James Lance
Among those who braved the wilds of this section of Ohio when the Indians were still here and the wild animals were everyday sights in the dense woods was James Lance, long since passed to this reward, but whose name will continue to adorn the annals of his community for all time, owing to the fact that he performed well his part in the drama of civilization and led a life that was exemplary in every respect, setting an excellent example to the younger generations, for he was a leader in his locality in all matters that pertained to its upbuilding, and in a conservative manner doing what good he could in all lines as he labored for his own advancement and that of his family. His memory is well worthy to be cherished by his descendants and friends.
James Lance, son of Christopher Lance and wife, was born in the state of New Jersey, January 28, 1794, and his father, who was a native of German, brought him to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1795, the family locating near Steubenville. He and his brother Henry came to Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, and he entered three quarter sections of land, giving his brothers, Henry and William, their choice, the former locating on the north and west and William on the east, leaving James the best farm and he had more property when he died than both his brothers, he having been a very successful farmer. His farm was well located, the public road running north and south and east and west through his place. It was good land and he developed it into one of the best farms of the community. He built a substantial residence that is in use at the present time, on the east and west road, about eighty rods east of the cross roads, near a stream of never-failing water, there being several good springs on the farm. There was a school house at the cross-roads, called the Lancetown school, deriving its name from the village, Lancetown, which was quite a town for that early day in the wilderness, there being two grocery stores, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, tailor shop, and a log church; now everything is gone but the two dwellings, the blacksmith shop having been converted into a cheese factory. James Lance had five brothers and five sisters.
James Lance was married to Fannie Holmes, September 5, 1815, a lady of Scotch descent, her birth having occurred on July 3, 1798. Four children were born to this union, two boys and two girls, namely: Christopher, born 1817, died in 1880; John H., born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, in 1820, died in Homer 1883; Sarah,born in Milton township in 1822, died in 1886; Elizabeth, born in Milton township May 19, 1824, died January 31, 1896. The mother of these children died August 5, 1827. James Lance was married a second time, his last wife being Mary Johnson, of Jefferson county, Ohio, her birth having occurred October 10, 1810, and this union resulted in the birth of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls, as follows: Sophronia, born February 15,1829, died October 2, 1903, in Akron, Ohio; Abraham, born August 12, 1830, died November 17, 1887; William E, born May 12, 1832, died February 24, 1909, in Lima, Ohio; Rosilla, born October 2, 1834, died January 14, 1906; Mary, born December 13, 1836, died December 21, 1904, in South Haven, Michigan; James S., born September 30, 1838, lives in Ithaca, Michigan; Henry, born November 8, 1840, lives in Bloxburg, California, whither he went in 1863 and he has never been back home; Washington, born September 9, 1842, died December 23, 1844; Madison, born October 9, 1844, lives at Rittman, Wayne county; Andrew Jackson, born October 29, 1846 lives in Creston, Wayne county; Oliver Perry, born September 18, 1848, died in Creston, Wayne county, July 9, 1898; Peter J., born November 25, 1850, lives in Ashland, Ohio; Riley J., born January 19, 1853, died April 9, 1869, on the old farm.
The death of James Lance occurred May 29, 1866, and his wife died on May 17, 1875. He was a man loved and respected by all who knew him for his life was exemplary in every respect.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910