The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-02
y y. w. CONNOR, Secretary the
We North Carolina Historical
Commission


r., little information about Vance'S
o.~tv school days has come down TO
md that little relates rather to
-. numerous madcap prankS, prac-
.scaj Jokes and school-boy wit than to
tfs education. His early education
ems to have been pursued In a de-
',frorv way and to have had but little
,rauence in shaping his mental or
n,nrat development. None or his early
..arhers appears 10 have made any
- decided personal impression on
~ mind or character. His first school
as at Flat Creek, about twelve miles
srnu the Vance homestead, whittier
h. was sent in his sixth year. His
fr.r teacher was Matthew Woodson.
4 reference to his being at this schOol
found in a letter written by his
finer. February 5. 1896. who says:
I'VE have had Robert and ZeDulon at
s,nool awhile this winter and Will
continue them as o as the weather
rermits. We nave to board them
iveIve miles from home at Esquire
piarkstocks." Esquire Blackstock"
became greatly attached TO his lively
young charge. and it is to this life
long and beloved friend that we are
indebted for most Of the anecdotes and
stories illustrative Of this period of
\auce's life. AT the close of the Flat
Greek school Woodson opened a school
about three miles from Lapland. David
Narce's home. and thither the Vance
boys followed him. Later they at
tended a school in the ~neighborhood
taught by Miss Jane Hughey. Thus
wandering from one "old-deld"
school to another during a period OF
seven years. young Vance managed
somehow or other to pick up the
rldiments of learning.
To Washington College.
Tn 1919. at the age of thirteen,
Z-bulon was sent to Washington Col
lese. at Jonesboro in East Tennes-
zee. Three letters. all OF the same
sheet but bearing different dates
written to him while at Washington
College by his father, his mother and
his brother. Robert. have been pre-
served. Robert wrote, Il am very
glad that you are pleased with you
boarding at Mr.. Green's" His father
sent good advice. DO mind your
Books and be careful Of giving offence
to your School Mates" His mother
said. I'VE received your letter last
Sabbath was a week g n was very
glad that you was we'll and that you
was learning so fast. We hope tina
you will improve our time SO as tt
make ii great and good man." Before
the year was out Nance'S studies were
Interrupted by the fatal illness of hi
father and the boy. summoned hastily
reached the bedside just in time t.
see him Gle. Two days after the fu
neral lie returned to JOneSborO. com
pleted the years work., and then bad
Washington College a final farewell
kany years later III an address de
lt,ered at that institution. he state
that while he was serving in Congress
there were at one time TWENTY-FIVE
member OF hat body who had bee.
students at Washington College.
In spite of the calamity that occa
stoned it, Vance's withdrawal fror
Washington College proved a fortu
rate circumstance for him. IW
influences destined to have impOrtar
results in shaping his mind and char
acter were thereby int
his education, One was the home
teaching of his mother; the other wa
the University of North Carolina.
Left an Orphan.
David Vance's death left his widO'
with a large family and but slende
means of support. Determined
subordinate everything to the educs
ton OF her children, and finding
beyond her financial ability to edl
cate them away from home, ST
bought a house in the town Of Ash
Vile. where there were schools Il
both sexes, removed thitEer from h
t biAN put IL Gil ~ oSiAoA
but she herself took the chief pa
IN directing their studies. and ";
their best teacher. "She taught
all business as well las books
wrote Governor Vance. "and such w
the confidence felt in her excelle
judgment that after we were all grow
and set up for ourselves she was Il
bltually consulted in regard to eve
important business matter in t
family. . Her moral teachil
was quiet, kind and unceasing. Nc
outstanding her own imperfect Ell
Sduon, she vas extremely literary
hef tastes. and fostered this inclin
uon In her children. She was t
most correct and impressive reader
ever heard off the stage; and / q
Satl'iied that whatever Of %elOcution
nave came from her" 1t was +
custom after supper each evening
sather her children about her kne