Robert Campbell Vance
Robert Campbell Vance was born 6 September 1856 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, to Enoch Harvey and Susanah Martin Lawhorn Vance. [I am not actually certain of her maiden name. I don't know if it was Susanah Martin, Lawhorn, or something else. She could have been married before marrying Enoch as she was about 27 years old when they married. Martin might have been her middle name or her maiden name.] I assume R. C., also called Bob, went to school in Merry Green Township, Saline County. Later, Merry Green Township became part of Grant County, Arkansas. He attended Abingdon College in Abingdon, Illinois, as did his other three brothers and may also have attended college at Arkansas Industrial College, now University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Robert first married Mary Frances Perry, born in Canada, 22 August 1875, in Crawford County, Arkansas. Marriage license shows he was from Fayetteville, and she from Van Buren. I believe he may have been attending college in Fayetteville at the time. They were the parents of Almyra Martin Vance Shoppach, Nettie Leah Vance Martin, Eugene Perry Vance, Henry Vance, Robert Harvey Vance, Hubert Carlton Vance, Enoch H. Vance. Henry might have been the same as Enoch H. or Robert Harvey. By 1880, the family was living in Yell County, Arkansas, with Almyra and Robert where both Robert and Mary were teaching school. Mary died 8 April 1898 in Burk, Saline County, Arkansas, leaving him with Nettie, Enoch H., and Eugene Perry to raise. (Almyra had already married, Hubert Carlton had died in 1897 and Robert Harvey and Henry (may have been the same person) whereabouts are unknown. It is assumed they passed away young.
Robert second married Mrs. Faithy Ann Roberts Bradfield,, the widow of Philip Jeremiah Bradfield, 28 May 1888 in Garland County, Arkansas. In 1900, the blended family was living in Marble Township, Saline County, Arkansas, where Robert was again a school teacher and also a farmer. For some reason, Faithy left Robert the summer of 1901 and went home to her mother. She gave birth to twin sons, Clayburn and Reyburn, 24 September 1901, in Blocher, Saline County, Arkansas, and died eleven days later. The young boys grew up with their maternal grandmother while the minor children with Mary lived with Robert.
Robert third married Mrs. Nannie Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 20 June 1902 in Saline County, Arkansas. They moved to Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, where he was the Benton Postmaster and she worked as Assistant Postmistress. He served Saline County as their Republican Party Commissioner. It is unknown what happened to Nannie as Robert married again.
Robert fourth married Mrs. Julia Boutin French 11 September 1911 in Sebastian County, Arkansas. They moved to Mena, Arkansas, June 1914. She filed for divorce against him twice but, apparently, had them dismissed. Once again, she filed in 1916. It is believed that is when they divorced. The story goes that he got home from work, and everything was gone but one spoon, fork, knife, cup, and plate and his personal effects.
By 1920 he was living with his daughter Nettie Leah Vance Martin and her husband Napoleon Martin in Benton, Arkansas, on Martin Road. He was working as a lawyer in his own practice by that time. Sometime between 1920 and 1930, Robert moved to McCrory, Arkansas, where he resumed his law practice. His son, Clayburn, was living with him in 1930.
Robert became ill and came back to Benton where he passed away 27 October 1930 at the home of his son Perry due to strokes. He is buried in Ten Mile Cemetery in Saline County. His gravesite was unmarked until about 2008 when I purchased a marker for him. I am not certain which grave is his in the Vance Plot, so I placed his marker in the middle gravesite of the plot as none of the gravesites in the plot were marked. My daddy told me his dad (Reyburn) would not buy him a tombstone as he disliked him so much.
His son, Reyburn, had a huge dislike for him; however, his children by Mary Perry seemed to have nice things to say about him. It is really unknown to me as to whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. This is one of two photographs that I have of Robert. The other was also taken on the same day.
Obituary
Hon. Robt. Vance Passed Away. Robert Campbell Vance, aged 74 of McCrory, died at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Benton at the home of his son Perry Vance. Mr. Vance formerly lived in Benton, serving as postmaster from 1907 to 1914. He was born at Pine Bluff September 6, 1856, the son of Enoch Harvey Vance and Susan Martin Vance. During the past ? years he practiced law in the ?ern part of the state. He is survived by three sons, Perry, Rayburn and Clayburn of Benton; two daughters, Mrs. ? Shoppach and Mrs. N. Martin of Little Rock; one brother, Samuel Vance of Perryville; 20 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from Ashby funeral parlors in Benton. Burial was at the family cemetery at Ten Mile Church. [from the Benton Courier, October 30, 1930, page 4]