W. W. VANCE. Of the prominent merchants of Burgettstown, Penn., this gentleman is among the most prosperous. He was born April 1, 1842, in Cross Creek township, this county. The blood of Scottish patriots flows in his veins, his great-grandfather, Joseph Vance, having been born in the Highlands of Scotland in the eighteenth century. In early manhood he immigrated to America, and first settled in Winchester, Va., coming in 1774 to Pennsylvania. He located in Cross Creek township, Washington county, while the Indians were still very numerous, and soon achieved a wide-spread reputation as an Indian fighter, many of the dusky warriors having fallen by his unerring rifle. Few, if any, were more prominently identified with the early settlement of the western portion of Washington county, than was Joseph Vance. He married and passed the remainder of his life in the wilderness where his first log cabin was erected; the uncultivated land has now become a fertile farm. He and his wife were called to their rest at an advanced age, leaving their children to finish the work so nobly begun. Among these children was a son, William, who was born in 1776, and reared in Washington county, amid the trials and dangers of pioneer life. His education was necessarily limited, as schools were few, and at best afforded but meager opportunities. He was first married to Rachel Patterson, a resident of Cross Creek township, who bore him six children. She died, and a few years afterward he married, for his second wife, Hannah Patterson, a member of an old family of Cross Creek township. To this union, also, there were born six children. Mr. Vance always lived in Cross Creek township, and was one of the representative men of the day. He died in 1856. He was a Whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. Thomas P. Vance, son of William and Hannah (Patterson) Vance, was born July 15, 1819. He was reared on the pioneer farm, partaking of the privations of early frontiersmen and receiving his education at the subscription schools. In early manhood Thomas P. Vance was united in marriage with Mary W., daughter of George Newell, of Ohio. Mr. Newell was married to Mary Marquis, and their children were Hugh, Jane, Marquis, Margaret, David, Mary W., Ann and Sarah. Mr. Newell was a Democrat, and in church connection was a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Vance settled on a farm in Cross Creek township, this county, where he passed his life in agricultural pursuits. He paid much attention to stock raising, making a specialty of sheep. He was formerly a Whig, and upon the organization of the party, became a Republican, and in religion he was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek and Burgettstown. On May 31, 1891, he was laid to rest in Cross Creek cemetery by the side of his wife, who had preceded him, leaving two children: W. W., and Mary E. (Mrs. W. S. Lee). W. W. Vance, son of Thomas P. and Mary W. (Newell) Vance, was reared and educated in Cross Creek township, this county, and passed his early life in farming. In September, 1883, he was united in marriage with Ann J. Porter. In 1882, Mr. Vance came to Burgettstown and formed a partnership with S. C. McGregor, in the general merchandise business, and at present has the largest stock of goods in the town, realizing a good profit from the daily sales. In politics he has always been an active Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and one of its most liberal supporters.

Text taken from page 1409 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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