Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 6th ed., 1887, Shelby Co. ROBERT GLASS VANCE was born at Middletown, Jefferson Co., Ky., July 8, 1836. After attending various private schools he was prepared for college by Rev. B. H. McCown, D.D., and became a student of Centre College, Danville, Ky., from which institution he graduated in 1857. He then commenced the study of law in the law department of the University of Louisville, graduating in 1859. From the law school he returned to the farm, and after his father's death was engaged for two years as executor in settling the estate of his family. In 1861 he married Miss Fannie Stowe, daughter of Thurman Stowe, of Marlboro, Mass. From 1869 to 1873 he was sheriff of Jefferson County, was very popular, and gave great satisfaction as an officer. In 1875 he removed to Shelby County, where he still resides, being engaged in farming. Mr. Vance is a good citizen, progressive and public spirited. He has been especially active in getting the Shelby people interested in in the Louisville Southern Railroad, and the county owes him, and several other enterprising citizens, a debt of gratitude for bringing about a result of such incalculable interest to our people--the building of the Louisville Southern through Shelby County. Mr. Vance has more than ordinary ability and intelligence; he is a fair speaker, presenting his point in a plain but forcible manner. His grandfather, Rev. James Vance, was born near Winchester, Va., and educated at Old Liberty Hall Academy--now Washington and Lee College--Lexington, Va. He married Miss Ruth Glass, at the old Glass homestead, "Long Meadow" on Opequan Creek, a branch of the Shenandoah. In 1798 he immigrated to Jefferson County, Ky., where he preached without salary during his lifetime, making a support by teaching a classical school in connection with his farm. He educated the Lawrences, Winchesters, Dorseys, Bullitts, Bateses, Hites, Brookses and many others--men of broad views, sterling worth an unflinching honesty, who gave character to Jefferson County and the city of Louisville. These men were never at a loss to quote some proverb or saw of the "old Parson" in defense of virtue or condemnation of vice. The Vance and Glass families were of Scotch-Irish descent, and stanch followers of the Presbyterian faith. They furnished to three or four generations Presbyterian ministers, who now lie buried in the old churchyard on Opequan Creek. Their history is the history of Presbyterianism in the valley of Virginia, which family tradition carries back to the "siege of Derby." The story is told of Col. Robert Glass, commanding a regiment of raw militia and hurrying to the defense of Baltimore, that he was ordered to hold some important position at all hazards and be on the defense. He surprised his commander by charging the British and completely routing them. When arraigned before a court martial for disobeying orders, he pleaded in extenuation that he and his regiment were too badly scared to stand still under the British fire, and determined rather to die than to run. He was acquitted and complimented on the wisdom of his choice. Dr. Robert G. Vance, the father of Robert Glass Vance, of Shelby County, was born in Jefferson County, Ky., May 1, 1800. He received an education from his father, Rev. James Vance, and was a graduate in medicine of the Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. In 1820 he began the practice with his uncle, Dr. Joseph Glass, which he continued uninterruptedly with fine success until his death in 1859. In 1834 he married Harriet L. Hobbs, daughter of Samuel R. and Mary Hobbs, born at Frederick, Md., in 1809. Samuel Hobbs sent his wife and two little children to Kentucky in 1821, while he remained in Baltimore to close up his business as a merchant. The city being attacked by the British, he volunteered, in company with Peter Crapster, his brother-in-law, in the defense, and contracted a disease from which he died soon after at White Sulphur Springs, Va. Dr. Vance was a man of marked character, large in statue--being six feet, four inches in height, with a figure dully developed--possessed of the physical strength of three ordinary men, with a strong vigorous mind, well stored with varied information. Yet this distinguished characteristic was his moral courage. He was never known to hesitate in his advocacy of what was right, or to denounce what was wrong, utterly regardless of who was the adversary. He was born a leader of men, molding and directing public opinion. Robert Glass Vance has eight children--five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, William S. Vance, is at the law school of the University of Virginia; Mary Hobbs Vance is in the East; Robert G. Vance, Jr., is one of the assistant engineers of the Louisville Southern; the other children are at school. Vance Stowe Glass Hobbs Crapster McCown = Danville-Boyle-KY Louisville-Jefferson-KY Lexington-Fayette-KY MA http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/shelby/vance.rg.txt