San Diego County Biographies
 
J. W. NANCE

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        In the very front rank of the pioneers and business men of Perris stands 
the name of J. W. Nance. He was born in Charles County, Tennessee, May 26, 1852. 
His father, J. W. Nance, Sr., was also a native of Tennessee, but the ancestors 
were Virginians. He was a Southern gentleman but not in the Southern army, 
although his sympathies were with his own people. He took the oath of amnesty to 
the United States and was therefore neutral. When the war began he was worth 
$200,000. His fine mills were burned and his property destroyed, and at the 
close of the war he had nothing but his land, 320 acres, and assigned with other 
parties for $40,000. He told his creditors that he didn't like bankruptcy, and 
if they would give him ten years he would pay the entire debt and interest. The 
arrangement was made, and Mr. Nance, his father and three brothers engaged in 
the manufacture of cotton gins, for which there was a large demand. In nine 
years the debt was paid in full. Mr. Nance saw his father make the last payment 
in full, and he says he never saw a happier man than his father was when that 
burden was lifted. Mr. Nance's mother, Mary (Hunt) Nance, was born in Murray 
County, Tennessee, a daughter of Dr. J. J. Hunt. They had a family of four 
children, of whom our subject was the third child. He received his education in 
Nashville, Tennessee. When he came to manhood his business was that of a cotton 
planter and dealer in general merchandise. After living six years in the 
Mississippi valley he lost his health on account of malaria, and he went to the 
mountains of his native state for relief; but, finding no relief, he came to San 
Diego, California, in June, 1882, and stopped for three months without any 
improvement. He then removed to Los Angeles and there found himself  much worse. 
He then traveled all over California, seeking a place that would benefit his 
lungs, and, receiving no benefit, he went to Dr: Worthington of Los Angeles, who 
informed him that he was beyond the reach of medicine and that he needed a very 
dry climate and high altitude. Acting on this advice he went to Riverside, and 
in talking with a merchant there, Mr. J. R. Newberry, he was told that the place 
he was looking for was the San Jacinto plains, but he didn't think he could live 
there, for nothing but a jack-rabbit could. He came and saw the fair valley and 
liked it so well that he bought 200 acres, paying one dollar and giving a 
mortgage back for $1,999, and went to farming. He sowed the ranch to barley and 
harvested two and one-fourth tons of hay to the acre and sold it for twenty-two 
dollars and fifty cents per ton, making $4,000 from his first crop! He paid for 
the place and bought more land; with his surplus money he bought more land each 
year. In 1878 he sold 700 acres and has 1,120 left. He bought the Perris Hotel 
before it was finished, doubled its size and furnished it, and is now its owner 
and landlord. He is in partnership with Mr. Knight in the warehouse and the 
steam barley rolling mill. They are engaged in buying and shipping grain, and 
are the largest shippers in San Diego County. They also deal in lumber and real 
estate. Mr. Nance was married in 1874, to Miss Laura C. Rogers, a native of 
Memphis, Tennessee, born February 15, 1855. She is a daughter of Mr. John B. 
Rogers, who was a Tennesseean and of a family of Virginians. They have one 
lovely little daughter, Evelyn, born in Giles County, Tennessee, January 21, 
1882. Mr. Nance is a charter member of the Independent Order of Foresters and is 
one of its officers. He has been Deputy County Clerk for two years, and is a man 
of very bright business talent. He has regained his health and is an enthusiast 
on the subject of California. He has been forward in every enterprise for the 
upbuilding of Perris; he has helped most liberally with his time and money in 
building the fine brick school�house and both of the new church buildings. He is 
one of those laudably proud men, who are too proud to stoop to a mean act, and 
many of the best people in his community appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Nance as very 
liberal, public-spirited people.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  355-356