The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-03
MAJOR hAnCE'S
18TH BIRTHDAY
Celebrated by Family Reunion
An Active and Honorable
Career.

Sunday, June 80, 1912, was the 18th BIRTH
day of Major F. w. r. Nance, Of Able
vile, 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 a
prominent figure in the politics of Able
vile County. Progressive, ever in the
modernly specific meaning OF that term,
and o%utspoken always. he has been found
in the front rank Of every political up
heaval from the days OF reconstruction
through the days OF Tillman and the ALI
ance and ever to the present day. He is
an outspoken supporter OF o Blease IN
his present race for governor.
Major Nance has filled important and
honorable positions as a public servant.
He served first as a county commissioner
when the fiscal affairs Of the county were
administered by three commissioners. His
work in this office was so satisfactory that
he was later easily promoted to the office
of sheriff. His administration Of public
office, and especially OF the sherifs office,
was characterized by fairness and prompt
ness. If papers were put in his hands for
service or other business to be transacted,
he rested not until the requirement was
behind him. After eight years of faithful
service, he did the unusual by voluntarily
returning to private life.
AS a boy Major Nance was reared in af-
~luance. His father numbered his acres
by the thousands and his negroes by the
hundreds. The Major had his own pri-
vate horses and buggy even as a mere col
lege boy.
Progressive in politics. he wa 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 a few Of his intimate
friends, and in contemplation Of this act,
he had prepared another speech on, "The
consistency of woman" which he delivered
amid great applause, az the fact leaked
out through the audience that he had
joined the benedicts.
Major Nance enlisted in the Confederate
service, James battalion, 9rd S. c. infantry,
in 1861, and served through the war. The
fortunes Of war having been adversely set
tied, he returned to his wife and two little
children to take up q 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 saw his money, and set
aside q comfortable estate to support him
in his declining years.
The Major is faithful in his friendship,
and has that jovial disposition that makes
friends. Perhaps his unchanging genial
ity, more than any other one thing, has
held him up while travelling far along life's
way.
We are indebted to a friend for the fol-
lowing summary OF events in the Majors
life:
Born in Newberry County, June 80, 1884.
His maternal grandfather was Colonel
James Williams, who was killed in the bat
tie of Kings Mountain. His paternal
grandfather was Hon. Frederick Nance,
eighth lieutenant governor OF South Caro-
lima. His ancestors were OF Scotch-Irish
descent. They settled in Virginia and az
terward moved to Newberry County along
with the Chalmers family Of this place and
Newberry. Major Nance's father was also
named Frederick and his mother was Mar
garet Williams. His mother and father
moved from Newberry to Laurens County
when he was about two years old. He re-
ceived his primary education at Head
Springs, Laurens County, in the passionate
OF Rev. David Haddon Of the A. R. P.
Church, and under the direction OF a Mr..
Baxter.
In 1850 he entered the freshman class in
Erskine College, graduating therefrom
four years afterward. One of his class
mates was the father Of Erskine's present
able president, Dr.. j. S. Moffatt. He mar,
ried Miss jamie NJ. Agnew just an hour be-
fore making his graduating speech, thus
crowding into n short day two impor-
tant events Of his life.
DR.. Ebenezer Pressly, President OF the
Seminary, married Miss Agnew's only sis,
ter. He selected farming as his life work
and moved to Mississippi. He vas there
when secession was being agitated In this
State. He returned to Abbeville County in
1860 and entered the army, James batal.
lion, 3rd S. c. infantry, 1861. He after
ward served in the cavalry, Holcomb's le-
gion. After the war he engaged In farm
ing and the mercantile business at Honea
Path, later moving to Due West to educate
his children. He was elected county com
missioner in 1890, and 1892 was elected
sheriff OF Abbeville County. which position
he held for eight years, declining re-elec
ton.
Major Nance lost his first wife In 1894
Their living children are Samuel F., Eliza
beth, j. A. and Enoch W. Nance, all OF this
county. He is justly proud Of his chill
dren and their affection for him is very
marked.
He was married a second time to Miss
Ella NJ. Huckabee of Lowndesville.
The Major has documentary evidence tt
show that he was one Of the first farmers
movement" men in Abbeville County
amongst them letters from Captain B. r
Tillman lookinp to the organization of the