sold her little farm and
began roaming life, which ended only
in her death recently.
Securing spring wagon, horse
and several head of milch cows, she
roamed through southern Kentucky
and northern Tennessee. Wherever
good grazing could be found, there she
would camp for an indefinite period.
Her wants were few and simple, and
were supplied by selling milk and
butter. This life she led both winter
and summer. A perfect storehouse of
information, yet she never referred to
her own life. and it was with grent
difficulty that this short sketch was
secured.
At the time of her death she had 20
mich cows These she had MIXED up
to the hour of her death. Finding the
grim monster reckoning, she seated
herself by the roadside, leaned against
tree, and was dead when discovered.
She kept the oath made during the
war. For 90 years she never slept I'M
der roof.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
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Was a Train Robbery Planned?