U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Vance, James Nelson (1829-1913) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 534-535 J. N. VANCE, who has been prominently identified with the iron and steel interests of West Virginia for many years, is a well known resident of Wheeling. He was born and reared in Ohio County, West Virginia, and there have his business activities been centered. Mr. Vance conducted an iron store in Wheeling until 1861, when the firm of Dewey, Vance & Company was organized and began the manufacture of merchant bar iron. A plant was erected in the Sixth Ward, near the hill, and another was erected in 1866 near the river. The latter is still standing and was used as a nail factory for some years. The firm began operations in Benwood in 1872, having erected a first-class blast furnace, 18 by 70 feet in dimensions. W. H. Russell retired from the firm in 1865, after four years connection with the business. William L. Hearne became a member of the firm in 1866. It was operated as a private enterprise until 1875, when the Riverside Iron Works were incorporated by J. N. Vance, William L. Hearne, John D. Culbertson, N. Wilkinson and Frank J. Hearne, being chartered under the laws of West Virginia. The officers elected were: J. N. Vance, president; N. Wilkinson, secretary; and John D. Culbertson, William L. Hearne and N. Wilkinson, directors. The plant was then located at Benwood. The nail factory was operated until 1888 and was afterward abandoned, all interests being concentrated at Benwood as the Riverside Iron Works. Eleven acres were first bought, and now the plant occupies 90 acres, having ample room for railroad tracks and other necessary equipment. A Bessemer steel plant was erected about 1886 and also tube works, which enable them to manufacture all kinds of steel steam, gas and water pipes. As the business grew, the tube works were enlarged until they became one of the largest and finest mills in the country, constituting a distinct plant. A large blast furnace is now being completed. They lost their identity as the Riverside Iron Works in March, 1899, in a sale to the National Tube Company, which in the spring of 1901 became a constituent of the United States Steel Corporation. At that time the business of the company amounted to $6,000,000 annually, and employed over 2,000 men. About 2,500 men are now employed. When the business was established about 300 men were employed, and in 1866 not to exceed 500. The capital stock originally was $15,000, and during the first three years of its existence the company leased the old mill, which they then purchased. When sold, the Riverside Iron Works had a capital stock of $3,000,000, which had been increased from the surplus funds after paying quarterly dividends. During the past 11 years the company has operated a blast furnace at Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. Vance became a director in the National Tube Company and continued as such until it became a part of the United States Steel Corporation, when he resigned. Frank J. Hearne is president of the tube department of the United States Steel Corporation, John D. Culbertson, treasurer, and E. L. Wiles, general manager of the Riverside department of the same corporation. Mr. Vance is president of the National Exchange Bank of Wheeling, and is also at the head of the Vance Shoe Company. The manufacturing plant of the latter concern is located at Pullman, Illinois, and the Chicago end of the business is in charge of J. C. Riheldaffer. Mr. Vance's son, H. E. Vance, is president of the Vance Shoe Company, and W. F. Shaffer is secretary. J. N. Vance has many other interests in Wheeling and Chicago and in the State of Alabama. As a business man he is shrewd and far-sighted, and the wonderful success which has attended his career is due solely to his own efforts. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Ohio County, WV #394 FULL-NAME: James Nelson Vance BIRTH-DATE: August 1829 BIRTH-PLACE: Ohio Co., W.Va. DEATH-DATE: June 26, 1913 DEATH-PLACE: 933 Main St., 2nd Ward, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widower OCCUPATION: Capitalist FATHER: James Vance (born in Virginia) MOTHER: Mary Waddell (born in Virginia) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Heart Failure due to Myocarditis / Suddenly INFORMANT: John L. Dickey, M.D. (of Wheeling) BURIAL: Greenwood Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------