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BENJAMIN REX DANCE, a prominent and substantial citizen of Cross Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, where he owns 181 acres of land, owns also a farm of seventy acres situated in Island Creek Township. He was born in Cross Creek Township, in April, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Harriet (Love) Dance. Jacob Dance was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1812, and was a son of Daniel and Hufty Dance. In 1834 Jacob Dance came to Jefferson County a poor man and started to work for farmers for a salary of nine dollars a month, his wages being increased three dollars in the second year. This he considered a sufficient income on which to get married and he went back to Greene County and was there united to Harriet, a daughter of Alfred and Anna Love. This was a marriage of much domestic happiness. His bride was willing to share his fortune, although she knew it was one entailing many hardships, but they both lived to see the day when they owned 200 acres of valuable land and had all the comforts of life around them. Their ashes rest in the old Cross Creek Cemetery. They had the following children born to them: Anna, who was the wife of Rezin B. Johnson, now deceased; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of William Stone; Benjamin Rex; and Martha, who married Calvin B. Culp. Benjamin Rex Dance obtained his education in the common schools of Cross Creek Township. When nineteen years of age he began to be his father's main helper on the farm and has always been an agriculturist and has lived on the home place with the exception of his period of service in the Civil War. He was not yet twenty-one years old when he enlisted under Col. George W. Cook, in Co. E, 157th Ohio Vol. Inf. He is a member of Stanton Post, G. A. R., at Steubenville. In June, 1880, Mr. Dance was married to Miss Anna Rex, a daughter of George D. and Rebecca Jane (Porter) Rex, the former of whom was a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Jefferson County, Ohio. Both are deceased and their burial was in Jefferson County. They had three children: Darwin, Hugh and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Dance have four children: Lindsey P., who resides at Denver, Colo.; Hubert J., who lives at Steubenville; and Jane and Helen, who are at home. Mr. Dance and family belong to the Presbyterian church. He is identified with the Republican party and has served in public office, for two terms being a member of the board of directors of the county infirmary, and at present is serving on the school board.  Return to Family Tales
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