Santa Barbara County Biographies

T. C. NANCE

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


T. C. NANCE, a rancher of Santa Maria, was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, in 
1839. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation. Our subject lived at home 
until sixteen years of age, engaged in farming and also learning the trade of carpenter. 
In 1855 he went to Buchanan County, Missouri, to join his uncle, Rev. Isham Nance, who 
emigrated to Missouri in 1835, at the settling of the Platte purchase. Mr. Nance engaged 
with Colonel Fonts as overseer of his plantation and slaves near Rock House Prairie, remain- 
ing until 1858, when he started with a freight train of Guthrie & Mitchell for Salt Lake City. 
He engaged as cook, but was soon promoted second wagon boss. The train was composed 
of thirty-two wagons, six yoke of oxen to each wagon. In the spring of 1859 he started for 
Pike's Peak, with his own outfit, and returning again as assistant of John S. Woods. In 1860 
he went to Nebraska, where he engaged in farming, and in 1862 moved westward to the 
mines in eastern Oregon, where he remained until 1866, meeting with good success. He 
then came south to San Jose and Castroville, where he worked at his trade, helping to build 
the first seven houses of that town. In 1867 he went to Salinas City, at the founding of that 
town, and engaged in the building of the first fifteen houses. He then returned to San Jose, 
and in partnership with W. T. Morris farmed the Parr ranch until 1870, when he took a trip East. 
On returning to California Mr. Nance continued his trade up to 1872, when he came to Santa 
Maria, and bought land, which he farmed and also worked at his trade as opportunity offered. 
In 1881 he bought 240 acres of grazing land in Cat Canon, and he also rents 500 acres, which 
he farms to wheat and barley. He set out one of the first orchards in the valley, of 300 trees. 
He now devotes much time to stock interests, breeding a fine grade of horses for general utility 
purposes, keeping about twenty-five head. He owns two stallions, Frank Leslie, of Messenger 
stock, known as the trick horse, and the Rowdy Dutchman, of Hambleton stock. 

Mr. Nance has been a director of the Santa Barbara Agricultural Society since its organ- 
ization in 1884. He was Roadmaster for Santa Maria district two years, and in 1884 
was appointed Deputy Sheriff, under R. J. Broughton, and is now serving his fourth 
term. He was married in Santa Maria, in 1881 to Miss Maggie Smith, and they have 
four children. Mr. Nance is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F. & A. M. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.