BIOGRAPHIES:  James E. CANCE, Ettrick, Trempealeau Co., WI

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James E. Cance.

One of the prosperous merchants of the village of Ettrick is James E. Cance, 
who was born in Ettrick Township, Dec. 22, 1864, son of Robert and Christine 
(Edmond) Cance.  Scotland was the native land of his parents, the year of 
his father's birth being 1823 and that of his mother's 1830.  Coming to the 
United States in 1858, they settled at once in Trempealeau County, Robert 
Cance buying land in Ettrick Township, where, until 1884, he was engaged in 
agriculture.  From that time until his death in 1887 he carried on business 
as a merchant.  That he was a man of considerable force of character, and 
highly esteemed, may be gathered from the fact that he was at one time 
elected a member of the State Assembly and served in various township 
offices, including the school board, and also as a member of the county 
board.  His wife passed away March 19, 1917.  They had two children: Mary, 
who is now Mrs. C. N. Ashley of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and James E. of 
Ettrick.

James E. Cance acquired the elements of knowledge in the district school and 
afterwards attended Gale University, now known as Gale College.  On his 
father's farm he picked up a knowledge of agriculture, but in 1884, at the 
age of 20 years, he purchased, together with his father, his present 
hardware and drug business from Iver Pederson, it being conducted under the 
style of R. Cance & Son in the smaller store next door to his present 
location.  The building he now occupies -- a two-story brick structure, 28 
by 60 feet, with basement -- he erected in 1895, and he and his family 
reside in the upper story.  He has conducted the business from the date of 
its organization in 1884 and is thoroughly familiar with it in all its 
details.  With the increase in population in the village and surrounding 
territory, it has gradually grown and for many years has been on a 
profitable basis.  Mr. Cance is also a stockholder in the Bank of Ettrick, 
of which he is a director; a stockholder in the Bank of Galesville, the 
Ettrick Lumber Company, organized Jan. 18, 1917, and in the Ettrick & 
Northern Railroad, now under construction.  He also owns business and 
residence property in Ettrick, of which place he is one of the substantial 
and well-to-do citizens.  His fraternal affiliations are with the Beavers, 
Yoemen and Modern Woodmen of America.  July 1, 1896, Mr. Cance was united in 
marriage with Verna Casey, who was born in Ettrick Township, daughter of 
Maurice and Helena (Daley) Casey.  Mr. and Mrs. Cance are the parents of one 
child, Gladys F., who was graduated at Galesville high school in the class 
of 1917.  Mr. Cance is now serving as president of the board of education of 
Ettrick.  He is a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics is an 
independent Republican.

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," pages 486 - 487.