[Sheldon W. Vance] President of the Crookston Commercial union. (The Saint Paul Globe, Friday Morning, December 13, 1895, Volume XVIII, Number 347, Page 6)
Crookston Hemp Fibre Co., capital stock $10,000; incorporators, Louis Fontaine, P. M. Ringdale, A. D. Stephens, Jerome W. Wheeler and Sheldon W. Vance, all of Crookston; Alford E. Jerome, of Rantoul and George H. Schuck, of La Porte City, Iowa. (The Saint Paul Globe, Wednesday, October 7, 1903, Volume XXVI, Number 280, Page 10)
Crookston, Minn. – Word has been received from Port Arthur that Sheldon W. Vance, one of Crookston’s most influential citizens, has been stricken with apoplexy and is in a very critical condition. His personal physician, Dr. A. H. Dunlop of this city, has been summoned. Mr. Vance left Crookston on the first of the month on a vacation, and when he reached Port Arthur (Texas) was brought down by the stroke without any warning. His wife, two children and father-in-law are in Paris, and they have been cabled to return by the first steamer. (The Minneapolis Journal, Monday Evening, August 13, 1906, Page 13)
Insurance Agents – Minnesota, CROOKSTON, Vance Sheldon W – f c, f = fire, c = casualty (The Insurance Year Book, 1908-1909, Life, Casualty and Miscellaneous, Thirty-sixth Annual Issue, The Spectator Company, NY, 1908, Page A-83)
Insurance Agents – Minnesota, CROOKSTON, Vance Sheldon W – f c, f = fire, c = casualty (The Insurance Year Book, 1912-1913, Fire and Marine, Fortieth Annual Issue, The Spectator Company, New York and Chicago, 1912, Page B-89)
SHELDON WARD VANCE. The late Sheldon Ward Vance was a business factor of prominence during his residence at Crookston. He was a manufacturer, built up and developed a large brick and tile industry, and at his death left extensive interests which have since been capably handled by his son E. W. Vance. The late Mr. Vance was a scholar, a man of thorough culture, and had been identified with educational work prior to coming to Crookston.
Sheldon Ward Vance was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 8, 1854. He was educated abroad in different colleges, and on coming to the United States spent several years as a teacher in languages in Racine College at Racine, Wisconsin. He was a resident of Racine about ten years, and in 1888 came to Crookston and began the manufacture of brick with his father-in-law George L. Erskine. Sheldon W. Vance married Ethel A. Erskine of Racine. In Crookston Mr. Vance was an alderman and for several years president of the city council. He was affiliated with the Masonic order through thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite, was a member of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was an elder for many years in the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred June 19, 1914, and Crookston was thus bereaved of the services of a business man, manufacturer and public spirited citizen of unquestioned integrity and broad capabilities. He was survived by his widow, who is still living in Crookston, and by two children: Erskine W. and Ethel G.
Erskine Ward Vance was born at Racine, Wisconsin, August 12, 1889, and was liberally educated, attending the Crookston High School and the University of Minnesota, where he was graduated with the class of 1910. The year following his university career was spent as cashier of the People’s Security Bank at Castleton, North Dakota, but in 1911 he returned to Crookston to take the active management of his father’s brick making industry. The Crookston Brick & Tile Company was incorporated in 1907, and has a working capital of $50,000. Its products are distributed all over Northern Minnesota and even to other states, and about fifty men are given regular employment. Mr. Vance also has the active management of the S. W. Vance & Company, a real estate, loan and fuel business. Mr. Vance is one of the young and energetic factors in Crookston business affairs, and stands high in social circles. He is a member of the Commercial Club and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. (Minnesota, Its Story and Biography, Henry A. Castle, Volume I, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, 1915, Page 1291)
DEATH CLAIMS S. W. VANCE, PROMINENT PIONEER BUSINESS MAN OF CROOKSTON FROM PNEUMONIA. Contracts Cold While Out Riding and the Dreaded Disease Quickly Develops. Wife and Daughter in the East and Upon Receiving Word of His Serious Illness Leave at Once for Home. They Are Expected to Arrive Here This Afternoon. Remains Will Probably Be Shipped to Racine, Wis., for Interment. The people of Crookston and vicinity will be shocked to learn of the sudden death this morning of Sheldon W. Vance, one of the prominent pioneer business men of Crookston, who passed away at his home in the Vance block shortly before seven o’clock of pneumonia.
Mr. Vance drove to Euclid last Sunday with his son, Erskine W. Vance, and shortly after his return complained of a chill. Monday morning a physician was called and said he was threatened with pneumonia, which he developed into a serious form later, and Wednesday evening the condition of the patient was so serious that Mrs. Vance and daughter Ethel were wired to hasten home. Mrs. Vance has been at Lasell seminary, Auburndale, Mass., from which Miss Ethel had just graduated and the two were at Erie, enroute home, prepared to take a boat trip via the Great Lakes, but started at once for Crookston by train and will arrive home this afternoon at 4:30, too late to see their husband and father alive.
Sheldon W. Vance was born at Toronto, Canada, Feb., 8, 1854, and was 60 years old on his last birthday. He came to Crookston in 1888, and has been a prominent resident of the city since. He first engaged in the brick manufacturing business with George Q. Erskine, and in 1893 bought out Mr. Erskine’s interest, and later added coal and insurance to his brick business. He leaves aside from his widow, 2 children, Erskine W., who has been handling most of the business for the past few years and Miss Ethel G. Vance, who just finished her work at Lasell Seminary. He also leaves 3 brothers, Herman M., Denver, Colo., and Albert J., and Geo. B., of Chicago and two sisters, Mrs. Ira Bates of Toronto, and Mrs. A. C. Anderson of Chicago.
Eight years ago Mr. Vance suffered a nervous breakdown, since which time his health has never been as rugged as before, although he has been able to attend to business up to the time of his last illness. Mr. Vance was a prominent Elk, Mason and Workman, and had been a pillar in the Presbyterian church of this city for many years, in which he was an elder at the time of his death. The death of Mr. Vance will cause deep sorrow among a very wide circle of friends. He was gentleman in the larger sense of the word, with a broad education, a talented musician, and his influence was felt in every movement which had for it object the betterment of Crookston. He was charitable to a fault and was held in high regard by all who knew him. His death means another link gone in the chain of loyal pioneers of Crookston.
No funeral arrangements have been made as yet, but it is probable the remains will be taken to Racine, Wis., where he formerly resided, and where other relatives are buried, for interment. His parents are both dead, and are laid to rest at Toronto. Definite funeral arrangements will be announced tomorrow. The deepest sympathy of the entire community goes out to the members of the stricken family. (Crookston Daily Times, Friday Evening, June 19, 1914, Volume XXXIV, Number 161, Page 1)
BODY OF S. W. VANCE IS SHIPPED TO RACINE. The funeral over the late S. W. Vance was held from the Vance residence this afternoon, Rev. Dr. Bailey officiating. The Masons and the Elks were in attendance and marched from the house to the Northern Pacific depot with the remains. Interment is to be made at Racine, Wisconsin. The pall bearers were W. B. Sheffield, A. A. Miller, C. C. Strander, Sam Rosenthal, Tom Morris and Fred Mix and the escorts were the following members of the Knights Templars: Dr. Boles, Dr. Dampier, W. R. Low, E. M. Walsh, E. R. Mills and W. G. Lytle. (Crookston Daily Times, Saturday Evening, June 20, 1914, Volume XXXIV, Number 162, Page 5)
Sheldon Baird Vance [grandson] was born in Crookston, Minnesota, on January 18, 1917, the son of Erskine Ward [son] and Helen (Baird) Vance. He graduated from Austin High School, Austin, Minn., in 1935. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College, Northfield, Minn., in 1939, and a law degree from Harvard University in 1942. (Minnesota Historical Society)