The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-09
MAJOR NANCE'S 18TH BIRTHDAY.
Celebrated by Family Reunion-An
Active and Honorable Career.
Native of Newberry.
Abbeville Press and Banner.

Abbeville Press and Banner.
Sunday, June 80, 1912, was the 18th
birthday of Major F. w. R. Nance, OF
Abbeville, and as has been his custom
for many years, he had his children
with him to enjoy his birthday dinner
and to further cement the family ties.
Major Nance has for many years
been prominent figure in the poll
tics of Abbeville county. Progressive
even in the modernly specific meaning
of that term, and outspoken always, he
has been found in the front rank of
every political upheaval from the days
of reconstruction through the days of
Tillman and the alliance and even TO
the present day. He is an outspokeA
supporter of Gov. Blease in his pres
ent race for governor.
Major Nance has filed important and
honorable positions as 4 rn5lic ser
want. He served first as county COM
missioner when the fiscal affairs Of
the county were administered by three
commissioners. His work in this Of.
fee was so satisfactory that he was
later easily promoted to the office OF
sheriff. His administration of public
Office. and especially of the sheriff's
Office, was characterized by fairness
and promptness. If papers were put
in his hands for service or other busi-
ness to be transacted, he rested not
until the requirement was behind him.
After eight years of faithful service, he
did the unusual by voluntarily return
ing to private life.
AS boy Major Nance was reared in
affuence His father numbered his
acres by the thousands and his negroes
by the hundreds. The major had his
own private horses and buggy even as
a mere college boy.
Progressive in politics, he was no
less progressive in matrimony. He
graduated from Erskine college. His
graduating speech, which had been
passed On by the professors, was on
the subject, Man was made to mourn" :"
But this speech was never delivered.
Just an hour before he went On the
commencement platform he took unto
himself a wife, a fact that was known
to only few of his intimate friends,
and in contemplation of this act, he
had prepared another speech On "The
Consistency of Woman" which he de-
livered amid great applause, as the
fact leaked out through the audience
that he had joined the benedicts.
Major Nance enlisted in the Confed-
crate service, James battalion, Third
S. c. infantry, in 1861, and served
through the war. The fortunes of war
having been adversely settled, he re-
turned to his wife and two little chill
dren to take up a new problem of eX-
istence under changed conditions. For
many years he held his own, and when
he was elected county sheriff, he had
the good sense to save his money, and
set aside comfortable estate to sup
port him in his declining years.
The major is faithful in his friend
ship, and has that jovial disposition
that makes friends. Perhaps his un-
changing geniality, more than any 9TH
er one thing, has held him up while
travelling far along life's way.
We are indebted to a friend for the
following summary of events in the
majors life:
Born in NeWberry county, June 80,
1884, his maternal grandfather was
Colonel James Williams, who was kill
ed in the battle of Kings Mountain. His
paternal grandfather was Hon. Fred
erick Nance, eighth lieutenat governor
of South Carolina. His ancestors were
of Scotch-Irish descent They settled in
Virginia and afterward moved to New
berry county along with the Chalmers
family of this place and Newberry. Ma
jor Nance's father was also named
Frederick and his mother was Mar
garet Williams. His mother and faith
er moved from Newberry to Laurens
county when was about two years old.
He received his primary education at
Head Springs, Laurens county, in the
pastorate Of Rev. David Haddon, of the