T. C. Nance, one of Santa Maria’s oldest and best known residents passed away most suddenly on Saturday last.  Mr. Nance, while driving home on Friday evening of last week, was smitten on the way by a stroke of paralysis and was discovered in a helpless and semi-conscious condition in his buggy by the members of his family.  The horse was a gentle animal and took its master home safely for the last time.

            Dr. Brown was hastily summoned who found that the patient’s life was fast ebbing away and that the end was inevitable.  He lived but a few hours.

            With the passing of Thos. C. Nance the community loses a true and loyal citizen, the widow a devoted husband and the children a kind and loving father.  Having been a resident here for more than forty years, he naturally had a wide range of acquaintance and was well and favorably known throughout this part of the state.  He was a man of admirable qualities, graceful manners and easy to become acquainted with and in consequence was universally liked by all who ever met him.  His character was above reproach and his honesty and sincerity never to be questioned.  He was devout member of the Methodist church and also an honored member of the Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F.&A.M. under whose direction the funeral took place after the church service.  The latter was conducted by the Rec. Chas. Kennedy.

            Thomas Clayton Nance was born in Randolph County, North Carolina in 1837.  His father was a farmer and stock raiser by occupation and he remained with him until he was 16 years of age, learning the carpenter trade.  In 1858, he went to Missouri to join his uncle, Isham Nance, who owned a large plantation and remained until 1858, when he started with a wagon train of Guthrie and Mitchell for Salt Lake City.  In the spring of 1859 he started alone for Pike’s Peak with his own outfit, but returned to Nebraska the following year and started farming.  Two years later he started westward for the mines of eastern Oregon where he remained until 1866, meeting with good success.  He then came to San Jose and Castroville where he helped to build the first houses in that city.  In 1867 he went to Salinas and helped found that city, engaged in the building business.  Here he remained but a short time and returned to San Jose where in partnership with W. T. Morris he farmed the Parr ranch until 1870, when he took a trip east.  On returning to California in 1872 Mr Nance took up residence in Santa Maria and bought considerable land, setting out one of the first orchards in the valley.  He was a thorough stock man and raised some of the finest horses in California.

            He was married in 1881 to Miss Maggie Smith, who together with her four daughters survive him.  The children are Mrs. Philo Jones of Brawley, Mrs. F. A. Hilton, Miss Mamie, and Miss Edna Nance and a son, Willard by a former marriage.

            He was 75 years and 11 months of age and being of a rugged build always enjoyed good health.

            The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon and was one of the largest held here in a long time.  From all parts of the valley his old time friends came to pay their final respect and tribute of esteem.  The floral offering was beautiful and was characteristic of the clean and noble soul that has taken wing after a long and useful career.