VANCE  (VETERAN UNION), ENOCH HARVEY - Perry County, Arkansas | ENOCH HARVEY VANCE  (VETERAN UNION) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Enoch Harvey VANCE (VETERAN UNION)

Perryville (Ragsdale) Cemetery
Perry County,
Arkansas

SERGEANT US Army
Company G 8th Missouri Cavalry
Civil War Union
Died September 24, 1888

Enoch was a son of William Houston and Elizabeth Campbell Vance; married to Lucinda Massey, Susanah (Susan) Martin Lawhorn (maiden name might have been Furlong), Dianna Alby.
Enoch is described (on his declaration for original invalid pension dated 13 August 1883) as being 63 years old, a resident of Perryville, Ar, Sgt enrolled on August 1862 in Co G, 85h Reg, Mo Cav, Vols Commanded by Col. Geither; height 6'1", fair complexion; dark hair; blue eyes...
According to the book, "Forward from Rebellion", by John L. Smith, he was in a cell with Elisha Baxter. (They had both been taken prisoner by the Confederate Army and imprisoned in Little Rock.) Baxter believed he was to be executed on August 25. On that morning, Susan Vance came to the door of the dungeon, turned the key and motioned for them to come out (without saying a word). It seems she had stolen the keys from the guard. In this manner, Susan helped her husband escape from a Confederate prison and helped the future governor of Arkansas, Elisha Baxter, escape.
Enoch then enlisted in the 4th Arkansas Union Cavalary 6 Dec 1863 and became a Captain. His company was hated by the citizens of Saline County, Ar. There is also a family story (from my mother's family line), that says his company was responsible for the burning of the house that my maternal gg-grandmother, Nancy Brown Fletcher, lived in. Whether that story is true or not, is unknown.
After the war was over, Enoch went back to his farm in Saline County. He was nominated for Governor of Arkansas by the Republican State Nominating Committee but lost to Powell Clayton. He began his law practice in 1868. He was elected to the Arkansas State Senate in 1868. He introduced the bill into the Arkansas Senate in 1868 to create a new county in Arkansas, which he named Grant (after Ulysses Grant). The county seat was named Sheridan (after General Sheridan of the Union Army). Mr. Elwin Goolsby, Grant Co, Ar., museum director, told me that Enoch had wanted to name the county seat after General Sherman, but knew there would be too much opposition to that and settled for Sheridan. Until the courthouse was completed in 1871, the county business was transacted in a store belonging to Enoch in Sheridan. He was appointed as the first tax assessor for Grant County.
My gg-grandfather.

Contributed on 11/4/08 by pvhwdh
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Record #: 93436

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Additional VANCE Surnames in PERRYVILLE (RAGSDALE) Cemetery

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Submitted: 11/4/08 • Approved: 12/22/10 • Last Updated: 7/26/12 • R93436-G0-S3

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