Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Vance, George L 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

George L. Vance, who was long identified with commercial interests in Joliet, 
though now passed from earth yet lives in the hearts and memories of his 
friends and neighbors. His character as a man is well known, but a recital of 
the incidents of his life may still more firmly establish the record of his 
honorable and useful career. Nature and culture vied in making him an 
interesting and honorable gentleman, education made him a scholar, and his 
kindly spirit won for him the warm esteem of all with whom he came in contact. 
He was justly classed with the prominent citizens of Joliet, not only by 
reason of the extent and importance of his commercial interests, but also by 
reason of the sterling traits of his character. Mr. Vance, a native of Groton, 
Vermont, was born March 13, 1839. He belonged to one of the old New England 
families, for in the year 1700 representatives of the name sailed from the 
north of Ireland and established homes in Connecticut. John Vance removed from 
Connecticut to Caledonia county, Vermont, and became a pioneer farmer there. 
His son, David Vance, who was born in Connecticut in 1778, served for many 
years as a captain in the Vermont militia and also left the impress of his 
individuality upon the political history of the state, representing his 
district for fourteen consecutive years in the general assembly. He did much 
to mold public thought and action and his name was honored wherever known. He 
died in Caledonia county at the age of seventy-five years. Aaron Vance, son of 
Captain David Vance, was born in Groton, Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1812. 
He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and became the founder of the 
family in the middle west, removing to Money Creek, Houston county, Minnesota, 
in 1866, where he purchased a farm. His wife, who bore the maiden name of 
Lucinda Tucker, was born in Newbury, Vermont, and was a daughter of Jonas 
Tucker, who was a farmer, justice of the peace and prominent business man of 
his community, and who married Miss Ann Johnston, a daughter of General Joseph 
Johnston, of Revolutionary fame. In the family of Aaron and Lucinda Vance were 
two daughters and six sons. Two of the sons, George Livermore and Aaron Vance, 
became closely identified with the interests of Joliet and figured prominently 
in the business life of the city for many years. The former was twelve years 
of age when he started out to make his own way in the world, being employed 
through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he continued his 
education in the public schools. When eighteen years of age he began teaching 
school and followed that profession for four years, when at the age of twenty-
two he entered Newbury Seminary. He was ever a man of scholarly attainments, 
whose reading was broad and liberal and who kept in touch with the best 
thinking men of the age. In 1862 he went to Rutland, Vermont, where for two 
years he conducted a boot and shoe store. In the spring of 1864 he secured a 
clerkship in the war department at Washington, D. C., being in the capital at 
the time when General Early made his raid into the north. In 1867 he was made 
corresponding clerk in the law department of internal revenue and while 
filling that position devoted his leisure hours to the study of law in 
Columbia College Law School, from which he was graduated. Admitted to the bar, 
he resigned his government position in 1870 and came to the west with a view 
of practicing law, but changed his plans and for two years was engaged in 
business with an uncle at Money Creek, Minnesota. Mr. Vance became a resident 
of Joliet in 1872 in which year he entered the furniture business as a member 
of the firm of Woods & Vance, but the country becoming involved in a financial 
panic he lost all that he had invested. Undeterred by the obstacles that he 
had met and regarding his difficulties only as an impetus for renewed effort, 
he bought his partner's interest and again started in business and this time 
was eminently successful, his trade constantly growing in extent and 
importance year after year until it made him one of the substantial and 
prosperous merchants of Joliet. In 1895 he sold out to Mr. Hess in order to 
enjoy a well earned vacation and went abroad, visiting various points of 
interest in Europe, Asia and Africa, making the trip up the Nile and through 
the Holy Land, and seeing many interesting places in Europe. He often spoke of 
the three months' sojourn abroad, with its freedom from all business cares, as 
one of the happiest periods of his life. He gained thereby, too, that 
knowledge and culture which only travel can bring. Upon returning to Joliet he 
purchased his former business and continued in active connection therewith up 
to the time of his demise. In 1903 the business was reorganized under the firm 
name of the Vance-Fitzgibbons Furniture Company, J. W. Fitzgibbons becoming 
his partner. The business was expanded until it occupied not only the three-
story stone building which Mr. Vance had erected in 1891, but also included 
the commodious store rooms in the Gorman building, Mr. Vance being president 
of the company, the largest enterprise of this character in Joliet. He did not 
confine his efforts alone to this line of business, for through many years he 
was vice president and one of the directors of the Will County Bank, in which 
he held considerable stock. He made it his aim to attain the highest degree of 
perfection possible in many lines of business activity, was alert and 
enterprising and had a genius for devising and executing the right thing at 
the right time. Moreover he maintained a policy in harmony with the old and 
time-tried maxim concerning honesty and labor, and his business record might 
be summed up in the phrase "through struggles to success." Mr. Vance was 
married twice. He first wedded Elizabeth K. Fowler, of Washington, D. C., who 
died in Joliet in 1873, leaving two children, George A. and Grace F. The son 
was for a number of years with the Will County National Bank. He died in 1904. 
On the 19th of July, 1877, Mr. Vance wedded Miss Jennie Lewis, a daughter of 
William and Keziah Lewis, who were natives of Wales, both being 
representatives of old and notable families of that country. Their daughter, 
Mrs. Vance, was born in England and was brought by her parents to America, the 
family settling in Chicago, where Mr. Lewis engaged in the leather business 
for several years he afterward removed to Ottawa, Illinois, and continued in 
business there for a short time, subsequently removing to Joliet, where he 
lived retired until his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced 
age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Lewis had previously passed away in this city. 
Mr. and Mr. Vance had one daughter, Beulah, now the wife of R. C. Cummins, who 
is a proof reader by profession. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins reside with Mrs. Vance 
at the family home on Herkimer street. In politics Mr. Vance was a stanch 
republican, in sympathy with the principles of the party until 1896, when he 
espoused the cause of free silver and became known as a free silver 
republican. So pronounced were his views that he accepted the nomination for 
congress on the democratic-populist ticket, running against Hon. Joseph 
Cannon, and although failing of election he polled more votes than the 
majority of men on his ticket. For a number of years he was a worthy and 
efficient school inspector and for several terms served as a vice president of 
the school board. All matters of civic virtue and civic pride were of interest 
to him and his co-operation was given to many measures which were directly 
beneficial to the city in the line of its material, intellectual and moral 
progress. He attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Matteson lodge, No. 
175, A. F. & A. M., also the chapter and council at Joliet and Joliet 
commandery, No. 4, K. T., and to Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Chicago. 
He was regarded as a most valued and prominent representative of the craft in 
Joliet. From the year 1865 Mr. Vance was actively connected with the Baptist 
church in some official capacity, as clerk, as deacon or as trustee, and for 
many years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. He was a member of the 
Baptist Social Union of Chicago and of the board of managers of the Baptist 
Young Peoples Union of America. He also served as president and vice president 
of the Will County Sunday School Association and his efforts were untiring in 
behalf of the Sunday-school and the church. He was long a teacher in the 
Sunday-school of the First Baptist church and afterward of the Eastern Avenue 
Baptist church, of which he was a prominent member at the time of his death. 
He likewise taught in missions and assisted for more than twenty years in 
Sunday-school work among the inmates of the penitentiary, in which work he was 
regarded as most successful. An ardent believer in the good accomplished by 
various church organizations, he gave liberally of his time and means in their 
behalf and for a number of years was a leader in the work of the Young Men's 
Christian Association in Joliet. Mr. Vance died August 19, 1905, at the family 
home, his death occurring unexpectedly, he having retired in seeming perfect 
health the night previous. The funeral was conducted under the auspices of the 
Joliet commandery, K. T., and was one of the largest funerals ever witnessed 
in Will county. The interment was in Oakwood cemetery, his last resting place 
being marked by a beautiful monument. The career of George Livermore Vance 
clearly illustrates the possibilities that are open in this country to 
earnest, persevering young men who have the courage of their convictions and 
are determined to be the architects of their own fortunes. When judged by what 
he accomplished in the business world and for the benefit of his fellowmen his 
right to a first place among the representative citizens of Joliet can not be 
questioned. His name was honored wherever known and most of all where he was 
best known. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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