LANCE-WHEELER FAMILY, from the March 1997 Clinton County Trails
         
The following account was submitted by Rosemary Lance. (See her query in 
this issue.)  She thinks it was originally written (after 1905) by Ora Gibbs,
the adopted daughter of James and Sarah Lance.  Ora was born 16 June 1876 and 
perhaps married a Fink.  Although Rosemary copied Ora's story with no editing,
it has been edited for use here.

{RDB note: I have restored the deleted text, denoted by []}

In 1854, when Ohio was still in its infancy, a young man left his home and
started with his half brother and the brother's wife for the unknown wilds 
of Michigan to make his fortune.  They bid farewell to loved ones and started 
on their way.  After driving for some little time, they stopped to rest and
feed their faithful horses.  The young wife might have been sitting on the 
wagon tongue thinking and crying.  Upon questioning, she says she will go 
no farther unless they go back and get her sister.  Undoubtedly, the young man 
was not adverse to this because she was the sweetheart he had left behind.
Accordingly, they hired another horse and wagon, drove back for her, and after 
a short time again started on their way.

These people's starting place was Chippewa Twp., Wayne Co., Ohio.  They were 
David, Mary (Wheeler) Richard Lance; and James and Sarah (Wheeler) Lance.  
The sweethearts were married at Jackson, Michigan, on the way.

James and Sarah only stayed one year the first trip.  They journeyed back to 
Ohio and lived a year with his parents.  During this year a son was born (John).
He was only two weeks old when in April 1855 they started on a second trip 
to Michigan.

This time they drove direct to Clinton County, and for six weeks they lived with
the Stephen Parks family, one mile south and one mile west of Fowler, while they
were clearing a small tract of land and putting up a little log cabin on a farm
which they bought and which was to be their home for the next few years.  It was
located one mile south and a half mile west of the present village of Fowler.

The hardships of those first few years are but of our imagination.  They 
stayed in Michigan nearly two years and then again journeyed to Lafayette Twp., 
Medina Co., Ohio.  James bought a store at Lafayette and engaged in the 
merchandising business for the next three or four years.

During this period (1857-1861) two daughters, Mary and Rachel, and two sons,
James and William, were born.  They had spent part of the time in Michigan 
usually journeying back to Ohio in the fall.  It was during one of those 
sojourns in Michigan that the husband was called back to Ohio on account of 
the death of his mother, and the brave young wife and mother with her babies
was left to keep house.  While he was gone an epidemic of diphtheria broke out,
and the oldest son, John, contracted the dread disease and died.  Mary was very
ill at the same time but was spared.  The father came back to a desolate home.
[Even such sorrows and hardships didn't count to these brave people.]

In 1860 or 1862 they moved from the farm to the old station of Dallas.  This was
three-quarter mile east of what is now Fowler.  Here James was a storekeeper,
postmaster, and station master at different periods of time.  At first he had 
his store in a part of his home, but later moved it across the road, which was 
very lucky for shortly after moving, their house burned.  This was in 1866 or
1867.  [They came near losing all their possessions including the baby which 
in the excitement was forgotten and left in the cradle.]

Three children were born at Dallas: Amanda 1862; Almeada 1864, Alice, 1866.
Alice was the baby who was left in the cradle when the house burned.  At this 
time a new village called Isabella sprung up at the present site of Fowler.
J.W. Fowler owned this land, and by paying the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad 
$750, he induced them to move their depot and building to this new site.  
Consequently, business began to flow that way.  James Lance was store keeper
and postmaster at the time.  He moved his store from Dallas and his home from
the Dallas Hotel where they had been living since their home burned.  They moved
to a new building just south of Isabella on land owned by him and which later 
was platted and known as the "Lance Addition".  The building was later known as
the "Dallas House" and was the first house to be built in Fowler, as Isabella 
was now renamed.  (Dallas House was moved in the spring of 1925 to make room for
a gasoline station.)  The family lived here and kept store for about five years.
During this time three children were born: Robert 1867; Isora 1869; George 1870.
         
In 1870 or 1871 they moved further south to the farm home which they had built 
and which most of us know as the "Lance Homestead".  The first house on this 
site they had the ill luck to lose by fire; but they went to work harder than 
ever and rebuilt, this time with brick.
         
This house is still standing and looks much the same as it did when they lived
there.  Four children were born here: Hattie 1872; James 1874, Ernest 1876, 
Charles 1877.  This made fifteen children in the family, all of whom are still 
living except John, James, Robert and George.  Even with this family they had 
room in their hearts and home for another girl, Ora Gibbs, whom they adopted 
in 1890 and who had a home with them as long as they lived, and to whom they 
were father and mother.

The two earnest homemakers were just as earnest religiously.  Their home was 
the gathering place for all the ministers and church people of the country 
around them.  They belonged to the United Brethern Church but were not stingy
either with their help or money to other denominations.

For years the nearest church home was the Bengal Church, and they always did 
their share (and often someone else's share), and always helped by being present.
Later they built a church on some of their own land and helped to pay the 
minister that they might have a church nearer home.  They were attendants 
at the quarterly meetings, and it was neither their fault nor teachings that
caused things to happen at home during those meetings.  For instance, they weren't
at fault because the minister called and found Isora having a grand old smoke 
on the spring seat under the pine tree.  She just wanted to find out to her own
satisfaction.  Oh, wasn't she sick!

Although with such a large family it would seem they would need all they had, 
no one was ever sent from their door hungry.  Even the lowliest tramp had 
a place at the table.  Any poor down-and-outer around them knew the latch 
string was always out at Jim Lance's, and many a morning would find one
or two more for breakfast than were there the night before.

Their children grew to establish homes of their own.  When Christmas and their
holidays came along, all gathered at the old home.  It was a merry crowd.  
The youngest grandchildren are the only ones who are most unfortunate in not 
being able to remember the great, long table laden with good things to eat 
and the good times we had on those occasions.  In 1900, on account of failing 
health, James and Sarah sold the farm and moved into a house just north of it.
They spent their remaining years here, comfortable and happy as possible living
within sight of the old home where they had so many joys and sorrows together. 
James died 10 June 1902 after a weary month of suffering.  Ora lived on with 
Sarah who was a patient sufferer for many months, remaining cheerful until she
passed away on 14 April 1905.  It is not necessary for me to eulogize or try to
tell the good that came from their lives as their influence for good still lives
with us.  They tried earnestly and prayerfully to do right.  Theirs was a race 
well run.