Stephens-Houston County GaArchives Biographies.....Dance, Charles H. January 5, 1870 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: June Coker McNew http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007420 January 24, 2012, 6:24 pm Source: The Toccoa Record, Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia Author: Unknown The Toccoa Record, 3 Dec 1908, p. 1. Biographical Sketches Charles H. Dance. In a great many respects “Charlie” Dance is the most remarkable character the writer of these sketches has been called on to record. Adopting the theory that praise should be accorded people while they live, as well as after they are gone, anything we may say in this brief sketch will be becomingly modest as applied to this patriotic son of Toccoa. We say this because his greatest deeds of service to the many who have come within the circle of his generosity are not generally known. What he does for his fellow-men is prompted only from his big philanthropic heart, and no “to-do” is made of it. Mr. Dance was born in Macon, Ga., Jan 5, 1870. When three years of age his parents moved to Toccoa, where he was reared and still makes his home. In this connection it may be stated, upon good authority, that he is the oldest continuous resident of our city. His father was an invalid, which prevented his going to school, so the only training he received was given him by his mother, who was a teacher for some time during his boyhood days. At the age of eleven he accepted a clerkship with a Mr. Hardy, who was in the mercantile business here at that time. Splendid business qualifications developed, which were remarkable for one of his age, and he early laid the foundation for future successes in the financial world. He was with Edwards & Bro., merchants, from 1887 to 1890, and was telegraph operator in 1890 for the Southern Railway. In 1891 he was individual book- keeper for the Lowery Banking Co., Atlanta, but, after one year’s service, resigned and returned to Toccoa and was in business with W.C. & D.W. Edwards until Jan. 1st, 1895. He conducted a mercantile business for himself during the years of 1895 and 1896. On March 27, 1894, he was happily married to Miss Annie Matheson, daughter of Mr. W. A. Matheson, our present mayor. In later years he was associated with Mr. W. M. Kilgo, as a merchant, and still later, was a member of the firm of Dance, Kilgo & Mize. This latter firm was one of the largest, in point of business, ever established in Toccoa. Mr. Dance gave up merchandizing, and, for several years has dealt in cotton and fertilizers. He manufactures most of the brands handled by him, and the record of his sales is marvelous in growth. He is president of the Toccoa Ice & Coal Co., secretary and treasurer of The Toccoa Furniture Co., and a director of the Toccoa Banking Co. He is a member of the School Board and a consistent member and Treasurer of the First Baptist church. Aside from being a successful business man he is a successful politician. Three years ago, when our county was made, he entered the race for Treasurer, and was easily elected. His services were so commendable he was re-elected two years later without opposition. On account of this office taking too much of his time from his business affairs, he did not offer for re-election this year. What is the secret of his successes? Our answer is because he possesses a rare executive ability, and is a persistent, hard-worker. He is affable, kind- hearted and generous, and always wears a smile that makes him a friend to everybody. He possesses peculiar faculties of adaptability, and is a natural leader of men. Polite always, and possessing that even grace which makes him the common son of our splendid type of common people. He never gets to absorbed in business cares but he meets an interrogator with that characteristic smile. He is the same plain “Charlie” Dance in the office, on the streets, or in his home. He is a devotee to home ties, and to the good mother, who still lives, and who is proud of her son. In substance “Charlie” Dance is one of the best, all-round type of characters the writer has ever chanced to meet, and it is safe to say that what he has done is only a foretaste of what his brain will conceive and his hand will carry out in coming years. [Transcribed by June Coker McNew, January 2011. To get a copy of the picture, I photographed the microfilm machine screen, but the quality of the image on the screen was very poor.] . Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/stephens/photos/bios/dance999gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/stephens/bios/dance999gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb